Host: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences / Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health
Speakers: Professor Jo Neill and Shane Mckie.
Location: Michael Smith Lecture Theatre, Michael Smith Building.
Register using Eventbrite: http://mhsfacultyresearchseries17apr.eventbrite.co.uk/#
(1) Title: 'Animal models in drug discovery, promises and pitfalls: focus on cognitive deficits in schizophrenia'.
Senior researcher: Professor Jo Neill
Jo is from Belfast (birthplace of George Best, CS Lewis, Kenneth Branagh, Van Morrison and .. the Titanic). She joined the University of Manchester in January as Professor of Psychopharmacology in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, previously Professor at the University of Bradford. Jo has conducted research in psychopharmacology for almost 30 years, specifically in the areas of drug dependence, ingestive behaviour (including mechanisms of antipsychotic-induced weight gain), cognition and schizophrenia, and sex differences in psychopharmacology.
She is currently the meetings secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology, associate editor for Neuroscience Letters and a panel member of the Research Excellence Framework by Higher Education Funding Council for England. Jo’s expertise is in animal models of psychiatric disorders. Jo has developed and refined an animal model and several tests of cognitive deficit and negative symptoms in schizophrenia for evaluation of novel targets in collaboration with Michael Harte, who has also recently re-located to Manchester. This has led to establishment of a University based CRO, b-neuro (b-neuro.com). She is also collaborating on research projects investigating cognitive function and cognitive remediation therapy in ADHD and 1st episode psychosis patients.
(2) Title: 'Imaging drug action in the brain'.
Junior researcher: Shane Mckie
Shane McKie is a researcher from the Centre for New Treatments and Understanding in Mental Health (CeNTrUM), Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health in the Manchester Medical School. He is based in the Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit (NPU), lead by Bill Deakin, and has worked on pharmacological challenge magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) for the past 11 years after obtaining his PhD from the School of Physics and Astronomy. His main research interests are the utilisation of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), effective connectivity and phMRI to investigate the psychological and pharmacological aspects of psychiatric disorders such as depression and psychosis.
His work has also lead to successful collaborations with the University’s Gastroenterology and Dermatology groups investigating the gut- and skin-axis respectively.
About the 'Faculty Research Series'
- These are monthly events that are open to all staff and students from across the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences and the University, offering an opportunity to celebrate research achievement and stimulate scientific interaction. Each month, one host School or Institute from the Faculty will pair with a different School or Institute to highlight and showcase similar topics from different perspectives.
- The 2013 series is being led by Professor David Eisner and administered from the Faculty Research Office.
- Held on Wednesday lunchtimes, each meeting lasts an hour, including two 20-25 minute presentations – one from a junior and one from a more senior member of Faculty staff.
- Each presentation will be followed by a short discussion.
- A buffet lunch will be available from 12.30 pm.
- Presentations begin: 1.00 pm.
