‘Significant’ patients do not respond to existing schizophrenia treatments, highlighting a ‘significant unmet clinical need’, according to PhD researcher Keelin Harrison.
Keelin Harrison is a PhD student researching the role of neuroinflammation in the pathology of schizophrenia.
“What is becoming increasingly clear”, Harrison says, “is that neuroinflammation is a very dynamic process, and understanding how it interacts with structural and regional changes in the brain remains an area of research.
“Building on this foundation, my PhD project aims to further investigate these mechanisms and explore their potential role as therapeutic targets.” He is a researcher at the FutureNeuro Research Ireland Center for Translational Brain Science, based at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Harrison’s research career began in biological and biomedical sciences, before focusing on neuroscience during his undergraduate studies at Trinity College Dublin. Later, he completed his master’s degree in translational neuroscience at Imperial College London, where he developed a strong interest in researching the role of neuroinflammation in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Harrison says he engages in patient programs and community involvement through FutureNeuro to better ensure his research is informed by the views of those he aims to ultimately benefit.
What kind of impact do you foresee for your research?
Schizophrenia affects around 1pc of the population and is a very debilitating condition, affecting cognition, vision, emotions and social functioning.
Although current antipsychotic medications can be effective in treating positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, they do not adequately address cognitive deficits or broader functional impairment. Furthermore, a large proportion of patients do not respond to existing treatments, highlighting a significant unmet clinical need.
My research aims to improve the understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying schizophrenia – particularly the role of inflammation – and to identify potential targets for future therapeutic developments. Ultimately, the goal is to support the development of more effective treatment strategies for patients.
What inspired you to become a researcher?
Growing up, I was always curious by nature and inclined to ask questions about how things work. When I was first introduced to neuroscience, I was struck by how many fundamental questions remain unanswered – and in some cases, whether we are even asking the right ones.
Being in an environment that encourages curiosity, critical thinking and intellectual challenge is what first drew me to research and continues to inspire me. I find it really rewarding to step back, think through questions and contribute to a rapidly developing field.
What are some of the biggest challenges or misconceptions you face as a researcher in your field?
One of the main challenges in neuroscience and psychology research is the difficulty of modeling human attitudes in preclinical settings. There is often a disconnect between biological findings in animal models and their relevance to human disease, which can limit translation.
Another challenge is the persistence of stigma and misunderstanding surrounding mental disorders, which can impact how research in this area is perceived and supported.
More broadly, there is still a misconception that conditions such as schizophrenia are best understood or primarily explained by their symptoms alone, when in fact, they involve complex and diverse biological and environmental factors.
Do you think the public’s interaction with science and data has changed in recent years?
Public and scientific communication has become increasingly important, especially in the Covid-19 pandemic, which has highlighted both the importance of clear scientific communication and the dangers posed by misinformation. Effective communication between researchers and the general public is essential for building trust, preventing misunderstandings and ensuring that findings are accessible and accurately presented.
In addition, involving the public and patients in the research process helps ensure that scientific questions are relevant to real-world needs and priorities.
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