Defining the striatal dopamine signals that enable movement: a high resolution spatiotemporal characterisation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Physiology Anatomy and Genetics
Abstract
Context of the research: We know that a chemical transmitter in the brain called dopamine is critical for our movements. For instance, loss of dopamine from the brain area called the striatum causes the movement problems seen in Parkinson's disease, and too much dopamine is thought to cause excessive, or compulsive behaviours. However, we still do not fully understand how dopamine is important. If we are to understand how best to treat dopamine disorders, we need to understand better how dopamine controls movement. Release of dopamine in the striatum occurs in two modes; either as low level 'tonic' release, or as intermittent intense surges, named 'phasic' release. Phasic dopamine release is known to be critical for motivating our behaviours e.g. making us seek rewards, and is thought to be hijacked in addiction disorders. New evidence now suggests that phasic dopamine release may have wider roles too, in controlling more types of movement that are unrelated to rewards. However, this suggestion has not yet been proven. Experiments to date have investigated the role of phasic dopamine release only in parts of the striatum known to be involved in processing motivation-related information (such as rewards) rather than in the 'motor' striatum, which is important for selecting everyday movement and which, importantly, loses dopamine in PD. Therefore, we propose to address the question - is phasic dopamine in the motor striatum important for movement? Excitingly, the technology has now been fully developed to make this a highly timely question. We will also address closely related questions about how other key chemicals in the striatum might regulate these phasic dopamine signals.
Aims and objectives of the research: The broad aim of this research is to determine whether phasic dopamine release in the brain's striatum is important for many types of movement, not just those related to rewards. We will address this through two specific aims.
There is general agreement among scientists that the motor striatum might be particularly important for carrying out our learned movements which have become automatic habits (e.g. standing and walking). Importantly, these types of habitual movements are often impaired in PD. Therefore in Aim 1, we will focus on - is phasic dopamine release in the motor-associated striatum important for habitual behaviour? We will assess dopamine release seen in motor striatum during a range of behaviours involving reward-seeking movement, non-reward-seeking movement and learned habitual movements so that we can identify the role of phasic dopamine in different key types of behaviours. We will also compare the phasic dopamine signals seen in the motor striatum to those seen in the motivation-associated parts of the striatum, to be able to understand more about the regulation of different kinds of movements.
Another brain transmitter, acetylcholine, is also known to be important for movement, especially reward-seeking and habits, and our previous work has shown that acetylcholine regulates phasic dopamine release in brain slices. However, this control has not yet been confirmed in behaving animals. Thus, in Aim 2, we will address - is phasic dopamine release governed by acetylcholine?
Potential applications and benefits of the research: Through this work, we can begin to build a more complete picture of how dopamine really participates in regulating our movement. In turn, we will shed light on fundamental mechanisms of normal brain function that might be disrupted, and then targeted for therapeutic benefit, in disorders of dopamine neuron function, including PD and addiction disorders. Also, the technical infrastructure that we will establish will be cutting-edge and an excellent investment for future studies to investigate dopamine function further e.g. in disease. Therefore, whatever the outcome, our work will provide a fundamental advance in knowledge and be of direct benefit to future work.
Aims and objectives of the research: The broad aim of this research is to determine whether phasic dopamine release in the brain's striatum is important for many types of movement, not just those related to rewards. We will address this through two specific aims.
There is general agreement among scientists that the motor striatum might be particularly important for carrying out our learned movements which have become automatic habits (e.g. standing and walking). Importantly, these types of habitual movements are often impaired in PD. Therefore in Aim 1, we will focus on - is phasic dopamine release in the motor-associated striatum important for habitual behaviour? We will assess dopamine release seen in motor striatum during a range of behaviours involving reward-seeking movement, non-reward-seeking movement and learned habitual movements so that we can identify the role of phasic dopamine in different key types of behaviours. We will also compare the phasic dopamine signals seen in the motor striatum to those seen in the motivation-associated parts of the striatum, to be able to understand more about the regulation of different kinds of movements.
