Helena Davies
@helenadavies.bsky.social
Postdoc in psychiatric genetics | Center for feeding and Eating Disorders Research (CEDaR) & Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Copenhagen | she/her
Reposted by Helena Davies
There’s a new kid in town!
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
Embryo selection based on polygenic prediction risks reinforcing social inequality
The rise of companies offering embryo selection based on genetic testing has triggered heated debate about ethical acceptability, as well as the accuracy and scientific validity of these techniques. W...
www.fertstert.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:09 AM
There’s a new kid in town!
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
Companies are now selling IVF and embryo selection based on genetic testing for traits related to health and even intelligence.
We outline methodological and ethical concerns, and warn against risks for social inequality.
With the fantastic @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social
Pleasure to showcase all the hard work from the PGC Outreach Committee at #WCPG2025 last week @pgcgenetics.bsky.social
Ft. our new group photo that looks more like an album cover... @abiterkuile.bsky.social @drniamhryan.bsky.social @karmelchoi.bsky.social (& many more not yet on Bluesky) 💙
Ft. our new group photo that looks more like an album cover... @abiterkuile.bsky.social @drniamhryan.bsky.social @karmelchoi.bsky.social (& many more not yet on Bluesky) 💙
October 27, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Pleasure to showcase all the hard work from the PGC Outreach Committee at #WCPG2025 last week @pgcgenetics.bsky.social
Ft. our new group photo that looks more like an album cover... @abiterkuile.bsky.social @drniamhryan.bsky.social @karmelchoi.bsky.social (& many more not yet on Bluesky) 💙
Ft. our new group photo that looks more like an album cover... @abiterkuile.bsky.social @drniamhryan.bsky.social @karmelchoi.bsky.social (& many more not yet on Bluesky) 💙
Reposted by Helena Davies
It is depressing, but all too predictable, how swiftly we’ve gone from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium offering reassurances about the uses of behavioural polygenic scores to one of their lead authors marketing embryo selection for IQ
August 2, 2025 at 2:15 AM
It is depressing, but all too predictable, how swiftly we’ve gone from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium offering reassurances about the uses of behavioural polygenic scores to one of their lead authors marketing embryo selection for IQ
Pleasure to work on the coding team, including introducing eating disorder diagnostic algorithms to @ukbiobank.bsky.social with @topherhuebel.bsky.social & Zhaoying Yu 🕺
Thanks to Katrina Davis & @jonicoleman.bsky.social
Thanks to Katrina Davis & @jonicoleman.bsky.social
Very pleased to see our paper describing the @ukbiobank.bsky.social second online mental health questionnaire has now been published in @plosone.org! This describes the origin of the resource as well as the data.
Fantastic work by Katrina Davis in leading this 👏👏👏
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
Fantastic work by Katrina Davis in leading this 👏👏👏
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
The UK Biobank mental health enhancement 2022: Methods and results
Background This paper introduces the UK Biobank (UKB) second mental health questionnaire (MHQ2), describes its design, the respondents and some notable findings. UKB is a large cohort study with over ...
dx.plos.org
May 31, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Pleasure to work on the coding team, including introducing eating disorder diagnostic algorithms to @ukbiobank.bsky.social with @topherhuebel.bsky.social & Zhaoying Yu 🕺
Thanks to Katrina Davis & @jonicoleman.bsky.social
Thanks to Katrina Davis & @jonicoleman.bsky.social
Reposted by Helena Davies
🔎Looking for a clear overview of autism genetics?🔍
This 2021 Psychological Medicine paper provides just that!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
This 2021 Psychological Medicine paper provides just that!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Genetic contributions to autism spectrum disorder | Psychological Medicine | Cambridge Core
Genetic contributions to autism spectrum disorder - Volume 51 Issue 13
www.cambridge.org
May 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🔎Looking for a clear overview of autism genetics?🔍
This 2021 Psychological Medicine paper provides just that!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
This 2021 Psychological Medicine paper provides just that!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Helena Davies
🚨 NEW PREPRINT ALERT! 🚨
Very pleased to have the latest @pgcgenetics.bsky.social eating disorders GWAS now out on medrxiv!
