This project will investigate the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) using multi-omic and phenotypic data available in the UK Biobank. The aim is to enhance understanding of the biological pathways that contribute to depression and explore how these pathways relate to perinatal mental health, particularly postpartum depression (PPD). Although the UK Biobank does not include perinatal participants, its large-scale genomic and proteomic datasets provide a valuable resource for examining biological convergence between general depression and perinatal-specific forms.
Our research builds on recent findings from a postpartum depression study that identified circulating protein biomarkers associated with increased PPD risk using the Olink Explore HT proteomics platform. By cross-validating these protein-level pathways with the UK Biobank’s genomic, proteomic, and clinical data, we aim to determine whether common molecular signatures are shared between major depression in mid-life and depression occurring after childbirth.
The key research questions are:
1. Do molecular and genetic features of depression in the UK Biobank overlap with pathways linked to PPD risk?
2. Which biological processes-such as stress response, immune regulation, and glucocorticoid signalling-are common across both contexts?
3. Can integrated, data-driven models identify molecular signatures that explain vulnerability to depression across different life stages?
UK Biobank datasets will be accessed via the Research Analysis Platform and analysed using supervised machine learning, correlation network mapping, and pathway enrichment approaches. This project is conducted as basic research to advance knowledge of depression biology and improve understanding of factors influencing human mental health.