How MYRNA came to be
Though MYRNA is the name of this study, it stems from an unforeseeable meeting of minds. That of Myrna Weissman and an incredible group of colleagues with Larissa Takser. An amazing group of individuals inspired by science, human development and the well-being of those touched by their fields of research.
It all began with an invitation…
Larissa Takser has spent more than 15 years on the GESTE study, another ongoing long-term study conducted here in Sherbrooke, and dedicated to child development. During the course of the GESTE study, an international collaboration came about; both Andrea Baccarelli, leading epidemiologist and researcher at Columbia University as well as Jonathan Posner, a highly regarded specialist in the field of neurodevelopment and MRI research, also Columbia based, joined GESTE as co-investigators.
In 2018, acting on Andrea’s invitation, Larissa gave an in-person presentation of the GESTE study at Columbia.
Myrna and colleagues visiting Sherbrooke in June 2018
One thing leads to another…
Afterwards, an informal exchange ensues between Dr. Takser and Dr. Posner, exploring possible means of collaboration. They make their way to the teachers’ lounge joining colleagues amongst whom Myrna Weissman, Adi Talati, William Fifer and Jay Gingrich.
Their conversation continues in an impromptu back-and-forth between all those around the table and quite literally, the genesis of the present MYRNA study emerges from this free-form brainstorming amongst an amazing group of leading researchers, all excelling in their field of expertise. An extraordinary unplanned coming together of minds.
A study seeks a name, and a name is it’s inspiration….
To meet Myrna is akin to meeting a whole chapter in the recent development of mental health research. Her work spans more than 40 years and has brought to the forefront a multi-faceted understanding of depression, its impact on children and on the family unit as a whole.
Her work is that of a pioneer in her field. The 50’s were not Years of Enlightenment when it came to accepting women in American universities; to find one’s place and pursue a career in academia was an exceptional feat. Such was Myrna’s; earning her first university diploma with Honours in 1956 at the age of 22. This was followed by a Masters degree in 1958 and a PhD from Yale in 1974.
The interim between postgraduate degrees saw Myrna marry, have four children and begin her academic career both in the States and in Scotland. Thus simultaneously managing family life, her research career and post-graduate studies. Along with Gerald Klerman, Myrna will develop the only approach in psychotherapy that proves to be successful in the treatment of major depression. We are in 1967.
Rather early on Myrna will seek to assess the impact of maternal depression on children and thus conceive of long-term studies following mother-child pairings.
Myrna Weissman is to be regarded as part of the Avant-garde that considered the complexity of depression based on gender, psycho-social and socio-demographic realties. Her current research is now following the third generation of families, assessing the impact of depression throughout.
The hope held within her own work, as with the MYRNA study, is that we may eventually identify specific bio-markers of psychological vulnerability so as to develop better means of assisting mothers, their children and their families as early as possible. It is she, Myrna Weissman, that inspires the study that bears her name.
Dr. Myrna Weissman
Thus, a study took name and flight
Though MYRNA as an acronym may require a bit of mental contorsion, it is but a small tribute to a Grande Dame in the field of mental health research and the pursuit of helping others. The MYRNA study in which you may choose to participate seeks to further the understanding of potential links between maternal mental health challenges (anxiety and even depression) and the development of the child’s brain; ultimately leading to better ways to address difficulties as soon as identified. Myrna Weissman is co-Principal Investigator on the MYRNA study.
MYRNA : Mother and Youth: Research on Neurodevelopment and BehAvior