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Dr Jessica Hall
(she/her)
Teams and roles for Jessica Hall
Research Associate
Research Associate
Overview
I am a postdoctoral researcher with the Rare Genetic Variant Research Group at Cardiff University, investigating rare genomic variants called copy number variants (CNVs). I am interested in the impact of CNVs on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes. My work focuses on utilising psychiatric and cognitive phenotyping to better characterise the variability in mental health and cognitive profiles associated with CNVs, with a particular focus on how family emotional climate shapes neurodevelopmental trajectories and psychiatric outcomes. By integrating detailed behavioral assessments with genetic and environmental data, I aim to improve understanding of how genetic risk translates into diverse neuropsychiatric presentations, with a particular emphasis on developmental trajectories in young people. I am also passionate about the importance of translating complex data into meaningful insights for clinicians, families, and educators.
Publication
2025
- Huremagic, B. et al. 2025. MINDDS-connect: a federated data platform integrating biobanks for meta cohort building and analysis. European Journal of Human Genetics (10.1038/s41431-025-01927-5)
- Gur, R. C. et al. 2025. Neurocognitive profiles of 22q11.2 and 16p11.2 deletions and duplications. Molecular Psychiatry 30, pp. 379-387. (10.1038/s41380-024-02661-y)
2024
- Hall, J. H. et al. 2024. Irritability in young people with copy number variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND-CNVs). Translational Psychiatry 14(1), article number: 259. (10.1038/s41398-024-02975-z)
- Butter, C. E., Goldie, C. L., Hall, J. H., Leadbitter, K., Burkitt, E. M., van den Bree, M. B. and Green, J. M. 2024. Experiences and concerns of parents of children with a 16p11.2 deletion or duplication diagnosis: a reflexive thematic analysis. BMC Psychology 12, article number: 137. (10.1186/s40359-024-01609-9)
2023
- Raven, E. et al. 2023. In vivo evidence of microstructural hypo-connectivity of brain white matter in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Molecular Psychiatry 28, pp. 4342-4352. (10.1038/s41380-023-02178-w)
2022
- Donnelly, N. A. et al. 2022. Sleep EEG in young people with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A cross-sectional study of slow-waves, spindles and correlations with memory and neurodevelopmental symptoms. eLife 11, article number: e75482. (10.7554/elife.75482)
2019
- Brydges, N. M. et al. 2019. Childhood stress impairs social function through AVP-dependent mechanisms. Translational Psychiatry 9(1), article number: 330. (10.1038/s41398-019-0678-0)
2016
- Hall, J. H. 2016. Dissociating aberrant properties of recognition memory in the TC1 mouse model of Trisomy-21. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
- Hall, J. H., Wiseman, F. K., Fisher, E. M. C., Tybulewicz, V. L. J., Harwood, J. L. and Good, M. A. 2016. Tc1 mouse model of trisomy-21 dissociates properties of short- and long-term recognition memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 130, pp. 118-128. (10.1016/j.nlm.2016.02.002)
Articles
- Huremagic, B. et al. 2025. MINDDS-connect: a federated data platform integrating biobanks for meta cohort building and analysis. European Journal of Human Genetics (10.1038/s41431-025-01927-5)
- Gur, R. C. et al. 2025. Neurocognitive profiles of 22q11.2 and 16p11.2 deletions and duplications. Molecular Psychiatry 30, pp. 379-387. (10.1038/s41380-024-02661-y)
- Hall, J. H. et al. 2024. Irritability in young people with copy number variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND-CNVs). Translational Psychiatry 14(1), article number: 259. (10.1038/s41398-024-02975-z)
- Butter, C. E., Goldie, C. L., Hall, J. H., Leadbitter, K., Burkitt, E. M., van den Bree, M. B. and Green, J. M. 2024. Experiences and concerns of parents of children with a 16p11.2 deletion or duplication diagnosis: a reflexive thematic analysis. BMC Psychology 12, article number: 137. (10.1186/s40359-024-01609-9)
- Raven, E. et al. 2023. In vivo evidence of microstructural hypo-connectivity of brain white matter in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Molecular Psychiatry 28, pp. 4342-4352. (10.1038/s41380-023-02178-w)
- Donnelly, N. A. et al. 2022. Sleep EEG in young people with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A cross-sectional study of slow-waves, spindles and correlations with memory and neurodevelopmental symptoms. eLife 11, article number: e75482. (10.7554/elife.75482)
- Brydges, N. M. et al. 2019. Childhood stress impairs social function through AVP-dependent mechanisms. Translational Psychiatry 9(1), article number: 330. (10.1038/s41398-019-0678-0)
- Hall, J. H., Wiseman, F. K., Fisher, E. M. C., Tybulewicz, V. L. J., Harwood, J. L. and Good, M. A. 2016. Tc1 mouse model of trisomy-21 dissociates properties of short- and long-term recognition memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 130, pp. 118-128. (10.1016/j.nlm.2016.02.002)
Thesis
- Hall, J. H. 2016. Dissociating aberrant properties of recognition memory in the TC1 mouse model of Trisomy-21. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
Biography
I’m a postdoctoral researcher in the Rare Genetic Variant Research Group at Cardiff University, working within the van den Bree lab. I completed my PhD in behavioural neuroscience, under Prof. Mark Good, where I investigated the behavioural phenotype of a novel Tc1 mouse model of trisomy-21, focusing on learning and memory processing. After that, I joined the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) as a research assistant, where I deepened my understanding of psychiatric phenotyping through close work with individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder and psychosis.
I then spent time outside of academia, contributing to a team that implemented a trauma resilience training programme within Gwent Police Force, supporting frontline officers with evidence-based psychological strategies. I returned to research as a member of the Rare Genetic Variant team, where my current work explores the cognitive and psychiatric outcomes associated with rare genomic variants. I’m particularly interested in how family emotional climate shapes vulnerability to psychosis, and work to refine our understanding of these complex interactions.
Honours and awards
- Travel grant: Guarantors of Brain (2025)
- Ignite Programme, Wellcome Trust Small Grant Award: Partners in Care (2025)
- Future Leaders in Neuroscience Seedcorn (2024)
- Travel and Development Award - ECR TADA (2024)
- Future Leaders in Neuroscience Travel Award (2024)
- Future Leaders in Neuroscience Equipment and Resources Grant (2023)
- SSBP Conference - Genetics Society Short Talk Prize (2016)
- Prize for Early Promise, PhD Prize, Cardiff University School of Psychology (2016)
- NMHRI Travel Award (2015)
- T21RS Early Career Researcher Travel Prize (2015)
- Bioscience Poster Prize, Cardiff University Postgraduate Day (2014)
- Santander Postgraduate Scholarship (2012)
Professional memberships
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
Member of Genes to Mental Health Network (G2MH)
Contact Details
+44 29206 88329
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Hadyn Ellis Building, Floor 2, Room 2.01, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