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Prof Annette Dolphin
Professor of Pharmacology
Neuro, Physiology & Pharmacology
Div of Biosciences
- Joined UCL
- 1st Aug 1998
Research summary
My group has expertise in the field of neuronal voltage-dependent calcium channels, and our current work has particular reference to the role of accessory subunits, beta and alpha2delta. We are examining how these subunits modulate the channels and how these interactions are affected in disease states or by drugs.
Some specific current projects include:
Regulation of alpha2delta subunit processing, expression and trafficking under normal and pathological conditions, including neuropathic pain.
Mechanism of action of gabapentin and related drugs, that bind to alpha2delta subunits. ia.
Calcium channel trafficking in neurons and role of the beta subunit.
Mechanism of dominant negative suppression of expression by truncated calcium channel alpha1-subunits such as those resulting from episodic ataxia-2 mutations.
Keywords:
Calcium, Ion channels, G-protein coupled receptors, Neuron, Pain, Epilepsy, Pharmacology, Protein misfolding
Conditions: Ataxias, Epilepsy , Pain - chronic, neuropathic
Methods: Electrophysiological recording techniques, fluorescence microscopy techniques, gene expression profiling - tissue level, image analysis, immunohistochemistry, light microscopic techniques, live cell imaging, patch-clamp recording, protein purification, proteomics, cell culture.
Research Group: Laurent Ferron, PhD; Ivan Kadurin, PhD; Karen Page, PhD; Shehrazade Dahimene, PhD; Wendy Pratt, lab manager, Kanchan Chaggar, technician.
PhD students: Krishma Ramgoolam, Otto Meyer.
Teaching summary
My teaching responsibilities include lectures, tutorials and seminars for undergraduate Pharmacology, Biomedical Science and Neuroscience students, medical students and MSc Neuroscience students.
Pharmacology and Neuroscience undergraduate and MSc students do practical projects in my laboratory.
Education
- University of London
- Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 1977
- University of Oxford
- First Degree, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) | 1973
Biography
I studied Biochemistry at Oxford University, and then did my PhD at Institute of Psychiatry in London, where I first became interested in Neuropharmacology. I then undertook postdoctoral studies in Paris, Yale, and National Institute for Medical Reseach, Mill Hill, and am currently Professor of Pharmacology in the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology at UCL. My research seeks to understand the function of neuronal voltage-gated calcium channels, and the mechanism of action of drugs that target these channels.