克莱尔·福尔迪推进饮食失调神经科学研究

莫纳什大学副教授克莱尔·J·福尔迪博士在进食障碍的神经生物学领域开展了开创性研究。她的工作重点是理解神经性厌食症和其他进食障碍的大脑回路，旨在开发更有效的治疗方法。这项研究至关重要，因为进食障碍仍然是最致命且最不为人所知的精神疾病之一。

　　

2025年6月17日，澳大利亚维多利亚州墨尔本——在接受Genomic Press“创新者与创意”栏目采访时，莫纳什大学生理学系副教授Claire J. Foldi博士分享了她在饮食失调领域的研究历程和开创性工作。Foldi博士的研究重点是饮食失调（尤其是神经性厌食症）的神经生物学，并探索包括迷幻药在内的新型疗法如何为饮食失调提供新的治疗途径。

早期灵感和职业轨迹

Foldi 博士对人类行为以及大脑处理经验的方式的迷恋始于她的本科学习时期。本科心理学课程中关于病理思维的课程是她学习的关键时刻，这门课程激发了她对精神疾病生物学基础的研究。“我一直对人类行为以及大脑如何处理经验（例如感知、情感和信念）非常着迷，”Foldi 博士回忆道。这份好奇心促使她攻读博士学位，探索精神分裂症社会和环境风险因素的生物学基础。她的学术生涯充满了敢于尝试和探索意想不到的机会，最终使她专攻饮食失调研究。

福尔迪博士的职业轨迹展现了她对理解复杂心理健康问题的适应能力和热情。她从研究精神分裂症转向专注于饮食失调，体现了她致力于填补心理健康研究领域关键空白的决心。“讽刺的是，我最初并没有打算成为饮食失调或迷幻药研究的专家，”她指出。这种转变不仅是她个人的进化，也是对日益增长的深入了解饮食失调需求的回应。饮食失调是最致命的精神疾病之一，但其研究仍知之甚少。

研究重点和方法

Foldi博士的实验室研究饥饿和焦虑等内部状态如何与控制高阶认知行为的大脑回路相互作用。她的团队利用体内纤维光度测定法和计算行为模型等尖端工具，研究神经性厌食症的神经基础，并评估裸盖菇素等新型疗法在恢复行为灵活性方面的潜力。“我们利用体内纤维光度测定法和计算行为模型等尖端工具，研究大脑动力学如何影响与食物、威胁和奖励相关的决策，”Foldi博士解释道。

Foldi 博士的研究方法处于神经科学的前沿。通过利用先进的神经记录和操控工具，她的实验室可以实时观察大脑活动及其与行为的关联。这种方法可以详细探究不同大脑区域如何沟通并影响与饮食失调相关的行为。计算模型的整合进一步增强了预测和理解复杂行为模式的能力，为制定有针对性的干预措施提供了坚实的框架。

影响和未来方向

饮食失调影响着全球数百万人，其死亡率在所有精神疾病中最高。Foldi博士的研究旨在通过识别持续性适应不良行为的生物学原因，改变人们对这些疾病的理解和治疗。“了解这些变化背后的神经机制可以提供神经标记，从而更好地预测未来的行为和情绪挑战，”她强调。她的研究成果有望带来更有针对性、更有效的治疗方法，最终改善饮食失调患者的预后。

Foldi博士的研究意义深远，不仅仅限于实验室。通过识别与进食障碍相关的特定神经通路和机制，她的研究成果有望为临床实践和公共卫生政策提供参考。这或许有助于开发更有效、更符合个体需求的新型治疗策略，从而减轻进食障碍给个人和社会带来的负担。

个人见解和哲学

除了职业成就之外，Foldi博士还分享了她个人的见解和指导其职业生涯的理念。“有三个价值观尤为突出：学术诚实、合作而非竞争，以及致力于指导，”她说道。她的实验室环境鼓励好奇心、创新，并鼓励与学生和合作者共同设计项目。Foldi博士的研究方法严谨而灵活，允许进行探索性工作并带来意想不到的发现。

Dr. Foldi's commitment to mentoring is evident in her dedication to supporting the next generation of researchers. She believes in creating an inclusive and supportive environment where diverse ideas can flourish. This philosophy not only fosters innovation but also ensures that her lab remains a dynamic and productive space for scientific discovery. "I feel a strong responsibility to mentor and support emerging women scientists and to model leadership that is collaborative, transparent, and inclusive," Dr. Foldi asserts.

Broader Implications and Questions for Further Exploration

Dr. Foldi's work raises several intriguing questions for further exploration. How might the integration of psychedelics into treatment protocols revolutionize the approach to eating disorder treatment? "Some of the most impactful parts of my career have come from following unexpected leads with an open mind," she reflects. What broader societal impacts could arise from a deeper understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of these conditions? These questions not only add depth to the narrative but also provide hooks for journalists to delve deeper into the topic.

The exploration of psychedelics as potential therapeutics is particularly provocative. As society grapples with the complexities of mental health treatment, the integration of psychedelics presents both opportunities and challenges. Understanding the mechanisms by which these substances can modulate brain activity and behavior could open new pathways for treatment-resistant conditions, offering hope to many who have not benefited from traditional therapies.

Moreover, Dr. Foldi's research invites a reconsideration of how mental health conditions are perceived and treated. By focusing on the biological mechanisms underlying eating disorders, her work challenges the stigma associated with these conditions and promotes a more compassionate and scientific approach to mental health care. "If we want to foster genuine breakthroughs, we need to fund thinking time, not just outputs," she advocates.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the promising directions of her research, Dr. Foldi acknowledges the challenges inherent in studying complex psychiatric conditions. The interdisciplinary nature of her work requires navigating diverse scientific landscapes and integrating findings from various fields. Additionally, the exploration of novel therapeutics like psychedelics involves overcoming regulatory and societal hurdles, which can be significant.

However, these challenges also present opportunities for growth and innovation. By addressing these issues head-on, Dr. Foldi and her team are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also contributing to the broader dialogue on mental health treatment and policy. Their work exemplifies the potential for research to drive meaningful change in both scientific understanding and societal attitudes. "We need systemic change. This includes longer-term grants, improved recognition of mentoring and team science, and increased diversity in leadership," she emphasizes.

Dr. Claire J. Foldi's Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today's most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that explore the scientist's impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes.