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Olivia O'Leary, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork. Olivia graduated with a BSc in Biotechnology, NUI, Galway, followed by an MSc in Neuropharmacology at the same institution. She was a visiting scholar for over three years at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, where she conducted her PhD research in behavioural neuropharmacology. This was followed by postdoctoral research at the Neuroscience Centre at the University of Helsinki where her research was focused on the role of neuronal plasticity in pathophysiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. In 2008, Olivia was awarded a prestigious Career Development Award from the Health Research Board to conduct her research at the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, where she was appointed as lecturer in 2011. Olivia then joined the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience as a lecturer in 2012, followed by promotion to Senior Lecturer. Olivia's main research interest is in the neurobiology and treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders with a particular focus on depression. Her research has been published in high-impact journals including PNAS and Science. In addition, Olivia has been the recipient of several awards from international professional societies including The Rafaelsen Young Investigator Award from the International College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2011) and the Fellowship Award from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2010), as well the career development award from the Health Research Board Ireland (2008-2011). Most recently, Olivia was honoured with the 2015 most outstanding Junior Faculty Award from the International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society (IBANGS). In addition to her teaching and research activities, Olivia is also an expert reviewer for more than 60 international journals, is on the Editorial Board for Neuropharmacology and Acta Neuropsychiatrica, acts as an external examiner for PhD thesis and the BSc (Hons) Biology and Biopharmaceutical Science programme in GMIT, is Chair of the Dept. of Anatomy and Neuroscience Postgraduate Student Affairs committee, is a member of several departmental and university committees, and recently completed a Pg Cert in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education.

"Prof. Claus Normann, MD, is Managing Director of the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany. He has authored >130 peer-reviewed publications and received funding from many sources.

He has successfully combined expertise in clinical psychiatry and psychotherapy, neuropsychopharmacology and basic science to develop a translational approach in order to understand the pathophysiology of affective disorders and to develop novel treatment strategies for major depression.
Prof. Normann’s research group was among the first to develop and to support the neuroplasticity hypothesis of depression. Starting from a basic science approach with a focus on long-term synaptic depression (LTD), they soon discovered a facilitation of LTD and an inhibition of long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) in different animal models of depression and early stress, which were effectively restored by different classes of antidepressants. They have characterized novel targets for antidepressant action, including Ca2+ channels, TrkB receptor, mGluR, NMDA receptor subunits. In a translational approach, he has developed and examined methods to assess correlates of synaptic plasticity in healthy humans and depressed patients; including the characterization of therapeutic mechanisms. A neuroplasticity approach to explain and to treat depression highlights the importance of interactions between disorder, treatment and environment. Moreover, it suggests effective ways to augment psychotherapeutical approaches by medication and brain stimulation; hereby providing a science based reconciliation between the schools of biologically and psychotherapeutically oriented psychiatrists. In his daily work, he combines clinical psychiatry and psychotherapy with advanced basic science; thus allowing real bench-to-bedside translation. Prof. Normann’s final aim is to contribute to an integrative, science-based and effective treatment of major depression."

"Professor Allan Young is Chair of Mood Disorders and Director of the Centre for Affective Disorders in the Department of Psychological Medicine in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, where he is also Head of School for Academic Psychiatry. He is the clinical academic lead in the Psychological Medicine and Integrated Care Clinical Academic Group in the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, where he is also Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of the Affective Disorders Service.

Professor Young’s research interests focus on the cause and treatments for severe psychiatric illnesses, particularly mood disorders. He has over 700 peer-reviewed publications, including several books about psychopharmacology and affective disorders. He is editor of the Journal of Psychopharmacology and deputy editor of the British Journal of Psychiatry (Open). Professor Young is a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher: this highly anticipated annual list identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Professor Young has current grant funding exceeding £30 million."