Another brain transmitter, acetylcholine, is also known to be important for movement, especially reward-seeking and habits, and our previous work has shown that acetylcholine regulates phasic dopamine release in brain slices. However, this control has not yet been confirmed in behaving animals. Thus, in Aim 2, we will address - is phasic dopamine release governed by acetylcholine?
Potential applications and benefits of the research: Through this work, we can begin to build a more complete picture of how dopamine really participates in regulating our movement. In turn, we will shed light on fundamental mechanisms of normal brain function that might be disrupted, and then targeted for therapeutic benefit, in disorders of dopamine neuron function, including PD and addiction disorders. Also, the technical infrastructure that we will establish will be cutting-edge and an excellent investment for future studies to investigate dopamine function further e.g. in disease. Therefore, whatever the outcome, our work will provide a fundamental advance in knowledge and be of direct benefit to future work.
Technical Summary
Mesostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons switch their activity between low, 'tonic' firing frequencies and intermittent, 'phasic' bursts of high frequency action potentials. The intermittent, phasic release of DA within the limbic-associated ventral striatum is important for signalling reward predictions and reinforcement learning. Phasic DA release here seems particularly important for initiating reward-seeking movement. The motor-associated dorsal striatum suffers the most profound DA loss in the movement disorder Parkinson's disease (PD), but it is poorly understood whether phasic DA release here participates in behaviours, whether these be reward-seeking, or other reward-unrelated movements that are affected in PD such as habitual movement.
We shall address the importance of phasic DA release in vivo in (i) 'motor' striatum for voluntary movement and in (ii) 'limbic' striatum for movements unrelated to reward. We will use fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to identify DA release in motor versus limbic striatum during movements which depend differently on these regions and on reward. DA will be detected simultaneously from both regions during reward-seeking, habit performance and unrewarded locomotor movement in mice. We will also explore how phasic DA release is regulated presynaptically by interactions with striatal ACh networks in vivo, by using ligands for ACh receptors that are known to modulate phasic-like DA release in vitro. These timely experiments should allow us to define the roles of striatal phasic DA in movement and of striatal ACh in influencing discrete DA signals in vivo. This work should offer unprecedented insights into how dysfunction of DA signals could underlie disorders such as PD and addiction. A better understanding of discrete DA signalling during movement could in turn be highly influential in guiding the design of improved DA-based therapies e.g. discrete strategies to boost phasic versus tonic DA levels.
We shall address the importance of phasic DA release in vivo in (i) 'motor' striatum for voluntary movement and in (ii) 'limbic' striatum for movements unrelated to reward. We will use fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to identify DA release in motor versus limbic striatum during movements which depend differently on these regions and on reward. DA will be detected simultaneously from both regions during reward-seeking, habit performance and unrewarded locomotor movement in mice. We will also explore how phasic DA release is regulated presynaptically by interactions with striatal ACh networks in vivo, by using ligands for ACh receptors that are known to modulate phasic-like DA release in vitro. These timely experiments should allow us to define the roles of striatal phasic DA in movement and of striatal ACh in influencing discrete DA signals in vivo. This work should offer unprecedented insights into how dysfunction of DA signals could underlie disorders such as PD and addiction. A better understanding of discrete DA signalling during movement could in turn be highly influential in guiding the design of improved DA-based therapies e.g. discrete strategies to boost phasic versus tonic DA levels.
Planned Impact
In addition to the immediate impact on work by academic researchers, as outlined in 'Academic Beneficiaries', in the longer term this work could have impact on the quality of life of Parkinson's disease sufferers and their carers.
This is the first study to our knowledge to explore a potential role for phasic DA release in controlling movements relevant to Parkinson's disease and in the appropriate brain region that loses dopamine during this debilitating disease. Thus, our findings should stimulate a new line of investigation in the field of Parkinson's research.
Our proposed work should shed light on whether phasic DA release is important in voluntary movement, and thus whether it and all of its potential regulatory mechanisms could be useful therapeutic targets in DA disorders. Therefore we expect that our findings will be critical in advancing the search for more efficient therapies.
This is the first study to our knowledge to explore a potential role for phasic DA release in controlling movements relevant to Parkinson's disease and in the appropriate brain region that loses dopamine during this debilitating disease. Thus, our findings should stimulate a new line of investigation in the field of Parkinson's research.
Our proposed work should shed light on whether phasic DA release is important in voluntary movement, and thus whether it and all of its potential regulatory mechanisms could be useful therapeutic targets in DA disorders. Therefore we expect that our findings will be critical in advancing the search for more efficient therapies.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Copenhagen (Collaboration)
- ETH Zurich (Collaboration)
- Karolinska Institute (Collaboration)
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences (Collaboration)
- Peking University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Boston University (Collaboration)
- Chalmers University of Technology (Collaboration)
- Stanford University (Collaboration)
- National University of Ireland, Maynooth (Collaboration)
- Cerevance Ltd (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (MRC) (Collaboration)
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing (Collaboration)
- University of Washington (Collaboration)
- Institute of Biomedical Research Alberto Sols (Collaboration)
Publications
Zhang YF
(2017)
Pauses in Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons: What is Revealed by Their Common Themes and Variations?
in Frontiers in systems neuroscience
Vietti-Michelina S
(2022)
GRAB sensor imaging in mouse striatal slices v1
Threlfell S
(2021)
Striatal Dopamine Transporter Function Is Facilitated by Converging Biology of a-Synuclein and Cholesterol.
in Frontiers in cellular neuroscience
Taylor TN
(2014)
Region-specific deficits in dopamine, but not norepinephrine, signaling in a novel A30P a-synuclein BAC transgenic mouse.
in Neurobiology of disease
Sulzer D
(2016)
Striatal dopamine neurotransmission: regulation of release and uptake.
in Basal ganglia
Stedehouder J
(2022)
Immunofluorescent Labelling of Post-Mortem Rodent Brain Tissue v1
Sloan M
(2016)
LRRK2 BAC transgenic rats develop progressive, L-DOPA-responsive motor impairment, and deficits in dopamine circuit function.
in Human molecular genetics
Roberts BM
(2021)
Axonal Modulation of Striatal Dopamine Release by Local ?-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Signalling.
in Cells
Roberts BM
(2020)
GABA uptake transporters support dopamine release in dorsal striatum with maladaptive downregulation in a parkinsonism model.
in Nature communications
Roberts BM
(2022)
Dopamine Release in Nucleus Accumbens Is under Tonic Inhibition by Adenosine A1 Receptors Regulated by Astrocytic ENT1 and Dysregulated by Ethanol.
in The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
PristerĂ A
(2015)
Transcription factors FOXA1 and FOXA2 maintain dopaminergic neuronal properties and control feeding behavior in adult mice.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
PristerĂ A
(2019)
Dopamine neuron-derived IGF-1 controls dopamine neuron firing, skill learning, and exploration.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Platt NJ
(2012)
Striatal dopamine transmission is subtly modified in human A53Ta-synuclein overexpressing mice.
in PloS one
Lopes EF
(2019)
Inhibition of Nigrostriatal Dopamine Release by Striatal GABAA and GABAB Receptors.
in The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Kosillo P
(2022)
Dopamine neuron morphology and output are differentially controlled by mTORC1 and mTORC2.
in eLife
Kosillo P
(2016)
Cortical Control of Striatal Dopamine Transmission via Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons.
in Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
Jennings KA
(2015)
The impact of a parkinsonian lesion on dynamic striatal dopamine transmission depends on nicotinic receptor activation.
in Neurobiology of disease
Jennings KA
(2013)
A comparison of the subsecond dynamics of neurotransmission of dopamine and serotonin.
in ACS chemical neuroscience
Janezic S
(2013)
Deficits in dopaminergic transmission precede neuron loss and dysfunction in a new Parkinson model.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Hunn BHM
(2019)
Impairment of Macroautophagy in Dopamine Neurons Has Opposing Effects on Parkinsonian Pathology and Behavior.
in Cell reports
Hunn BH
(2015)
Impaired intracellular trafficking defines early Parkinson's disease.
in Trends in neurosciences
Dodson PD
(2016)
Representation of spontaneous movement by dopaminergic neurons is cell-type selective and disrupted in parkinsonism.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Cramb KML
(2023)
Impaired dopamine release in Parkinson's disease.
