Research

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Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology

Research

The Department is organised into the following three major research groups:
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Systems Neuroscience and Intercellular Signalling.

In Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, UCL has an outstanding history of research on receptors, ion channels and synaptic transmission following seminal contributions from Katz, Miledi, Fatt, Huxley, Young, Clark, Gaddum, Schild and Black, and many others. We have always placed major emphasis on the quantitative analysis of drug-receptor interactions and synaptic transmission. This has now evolved to the cellular and molecular analyses of membrane protein function (trafficking, signaling) and investigation of central synaptic transmission (receptor-associated molecules, neurotransmitter release, turnover of synaptic and extrasynaptic receptors). These form the cornerstones of our current research programmes.

In Systems Neuroscience, there are many facets to our research using in vivo systems-based approaches which rely on cross-cutting electrophysiological and molecular techniques. These have produced significant contributions to our understanding as to how neural networks impact on behaviour. Several of our groups are involved with pain research forming part of the Wellcome Trust Pain Consortium (a collaboration between UCL, KCL, Imperial and Oxford). At the single cell level, several groups use in vivo patch clamp recording and imaging to understand the link between single cell excitability, network activity and behaviour and learning.

Our spectrum of work on Intercellular Signalling encompasses a smaller group studying the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. To illustrate the diversity of this group, research focuses on transduction pathways that are involved with inflammatory reactions and allergy, as well as the mechanism by which vascular smooth muscle tone is regulated and how this controls blood flow

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

We have a number of internationally-renowned research groups whose work focuses on synaptic transmission, concentrating on ligand-gated ion channels, transporters and signaling molecules (David Attwell, Marco Beato, Shamshad Cockcroft, Stuart Cull-Candy, David Colquhoun, Annette Dolphin, Frances Edwards, Mark Farrant, John Garthwaite, Alasdair Gibb, Paikan Marcaggi, Lucia Sivilotti, Angus Silver, Trevor Smart, Paola Vergani, Patricia Viard); the molecular biology of receptors (Josef Kittler, Neil Millar, Ralf Schoepfer); and on presynaptic mechanisms of neurotransmission (Yukiko Goda, Paikan Marcaggi, Talvinder Sihra).

Our research on GPCRs and voltage-gated ion channels is also underpinned by highly-competitive groups, including: David Brown, Annette Dolphin, Julie Pitcher, Guy Moss, Paola Pedarzani, Martin Stocker.

Systems Neuroscience

There are many facets to our research using in vivo systems-based approaches which rely on cross-cutting electrophysiological, genetic and molecular techniques. These have produced significant contributions to our understanding as to how neural networks impact on behaviour. There are many aspects to this section ranging from behaviour to single cell activity.

World-leading groups that specialise in pain research are: Anthony Dickenson, Stephen Hunt, Maria Fitzgerald and John Wood. Tony Dickenson and John Wood are part of the Wellcome Trust London Pain consortium.

At the single cell level, the internationally-renowned groups of Michael Hausser, Thomas Mrsic-Floegeland Jesper Sjostrom, all apply in vivo patch clamp recording to investigate the impact and control of neuronal activity on specific behaviours.

In terms of behavioural studies, the lab of Clare Stanford focuses on anxiety and reward, as well as models of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The development of neuronal and glial structures, particularly in the retina, is a major feature of the work of Peter Mobbs’ laboratory (Dean, FLS).
Memory and the hippocampus is an important topic of research for John O'Keefe’s laboratory, which is renowned for the groundbreaking discovery of hippocampal ‘place cells’ that are vital for the memory of spatial positioning within a perceptual field.

Visual perception and motor control is the focus of Semir Zeki’s laboratory, which has made landmark discoveries regarding the principles of colour perception. Christopher Yeo’s laboratory has considerable expertise in motor memory.

An additional aspect of systems neuroscience concerns the central control of autonomic function and the sensing of oxygen levels in the blood. Several groups have contributed to our understanding in these important areas including: Michael Gilbey, Alexander Gourine, Andrew Ramage, and Michael Spyer

Intercellular signalling

Our spectrum of work on signal transduction pathways encompasses studies in the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. Transduction pathways in inflammatory reactions are addressed by Dean Willis, whilst Adrian Hobbs is addressing endothelium-derived vasorelaxant mediator in mesenteric and coronary resistance arteries which plays a pivotal role in the regulation of local blood flow.

Cellular mechanisms of hearing
Professor Jonathan Ashmore FRS

Neuron-glial interactions and brain energy supply
Professor David Attwell FRS

Glycine activated channels and glycinergic synapses
Dr Marco Beato

Pharmacological control of neuronal excitability
Professor David A. Brown FRS

Lipid-mediated signalling and exocytosis
Professor Shamshad Cockcroft

Ion channels and synaptic transmission
Professor David Colquhoun FRS

Glutamate receptor channels and fast synaptic transmission in the brain
Professor Stuart G. Cull-Candy FRS

Pain and analgesia
Professor Anthony H Dickenson

Functional studies of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and interactions with G-proteins
Professor Annette C. Dolphin

Synaptic transmission in the brain
Dr Frances Edwards

Ionotropic GABA and glutamate receptor signalling
Professor Mark Farrant

The development of pain processing in the nervous system
Professor Maria Fitzgerald FMedSci

Neural signalling and nitric oxide
Professor John Garthwaite