Browser does not support script.
Professor of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
I graduated from Liverpool University in 1980 with a BSc in Pharmacology and continued in the same department to obtain a PhD on the central control of respiration in 1984. I then moved to the University of Nottingham and commenced an MRC post doctoral research fellowship with Professor CA Marsden and Dr GW Bennett, examining the role of serotonin (5-HT) in bulbospinal raphe neurones controlling motor function. This established my long-standing interest in the mechanism of action of 5-HT in the CNS and Nottingham has since been my home for this research. In 1988 I was appointed to the position of Lecturer in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and I became a Senior lecturer in 1996, a Reader in 2003, and obtained a personal Chair in 2006 in what is now the School of Biomedical Sciences.
My work continues to take a whole animal integrated physiological approach to investigate the functional role of 5-HT in the CNS and to evaluate the impact of early-life interventions on brain development and behaviour. A particular interest is trying to develop and validate rodent models that help improve our understanding of the neurobiological basis of common neurodevelopmental disorders. I lead a team of postgraduate research students, post doctoral research fellows and a senior research fellow working on preclinical models of common CNS disorders. I also head the CNS disorders research group of eight academics within the School of Biomedical Sciences.
I deliver a variety of teaching to the Neuroscience MPharm and BMedSci degrees at The University of Nottingham. During my time at The University of Nottingham I have served as Admissions tutor,… read more
My research interest is the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in neurological and mental disorders and the impact of lesions, pharmacological or environmental interventions during early life on subsequent… read more
I deliver a variety of teaching to the Neuroscience MPharm and BMedSci degrees at The University of Nottingham. During my time at The University of Nottingham I have served as Admissions tutor, Examination Officer and Senior Tutor for the undergraduate Neuroscience degrees and been a member of the Science Faculty Examination Board for the University. I have been personal supervisor for 31 successful PhD students, External Examiner for 26 PhD theses in UK, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Australia, and internal examiner for 15 PhD submissions at The University of Nottingham. I am currently (2011) the external examiner for the BSc Pharmacology degree at the University of Liverpool.
My research interest is the role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in neurological and mental disorders and the impact of lesions, pharmacological or environmental interventions during early life on subsequent behavioural and neuronal development. My particular research focus is on the development and assessment of predictive models for schizophrenia, ADHD, depression and anxiety, and cognitive disorders. The fundamental approach is to concomitantly measure neurotransmitter function, neurochemistry and behaviour in paradigms designed to model CNS disorders. Techniques used include behavioural analysis, immunohistochemistry, radiotelemetry, microdialysis, electrophysiology, and MRI to identify changes in neuronal circuits in the brain that underlie the alterations in behaviour and neurophysiology seen. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the neurobiological aetiology of common CNS disorders and to help develop novel therapeutic treatment strategies.
Utilising in vivo methodologies to investigate the functional role of orphan receptors in CNS disorders.
University of Nottingham Medical SchoolQueen's Medical Centre Nottingham, NG7 2UH
telephone: +44 (0) 115 823 0141 email: enquiries