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Biography
I graduated from the University of Bath in 2002 with a MSci in Pharmacology, which included an industrial placement in the Behavioural Neuroscience department of the Merck Sharp & Dohme Neuroscience Research Centre (2000-2001). I moved to Nottingham to complete a Roche-funded PhD on the role of 5-HT6 receptors in memory and attention, then enjoyed three years as a post-doctoral researcher on a multicentre EU FP6-funded project, developing novel models for glutamatergic CNS disorders using short hairpin RNA approaches. I was appointed to my current role as Senior Research Fellow in 2010 and lead an expanding team focused on improving understanding and treatment of common CNS disorders. I was named collaborator on an EU FP7-funded Marie Curie Initial Training Network, r'BIRTH - Brain Imaging Return to Health. I received the 2019 British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) Senior Award for Non-Clinical research, and recently joined BAP Council and the British Journal of Pharmacology Editorial Board.
Expertise Summary
Neuroscience
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Behavioural pharmacology
Cognitive testing
Neurochemistry
Research Summary
My research uses neurodevelopmental models to investigate how adverse early-life events or drugs of abuse impact on brain neurochemistry and contribute to cognitive and social dysfunction. The group… read more
Selected Publications
GOH J-Y, O'SULLIVAN SE, SHORTALL SE, ZORDAN N, PICCININI AM, POTTER HG, FONE KCF and KING MV, 2020. Gestational poly(I:C) attenuates, not exacerbates, the behavioral, cytokine and mTOR changes caused by isolation rearing in a rat ‘dual-hit’ model for neurodevelopmental disorders Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 89, 100-117 SHORTALL SE, BROWN AM, NEWTON-MANN E, DAWE-LANE E, EVANS C, FOWLER M and KING MV, 2020. Calbindin deficits may underlie dissociable effects of 5-HT6 and mGlu7 antagonists on glutamate and cognition in a dual-hit neurodevelopmental model for schizophrenia Molecular Neurobiology. (In Press.)
KOHLI S, KING MV, WILLIAMS S, EDWARDS A, BALLARD TM, STEWARD LJ, ALBERATI D and FONE KCF, 2019. Oxytocin attenuates phencyclidine hyperactivity and increases social interaction and nucleus accumbens dopamine release in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 44(2), 295-305
Current Research
My research uses neurodevelopmental models to investigate how adverse early-life events or drugs of abuse impact on brain neurochemistry and contribute to cognitive and social dysfunction. The group has a track record of successful collaboration on EU and industry-funded projects, evaluating novel serotonergic, cholinergic, dopaminergic and glutamatergic treatments for disorders like schizophrenia, autism and depression. Current group members are working on a variety of exciting projects, from changes to inflammatory biomarkers in patients with schizophrenia to strategies for optimizing nasal delivery of potential therapeutics.
We have expertise in:
- a broad range of behavioural techniques, using the latest software for computerised tracking, visual touchscreen tasks and recording of ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs)
- complimentary neurochemical approaches, from enzyme-based glutamate microsensors to microdialysis with HPLC-ED
- proteomic techniques, including protein microarray, western blotting and immunohistochemistry
- MRI and MRS
We welcome opportunities to establish new links with academic and industrial researchers.
Future Research
Interested in joining the group?
Interested in collaborating with me? I'd like to hear from you, please contact via email