Molecular and Clinical Neuroscience

Research Overview

Our laboratory studies the regulation of intracellular zinc flux by neurotrophins. We have previously shown that NGF/TrkA signalling promotes the release of intracellular zinc and that this is dependent on mRNA and protein synthesis. We are studying the genetic regulation of intracellular zinc release.

Our second area of focus is sleep dysfunction in functional neurological disorder(FND). We have developed a sleep intervention to facilitate processing psychological conflict to resolve somatic symptoms associated with FND.

Research Goals

To elucidate the mechanism of intracellular zinc release. To research and treat sleep dysfunction in FND.

Researcher

Selected publications

Morley, S.N., Power, J.M., Coulson, E.J., and Bartlett, P.F. (2007). Zinc-mediated neuronal death is dependent on Trk activation. Exp Neurol 205, 360-366. 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.02.006.