Dr Kyla Pennington
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Mental Health

Profile

Biography

• Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Mental Health, University of York, 2025-
• Senior Honorary Research Fellow in Behavioural Science, University of Lincoln, 2025-2028.
• Associate Professor in Behavioural Science, Lincoln Medical School, University of Lincoln,  2024-2025.
• Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, 2016-2024.
• Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, 2013 – 2016. 
• Research Assistant, Leeds and York NHS Partnership Foundation Trust, 2012 – 2013.
• Visiting Research Fellow, Leeds University, 2012 – 2012. 
• PGDip (Distinction) Psychology, York St John University 2010-2011.
• Parkinson’s Disease Society Research Fellow, Leeds University, 2007-2009. 
• Post-doctoral Research Scientist – Neuroproteomics, University College Dublin, 2006-2007. 
• DPhil in Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, 2002-2006. 
• BSc (2:1 Hons) in Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, 1997-2001.

Career

I completed my PhD in Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry in 2006 in the neuropathology of schizophrenia and continued with this focus during my postdoctoral fellowship in University College Dublin where I explored further the neuroproteomics of psychiatric pathology.  I subsequently worked on a Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Society Research Fellowship investigating the role of mitochondrial function in neuronal cell models of PD before studying a PGDip in Psychology from York St John in 2011 and working as a clinical research assistant for the Leeds and York Mental Health Trust.  I moved to Lincoln for a lectureship in 2016 where I led the Psychobiology and Mental Health Lab in the School of Psychology for over 10 years.  In 2024 I moved to the Lincoln Medical School to take up the post of Associate Professor in Behavioural Science and then to the University of York to take up a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health post in 2025.

Research

Overview

My research broadly focuses on understanding stress vulnerability and the way in which our experiences of stress relate to our mental health and wellbeing.  As a psychobiologist my approach is strongly oriented towards understanding this in the context of our physiology including cortisol release patterns, the effects of genetic variants and the complex interplay between cognitive processes and the autonomic nervous system.  In addition to understanding the mechanisms of mental health in relation to cognitive, biological and social factors I am interested in how we can work to improve mental health and reduce the impacts of stress through techniques such as mindfulness and cognitive training.

Projects

Current PGR student projects;

• Christina Exal, University of Lincoln (MRes) ‘Loss Aversion and Stress: The Impact of An Acute Cognitive Stressor on Loss Aversion and Alcohol Use using Heart Rate Variability’ 
• Laura Pellegrini, University of Lincoln (PhD) ‘Evaluating the effectiveness of mindfulness programmes on cognition, physiological stress and wellbeing in adults

Research group(s)

• Mechanisms of Mental Health Research Group

Available PhD research projects

Project title: ‘Learning from children and young people with complex needs about their experiences of trauma informed care: What works and why?’. More details can be found here; https://www.senss.ac.uk/collaborativeproject1.  Deadline for applications: 25th February 2025. Interview date 18th March 2025 (am).

Feel free to get in touch if you’re interested in joining my lab as a PhD student or independent research fellow.  I’m happy to supervise projects related to the psychobiological and cognitive mechanisms of mental health, stress and research evaluating the impact of stress reduction strategies e.g. mindfulness.

Teaching

Publications

Selected publications

• Pennington, K., Klaus, K., Fachim, H., Trischel, K., Butler, K., Heald, A., Dalton, C. and Reynolds, G. (2020) CACNA1C methylation: association with cortisol, perceived stress, rs1006737 and childhood trauma in males. Epigenomics, 12 (19). pp. 1739-1749. ISSN 1750-1911 
• Klaus, K., Butler, K., Curtis, F., Bridle, C. and Pennington, K. (2019) The effect of ANKK1 Taq1A and DRD2 C957T polymorphisms on executive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 100 . pp. 224-236. ISSN 0149-7634   
• Butler, K., Klaus, K., Edwards, L. and Pennington, K. (2017) Elevated cortisol awakening response associated with early life stress and impaired executive function in healthy adult males. Hormones and Behavior, 95 . pp. 13-21. ISSN 0018-506X   
• Klaus, K., Butler, K., Durrant, S. J., Ali, M., Inglehearn, C. F., Hodgson, T. L., Gutierrez, H. and Pennington, K. (2017) The effect of COMT Val158Met and DRD2 C957T polymorphisms on executive function and the impact of early life stress. Brain and Behavior, 7 (5). e00695. ISSN 2162-3279 
• English, J.A., Pennington, K., Dunn, M.J. and Cotter, D.R. (2011) The neuroproteomics of schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry, 69 (2). pp. 163-172. ISSN 0006-3223   
• Pennington, K., Dicker, P., Hudson, L. and Cotter, D. R. (2008) Evidence for reduced neuronal somal size within the insular cortex in schizophrenia, but not in affective disorders. Schizophrenia Research, 106 (2). pp. 164-171. ISSN 0920-9964. 
• Pennington, K., Beasley, C. L., Dicker, P., Fagin, A., English, J., Pariante, C. M., Wait, R., Dunn, M. J. and Cotter, D. R. (2008) Prominent synaptic and metabolic abnormalities revealed by proteomic analysis of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 13 (12). pp. 1102-1117. ISSN 1359-4184   