Featuring one first author from our group (Sang Hyuck) and one senior author (Joni), alongside 168 others!
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Very pleased to have the latest @pgcgenetics.bsky.social eating disorders GWAS now out on medrxiv!
Featuring one first author from our group (Sang Hyuck) and one senior author (Joni), alongside 168 others!
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Genome-wide association studies of binge eating behaviour and anorexia nervosa yield insights into the unique and shared biology of eating disorder phenotypes
Eating disorders - including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder - are clinically distinct but exhibit symptom overlap and diagnostic crossover. Genomic analyses have mos...
www.medrxiv.org
May 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
🚨 NEW PREPRINT ALERT! 🚨
Very pleased to have the latest @pgcgenetics.bsky.social eating disorders GWAS now out on medrxiv!
Featuring one first author from our group (Sang Hyuck) and one senior author (Joni), alongside 168 others!
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Very pleased to have the latest @pgcgenetics.bsky.social eating disorders GWAS now out on medrxiv!
Featuring one first author from our group (Sang Hyuck) and one senior author (Joni), alongside 168 others!
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Helena Davies
❓How do eating disorders develop?
👇 Watch our* video below to find out.
💜 *Credit to CEDaR PhD student, Stefana Aicoboaie.
👇 Watch our* video below to find out.
💜 *Credit to CEDaR PhD student, Stefana Aicoboaie.
May 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
❓How do eating disorders develop?
👇 Watch our* video below to find out.
💜 *Credit to CEDaR PhD student, Stefana Aicoboaie.
👇 Watch our* video below to find out.
💜 *Credit to CEDaR PhD student, Stefana Aicoboaie.
Reposted by Helena Davies
#GoodMonday! In today’s post we’re introducing “Genes Zetu”🧬, a #Genetics #public_engagement initiative by @pgc-africa.bsky.social Africa Outreach Co-Liaison @jaredgm.bsky.social
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April 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
#GoodMonday! In today’s post we’re introducing “Genes Zetu”🧬, a #Genetics #public_engagement initiative by @pgc-africa.bsky.social Africa Outreach Co-Liaison @jaredgm.bsky.social
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Reposted by Helena Davies
🎉Hello and welcome to the PGC Africa Working Group takeover 🎉
For the next 2 weeks, we will share with you exciting updates from @pgc-africa.bsky.social brought to you by @jaredgm.bsky.social and Ofure Ubah
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For the next 2 weeks, we will share with you exciting updates from @pgc-africa.bsky.social brought to you by @jaredgm.bsky.social and Ofure Ubah
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April 15, 2025 at 9:09 AM
🎉Hello and welcome to the PGC Africa Working Group takeover 🎉
For the next 2 weeks, we will share with you exciting updates from @pgc-africa.bsky.social brought to you by @jaredgm.bsky.social and Ofure Ubah
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For the next 2 weeks, we will share with you exciting updates from @pgc-africa.bsky.social brought to you by @jaredgm.bsky.social and Ofure Ubah
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Reposted by Helena Davies
Here's my statement about the situation in the US, how its affecting science, & the psych genetics community specifically, & what it means for our conference. Please read & share. @pgcgenetics.bsky.social @kirahoeffler.bsky.social @mcintosh2001.bsky.social @jettyraventos.bsky.social #AcademicSky 🧪
Visit our website to read the latest Letter from the ISPG President, J9. ispg.net/about-us/mes...
April 2, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Here's my statement about the situation in the US, how its affecting science, & the psych genetics community specifically, & what it means for our conference. Please read & share. @pgcgenetics.bsky.social @kirahoeffler.bsky.social @mcintosh2001.bsky.social @jettyraventos.bsky.social #AcademicSky 🧪
Reposted by Helena Davies
✨""Beyond the Checklist: A large-scale analysis of under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with eating disorders""
Saakshi Kakar's important exploration of under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with #eatingdisorders
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5 👇
Saakshi Kakar's important exploration of under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with #eatingdisorders
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5 👇
Beyond the Checklist: A large-scale analysis of under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with eating disorders
Objective This study aimed to identify and categorise under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with eating disorders, addressing diagnostic gaps.
