Center for Research on Families: Summer Methodology Workshop Series

Stress Biomarkers: Why, What, Where and How
Dates: June 7-8, 2018
Instructor: Jerrold Meyer, PhD, UMass Amherst
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This 2-day workshop will introduce participants to the field of biomarkers of acute and chronic stress. The workshop will begin with an overview of the concept of stress and the more recent incorporation of allostasis theory and allostatic load to the field of stress research. We will then introduce the main theme of biomarkers for measuring stress reactivity: Why you should include biomarker measures in your research, What you can measure, Where different biochemical markers can be detected and measured (i.e., types of fluid or tissue samples), and How to measure your markers of interest.

Specific biomarkers to be discussed include the adrenocortical hormones cortisol and DHEA, adrenomedullary hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, salivary alpha-amylase, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, c-reactive protein (CRP), metabolic hormones such as insulin, and cardiovascular measures that are sensitive to stress. For biochemical markers, types of samples suitable for measurement will be discussed, including hair and nail samples for measuring long-term cortisol and DHEA secretion. Laboratory demonstrations will show participants some of the instruments and techniques used for biomarker measurement. This workshop should be of interest to faculty members, postdocs, and grad students who wish to learn more about stress biomarkers in order to incorporate such measures into their research program.

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