Full publications list

• Martin D., Bargh M., Pennington K. (2024) Effect of oral contraceptive consumption timing on substrate metabolism, cognition, and exercise performance in females: a randomised controlled trial medRxiv, 2024.09. 17.24311270
• Cooke S., Pennington K., Bridle C., Curtis F. (2023) Feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive training study among individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetology, 4 (2), 160-177. 
• Pickerell L.E., Pennington K., Cartledge C., Miller K.A., Curtis F. (2023) The effectiveness of school-based CBT and mindfulness programmes to improve emotional regulation in 7-12 year old: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mindfulness, 14(5). ISSN 1868-8527 
• Meints K., Brelsford V., Dimolareva M., Marechal L., Pennington K., Rowan E., Gee N. (2022) Can dogs reduce stress levels in school children? Effects of dog-assisted interventions on salivary cortisol in children with and without special educational needs using randomised controlled trials. PLoS ONE, 17(6): e0269333. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269333   
• Klaus, K., Vaht, M., Pennington, K. and Harro, J. (2021) Interactive effects of DRD2 rs6277 polymorphism, environment and sex on impulsivity in a population-representative study. Behavioural Brain Research, 403 . p. 113131. ISSN 0166-4328.   
• Pennington, K., Klaus, K., Fachim, H., Trischel, K., Butler, K., Heald, A., Dalton, C. and Reynolds, G. (2020) CACNA1C methylation: association with cortisol, perceived stress, rs1006737 and childhood trauma in males. Epigenomics, 12 (19). pp. 1739-1749. ISSN 1750-1911 
• Cooke, S., Pennington, K., Jones, A., Bridle, C., Smith, M. and Curtis, F. (2020) Effects of exercise, cognitive, and dual-task interventions on cognition in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 15 (5). e0232958. ISSN e0232958 
• Klaus, K., Butler, K., Curtis, F., Bridle, C. and Pennington, K. (2019) The effect of ANKK1 Taq1A and DRD2 C957T polymorphisms on executive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 100 . pp. 224-236. ISSN 0149-7634   
• TL Hodgson, F Hermens, K Pennington, JS Pickering, G Ezard, R Clarke, … (2019) Eye movements in the “Morris Maze” spatial working memory task reveal deficits in strategic planning.  Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 31 (4), 497-509
• Klaus K. & Pennington K. (2019) Dopamine and working memory: genetic variation, stress and implications for mental health.  Processes of Visuospatial Attention and Working Memory, 369-391
• Harrington M.O., Klaus K., Vaht M., Harro J., Pennington K., Durrant S. (2019) Overnight retention of emotional memories is influenced by BDNF Val66Met but not 5-HTTLPR. Behavioural Brain Research, 359 . pp. 17-27. ISSN 0166-4328 
• Dimolareva M., Gee N.R., Pfeffer K., Maréchal L., Pennington K., Meints K. (2018) Measuring cortisol in the classroom with school-aged children—a systematic review and recommendations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15 (5), 1025
• Harrington M.O., Johnson J.M., Croom H.E., Pennington K., Durrant S.J. (2018) The influence of REM sleep and SWS on emotional memory consolidation in participants reporting depressive symptoms. Cortex 99, 281-295
• Harrington, M., Pennington, K. and Durrant, S. (2017) The ‘affect tagging and consolidation’ (ATaC) model of depression vulnerability. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory . ISSN 1074-7427 
• Butler, K., Klaus, K., Edwards, L. and Pennington, K. (2017) Elevated cortisol awakening response associated with early life stress and impaired executive function in healthy adult males. Hormones and Behavior, 95 . pp. 13-21. ISSN 0018-506X   
• Klaus, K., Butler, K., Durrant, S. J., Ali, M., Inglehearn, C. F., Hodgson, T. L., Gutierrez, H. and Pennington, K. (2017) The effect of COMT Val158Met and DRD2 C957T polymorphisms on executive function and the impact of early life stress. Brain and Behavior, 7 (5). e00695. ISSN 2162-3279 