Method We text mined free-text response...
www.medrxiv.org
April 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
✨""Beyond the Checklist: A large-scale analysis of under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with eating disorders""
Saakshi Kakar's important exploration of under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with #eatingdisorders
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5 👇
Saakshi Kakar's important exploration of under-recognised weight loss behaviours in individuals with #eatingdisorders
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5 👇
Reposted by Helena Davies
🧬 CEDaR postdoc @helena.davies.bsky.social, Prof Nadia Micali & and @mrtzhrl.bsky.social hosted a workshop: "Bringing biology to the clinic: how can we explain genetics to our patients with eating disorders", translating complex genetic information into practical, patient-centered communication 🧬
April 2, 2025 at 9:52 AM
🧬 CEDaR postdoc @helena.davies.bsky.social, Prof Nadia Micali & and @mrtzhrl.bsky.social hosted a workshop: "Bringing biology to the clinic: how can we explain genetics to our patients with eating disorders", translating complex genetic information into practical, patient-centered communication 🧬
Reposted by Helena Davies
✨Welcome to the PGC Eating Disorders Working Group takeover!
Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
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Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
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April 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
✨Welcome to the PGC Eating Disorders Working Group takeover!
Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
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Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
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Reposted by Helena Davies
Today is #InternationalBipolarDisorderDay – a reminder of the importance of advancing research to better understand and treat #BipolarDisorder. Our latest work delves into the genetics of BD, uncovering key insights into its biology. A thread on our findings 🧵👇
March 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Today is #InternationalBipolarDisorderDay – a reminder of the importance of advancing research to better understand and treat #BipolarDisorder. Our latest work delves into the genetics of BD, uncovering key insights into its biology. A thread on our findings 🧵👇
Reposted by Helena Davies
We have not one but TWO job openings - come and join us in beautiful Copenhagen 🇩🇰
We are looking for:
⭐ Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in longitudinal methods
⭐ Junior/Senior Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in psychiatric epidemiology
More info in the links below 🔗 👇
We are looking for:
⭐ Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in longitudinal methods
⭐ Junior/Senior Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in psychiatric epidemiology
More info in the links below 🔗 👇
March 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
We have not one but TWO job openings - come and join us in beautiful Copenhagen 🇩🇰
We are looking for:
⭐ Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in longitudinal methods
⭐ Junior/Senior Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in psychiatric epidemiology
More info in the links below 🔗 👇
We are looking for:
⭐ Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in longitudinal methods
⭐ Junior/Senior Postdoctoral researcher with expertise in psychiatric epidemiology
More info in the links below 🔗 👇
Reposted by Helena Davies
For #InternationalWomensDay2025, we've put together a special podcast series with 24 female professors at the IoPPN, in conversation with students, about their research, challenges in academia and their advice to new students #AcademicSky #WomeninSTEMM
Listen today!
open.spotify.com/show/4ivmY1w...
Listen today!
open.spotify.com/show/4ivmY1w...
Inspiring Women - Professors at the IoPPN
Podcast · Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience · Welcome to a captivating series of 10-minute student-led interviews highlighting the remarkable research and careers of female professors showcased in the "Inspiring Women - Professors at the IoPPN" portrait exhibition, located at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience in London, UK. Now, the IoPPN 25 student advisory group endeavors to amplify the influence of these portraits through the engaging interviews, each uniquely shaped by our students’ curiosity and engagement.
open.spotify.com
March 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
For #InternationalWomensDay2025, we've put together a special podcast series with 24 female professors at the IoPPN, in conversation with students, about their research, challenges in academia and their advice to new students #AcademicSky #WomeninSTEMM
Listen today!
open.spotify.com/show/4ivmY1w...
Listen today!
open.spotify.com/show/4ivmY1w...
