Neuroscientist Nathaniel Harnett unravels brain's response to trauma, advancing PTSD research
Harvard researcher uses neuroimaging to predict and understand stress-related disorders, aiming for precision medicine approaches
image: Nathaniel Harnett, PhD, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical
School, USA
Credit: Nathaniel Harnett, PhD
Boston, MA - From Classical Music to Cutting-Edge Neuroscience: Dr. Nathaniel Harnett's Quest to Decode Trauma's Impact on the Brain
In a revealing Genomic Press Interview published in the Innovators & Ideas: Rising Star section of Brain Medicine, Dr. Nathaniel G. Harnett shares his unexpected journey from aspiring classical musician to pioneering neuroscientist at the forefront of trauma and stress-related disorder research.
Dr. Harnett, now Director of the Neurobiology of Affective and Traumatic Experiences Laboratory at McLean Hospital and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, credits a pivotal undergraduate psychology course for igniting his passion for neuroscience. "The understanding that the entirety of our experiences are all processed by a squishy organ in our skulls was fascinating," Harnett recalls.
His research focuses on identifying neural substrates that mediate individual variability in susceptibility to trauma and stress-related disorders. Using a multidimensional approach incorporating human brain imaging, psychophysiology, and behavior, Harnett's team is working to develop predictive neural models of PTSD development after trauma.
"There is a lot to learn about how we can use brain imaging to understand who is most in need of resources after a traumatic event to help mitigate potential long-term psychiatric effects," Harnett explains. His lab aims to contribute to novel ways of incorporating brain imaging into precision medicine approaches for trauma survivors.
Notably, Harnett's work also examines how pre-traumatic exposures and systemic inequities impact the generalizability of neuroimaging findings. This unique perspective could help explain disparities in psychiatric disease and inform more equitable treatment strategies.
Dr. Harnett emphasizes the importance of curiosity and openness in scientific research. "A willingness and interest to ask new and different questions and push yourself out of your comfort zone to analyze data in a new way – while also digging into the fundamentals about why we might look at the data a certain way – helps with growth as a scientist," he advises.
The full Genomic Press Interview “Nathaniel G. Harnett: Identifying the neurobiological mechanisms of susceptibility to trauma and stress-related disorders,” published on 10 May 2024, in Brain Medicine, offers deeper insights into Dr. Harnett's research, career trajectory, and personal philosophy. It provides a compelling look at the intersection of neuroscience, trauma research, and the human experience.
About Brain Medicine: Brain Medicine (ISSN: 2997-2639) is a peer-reviewed journal published by Genomic Press, New York. Brain Medicine is a new home for the cross-disciplinary pathway from innovation in fundamental neuroscience to translational initiatives in brain medicine. The journal’s scope includes the underlying science, causes, outcomes, treatments, and societal impact of brain disorders, across all clinical disciplines and their interface.