• English, J.A., Pennington, K., Dunn, M.J. and Cotter, D.R. (2011) The neuroproteomics of schizophrenia. Biological Psychiatry, 69 (2). pp. 163-172. ISSN 0006-3223   
• Pennington, K., Peng, J., Hung, C., Banks, R.E. and Robinson, P.A. (2010) Differential effects of wild-type and A53T mutant isoform of alpha-synuclein on the mitochondrial proteome of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Journal of Proteome Research, 9 (5). pp. 2390-2401. ISSN 1535-3893   
• Pennington, K., Focking, M., McManus, C. A., Pariante, C. M., Dunn, M. J. and Cotter, D. R. (2009) A proteomic investigation of similarities between conventional and herbal antidepressant treatments. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 23 (5). pp. 520-530. ISSN 0269-8811.   
• Davison E.J., Pennington K., Hung C.C., Peng J., Rafiq R., … (2009) Proteomic analysis of increased Parkin expression and its interactants provides evidence for a role in modulation of mitochondrial function. Proteomics 9 (18), 4284-4297
• Hettiarachchi N.T., Parker A., Dallas M.L., Pennington K., Hung C.C., ... (2009) α‐Synuclein modulation of Ca2+ signaling in human neuroblastoma (SH‐SY5Y) cells. Journal of neurochemistry 111 (5), 1192-1201
• Davison E.J., Pennington K., Hung CC, Peng J., Rafiq R., … (2009) Proteomic analysis of increased Parkin expression and its interactants provides evidence for a role in modulation of mitochondrial function.  Proteomics 9 (18), 4284-4297
• Pennington, K., Dicker, P., Hudson, L. and Cotter, D. R. (2008) Evidence for reduced neuronal somal size within the insular cortex in schizophrenia, but not in affective disorders. Schizophrenia Research, 106 (2). pp. 164-171. ISSN 0920-9964. 
• Pennington, K., Dicker, P., Dunn, M.J. and Cotter, D.R. (2008) Proteomic analysis reveals protein changes within layer 2 of the insular cortex in schizophrenia.  8 (23-24). pp. 5097-5107. ISSN 1615-9853   
• Pennington, K., Beasley, C. L., Dicker, P., Fagin, A., English, J., Pariante, C. M., Wait, R., Dunn, M. J. and Cotter, D. R. (2008) Prominent synaptic and metabolic abnormalities revealed by proteomic analysis of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 13 (12). pp. 1102-1117. ISSN 1359-4184   
• Föcking M., Pennington K., English J., Dunn M., Cotter D. (2007) Proteomics providing insights into major psychiatric disorders. Clinical Proteomics: from Diagnosis to Therapy, 349-377
• AW Dowsey, J English, K Pennington, D Cotter, K Stuehler, K Marcus, … (2006) Examination of 2‐DE in the Human Proteome Organisation Brain Proteome Project pilot studies with the new RAIN gel matching technique. Proteomics 6 (18), 5030-5047
• Beasley, C.L., Pennington, K., Behan, A., Wait, R., Dunn, M.J. and Cotter, D. (2006) Proteomic analysis of the anterior cingulate cortex in the major psychiatric disorders: evidence for disease-associated changes. Proteomics, 6 (11). pp. 3414-3425. ISSN 1615-9853 
• K Pennington, D Cotter, MJ Dunn (2005) The role of proteomics in investigating psychiatric disorders. The British Journal of Psychiatry 187 (1), 4-6
• Pennington K., McGregor E., Beasley C.L., Everall I., Cotter D., Dunn M.J. (2004) Optimization of the first dimension for separation by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis of basic proteins from human brain tissue. Proteomics 4 (1), 27-30
• Maxwell, W.L., Pennington, K., MacKinnon, M.A., Smith, D.H., McIntosh, T.K., Lindsay W., J. T. and Graham,D.I. (2004) Differential responses in three thalamic nuclei in moderately disabled, severely disabled and vegetative patients after blunt head injury. Brain, 127 (11). pp. 2470-2478. ISSN 0006-8950  

External activities

Overview

• Honorary Senior Fellow in Behavioural Medicine, University of Lincoln (2025 - 2028)
• Since September 2023 I have been Chair of the British Psychological Society’s Psychobiology Section (https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/psychobiology-section).  With around 300 members this Section brings together UK psychologists interested in psychobiology running events throughout the year to support collaboration and share expertise and interests.