Reposted by Helena Davies
We asked Laramie Duncan, co-chair of the Cross-population Analyses Working Group, and Helena Davies and Eva María Trujillo Chi Vacuán from the PGC Outreach Committee what they felt were major highlights from their work this year. @helenadavies.bsky.social #womeninSTEM #IWD25
March 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
We asked Laramie Duncan, co-chair of the Cross-population Analyses Working Group, and Helena Davies and Eva María Trujillo Chi Vacuán from the PGC Outreach Committee what they felt were major highlights from their work this year. @helenadavies.bsky.social #womeninSTEM #IWD25
Reposted by Helena Davies
CEDaR wishes our American colleagues & their friends best of luck for today.
We support Stand Up For Science – because science is for everyone #standupforscience2025 #sciencenotsilence #scienceforall
We support Stand Up For Science – because science is for everyone #standupforscience2025 #sciencenotsilence #scienceforall
March 7, 2025 at 11:32 AM
CEDaR wishes our American colleagues & their friends best of luck for today.
We support Stand Up For Science – because science is for everyone #standupforscience2025 #sciencenotsilence #scienceforall
We support Stand Up For Science – because science is for everyone #standupforscience2025 #sciencenotsilence #scienceforall
Reposted by Helena Davies
"In an unprecedented move, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has begun mass terminations of research grants that fund active scientific projects because they no longer meet 'agency priorities'"
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: NIH to terminate hundreds of active research grants
Studies that touch on LGBT+ health, gender identity and DEI in the biomedical workforce could be terminated, according to documents obtained by Nature.
www.nature.com
March 6, 2025 at 3:08 AM
"In an unprecedented move, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has begun mass terminations of research grants that fund active scientific projects because they no longer meet 'agency priorities'"
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Helena Davies
Did you know that women are more likely to suffer with major depression, anxiety and eating disorders whilst ADHD, autism and schizophrenia are more common in men? But the exact cause of these sex differences is unknown. #InternationalWomensDay
March 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Did you know that women are more likely to suffer with major depression, anxiety and eating disorders whilst ADHD, autism and schizophrenia are more common in men? But the exact cause of these sex differences is unknown. #InternationalWomensDay
Reposted by Helena Davies
Calling all Hoosiers!!!
#StandUpforScience local rally in Indianapolis is confirmed!
📅 March 7, 2025
⏰ 12PM - 2PM
📍Indiana Statehouse – South Lawn, Indianapolis
Science is for everyone, spread the word 🔥
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#StandUpForScience2025
#ScienceForAll
#ScienceNotSilence
#StandUpforScience local rally in Indianapolis is confirmed!
📅 March 7, 2025
⏰ 12PM - 2PM
📍Indiana Statehouse – South Lawn, Indianapolis
Science is for everyone, spread the word 🔥
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#StandUpForScience2025
#ScienceForAll
#ScienceNotSilence
February 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Calling all Hoosiers!!!
#StandUpforScience local rally in Indianapolis is confirmed!
📅 March 7, 2025
⏰ 12PM - 2PM
📍Indiana Statehouse – South Lawn, Indianapolis
Science is for everyone, spread the word 🔥
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#StandUpForScience2025
#ScienceForAll
#ScienceNotSilence
#StandUpforScience local rally in Indianapolis is confirmed!
📅 March 7, 2025
⏰ 12PM - 2PM
📍Indiana Statehouse – South Lawn, Indianapolis
Science is for everyone, spread the word 🔥
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#StandUpForScience2025
#ScienceForAll
#ScienceNotSilence
Reposted by Helena Davies
Just out — great work from Lachlan Gilchrist investigating the genetic relationship between depression and Alzheimer's. Pleased to have been able to contribute a little to this one. Open access, so read all about it below!
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Depression symptom-specific genetic associations in clinically diagnosed and proxy case Alzheimer’s disease - Nature Mental Health
Using genome-wide meta-analyses of clinical measures of depression and biobank data, the authors investigate symptom-specific genetic associations between depression and subsequent risk for Alzheimer’...
www.nature.com
January 16, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Just out — great work from Lachlan Gilchrist investigating the genetic relationship between depression and Alzheimer's. Pleased to have been able to contribute a little to this one. Open access, so read all about it below!