in Brain : a journal of neurology
Condon MD
(2019)
Plasticity in striatal dopamine release is governed by release-independent depression and the dopamine transporter.
in Nature communications
Christie LA
(2023)
Discovery of CVN417, a Novel Brain-Penetrant a6-Containing Nicotinic Receptor Antagonist for the Modulation of Motor Dysfunction.
in Journal of medicinal chemistry
Brimblecombe KR
(2017)
The Striosome and Matrix Compartments of the Striatum: A Path through the Labyrinth from Neurochemistry toward Function.
in ACS chemical neuroscience
Brimblecombe KR
(2018)
Targeted Activation of Cholinergic Interneurons Accounts for the Modulation of Dopamine by Striatal Nicotinic Receptors.
in eNeuro
Brimblecombe KR
(2019)
Calbindin-D28K Limits Dopamine Release in Ventral but Not Dorsal Striatum by Regulating Ca2+ Availability and Dopamine Transporter Function.
in ACS chemical neuroscience
Brimblecombe KR
(2015)
Substance P Weights Striatal Dopamine Transmission Differently within the Striosome-Matrix Axis.
in The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Bengoa-Vergniory N
(2020)
CLR01 protects dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in mouse models of Parkinson's disease.
in Nature communications
Adlam D
(2012)
Regulation of ĂŸ-adrenergic control of heart rate by GTP-cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) and tetrahydrobiopterin.
in Cardiovascular research
Title | Interview - Federation of European Neurosciences Forum, FENS Ambassador live interview |
Description | Interview to accompany conference presentation |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | Promote interest in women in science, training as PhD student |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/FENSorg/videos/2118188164876552 |
Title | Video - "Pauses in Cholinergic Interneuron Activity Are Driven by Excitatory Input and Delayed Rectification, with Dopamine Modulation" Neuron, Cell Press |
Description | Video to explan and accompany manuscript published in Neuron - "Pauses in Cholinergic Interneuron Activity Are Driven by Excitatory Input and Delayed Rectification, with Dopamine Modulation" Neuron, Cell Press |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Impact | Promotes access to research paper |
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Description | BBSRC DTP DPhil SVM |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Collaborative Award in Science |
Amount | £3,743,939 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 223202/Z/21/Z |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
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Start | 04/2022 |
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Description | DPhil Studentship BR |
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Department | Clarendon Fund |
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Start | 09/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Exploring gabapentinoids for their potential to treat Parkinson's disease |
Amount | £326,682 (GBP) |
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Organisation | Parkinson's UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
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Description | Grant title: Mapping the modulatory landscape governing striatal dopamine signaling and its dysregulation in Parkinson's disease |
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Funding ID | ASAP-020370 |
Organisation | Aligning Sciences Across Parkinson's |
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Description | Identifying the regulation of striatal dopamine function by striatal astrocytes in health and parkinsonism |
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Sector | Public |
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Start | 09/2013 |
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Description | MRC DTP DPhil studentship Bethan O'Connor |
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Start | 09/2021 |
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Description | MRC In Vivo Strategic Skill Award 2013 |
Amount | £24,450 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
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Start | 09/2013 |
End | 09/2016 |
Description | MRC iCASE DPhil Studentship |
Amount | £120,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
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Start | 09/2018 |
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Description | MRC-DTG Studentship 2014 |
Amount | £79,546 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
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Start | 09/2014 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | MSD DPhil funding competition - Peter Kilfeather |
Amount | £85,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
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Start | 09/2016 |
End | 09/2020 |
Description | Monument Trust Discovery Award Renewal 2015 |
Amount | £5,800,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | J-1403 |
Organisation | Parkinson's UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2015 |
End | 02/2020 |
Description | NSF Fellowship LB |
Amount | $200,000 (USD) |
Organisation | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 07/2018 |
End | 07/2021 |
Description | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada DPhil Scholarship |
Amount | $100,000 (CAD) |
Organisation | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Canada |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | Parkinson's UK Project Grant 2015 |
Amount | £297,158 (GBP) |
Funding ID | G-1504 |
Organisation | Parkinson's UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2016 |
End | 12/2018 |
Description | Parkinson's UK Project Grant 2017 Magill PFFs |
Amount | £218,701 (GBP) |
Funding ID | G-1702 |
Organisation | Parkinson's UK |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 02/2021 |
Description | Pump-Priming Award: Targetting nAChRs on dopamine axons as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2021 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | Rhodes Scholarship 2013 |
Amount | £70,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Rhodes Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2013 |
End | 09/2016 |
Title | ChI neuron model IKr |
