School of Biomedical Sciences cordially invites you to join the following seminar:

Speaker: Dr. Chloe Wong, Associate Professor in Epigenomics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), Cultural, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) Academic Lead, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences (MHaPS), King’s College London; Deputy Co-Lead, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Bioresource
Talk Title: Molecular Memory: Epigenetic Insights into Mental Health and Wellbeing

Date: 20 August 2025 (Wednesday)
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road 
Host: Professor Michael Hӓusser

Biography

Dr Chloe Wong is an epigenomics researcher with a strong multidisciplinary background spanning epigenetics, psychiatry, bioinformatics, and social science. Since 2013, she has led the Psychiatric Epigenetics Group at the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP) Centre, IoPPN, King’s College London. Her research focuses on how life experiences shape the human epigenome, particularly during sensitive periods such as adolescence, and aims to identify epigenetic biomarkers linked to biological ageing and wellbeing, mental health and neuropsychiatric outcomes. Dr Wong has led pioneering studies exploring the biological embedding of childhood and adolescent adversity, and the epigenetic mechanisms underlying mental health conditions including autism, psychosis, anxiety, eating disorders, and responses to psychosocial stress. Her methodological contributions include co-developing widely used pipelines in epidemiological epigenetics. Her research has been recognised as one of the Top 10 Scientific Advances in Autism Research, and in 2024, she was named a Top Scholar by ScholarGPS, placing her in the top 0.5% of scholars globally.

Dr Wong is a senior member of the NIHR Maudsley BRC and deputy co-leads the BioResource. Dr Wong is also a board member of the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a landmark cohort of over 2,200 twins followed from childhood into adulthood. Within the newly funded Phase 30 of E-Risk, she leads the biological research stream, working across disciplines including legal, procurement, healthcare, and biotechnology. At King’s College London, Dr Wong served as Chair of the SGDP and Biostatistics Health Informatics PhD Subcommittee at IoPPN (2018–2023) and currently serves as the CEDI Academic Lead for the School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences. She is a key member of the MHaPS’s Senior Leadership Executive Team and the IoPPN Faculty Research & Innovation Committee, and is a committed advocate for diversity, inclusion, and collaborative research.

Abstract

Epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene function that do not involve changes to the DNA sequence itself, plays a fundamental role in human development and cellular differentiation. Positioned at the intersection of genetics and the environment, epigenomic research offers a powerful lens to explore how life experiences and environmental exposures become biologically embedded over time.

In this talk, I will introduce key features of the human epigenome and its heightened sensitivity across the life course, with a focus on DNA methylation as a molecular marker of environmental influence on gene regulation.

Drawing on recent findings, I will discuss associations between epigenetic variation and a range of neuropsychiatric outcomes, including autism spectrum disorders, psychosis, anxiety, eating disorders, and the biological consequences of adverse psychosocial experiences. I will also explore emerging research on epigenetic ageing, including accelerated biological ageing and its potential modulation by stress, nutrition, and lifestyle factors.

Together, these insights deepen our understanding of the disrupted biological pathways involved in mental health, point to molecular biomarkers of risk and resilience, and suggest novel clinical targets for early intervention and treatment. By linking psychosocial experiences with molecular signatures, this research informs new strategies to promote wellbeing and guide public health initiatives across the life course.

ALL ARE WELCOME.