The research theme is studying the cellular and circuit mechanisms underpinning nervous system functions. Neurons are the fundamental building blocks of the nervous system and unravelling the mechanisms that regulate neuronal excitability, communication and plasticity is key to understanding how the nervous system controls complex behaviours. In this research theme, investigators exploit advanced imaging, electrophysiological, molecular genetic and quantitative behavioural approaches to understand the cellular and circuit mechanisms underpinning nervous system functions such as sensory perception, memory formation and the control of complex, adaptable behaviours in the healthy and diseased brain. Our aim is to translate fundamental discoveries, through development of animal- and human-based models, to generate transformative therapeutic interventions for disorders that affect nervous system function. Theme Lead: Prof Ian Duguid Name Research interest Almeida, Rafael Synaptic and non-synaptic neurotransmission in the zebrafish nervous system Baranovic, Jelena Structure and function of neuroreceptors, synaptic transmission, ion channels, electrophysiology Booker, Sam A Neurotransmitter signalling Clemens, Ann Neural circuits of social behaviour Cobb, Stuart Novel therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders Cousin, Michael Presynaptic Cell Biology Daw, Michael Developmental Physiology of the Barrel Cortex Donlin-Asp, Paul Duguid, Ian Neural circuits and motor behaviour Evans, Mark Calcium signalling & hypoxia-response coupling Fleetwood-Walker, Susan Molecular mechanisms of pain and analgesia Gillingwater, Tom New therapies for neurodegenerative diseases Gonzalez-Sulser, Alfredo Network analysis and therapeutic strategies in epilepsy Greiss, Sebastian Genetic code expansion and neural circuits Jones, Ross Structure and function of the human neuromuscular junction Jordan, Rebecca Neuronal mechanisms of learning and prediction Karnani, Mahesh Neural circuits of drive Kind, Peter Disorders of Brain Development Luksys, Gedi Computational cognitive neuroscience Mitchell, Rory Receptor-mediated signal transduction Morris, Richard Neurobiology of learning and memory Nolan, Matthew Neural circuits and computation Opazo, Patricio Synaptic repair mechanisms for the diseased brain Pagan, Marino Ribeiro dos Louros, Susana Neurodevelopmental disorders Robinson, Nick Rochefort, Nathalie Neuronal processing of visual information Smillie, Karen Synaptic vesicle recycling Sürmeli, Gülşen Neural circuits of memory Till, Sally Biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders Torsney, Carole Somatosensory plasticity Wood, Emma Memory and Space Wyllie, David Physiology and pharmacology of ion channels