Dr Arish Mudra Rakshasa-Loots

Research Fellow (Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry)

Biography

Background

I am a neuroscientist interested in the intersection of mental health, physical health, and socioeconomic marginalisation. I currently work in the Hub for Metabolic Psychiatry on a study exploring metabolic markers and clinical symptoms in young people living with depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia in Scotland. I hold a PhD in Translational Neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in the Liberal Arts from Earlham College (USA).

Research summary

My overarching research goal is to help improve the mental health of people living with HIV. Much of my research has focused on determining whether HIV-related inflammation may contribute to the high risk for depression in this community. I am also interested in cross-cultural adaptation of mental health screening tools and am strongly passionate about diversity and inclusion in scientific research.

Affiliated research centres

Current project grants

2024-25 Big Ideas Accelerator Fund (University of Edinburgh) - £11,900
“Expanding access to an isiXhosa depression screening tool using app-based audio administration”

Past project grants

2022-23 Clinical Imaging Sciences Centre (University of Sussex) Neuroimaging Pilot Funding - £7,800
“Imaging neuroinflammation in persistent depression amongst people with HIV (INSIDE-HIV)”
2022-23 South African MRC Extramural Unit on Genomics of Brain Disorder – ZAR 25,000
“Blood biomarkers of (neuro)inflammation in adolescents with and without HIV”
2023 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Travel Grant – EUR 1,000
2022 Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation Medical Research Travel Grant - £1,000
2018 Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant - $2,920
“Making Good Choices: The Effect of Social Interaction on Chronic Stress-Induced Aberration in Decision-Making”.

This article was published on