Japan Partnering Award. Regulatory mechanisms of parental behaviour by neuropeptides and neurosteroids
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: The Roslin Institute
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Simone Meddle (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Tobari Y
(2022)
Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone as a regulator of social interactions in vertebrates.
in Frontiers in neuroendocrinology
Tobari Y
(2021)
Noradrenergic alpha-2A receptor activation suppresses courtship vocalization in male Japanese quail.
in Behavioural brain research
| Description | Designed primers for qPCR and insitu hybridisation to measure changes in gene expression in the brain of birds during nest building and maternal behaviour in birds. Leads on to understanding the neuroendocrine control of parental behaviour. HPLC to measure neurosteroids in the brain during nest building and maternal behaviour in birds has been completed. Behavioural testing of birds experiencing early life stress has been completed. Developed strong collaboration with Japan and other laboratories within Japan. Has been attractive for PhD students and undersgraduate students to train in my laboratory. Data from this award has contributed to a PhD thesis and data has been presented at International conferences (Talks and posters). On the back of this award I was asked to host the next International Symposium of Avian Endocrinology in 2022 following a prestigious request from my Japanese colleagues in this award. There are currently 3 manuscripts in preparation. My PhD student has received laboratory training and given talks in Japan. My collaborator sent his post doc Dr Yasuko Tabori to work with me and since then she has gone on to be an independent scientist at the Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Department of Animal Science & Biotechnology School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University in Tokyo; this award helped make that happen. I organised a full day workshop on Neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction in birds and this was attended by 20 people and Dr Tobari was guest speaker. She also spent time in my laboratory talking to members of my laboratory. There has been sharing of material and laboratory protocols bewteen the laboratories. A visit and workshop at Waseda University and the University of Tokyo happened in March and April 2019. 3 members of my lab went including a PhD student who will give a talk at two Universities. 2 japanese scientist visited my lab and a training workshop was held in July 2019. Over 20 scientists attended. An experiments was completed and a manuscript is in preparation. In November myself and another member of my lab visited 3 japanese institutions and i gave presentations at each of these as well as attending a workshop. New collaborations were struck. Through this award I have also established new collaboration at the University of Tokyo. |
| Exploitation Route | Same direction, Ongoing studies and manuscripts in preparation. training and international collaboration. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Other |
| Description | Data from collaborative projects on the Japan partnering award have been used in invited talks and presented at international conferences (Talks/posters).Information also used in public engagement activities and spawned other collaborative research discussions with Industry. Eg Petersime. There has been 2 publications resulting form collaborations and there are more manuscripts in preparation. Also hosted the big international Avian Endocrinology conference in the summer of 2022. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | BBSRC DTP PhD Studentship |
| Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | East of Scotland BioScience (EastBio) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2015 |
| End | 10/2019 |
| Description | Hungry, stressed chicks? Understanding Hypothalamic Regulation of Appetite in Birds |
| Amount | £434,930 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S015760/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2019 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | Identification of the photoreceptor for light detection in the avian brain |
| Amount | £246,909 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RPG-2016-392 |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2020 |
| Description | Institutional Strategic Support Fund 3 |
| Amount | £57,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 07/2019 |
| Description | Light in early life: understanding the mechanisms of embryonic photoreception to improve poultry welfare and production |
| Amount | £654,469 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/V001981/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2021 |
| End | 05/2024 |
| Description | Research grant |
| Amount | £47,083 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 06/2016 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Sub-award from second BBSRC Flexible Talent Mobility Award (BB/S50791X/1). Dr Simone Meddle & Petersome Ltd. 'Understanding appetite in birds to transform food production: When do chicks become hungry after hatch?'. |
| Amount | £23,258 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/S50791X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Summer Vacation studentship |
| Amount | £1,200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Poultry Science |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2015 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Summer vacation scholarships |
| Amount | £1,200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Poultry Science |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2015 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | Summer vacation studentship |
| Amount | £600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2015 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Summer vacation studentship |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Society for Reproduction and Fertility |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 06/2015 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Summer vacation studentship |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Society for Neuroendocrinology |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2015 |
| End | 08/2015 |
| Description | Summer vacation studentship |
| Amount | £600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2015 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | Summer vacation studentship |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Society for Neuroendocrinology |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2016 |
| End | 08/2016 |
| Description | Understanding appetite in birds to transform food production. When do chicks become hungry after hatch? |
| Amount | £16,305 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Understanding the resilience of wild birds to climate change: seasonal genomics of the annual migratory breeding cycle |
| Amount | £729,819 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/V001647/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2020 |
| End | 11/2023 |
| Description | Dr Karen Spencer |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Department | School of Psychology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | data generation. Supervision of EastBio DTP student |
| Collaborator Contribution | data generation. Supervision of EastBio DTP student |
| Impact | Presentations at conferences. Training and mentorship of PhD student. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Dr Tyler Stevenson |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Department | School of Biological Sciences Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Won collaborative grant: The Leverhulme Trust (2016-2019) "Identification of the photoreceptor for light detection in the avian brain" Data generation. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Won collaborative grant: The Leverhulme Trust (2016-2019) "Identification of the photoreceptor for light detection in the avian brain" Data generation. |
| Impact | Data generation. Won collaborative grant: The Leverhulme Trust (2016-2019) "Identification of the photoreceptor for light detection in the avian brain" |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Effects of early life stress on behaviour and physiology in birds Dr Spencer |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Department | School of Computer Science |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise, intellectual input and access to facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise, intellectual input and access to facilities. |
| Impact | EastBio Studentship |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Modulation of the Adrenocortical Responses to Perturbations of the Environment |
| Organisation | University of California, Davis |
| Department | UC Davis College of Biological Sciences |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Wrote grant funded by the National Science Foundation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Wrote grant funded by the National Science Foundation |
| Impact | 1. Krause, J. S., Pérez, J. H., Meddle, S.L. & Wingfield, J. C. (2017) Effects of short-term fasting on stress physiology, body condition, and locomotor activity in wintering white-crowned sparrows. Physiol. Behav. (submitted 29 Nov 2016, under revision). |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Neurosteroid regulation of avian maternal behaviour Prof Tsutsui |
| Organisation | Tokyo Women's Medical University |
| Department | Twins - Waseda University Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise, intellectual input and access to facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise, intellectual input and access to facilities. |
| Impact | Secured BBSRC Japan partnering award Davies S, Lane S, Meddle SL, Tsutsui K & Deviche P (2016) The ecological and physiological bases of variation in the phenology of gonad growth in an urban and desert songbird. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 230-231:17-25. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.03.013. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Prof Sue Healy, The University of St Andrews |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Department | School of Biology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Long term collaborator. Share east BioDTP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | collaboration in data generation. |
| Impact | BBSRC response mode grants. East BioDTP. Publications. |
| Description | Prof. J. Wingfield, UC Davis, USA. |
| Organisation | University of California, Davis |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Won National Science Foundation, USA 3 year Research Grant (2016-2019) "Modulation of the Adrenocortical Responses to Perturbations of the Environment". Co-Investigator. Grant jointly held with Prof. J. Wingfield, UC Davis, USA. Ongoing data collection, publications and talks |
| Collaborator Contribution | won National Science Foundation, USA 3 year Research Grant (2016-2019) "Modulation of the Adrenocortical Responses to Perturbations of the Environment". Co-Investigator. Grant jointly held with Prof. J. Wingfield, UC Davis, USA.Ongoing data collection, publications and talks |
| Impact | Publications and training of post docs and PhD students. Presentations workshops and conference organisation. |