Description | NEURON based model for a cholinergic interneuron, encompassing IKr |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Published paper: Zhang et al (2018) Neuron, 98:918-925 |
URL | https://github.com/Yanfeng-Zhang/Pause-in-ChIs-Neuron-model |
Description | ASAP Team Cragg |
Organisation | Boston University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Team lead |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators and External Collaborators |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | ASAP Team Cragg |
Organisation | Karolinska Institute |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Team lead |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators and External Collaborators |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | ASAP Team Cragg |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Department | MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford (BNDU) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Team lead |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators and External Collaborators |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | ASAP Team Cragg |
Organisation | Peking University |
Department | College of Life Sciences |
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Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Team lead |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators and External Collaborators |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | ASAP Team Cragg |
Organisation | Stanford University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Team lead |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-Investigators and External Collaborators |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Bannerman behavioural collaborations through new PUK grant |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Experimental Psychology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Study of GABA in PD |
Collaborator Contribution | Study of behaviour during GABA manipulations in PD |
Impact | New PUK Grant G1504 |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Bohacek ETH Zurich |
Organisation | ETH Zurich |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration to study optogenetic control of norepinephrine transmission |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration to study optogenetic control of norepinephrine transmission |
Impact | None yet |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cerevance |
Organisation | Cerevance Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Study of new pipeline ligands. Partner for MRC iCASE award |
Collaborator Contribution | Supply of new pipeline ligands Partner for MRC iCASE award |
Impact | New MRC iCASE studentship |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Chinese partners conducting in vivo nachr studies |
Organisation | Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Designed experiments and acquired main data indicating the follow-on experiements for collaborators |
Collaborator Contribution | Conducted experiments with nachr antagonists in vivo |
Impact | Manuscript in preparation, Patent appliction in progress |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Collaboration PEM Phillips 2012-2015 |
Organisation | University of Washington |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Studying function of DA circuits in vivo |
Collaborator Contribution | Advice on use of probes |
Impact | Grant MR/J004324/1 |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Design and supply of ASAP3 voltage sensors |
Organisation | Stanford University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Conceptualisation and acquisition of data for main study |
Collaborator Contribution | Design and supply of viral vectors for V imaging |
Impact | Manuscript in preparation |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Diabetes /Parkinson's link - Madrid collaboration |
Organisation | Institute of Biomedical Research Alberto Sols |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Analysis of diabetes model mice for deficits in dopamine transmission |
Collaborator Contribution | Initiatd the collaboration |
Impact | Pérez-Taboada I, Alberquilla S, Martín ED, Anand R, Vietti-Michelina S, Tebeka NN, Cantley J, Cragg SJ, Moratalla R, Vallejo M (2020). Diabetes causes dysfunctional dopamine neurotransmission favoring nigrostriatal degeneration in mice. Mov Disord 35:1636-1648 https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.28124 |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Ewing lab mass spec |
Organisation | Chalmers University of Technology |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Supply of intellectual question, background data and brain tissue |
Collaborator Contribution | Mass spec analysis |
Impact | Manuscript in preparation |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | John Lowry |
Organisation | Maynooth University |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Using new choline probes to explore striatal ACh function |
Collaborator Contribution | Manufacture and supply of choline probes |
Impact | New research effort and avenue |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | University of Copenhagen, Perrier, spinal cord |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Department | Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology (DNP) |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Study of 5-HT transmission in spinal cord |
Collaborator Contribution | Study of 5-HT actions |
Impact | Published paper PMID 23487756 |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Yulong Li GRAB sensors |
Organisation | Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Exploring use of GRAB sensors to the study of neurotransmission in the CNS |
Collaborator Contribution | Developing and subsidising cost of supplying GRAB sensors |
Impact | Manuscripts in prepration, meetings abstracts |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | (BOC) Public science event - IF-Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | IF Oxford science and ideas Festival, to educate and inspire young people ub science. Sparked inteerest, and enthusiasm. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://scienceoxford.com/events/if-oxford-2022 |
