Cathy Davies

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, working with Prof Steve Williams and Prof Sukhi Shergill to investigate the neural circuitry of cognitive dysfunction in psychosis and depression. More broadly, my research interests centre on using MRI and experimental medicine to (a) better understand the neurobiological mechanisms driving the onset of psychosis, and (b) develop novel treatments that better target the underlying pathophysiology.

I completed my PhD in Biological Psychiatry (2016-2019) within the Department of Psychosis Studies, supervised by Prof Paolo Fusar-Poli and Prof Philip McGuire. My doctoral research investigated treatments for people at clinical high risk of psychosis using network meta-analysis, MRI and pharmacological challenge with oxytocin. More recently, as a postdoc I worked with Prof Sagnik Bhattacharyya to examine the effects of cannabidiol on cerebral perfusion, neurochemistry and fMRI readouts in patients with psychosis risk.