Teri Sakshaug
About
My research is rooted in a deep interest in the relationship between stress and health, particularly in the realm of mental well-being. My academic background spans neuroscience, psychology, and molecular medicine, providing me with a multidisciplinary perspective on how stress impacts the brain at both a molecular and systemic level. The primary focus of my research has been on epigenetic regulation in the brain and how stress-induced changes to the neuroepigenome contribute to psychiatric and neurological disorders. Throughout my research, I have been interested in the role of stress in shaping long-term health outcomes, specifically when considering allostatic load, DNA damage and DNA repair. These biological processes are central to understanding how we move from a functional to dysfunctional stress response resulting in decompensation and ultimately increasing susceptibility to mental health disorders. By dissecting the molecular pathways that underlie these changes, I aim to identify biomarkers that can serve as more precise diagnostic tools, as well as potential therapeutic targets.
A significant aspect of my work involves bioinformatics and large-scale data analysis where I integrate complex datasets from ranked symptom reports to transcriptomic and epigenomic evaluations, allowing me to uncover patterns and regulatory networks that define a healthy versus maladaptive stress responses. My research seeks to answer fundamental questions about what constitutes a healthy stress response and how the fine balance between resilience and vulnerability is maintained. Understanding this delicate balance is crucial to identifying points of intervention that can promote mental resilience and prevent disease progression. I am particularly interested in how stress-induced epigenetic modifications alter gene expression patterns in the brain and how these changes contribute to psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety. I am committed to developing a more holistic approach to mental health research and treatment with my ultimate goal being to translate research findings into clinical applications that improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment strategies. By leveraging computational models, I aim to move beyond generalized treatment approaches and work toward precision medicine solutions tailored to an individual’s unique epigenetic profile.
Publications
2024
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Egiazarian, Milena Armenovna;
Abentung, Andreas;
Sakshaug, Teri;
Karabeika, Emily;
Hanumaihgari, Priyanka Reddy;
Grøntvedt, Gøril Rolfseng.
(2024)
The role of impaired oxidative base lesion repair in Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Abstract
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Obermann, Tobias;
Sakshaug, Teri Shearer;
Kanagaraj, Vishnu Vignesh;
Abentung, Andreas;
Leal de Sousa, Mirta Mittelstedt;
Hagen, Lars.
(2024)
Genomic 8-oxoguanine modulates gene transcription independent of its repair by DNA glycosylases OGG1 and MUTYH.
Redox Biology
Academic article
2022
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Egiazarian, Milena Armenovna;
Strømstad, Silje;
Sakshaug, Teri;
Núñez Nescolarde, Ana Beatriz;
Bethge, Nicole;
Bjørås, Magnar.
(2022)
Age- and sex-dependent effects of DNA glycosylase Neil3 on amyloid pathology, adult neurogenesis, and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine
Academic article
2019
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Olsen, Grethe Mari;
Hovde, Karoline;
Kondo, Hideki;
Sakshaug, Teri;
Haaland Sømme, Hanna;
Whitlock, Jonathan.
(2019)
Organization of Posterior Parietal–Frontal Connections in the Rat.
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
Academic article
2018
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Gullhaugen, Aina Sundt;
Sakshaug, Teri.
(2018)
What Can We Learn About Psychopathic Offenders by Studying Their Communication? A Review of the Literature.
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
Academic article
Journal publications
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Egiazarian, Milena Armenovna;
Abentung, Andreas;
Sakshaug, Teri;
Karabeika, Emily;
Hanumaihgari, Priyanka Reddy;
Grøntvedt, Gøril Rolfseng.
(2024)
The role of impaired oxidative base lesion repair in Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Abstract
-
Obermann, Tobias;
Sakshaug, Teri Shearer;
Kanagaraj, Vishnu Vignesh;
Abentung, Andreas;
Leal de Sousa, Mirta Mittelstedt;
Hagen, Lars.
(2024)
Genomic 8-oxoguanine modulates gene transcription independent of its repair by DNA glycosylases OGG1 and MUTYH.
Redox Biology
Academic article
-
Egiazarian, Milena Armenovna;
Strømstad, Silje;
Sakshaug, Teri;
Núñez Nescolarde, Ana Beatriz;
Bethge, Nicole;
Bjørås, Magnar.
(2022)
Age- and sex-dependent effects of DNA glycosylase Neil3 on amyloid pathology, adult neurogenesis, and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine
Academic article
-
Olsen, Grethe Mari;
Hovde, Karoline;
Kondo, Hideki;
Sakshaug, Teri;
Haaland Sømme, Hanna;
Whitlock, Jonathan.
(2019)
Organization of Posterior Parietal–Frontal Connections in the Rat.
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
Academic article
-
Gullhaugen, Aina Sundt;
Sakshaug, Teri.
(2018)
What Can We Learn About Psychopathic Offenders by Studying Their Communication? A Review of the Literature.
Journal of Psycholinguistic Research
Academic article
Outreach
2023
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Academic lectureSakshaug, Teri. (2023) Oxidative DNA damage as a gene regulator in depression and anxiety . Norsk psykiatrisk forening Psykiatriveka , Bergen 2023-03-13 - 2023-03-15
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PosterSakshaug, Teri; Kjelsaas Salvesen, Hedda; Scheffler, Katja. (2023) The role of oxidative DNA damage and repair on the neuroepigenome in stress-mediated depression and anxiety. Norwegian Research School in Neuroscience 10th Annual NRSN PhD Conference 2023-09-27 - 2023-09-29
2015
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PosterSakshaug, Teri; Gullhaugen, Aina Sundt. (2015) Early maladaptive schemas present in both substance abusers and psychopaths. EAPL Current Challenges for Psychology and Law , Nuremberg 2015-08-04 - 2015-08-07