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Helena Davies
Check out our latest preprint about the shared #genetics of #eatingdisorders and many other outcomes! We used the massive national registers of 🇩🇰 and 🇸🇪 and observed new genetic overlap between EDs and Autism and replicated previous OCD findings. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Shared Genetic Architecture Between Eating Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, and Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Comprehensive Population-Wide Study Across Two Countries
Eating disorders arise from a complex interaction of genetic and environmental influences. Here we provide comprehensive population-level estimates of the heritability of eating disorders and their ge...
www.medrxiv.org
December 19, 2024 at 12:44 PM
Check out our latest preprint about the shared #genetics of #eatingdisorders and many other outcomes! We used the massive national registers of 🇩🇰 and 🇸🇪 and observed new genetic overlap between EDs and Autism and replicated previous OCD findings. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Outreach in psychiatric genetics - What is it? Why do we need it? How can we do it well?
Join me, Niamh Ryan, and Cindy Bulik this Friday (6th) at 10am EST / 4pm CET / 3pm UTC where we'll discuss all of this for the PGC (@pgcgenetics.bsky.social) World Wide Lab 🌎
🔗 us02web.zoom.us/j/88690327502
Join me, Niamh Ryan, and Cindy Bulik this Friday (6th) at 10am EST / 4pm CET / 3pm UTC where we'll discuss all of this for the PGC (@pgcgenetics.bsky.social) World Wide Lab 🌎
🔗 us02web.zoom.us/j/88690327502
December 4, 2024 at 10:24 AM
Outreach in psychiatric genetics - What is it? Why do we need it? How can we do it well?
Join me, Niamh Ryan, and Cindy Bulik this Friday (6th) at 10am EST / 4pm CET / 3pm UTC where we'll discuss all of this for the PGC (@pgcgenetics.bsky.social) World Wide Lab 🌎
🔗 us02web.zoom.us/j/88690327502
Join me, Niamh Ryan, and Cindy Bulik this Friday (6th) at 10am EST / 4pm CET / 3pm UTC where we'll discuss all of this for the PGC (@pgcgenetics.bsky.social) World Wide Lab 🌎
🔗 us02web.zoom.us/j/88690327502
Reposted by Helena Davies
Code base for the definitions was a team effort in R, now public on GitHub: github.com/ColemanResea...
🙏 to @johanzvrskovec.bsky.social, @markjamesadams.bsky.social, Helena Davies, @topherhuebel.bsky.social, Danyang Li, Jared Maina, Meg Skelton, Abi ter Kulie, Rujia Wang, and Zhaoying Yu
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🙏 to @johanzvrskovec.bsky.social, @markjamesadams.bsky.social, Helena Davies, @topherhuebel.bsky.social, Danyang Li, Jared Maina, Meg Skelton, Abi ter Kulie, Rujia Wang, and Zhaoying Yu
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GitHub - ColemanResearchGroup/MHQ2: Code for deriving phenotypes from the second Mental Health Questionnaire in UK Biobank
Code for deriving phenotypes from the second Mental Health Questionnaire in UK Biobank - ColemanResearchGroup/MHQ2
github.com
November 26, 2024 at 10:31 AM
Code base for the definitions was a team effort in R, now public on GitHub: github.com/ColemanResea...
🙏 to @johanzvrskovec.bsky.social, @markjamesadams.bsky.social, Helena Davies, @topherhuebel.bsky.social, Danyang Li, Jared Maina, Meg Skelton, Abi ter Kulie, Rujia Wang, and Zhaoying Yu
2/3
🙏 to @johanzvrskovec.bsky.social, @markjamesadams.bsky.social, Helena Davies, @topherhuebel.bsky.social, Danyang Li, Jared Maina, Meg Skelton, Abi ter Kulie, Rujia Wang, and Zhaoying Yu
2/3