Chimeras of relaxin and insulin 3 - peptide tools to study LGR7 & 8 receptor discrimination and function

Insulin 3 (INSL3, relaxin-like factor, RLF) is a recently discovered member of the insulin/relaxin/IGF superfamily of peptide hormones and has a distinct pattern of expression and sites of action.

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Chronic Recording in the Freely Behaving Animal

Supervisor:Dr James Fallon

The organisation of the auditory pathway in neonatal animals, which has been laid down by genetic cues, is rudimentary at best. This project will study of the plastic response, over time, the deafened auditory pathway to chronic intra-cochlear electrical stimulation

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Comparing myelination patterns during neurodevelopment in a seizure-prone (FAST) versus seizure-resistant (SLOW) phenotype

Co-supervisor: Dr. Nigel Jones

Background: A high comorbidity exists between epilepsy, ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Among the numerous similarities in clinical presentation are the oft described developmental delay, heightened seizure sensitivity and biochemical and physical features suggestive of anomalous fatty acid metabolism. Fatty acid availability is critically important for myelination and proper neurodevelopment. Interestingly, natural breeding processes have been used to develop two rat strains; one that is inherently seizure-prone (FAST) and another that is seizure-resistant (SLOW). Alongside the increased seizure sensitivity in FAST rats, several traits naturally evolved that are highly reminiscent of ADHD/ASD, including a marked developmental delay and evidence of altered lipid handling. This project will (1) use cutting edge imaging techniques to compare myelination patterning in FAST versus SLOW rats, and (2) use molecular strategies to compare the quality of myelin in FAST versus SLOW rats.

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Compromised fetal brain development: neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects of erythropoietin

Many neurological disorders that manifest postnatally, including cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, and minimal cerebral brain dysfunction might originate from brain development in an adverse intrauterine environment.

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Computer simulation of neural networks in epilepsy

Supervisors:Evan Thomas, Steven Petrou

Neural networks in the brain typically function on a knife edge of stability. How the brain maintains this in normal function and how brains loses stability to cause seizures are not well understood. Modern advances in genetics have uncovered small biophysical differences in certain proteins that cause some epilepsy syndromes. Using these known starting points we can build computer models to help explain how seizures are triggered and spread in the brain.

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