Contact
Biography
I graduated from the University of Bath in 2002 with a MSci in Pharmacology, which included an industrial placement in the Behavioural Neuroscience department of the Merck Sharp & Dohme Neuroscience Research Centre. I moved to Nottingham to complete a Roche-funded PhD on the role of 5-HT6 receptors in memory and attention, followed by post-doctoral research on a multicentre EU FP6-funded project, developing novel models for glutamatergic CNS disorders using short hairpin RNA approaches. I was appointed as Senior Research Fellow in 2010 and promoted to Assistant Professor in 2023.
I received a 2019 British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) award for research excellence in non-clinical psychopharmacology, and from 2019-2023 I was member of the British Journal of Pharmacology Editorial Board . I am BAP Secretary for Non-Clinical External Affairs until summer 2025.
Expertise Summary
I have expertise in a broad range of behavioural techniques (using the latest software for computerised tracking, visual touchscreen tasks and recording of ultrasonic vocalisations), complimentary molecular approaches and access to state of the art magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).
Teaching Summary
I teach on year 2-4 of the Neuroscience degree, on topics related to my research. I am also a personal tutor and I supervise final year research projects.
I have achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) in recognition of my commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education.
Research Summary
My research uses neurodevelopmental models to understand how stress and adversity impact on brain function and contribute to cognitive and social dysfunction. The same models are extremely useful for… read more
Selected Publications
GOH J-Y, O'SULLIVAN SE, SHORTALL SE, ZORDAN N, PICCININI AM, POTTER HG, FONE KCF and KING MV, 2020. Gestational poly(I:C) attenuates, not exacerbates, the behavioral, cytokine and mTOR changes caused by isolation rearing in a rat ‘dual-hit’ model for neurodevelopmental disorders Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 89, 100-117 SHORTALL SE, BROWN AM, NEWTON-MANN E, DAWE-LANE E, EVANS C, FOWLER M and KING MV, 2020. Calbindin deficits may underlie dissociable effects of 5-HT6 and mGlu7 antagonists on glutamate and cognition in a dual-hit neurodevelopmental model for schizophrenia Molecular Neurobiology. (In Press.)
KOHLI S, KING MV, WILLIAMS S, EDWARDS A, BALLARD TM, STEWARD LJ, ALBERATI D and FONE KCF, 2019. Oxytocin attenuates phencyclidine hyperactivity and increases social interaction and nucleus accumbens dopamine release in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 44(2), 295-305
Current Research
My research uses neurodevelopmental models to understand how stress and adversity impact on brain function and contribute to cognitive and social dysfunction. The same models are extremely useful for evaluating novel treatments for conditions like schizophrenia, autism and depression. Our group has a track record of successful collaboration on EU and industry-funded projects evaluating novel therapeutics. Current group members are working on a variety of exciting projects, investigating changes to inflammatory biomarkers in patients with schizophrenia, strategies for optimizing nasal delivery of potential therapeutics, and the impact of stress and inflammation on the gut microbiome-brain axis.
I am always keen to establish new links with academic and industrial researchers - if you are interested please contact me via email.
Future Research
Projects in the pipeline have links to biased G protein-coupled receptor signaling, or developing in vitro models for stress-linked mental illnesses.
I welcome applications from potential MRes and self-funded PhD students throughout the year. Information about applying can be found here. I also supervise PhD students through funded schemes, including the BBSRC DTP - for more details please check back soon.