| Description | 2017 Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" The Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences, The University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk given at the university and discussions with academics. Has inspired future collaborations with the University of Aberdeen. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | 2017 Speaker: "Rat as a model for studying behaviour" 2nd Edinburgh Rat Genetics Workshop, University of Edinburgh. 17th November, 2017. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 2017 Speaker: "Rat as a model for studying behaviour" 2nd Edinburgh Rat Genetics Workshop, University of Edinburgh. 17th November, 2017.Provided information regarding behavioural equipment and uses at the Roslin Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | 2019 Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" Department of Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion and collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | 2019 Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion and collaborations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | 2019 Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" The University of Abuzu, Tokyo, Japan. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion and collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | 2020 Seminar: "Avian Behavioural Neuroendocrinology". Department of Biology, University of South Alabama, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Questions and discussion. Collaboration with the University of South Alabama. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | BBSRC Japan Partnering Workshop on Neuroendocrine Control of Reproduction |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Japan Partnering Workshop. Invited speaker from Japan. Engaged with staff, post graduate students and undergraduate students. 20 People attended and presented. Much discussion and plans made for further collaboration and visits to Japan in 2019. In addition talks surrounding future careers for post docs and PhD students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Edinburgh University student Zoological Society Guest lecturer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Edinburgh University student Zoological Society Guest lecturer. Talked about my research "Breeding Birds: Adaptations to reproducing in an unpredictable environment" and women in STEM. Lots of good discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Inaugural Lecture Seasonal Reproduction in Birds: From Seeing the Light to Weathering the Storm |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Inaugural lecture at the University of Edinburgh |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seasonal-reproduction-in-birds-from-seeing-the-light-to-weathering-th... |
| Description | Industry Insights Day for Women in STEM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Opportunity for female undergraduate students considering a career in academia to be inspired by women in STEM. Talk and Q&A session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Japan Partnering Workshop Summer meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Japan Partnering Workshop. Two invited speakers from Japan. Engaged with staff, post graduate students and undergraduate students. 20 People attended and presented. Much discussion and plans made for further collaboration and visits to Japan in November 2019. In addition talks surrounding future careers for post docs and PhD students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Japan Partnering Workshop Winter Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Japan Partnering Workshop. Four Invited speakers from Japan. 1 speaker from the University of Liverpool. Engaged with staff, post graduate students and undergraduate students. 25 People attended and presented. Much discussion and plans made for further collaboration . In addition talks surrounding future careers for post docs and PhD students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meet the Scientists Professor Simone Meddle on hormones and animal behaviour Birds turning down their stress responses during breeding season, rats enjoying being tickled, and time-travelling. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Web page interview. Professor Simone Meddle on hormones and animal behaviour Birds turning down their stress responses during breeding season, rats enjoying being tickled, and time-travelling. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/roslin/news-events/meet-our-scientists/simone-meddle |
| Description | Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Sparked discussion and future collaborations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Organised The 12th International Symposium on Avian Endocrinology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International 5 day avian conference on hormones. 130 delegates. Published proceedings related to the meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.avianendo2022.efconference.co.uk/ |
| Description | Organised The 12th International Symposium on Avian Endocrinology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | International 5 day avian conference on hormones. 130 delegates. Published proceedings related to the meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.avianendo2022.efconference.co.uk/ |
| Description | School Visit (Dunbar primary School) summer school workshop "Animals Inside and Out" for disadvantaged children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Animals Inside out. Summer workshop for disadvantaged school pupils at Dunbar Primary School about animals. 15 school pupils aged 8 to 10. The school reported a keen interest by the pupils and a request was received to run the workshop again next year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" The Department of Zoology and Physiology, The University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" The Department of Zoology and Physiology, The University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA. Inspired women in STEm. This has sparked an exchange partnership between University of Wyoming and Roslin. I hosted a visiting group composed of undergraduate students in Jan 2018 from University of Wyoming. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" The University of Exeter, UK. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar: "Neuroendocrine and environmental interactions underlying reproductive behaviour in birds" The University of Exeter, UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Seminar: GnIH: A role in the control of reproductive behaviour in birds. Waseda University, Tokyo Japan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Discussion and collaboration |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |