School of Life Sciences
The BEAR Lab (Brain, Epigenetics, & Altered states Research)
The BEAR Lab (Brain, Epigenetics, & Altered states Research)
Learn more about your impact
At the Brain, Epigenetics, and Altered states Research Lab at Arizona State University, every study we conduct is driven by one question: Can this science lead to better mental health care? Your support helps us pursue bold, innovative research, train the next generation of scientists and accelerate discoveries that could transform how mental illness is prevented and treated. Our goal is not simply to understand mental health differently, but to help people live better lives by discovering faster, more effective and personalized treatments.
Being a member of the BEAR Lab was the most rewarding aspect of my undergraduate experience at ASU. Under the mentorship of Dr. Candace Lewis and Sarah Mennenga, I had the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research while developing skills in data analysis, scientific thinking, collaboration, and communication. The supportive and encouraging environment in the lab helped me grow both as a researcher and as a student, and solidified my interest in pursuing a career in neuroscience. I am deeply grateful for the mentorship, friendships and experiences I gained during my time in the BEAR Lab.”
Impact of donor support
Your gift helps us uncover new ways to relieve suffering and transform lives by:
- Pioneering precision psychiatry through discoveries that could replace trial-and-error treatment with personalized care.
- Accelerating research on breakthrough therapies that harness neuroplasticity and psychological healing for faster, longer-lasting relief.
- Revolutionizing psychiatric genomics by investigating complex biological networks rather than isolated neurotransmitter systems.
- Uncovering the biological roots of mental illness through innovative identical-twin studies of early-life adversity and resilience.
- Discovering biomarkers of risk and recovery to help predict who is most vulnerable and which treatments will work best.
- Empowering the next generation of scientists through hands-on training in cutting-edge neuroscience, genomics and mental health research.
- Turning scientific discoveries into better care by advancing research with the potential to improve and transform lives.
I grew up witnessing the devastating impact of mental illness on individuals and families, including my own. That experience shaped my life's work. Today, as both a neuroscientist and a therapist, I believe we have an extraordinary opportunity to fundamentally change how we understand and treat mental illness. This isn't just science to me. It's personal. My goal is to advance research that relieves suffering and gives people a better chance at living full, healthy lives."