Description | (BOC) Volunteering at Science Saturdays, Museum of Natural History |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Volunteering at the Oxford Museum of Natural History's Science Saturdays events, hands-on science-based activities for families discussing the science of geology, entomology, microscopy and zoology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/science-saturdays-38 |
Description | (BOCO) Public Science event - DPAG Science in the Park |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Scientists frmo DPAG in a marquee in the University Parks, to answer questions and share fun facts about how bodies work. Exploring a range of topics, including blood, brain, DNA, heart, lungs, and the skeleton, using virtual reality (VR) augmented reality (AR) and hands-on activities. SParked much interest. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.dpag.ox.ac.uk/about-us/outreach/science-in-the-park |
Description | (KB) Primary School visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A visit to a primaray school, to talk about the brain and body and how we study them, using body samples and microscopes. Sparked many questions, and excitement about the topics. Invited back the following year |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Discuss Parkinson's research with individual fundraisers (DB, EL, SB) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | Engagement with small groups of charitable donors to promote fundraising into Parkinson's research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2016,2017 |
Description | Edinburgh International Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk sparked questions and debate N/A |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/mediaLibrary/other/english/6285.pdf |
Description | FENS Ambassador interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview by an Ambassador to the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies for Facebook live interview, to give briefly discuss y lab's work and to give advice to postgraduate students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/FENSorg/videos/2118188164876552 |
Description | Gave a Public Lecture (LB) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public online lecture |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.balliol.ox.ac.uk/events/2022/april/26/balliol-online-lecture |
Description | Guest speaker at 25th Anniversary tea party, Newbury Parkinson's group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
Results and Impact | Guest speaker on disease research at anniversary tea party for Newbury Parkinson's group which sparked lively debate and questions and interest |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Host lab visits for Chinese students for Oxford Prospects Programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Host lab visits for Chinese students for Oxford Prospects Programme |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | International Innovations article 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Publication in internationally reaching magazine. results not yet clear. Not yet clear |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.internationalinnovation.com/hope-for-dopamine-disorders/ |
Description | KB Primary School visit (2022) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A visit to a primaray school, to talk about the brain and body and how we study them, using body samples and microscopes. Sparked many questions, and excitement about the topics. Invited back the following year |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Keynote speaker on Career, DPAG Postdoc Day, Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited to discuss career path as part of a postdoctoral scientist development day |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Mentor on UNIQ+ Digital Programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | (JL) A mentor on the UNIQ+ Digital Programme, which aims to introduce undergraduate students from under-represented backgrounds to postgraduate study at Oxford. Mentored students interested in pursuing postgraduate study in neuroscience, based on discussing our current research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Neuroscience exhibition in the Oxford museum of Science March 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Neuroscience exhibition in the Oxford museum of Science March 2014 Unknown |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Parkinson's group talk Hereford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Share knowledge, stimulate interest After the talk, audience asked to visit lab |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | School teaching BR MCS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Catalysing interest in neuroscience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
Description | School visit to lab - Akeley Wood |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 20 pupils attended for a school visit to the research organisation which sparked questions and discussions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Skype a scientist LB |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Inform about career in neuroscience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.skypeascientist.com/ |
Description | Smarter UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | KS3 talks about cognitive enhancing drugs Not known |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Speaker and Opening of fundraising walk for Parkinson's UK, Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | Speaker and Opening of fundraising walk for Parkinson's UK, Oxford |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/content/walk-parkinsons |
Description | Talk at Stowe School to A-Level Medical Society on dopamine and careers in science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We attended a school to talk about science and careers in science which sparked questions and discussion |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | UNIQ summer school 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 30 pupils attended a week-long course, I hosted a dinner and workshop with Q&A Not yet known |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.uniq.ox.ac.uk/ |
Description | Wow!How? Stall |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | science fair at the Oxford University of Museum of Natural History Not known |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |