MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Lead Research Organisation:
King's College London
Department Name: Developmental Neurobiology
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions which are caused by an alteration in the development of the nervous system. Intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and many forms of epilepsy are caused by disturbances in the typical programme of brain development. Even psychosis and related disorders, which typically emerge later in life, are thought to have a developmental origin. Developmental brain disorders often cause life-long disability and current treatments, at best, are merely palliative.
Brain development is a highly orchestrated process directed by genetic information and influenced by many environmental factors. The human brain develops over two decades, a very substantial part of our life. During that time, the brain grows from a microscopic structure to a remarkable organ that enables us to interact with the physical world, communicate, learn and imagine the unknown. Alterations in this very protracted program result in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Developmental brain disorders arise through a combination of genetic and environmental (non-genetic) influences. Research over the past decade has shown that genetic changes are the most important risk factor for developmental brain disorders, independently of whether they manifest early in life, such as autism spectrum disorder or only become clinically detectable in young adults, such as psychosis. Recent advances in human genetics have identified specific mutations with these disorders. Unfortunately, we still do not understand how these mutations and concomitant environmental insults cause neurodevelopmental disorders.
When the Centre was established five years ago, our vision was to build a world-class Centre at King's College London with research programmes that will transform our understanding of the origin of neurodevelopmental disorders. We have created a research environment in which we are effectively dissolving some of the boundaries preventing our progress, such as the lack of interaction between basic and clinical scientists and between clinical specialists working on different but related disorders. At the core of our strategy is an innovative PhD Programme that is training a new generation of scientists with the skills to comfortably work across basic and clinical research settings and sustain collaborations across groups.
The crucial limitation for the design of new medicines for neurodevelopmental disorders continues to be our insufficient understanding of the changes that occur in the brain of affected individuals. In the next five years, the main focus of our efforts will remain the exploration of the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. In the long term, we aim to translate the new knowledge into clinical advances that change the lives of affected individuals and their families, in collaboration with industrial partners, other research centres and patient associations.
Brain development is a highly orchestrated process directed by genetic information and influenced by many environmental factors. The human brain develops over two decades, a very substantial part of our life. During that time, the brain grows from a microscopic structure to a remarkable organ that enables us to interact with the physical world, communicate, learn and imagine the unknown. Alterations in this very protracted program result in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Developmental brain disorders arise through a combination of genetic and environmental (non-genetic) influences. Research over the past decade has shown that genetic changes are the most important risk factor for developmental brain disorders, independently of whether they manifest early in life, such as autism spectrum disorder or only become clinically detectable in young adults, such as psychosis. Recent advances in human genetics have identified specific mutations with these disorders. Unfortunately, we still do not understand how these mutations and concomitant environmental insults cause neurodevelopmental disorders.
When the Centre was established five years ago, our vision was to build a world-class Centre at King's College London with research programmes that will transform our understanding of the origin of neurodevelopmental disorders. We have created a research environment in which we are effectively dissolving some of the boundaries preventing our progress, such as the lack of interaction between basic and clinical scientists and between clinical specialists working on different but related disorders. At the core of our strategy is an innovative PhD Programme that is training a new generation of scientists with the skills to comfortably work across basic and clinical research settings and sustain collaborations across groups.
The crucial limitation for the design of new medicines for neurodevelopmental disorders continues to be our insufficient understanding of the changes that occur in the brain of affected individuals. In the next five years, the main focus of our efforts will remain the exploration of the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. In the long term, we aim to translate the new knowledge into clinical advances that change the lives of affected individuals and their families, in collaboration with industrial partners, other research centres and patient associations.
Technical Summary
The MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders brings together world-leading researchers in psychiatry, neonatology, neurology and neuroscience with the goal of identifying the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. To this end, we are using genetic discoveries that are becoming available through the work of large sequencing consortia to guide our interrogation of specific brain circuits in humans, cellular and animal models. In addition, we are using our unique at-risk cohorts to link risk factors with developmental outcomes, which are subsequently modelled in cellular and animal studies.
Our research focusses on epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia, a spectrum of diseases caused by abnormal brain development. They exhibit a broad range of clinical manifestations, but their overlapping phenotypes and genetics are suggestive of common deficits. These conditions have high prevalence, often cause life-long burden, and are very difficult to treat. This research focus is further justified by our world-leading clinical expertise in this field, the access to large patient populations, and our existing high-profile research programmes on neurodevelopment.
Over the next five years, we will continue to focus on the identification of novel biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. The collaboration between basic and clinical scientists and between clinical scientists working across different disciplines will remain at the core of our strategy. This is entrenched through a very successful PhD programme in translational neurodevelopment which is training a new generation of scientists to comfortably work across basic and clinical research settings. We expect that our work will ultimately lead to new approaches for the stratification of clinical populations as well as new treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Our research focusses on epilepsy, autism and schizophrenia, a spectrum of diseases caused by abnormal brain development. They exhibit a broad range of clinical manifestations, but their overlapping phenotypes and genetics are suggestive of common deficits. These conditions have high prevalence, often cause life-long burden, and are very difficult to treat. This research focus is further justified by our world-leading clinical expertise in this field, the access to large patient populations, and our existing high-profile research programmes on neurodevelopment.
Over the next five years, we will continue to focus on the identification of novel biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. The collaboration between basic and clinical scientists and between clinical scientists working across different disciplines will remain at the core of our strategy. This is entrenched through a very successful PhD programme in translational neurodevelopment which is training a new generation of scientists to comfortably work across basic and clinical research settings. We expect that our work will ultimately lead to new approaches for the stratification of clinical populations as well as new treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Organisations
- King's College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Gothenburg (Collaboration)
- Aix-Marseille University (Collaboration)
- University of Münster (Collaboration)
- The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) (Collaboration)
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) (Collaboration)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (Collaboration)
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante (Collaboration)
- University of Pennsylvania (Collaboration)
- University of Zurich (Collaboration)
- University of Pittsburgh (Collaboration)
- Stanford University (Collaboration)
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Collaboration)
- Harvard University (Collaboration)
- New York University (Collaboration)
- Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Collaboration)
- University of Salamanca (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Roehampton University (Collaboration)
- University Hospital Jena (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- McGill University (Collaboration)
- City, University of London (Collaboration)
- Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) (Collaboration)
- Queen's University Belfast (Collaboration)
- Free University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- Philipp University of Marburg (Collaboration)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Collaboration)
- George Washington University (Collaboration)
- Monash University (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- North Bristol NHS Trust (Collaboration)
- University of Coimbra (Collaboration)
- University of Basel (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (Collaboration)
- Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC) (Collaboration)
- University Of New South Wales (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- University of Auckland (Collaboration)
- NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- Brunel University London (Collaboration)
- University of Geneva (Collaboration)
- Mount Sinai Hospital (USA) (Collaboration)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (Collaboration)
- MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- University of Groningen (Collaboration)
- Fidmag Sisters Hospitallers (Collaboration)
- M Squared Lasers Ltd (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Moscow State University (Collaboration)
- Astrazeneca (Collaboration)
- Manchester University (Collaboration)
- OXFORD UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- Biomedical Institute of Valencia (Collaboration)
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Collaboration)
- Henri Mondor Hospital (Collaboration)
- University of Bonn (Collaboration)
- bit.bio (Collaboration)
Publications
Aabdien A
(2024)
Schizophrenia risk proteins ZNF804A and NT5C2 interact in cortical neurons.
in The European journal of neuroscience
Adhya D
(2021)
Application of Airy beam light sheet microscopy to examine early neurodevelopmental structures in 3D hiPSC-derived human cortical spheroids
in Molecular Autism
Adhya D
(2021)
Atypical Neurogenesis in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From Autistic Individuals.
in Biological psychiatry
Ahmad J
(2022)
From mechanisms to markers: novel noninvasive EEG proxy markers of the neural excitation and inhibition system in humans
in Translational Psychiatry
Ahmed M
(2021)
The chromatin remodelling factor Chd7 protects auditory neurons and sensory hair cells from stress-induced degeneration
in Communications Biology
Ambrosino S
(2022)
In-depth characterization of neuroradiological findings in a large sample of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and controls.
in NeuroImage. Clinical
Arenella M
(2023)
Immunogenetics of autism spectrum disorder: A systematic literature review
in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Arenella M
(2023)
Genetic relationship between the immune system and autism.
in Brain, behavior, & immunity - health
Arichi T
(2024)
Characterizing Large-Scale Human Circuit Development with In Vivo Neuroimaging.
in Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology
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| Description | our team have enabled the 3D printing of fetal craniofacial models. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | publication. PPI. |
| URL | https://bmcmedimaging.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12880-024-01230-7 |
| Title | Brave Little Neuron |
| Description | A science-themed pantomime about a curious young girl named Daisy, who wonders why she and her friends have different talents, likes, and personalities. To find answers, Daisy visits her neighbour Jane, a neuroscientist. Jane explains to her that to understand these differences, Daisy must first grasp how her brain developed uniquely to others. Jane tells Daisy a story of brain development, her narrative follows two immature pyramidal neurons, Nessa and Neil, on their journey to find and join their fated network in the brain. As these neurons travel through the brain, the audience learns about the importance of neurons making connections via structures called synapses, and how these connections form networks that enable complex thinking and behaviour. The pantomime also emphasises how everyone's brain and neural networks are different, influencing how each person interacts with the world. This makes us all beautifully different. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | A CDN PhD student who was part of the team reflected: "My key take-away from this experience were the interactions during the workshop with children who had a real love of science and were so excited to learn something about how we perform research in a lab. I was explaining how we can use fluorescent proteins to label different cells in the brain. It was great to see the kids understand this concept and how it is a useful tool for scientists ." |
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| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
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| Description | (EXPERIENTIA) - Assembly and plasticity of inhibitory cortical networks by early learning experience |
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| Description | Activity dependence and species effects in rodent and human local cortical wiring rules |
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| Description | Brain Organoids Laboratory -Centre For Human Brain Development |
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| Start | 01/2025 |
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| Description | Brain health in Gen2020: the long term impact of COVID-19 on a generation of children |
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| Funding ID | Brain health in Gen2020 |
| Organisation | Heart of Racing LLC |
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| Start | 01/2024 |
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| Description | Building on Brains for Dementia Research (BDR): A UK Nervous Tissue Network (UKNTN) for the Twenty-first Century |
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| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
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| Start | 09/2022 |
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| Description | Context-dependent RNA regulation and its application in auto-gating therapeutics for brain disorders |
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| Description | Determining the molecular mechanisms of psychosis and developing a cellular platform for novel drug discovery: From brain to cell and back again |
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| Organisation | Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) |
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| Description | Developing responsible neurotechnology for infants and children with neurodevelopmental conditions |
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| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
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| Start | 04/2022 |
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| Description | Development of inhibitory circuits in the human cerebral cortex |
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| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
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| Start | 08/2024 |
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| Description | Dissecting Cell Type Specific Functions of CHD7 in Development of the Neocortex |
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| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Sector | Public |
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| Start | 01/2024 |
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| Description | Dissecting neural networks with optogenetic functional MRI (opto-fMRI) |
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| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
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| Description | Dissecting the early dysregulation of neuronal output in human neurons: an opportunity for a functional rescue of ALS/FTD |
| Amount | £720,000 (GBP) |
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| Organisation | Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
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| Start | 12/2024 |
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| Description | Exploration of cortical structure and function in human infancy with advanced MRI methods |
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| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
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| Description | Human Functional Genomics: Brain development cluster |
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| Funding ID | MR/Y012968/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2024 |
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| Description | I am Deputy Lead of the NIHR/MRC funded Research Grant mTOR Node Pathway Diseases of about £ 1 Mio for 5 years (3 Jul 2023 - 2 Jul 2028 |
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| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
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| Description | Immersive And Interactive Virtual Reality Ultra-high Field MRI To Explore The Neural Correlates Of Social Processing In Neurodevelopmental Conditions |
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| Funding ID | GN3069 |
| Organisation | Action Medical Research |
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| Start | 03/2025 |
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| Description | Integrating psychological models with biological pathways in psychosis |
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| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
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| Start | 09/2022 |
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| Description | Investigating polyamines as a treatment target for mitochondrial disease |
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| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
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| Start | 05/2021 |
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| Description | King's PhD Programme in Mental Health Research for Health Professionals |
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| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2022 |
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| Description | King's seed fund call for BBSRC projects with international partners |
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| Organisation | King's College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
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| Start | 01/2024 |
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| Description | Linking the mechanisms generating protein and cortical cell diversity |
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| Funding ID | RPG-2022-190 |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
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| Description | Long term neurological sequelae following paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV2 (PIM-TS) |
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| Funding ID | VC1421 |
| Organisation | Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 07/2022 |
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| Funding ID | MC_PC_21047 |
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| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
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| Description | MRI Neuromodelling |
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| Funding ID | INV-047885 |
| Organisation | Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | MURIDAE - Modalities for Understanding, Recording and Integrating Data Across Early life |
| Amount | £3,500,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_21041 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | MURIDAE - Modalities for Understanding, Recording and Integrating Data Across Early life |
| Amount | £360,236 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_21041 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | Mechanisms and biological functions of alternative splicing-induced first exon lengthening in developing neurons |
| Amount | £663,655 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y009304/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Description | Mechanisms of Oestrogenic Modulation of Neural Circuitry |
| Amount | £481,313 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/L021064/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2014 |
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| Funding ID | 225950/Z/22/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 10/2031 |
| Description | Multi-modal dissection of neural circuits in health and disease |
| Amount | £427,144 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_MR/Y00230X/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | NA |
| Amount | £330,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Bit.Bio |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2025 |
| Description | Neural circuit basis of flexible behaviour |
| Amount | £3,443,729 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 227340/Z/23/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 06/2031 |
| Description | Neuroimaging Dimensions at the Extremes of the Schizophrenia Spectrum |
| Amount | $3,700,548 (USD) |
| Funding ID | 1R01MH134526-01 |
| Organisation | National Institute of Mental Health |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 08/2023 |
| End | 08/2028 |
| Description | Neuronal Trees: Linking Biology To Models |
| Amount | £328,137 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RPG-2024-360 |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 02/2028 |
| Description | Organization and dynamics of multiregional circuits for goal-directed behaviour |
| Amount | £3,246,052 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 225951/Z/22/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 06/2031 |
| Description | Paradoxical Sensory Responses: A Clue Towards Understanding Biotypes in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders |
| Amount | $1,500,000 (USD) |
| Funding ID | R01NS134948 |
| Organisation | Boston Children's Hospital |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 03/2029 |
| Description | Parvalbumin Interneuron Deficits In MTORpathies Associated With ASD |
| Amount | £1,328,127 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SFI-AN-AR-Pilot Progression-00010154 |
| Organisation | Simons Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 01/2028 |
| Description | Parvalbumin interneuron deficits in mTORpathies associated with ASD |
| Amount | £653,091 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | SFI-AN-AR-Pilot Progression-00010154 |
| Organisation | Simons Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 03/2029 |
| Description | Pathways to psychosis among cannabis users |
| Amount | £2,302,991 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/T007818/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2025 |
| Description | PhD Scholarship |
| Amount | £167,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Kuwait University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Kuwait |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 01/2026 |
| Description | Precision Modelling of Cortical Variation and its Association with Neurological/Psychiatric disease |
| Amount | £537,145 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/V03832X/1 |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | Predictive impairment in autism: towards the emergence of phenotypes |
| Amount | £190,380 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/X021947/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Rare Diseases Node |
| Amount | £1,250,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/Y008170/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 11/2028 |
| Description | Regulation Of PV+ Interneurons By VGF During Learning And Memory And In Animal Models Of Depressive Disorder |
| Amount | £417,591 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | CF-2023-M-2\120 |
| Organisation | Rosetrees Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2024 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Description | Regulation of cortical interneuron wiring in neurodevelopmental disorders |
| Amount | $299,806 (USD) |
| Funding ID | 736666 |
| Organisation | Simons Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 11/2020 |
| End | 10/2022 |
| Description | Reprogramming of reactive glia into fast-spiking interneurons in a mouse model of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy |
| Amount | £299,863 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | F2404 |
| Organisation | International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT) |
| Department | CropSustaiN |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Mexico |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 07/2027 |
| Description | Role of VGF in cortical PV+ interneuron interconnectivity |
| Amount | £831,208 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y001958/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2023 |
| End | 11/2026 |
| Description | Role of distinct cortical progenitor subtypes in cortical neuronal and glial subtype specification |
| Amount | £529,216 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/W015137/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 08/2026 |
| Description | Simons Foundation Default Scheme |
| Amount | £522,682 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Simons Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 12/2025 |
| Description | Testing A Computational Model Of The Role Of Cortical Circuits In Auditory Hallucinations In People With Psychosis |
| Amount | £9,316,776 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 315723/Z/24/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 12/2029 |
| Description | Testing a computational model of the role of cortical circuits in auditory hallucinations in people with psychosis |
| Amount | £425,408,849 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 315723/Z/24/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2025 |
| End | 06/2030 |
| Description | The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the fetal brain |
| Amount | £29,948 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MRF-CPP-R2-23-104 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Department | Medical Research Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2024 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | UK Human Developmental Biology Initiative, Neuroscience theme |
| Amount | £31,445,934 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 215116/Z/18/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 10/2026 |
| Description | Ultra-high Field Characterisation Of Altered Functional And Metabolic Brain Development In Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease |
| Amount | £141,568 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PG/24/11831 |
| Organisation | British Heart Foundation (BHF) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 11/2025 |
| Description | Ultralow Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of The Neonatal Brain To Detect Injury And Predict Outcome |
| Amount | £203,889 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PGL24-100023 |
| Organisation | Rosetrees Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 02/2028 |
| Description | Understanding And Manipulating The Contribution Of Cortical Interneuron Dysfunction To Schizophrenia |
| Amount | £127,414 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 32952 |
| Organisation | Brain & Behaviour Research Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2025 |
| End | 01/2027 |
| Description | Understanding neurodevelopment in mosaic chromatin disorders using in vitro and ex vivo models of brain development |
| Amount | £249,878 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | V4723 |
| Organisation | Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2023 |
| End | 05/2026 |
| Description | Understanding the contribution of cortical interneuron dysfunction to schizophrenia |
| Amount | £2,046,740 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/S010785/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 05/2024 |
| Title | Exosome analysis |
| Description | Exosomes carry strands of ribonucleic acid (RNA, are carbon copies of the cell's genetic information). This groundbreaking new technique pioneered by Carla Nasca at NYU School of Medicine will allow for additional non-invasive genetic testing for genetic mutations associated with Focal Cortical Dysplasia type IIA/B. see: Nasca C, Dobbin J, Bigio B, Watson K, de Angelis P, Kautz M, Cochran A, Mathé AA, Kocsis JH, Lee FS, Murrough JW, McEwen BS, Rasgon N. Insulin receptor substrate in brain-enriched exosomes in subjects with major depression: on the path of creation of biosignatures of central insulin resistance. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Sep;26(9):5140-5149. doi: 10.1038/s41380-020-0804-7. Epub 2020 Jun 15. PMID: 32536688; PMCID: PMC7787430. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This would be a world first use of brain-derived exosome analysis in serum from epielpsy patients and lead the way for the use of this technique for non-invasive genetic testing of the transcriptome in all neurological diseases. |
| Title | In vitro model of neuromuscular circuit |
| Description | In collaboration with Virgile Viasnoff (NUS, Singapore) and Juan Burrone (KCL), we have developed an open tissue culture device which allows the co-culture of PSC-derived motor neurons and astrocytes with myofibres in a connected compartments. We are currently preparing the re-submission of a revised manuscript to the journal Advanced Biosystems. It will be available to the public soon, probably May/June 2019. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - in vitro |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This device can be adapted to human iPSC and will be useful for screening drug for neuromuscular diseases, such as ALS, on an intact (reductionist) neuromuscular circuits. |
| Title | Kir2.1-T2A-Rpl10a-HA and mutKir2.1-T2A-Rpl10a-HA plasmids |
| Description | Plasmids use to manipulate neuronal activity and Trap mRNA ready to be translated |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | We could discover genes that are modulated by activity; this has led to a pre-print, and our manuscript is under revision. The use of this tool, will be shared with the scientific community and will have notable impacts in the future. It will be placed in Addgene (https://www.addgene.org) |
| Title | Sulfonated cryogel scaffolds for focal delivery in ex-vivo brain tissue cultures |
| Description | We have developed an easy-to-use tool for site-specific manipulation of human brain tissue in culture. We show that line-shaped cryogel scaffolds synthesized with precise microscale dimensions allow the targeted delivery of a reagent to a specific region of human brain tissue in culture. 3-sulfopropyl acrylate (SPA) was incorporated into the cryogel network to yield a negative surface charge for the reversible binding of molecular cargo. The fluorescent dyes BODIPY and DiI were used as model cargos to show that placement of dye loaded scaffolds onto brain tissue in culture resulted in controlled delivery without a burst release, and labelling of specific regions without tissue damage. We further show that cryogels can deliver tetrodotoxin to tissue, inhibiting neuronal function in a reversible manner. The robust nature and precise dimensions of the cryogel resulted in a user-friendly and reproducible tool to manipulate primary human tissue cultures. These easy-to-use cryogels offer an innovate approach for more complex manipulations of ex-vivo tissue. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We have developed a novel biomaterial-based tool that can be used to manipulate tissue explant cultures in a precise and reproducible manner with both spatial and temporal control. These cryogels have great potential to be modified and used to deliver a wide variety of reagents to primary tissue, allowing efficient and timely manipulation of cellular function. In particular, the efficient and reversible electrostatic loading/release paradigm transforms these synthetically sulfonated line-shaped microcryogels into a useful, biocompatible, and easy-to-handle tool to control reagent delivery. Both the degree of sulfonation and the presence of other charged groups could be adapted for specific cargos, such as pharmacological inhibitors or recombinant proteins. These cryogels are of particular interest for researchers working with ex vivo model systems where genetic tools are lacking, such as primary human tissue, but could be also applied in many different fields. |
| URL | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142961221000636?dgcid=rss_sd_all |
| Title | multiplex rabies-based monosynaptic tracing approach |
| Description | We engineered an innovative multiplex rabies-based monosynaptic tracing resource that allows distinguishing the connectivity of two distinct neuronal populations simultaneously. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Our tools will significantly benefit the community and contribute to expanding the range of possibilities further to decipher the complexity of neuronal connectivity and the function of brain circuits. It will be placed in Addgene (https://www.addgene.org) |
| Title | optogenetic PSC-myofibers |
| Description | Together with Prof. Song and me, Aimee is developing a culture system of optogenetically controlled ESC-myofibers. The long term goals is to i) model muscle diseases in vitro with a new type of myofiber-microdevice, and ii) assemble hybrid biological/synthetic soft robots that employ myofibers for locomotion and, long-term, may be used for microsurgery in vivo. To this end, she has generated mouse ESC clones that carry a MACS-sortable Myog::CD14 myoblasts reporter, a dox-inducible MyoD gene which transdifferentiates ESC-mesoderm into myoblasts, and optogenetic actuators. She chose two different channelrhodopsin, activated by blue and red light, respectively, to be able to independently control two antagonistic myofiber constructs in a hinge-joint-type musculo-skeletal model. Aimee has already tested the functionality of the optogenetic myofibers in a custom-build microdevices designed to stabilize contractile fibers, and she is now adapting the experimental system to human iPSCs with the aim of modeling muscle dystrophies. |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Once published, we plan to use this technology to develop a screening platform for compounds/genetic factors that revert muscle disease phenotypes for conditions such as Duchenne Muscle Dystrophy. Such a model system would be superior to existing cell culture methods and may be used by academic groups and pharma/biotech industry for drug development and the study of disease mechanism. |
| Title | Activity-regulated genes in Layer 5 extratelencephalic pyramidal cells |
| Description | We use vTRAP technology to explore the activity-dependent genes in Layer 5 extratelencephalic pyramidal cells during development. Sequencing data have been deposited at the National Center for Biotechnology Information BioProjects Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and are accessible through GEO Series accession number GSE247075 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Researchers will have access to an accurate database of genes DEG by activity during development in L5 pyramidal cells |
| Title | Cortical and subcortical neuroanatomical signatures of schizotypy in 3004 individuals assessed in a worldwide ENIGMA study. |
| Description | Neuroanatomical abnormalities have been reported along a continuum from at-risk stages, including high schizotypy, to early and chronic psychosis. However, a comprehensive neuroanatomical mapping of schizotypy remains to be established. The authors conducted the first large-scale meta-analyses of cortical and subcortical morphometric patterns of schizotypy in healthy individuals, and compared these patterns with neuroanatomical abnormalities observed in major psychiatric disorders. The sample comprised 3004 unmedicated healthy individuals (12-68 years, 46.5% male) from 29 cohorts of the worldwide ENIGMA Schizotypy working group. Cortical and subcortical effect size maps with schizotypy scores were generated using standardized methods. Pattern similarities were assessed between the schizotypy-related cortical and subcortical maps and effect size maps from comparisons of schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depression (MDD) patients with controls. Thicker right medial orbitofrontal/ventromedial prefrontal cortex (mOFC/vmPFC) was associated with higher schizotypy scores (r = 0.067, pFDR = 0.02). The cortical thickness profile in schizotypy was positively correlated with cortical abnormalities in SZ (r = 0.285, pspin = 0.024), but not BD (r = 0.166, pspin = 0.205) or MDD (r = -0.274, pspin = 0.073). The schizotypy-related subcortical volume pattern was negatively correlated with subcortical abnormalities in SZ (rho = -0.690, pspin = 0.006), BD (rho = -0.672, pspin = 0.009), and MDD (rho = -0.692, pspin = 0.004). Comprehensive mapping of schizotypy-related brain morphometry in the general population revealed a significant relationship between higher schizotypy and thicker mOFC/vmPFC, in the absence of confounding effects due to antipsychotic medication or disease chronicity. The cortical pattern similarity between schizotypy and schizophrenia yields new insights into a dimensional neurobiological continuity across the extended psychosis phenotype. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We have made openly available the effect size maps of our worldwide analyses of 29 neuroimaging datasets. These have already been picked up and used by other groups and led to high-profile publications, such as in Nature Communications and Nature Neuroscience. |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/336614 |
| Title | Data and code used in diazepam challenge on hippocampal blood flow study |
| Description | Analysis pipeline and data used in our single dose diazepam-challenge ASL study in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis, with a healthy control comparison group. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Ready for use by other researchers |
| Title | Diazepam challenge on hippocampal blood flow in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis |
| Description | Single dose diazepam-challenge ASL study in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis, with a healthy control comparison group. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Dataset and code are ready to be used by external researchers |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Diazepam_challenge_on_hippocampal_blood_flow_in_individuals_at... |
| Title | Differential gene expression between pyramidal cells in Layer 5 |
| Description | Bulk RNA sequencing of DEG between ET and IT pyramidal cells. Sequencing data have been deposited at the National Center for Biotechnology Information BioProjects Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and are accessible through GEO Series accession number GSE237311 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This dataset will be available for researchers to do further analysis to understand the gene expression of pyramidal cells |
| Title | GABA PET binding data |
| Description | We made openly available the human neuroimaging dataset acquired using positron emission tomography and the tracer Ro15-4513. All the code used for the analysis is also made freely available. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | This freely available dataset has already been used by other researchers and led to high-profile publications. |
| URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Imaging_transcriptomics_of_GABAergic_neurotransmission_in_the_... |
| Title | Multi-synaptic boutons are a feature of CA1 hippocampal connections that may underlie network synchrony |
| Description | This is an open source, recently published model (Rigby et al., Cell Reports, 2023). We model CA1 neurons receiving synaptic input from CA3/2 neurons as well as background input. Inputs were divided into strata (stratum radiatum and SO), and the fraction of MSBs in each was set in accordance with either previously published data for the stratum radiatum (25% MSBs) or with the findings described for the SO (50% MSBs) in Rigby et al. (2023). |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | NA |
| URL | https://github.com/juliavg/multi_synaptic_boutons |
| Title | Reprogramming astroglia into neurons with hallmarks of fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive interneurons by phospho-site deficient Ascl1 |
| Description | Confocal microscopy images, electrophysiological traces and analysis done in MS Excel. All zipped data folders include readme files explaining how to navigate them. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | N/A |
| URL | https://kcl.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Reprogramming_astroglia_into_neurons_with_hallmarks_of_fas... |
| Description | Across species DNA methylation following cannabinoids exposure : Senior Collaborator Professor Yasmin Hurd |
| Organisation | Mount Sinai Hospital (USA) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | My team has provided the data for a joint ongoing analyses |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in these data analyses and interpretation |
| Impact | Not yet available |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Activation of Fezf2 promoter |
| Organisation | Biomedical Institute of Valencia |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our findings unveil a novel function for FEZF2 as an activity- dependent transcription factor that governs inhibitory synapses onto pyramidal cells in a cell type-specific manner. This manuscript is in BioRxiv and under revision in peer-review journal. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We were asked to demonstrate the connection between activity and the Fezf2 gene. To achieve that, we have collaborated with the laboratory of Nuria Flames at the Institute of Biomedicine in Valencia (Spain). She is a transcription expert, and her lab will explore the activation of the promoter following Luciferase's essays. |
| Impact | The outputs of this collaboration, together with the rest of the revision process, will lead to the paper's publication in a high-impact journal. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Activation of Fezf2 promoter with activity |
| Organisation | Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our findings unveil a novel function for FEZF2 as an activity- dependent transcription factor that governs inhibitory synapses onto pyramidal cells in a cell type-specific manner. This manuscript is in BioRxiv and under revision in a peer-reviewed journal. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The lab of Angel Barco at Institute of Neuroscience, has contributed to our research by showing that Fezf2 promoter increased the binding sites of c-fos with activity. |
| Impact | This was one of the request of the revision and will result hopefully in the acceptance of the paper for publication |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Adding National and International Collaborators |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Department | MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I met with new collaborators to the MosFED study, discussed and agreed a collaboration. i wrote the Ethics amendment which I submitted to our local R&D team in December 2024. Dr Carla Nasca, Assistant Professor, Head of Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York (exosome extraction from plasma and analysis). Dr Betty Bigio, Assistant Professor, Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York (bioinformatic data analysis). Gothenburg Epilepsy Centre collaborators, Sweden: Neurosurgery: Daniel Nilsson M.D., Assoc. Prof., Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Neuropathology: Thomas Olsson Bontell, M.D, Ph.D, ., Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Genetics: Frida Abel, M.D., Assoc.Prof., Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Neuropediatrics: Ann-Louise Esserlind, M.D, Ph.D, Dept.of Pediatric Neurology, Queen Silvias Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Prof Beatriz Rico, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Biology, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London SE1 1UL London (Histopathology on brain tissue for biomarkers of mTOR-pathway activation). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Gothenburg University Epilepsy Centre in Sweden will add additional 30-50 samples. Frozen plasma samples will be sent by King's and the collaborating Danish and Swedish centre to the Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, for exosome extraction from plasma and analysis. Exosomes carry strands of ribonucleic acid (RNA, are carbon copies of the cell's genetic information). This groundbreaking new technique pioneered by Carla Nasca at NYU School of Medicine [19] will allow for additional non-invasive genetic testing for genetic mutations associated with Focal Cortical Dysplasia type IIA/B. Prof Beatriz Rico will perform additional histopathology on brain tissue for synaptic biomarkers of mTOR-pathway activation. |
| Impact | With Prof Rico, we successfully applied for a PhD student on the MRC CNDD programme. The PhD student will start her 4-year fully funded programme in October 2025 and will work under primary supervision of Prof Rico and secondary supervision by Dr Mantoan Ritter, to investigate and characterise synaptic interneuronal changes in FCD II B tissue. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Adding National and International Collaborators |
| Organisation | New York University |
| Department | School of Medicine |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I met with new collaborators to the MosFED study, discussed and agreed a collaboration. i wrote the Ethics amendment which I submitted to our local R&D team in December 2024. Dr Carla Nasca, Assistant Professor, Head of Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York (exosome extraction from plasma and analysis). Dr Betty Bigio, Assistant Professor, Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York (bioinformatic data analysis). Gothenburg Epilepsy Centre collaborators, Sweden: Neurosurgery: Daniel Nilsson M.D., Assoc. Prof., Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Neuropathology: Thomas Olsson Bontell, M.D, Ph.D, ., Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Genetics: Frida Abel, M.D., Assoc.Prof., Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Neuropediatrics: Ann-Louise Esserlind, M.D, Ph.D, Dept.of Pediatric Neurology, Queen Silvias Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Prof Beatriz Rico, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Biology, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London SE1 1UL London (Histopathology on brain tissue for biomarkers of mTOR-pathway activation). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Gothenburg University Epilepsy Centre in Sweden will add additional 30-50 samples. Frozen plasma samples will be sent by King's and the collaborating Danish and Swedish centre to the Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, for exosome extraction from plasma and analysis. Exosomes carry strands of ribonucleic acid (RNA, are carbon copies of the cell's genetic information). This groundbreaking new technique pioneered by Carla Nasca at NYU School of Medicine [19] will allow for additional non-invasive genetic testing for genetic mutations associated with Focal Cortical Dysplasia type IIA/B. Prof Beatriz Rico will perform additional histopathology on brain tissue for synaptic biomarkers of mTOR-pathway activation. |
| Impact | With Prof Rico, we successfully applied for a PhD student on the MRC CNDD programme. The PhD student will start her 4-year fully funded programme in October 2025 and will work under primary supervision of Prof Rico and secondary supervision by Dr Mantoan Ritter, to investigate and characterise synaptic interneuronal changes in FCD II B tissue. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Adding National and International Collaborators |
| Organisation | University of Gothenburg |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I met with new collaborators to the MosFED study, discussed and agreed a collaboration. i wrote the Ethics amendment which I submitted to our local R&D team in December 2024. Dr Carla Nasca, Assistant Professor, Head of Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York (exosome extraction from plasma and analysis). Dr Betty Bigio, Assistant Professor, Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York (bioinformatic data analysis). Gothenburg Epilepsy Centre collaborators, Sweden: Neurosurgery: Daniel Nilsson M.D., Assoc. Prof., Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Neuropathology: Thomas Olsson Bontell, M.D, Ph.D, ., Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Genetics: Frida Abel, M.D., Assoc.Prof., Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden Neuropediatrics: Ann-Louise Esserlind, M.D, Ph.D, Dept.of Pediatric Neurology, Queen Silvias Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Prof Beatriz Rico, Professor of Neurodevelopmental Biology, Centre for Developmental Neurobiology MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London SE1 1UL London (Histopathology on brain tissue for biomarkers of mTOR-pathway activation). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Gothenburg University Epilepsy Centre in Sweden will add additional 30-50 samples. Frozen plasma samples will be sent by King's and the collaborating Danish and Swedish centre to the Epigenetics & System Neuroscience Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, for exosome extraction from plasma and analysis. Exosomes carry strands of ribonucleic acid (RNA, are carbon copies of the cell's genetic information). This groundbreaking new technique pioneered by Carla Nasca at NYU School of Medicine [19] will allow for additional non-invasive genetic testing for genetic mutations associated with Focal Cortical Dysplasia type IIA/B. Prof Beatriz Rico will perform additional histopathology on brain tissue for synaptic biomarkers of mTOR-pathway activation. |
| Impact | With Prof Rico, we successfully applied for a PhD student on the MRC CNDD programme. The PhD student will start her 4-year fully funded programme in October 2025 and will work under primary supervision of Prof Rico and secondary supervision by Dr Mantoan Ritter, to investigate and characterise synaptic interneuronal changes in FCD II B tissue. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Alpha5 specific ligands on animal models of schizophrenia |
| Organisation | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We will use their ligands on neuroimaging studies in an animal model of schizophrenia. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Cook's lab is providing the ligands. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Association of peripheral markers of oxidative stress and GABA-A alpha5 receptor function |
| Organisation | Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We will contribute the neuroimaging data (GABA-A alpha5 PET, MRS of GABA and glutathione) from clinical high-risk for psychosis patients and first-episode psychosis patients. We will also contribute blood samples from these patients. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Kim Do's lab will apply their advanced analysis methods to our blood samples to quantify blood markers of oxidative stress. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Biomaterial tools for human tissue slices |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Department | School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are providing biological expertise and testing of the biomaterials. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators are providing novel materials and expertise. |
| Impact | Recent publication in Biomaterials: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120712 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Collaboration with Donato lab in Basel to develop novel in vivo imaging |
| Organisation | University of Basel |
| Department | Biozentrum Basel |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of scientific question, planning of technological development, team member performed the experiments, technique developed and refined at KCL. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 3 months of training in state of the art in vivo imaging in developing mouse hippocampus at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland. |
| Impact | Preprint deposited, currently under review: Leibold NS, Higgs NF, Kandler S, Khan AG, Donato F, Andreae LC. NMDA receptor activation drives early synapse formation in vivo. BioR?iv 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.23.595343 Invited to speak at FENS 2024, 9th European Synapse Meeting (2024) as well as university seminars as a result. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with Harvard University for ultra-high field fMRI |
| Organisation | Harvard University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | New collaboration with Professor Jonathan Polimeni who has expertise in ultra-high field fMRI but has not worked with infants. We are therefore working together on developing the methods for infant 7T fMRI. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Polimeni is a world leader on ultra-high field fMRI so has advised on the acquisition and analysis methods. |
| Impact | OHBM 2023 annual meeting abstract: Exploration of cortical depth analysis of 7T fMRI in the neonatal brain Tomoki Arichi 1,2,3, Jonathan R Polimeni 4, Philippa Bridgen 3,5, Raphael Tomi-Tricot 1,5,6, Jucha Willers Moore 1,2, Daniel Cromb 1, Paul Cawley 1,3, Megan Quirke 1,3, Anthony N Price 1,3, Alena Uus 1, E De Vita 1, Maria Deprez 1, Sharon L Giles 1,5, J O'Muircheartaigh 1,2, Serena J Counsell 1, A David Edwards 1,2,3, Jo V Hajnal 1, Shaihan Malik 1,5 |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with Pharma - Roche |
| Organisation | F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are testing if compounds developed by Roche ameliorate aggression and what are the underlying neural mechanisms and brain circuits involved. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Roche provides compounds for testing. |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with SickKids, Canada |
| Organisation | The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We are supplying preclinical data derived from a mouse model that harbors the same genetic mutation as patients at SickKids (Canada). Our aim is to decipher the mechanisms underlying clinical phenotypes, such as sensory difficulties, locomotor challenges, repetitive behaviors, and aggression. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborator at SickKids is contributing clinical data obtained from autistic individuals with mutations in the Nrxn1 gene. |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Collaboration with the Malmierca Lab in Spain to investigate auditory mismatch negativity in mouse models of autism |
| Organisation | University of Salamanca |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Development of scientific question, planning of technological development, team member performed pilot experiments, ownership of two mouse models of autism(Nrxn1 knockout line and Nlgn3 Knock-in line). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training in state of the art MMN recordings at the lab in Spain (University of Salamanca) |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Computational modelling of cortical folding in the human fetal neocortex |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are working with Yanlan Mao and her postdoc Nargess Khalilgharibi to adapt their computational model of wing disc folding to model human fetal cortex folding. We have provided real data values to input into the model. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nargess has adapted the model using our data values to better predict cortical folding. |
| Impact | This is a multidisciplinary project, using biological data from our human fetal cortical folding models to modify a computational model of tissue folding. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Cross-species imaging of GABA-A alpha5 receptor function |
| Organisation | University of Pittsburgh |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are performing the autoradiography and data analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Tony Grace's lab provided the rat model (brain tissue) that we have used for the autoradiography. |
| Impact | Conference abstract accepted for presentation at the SIRS 2020 and 2021 conference. Results mentioned in several conference symposia and invited talks. Publication in Neuropsychopharmacology: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34743200/ |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Developing a human-iPSC skeletal muscle model of glucose metabolism on responsive elastomer nanofibers |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Together with Prof Wenhui Song (UCL) and Dr Daniel Fazakerley, my group has started to apply the human iPSC-based neuromuscular model we developed with Prof Song to studying glucose uptake by muscle in type 2 diabetes. Due to the difficulty of culturing skeletal muscle in conventional tissue culture, the myofiber/motor neuron co-cultures on a elastomer nanofiber scaffold would be, once fully adapted, the first human in vitro model of glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle. My group contributes our expertise in stem cell biology and the derivation of myofibers, neurons and glia from human iPSCs to this project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Song contributes her expertise in material science and polymer engineering, specifically electrospinning of synthetic elastomers into aligned nanofiber sheets. Dr Fazakerley contributes his knowledge in metabolism research, and technical know-how in biochemical and imaging-based analysis of glucose transport. The project is also supported by AstraZeneca through in-kind contribution of candidate small molecule drugs for a proof-of-principle screen. Our teams has just submitted a 2nd round application to the UKRI cross council grant scheme for this project. |
| Impact | We have performed preliminary experiments to generate supporting data for the joint grant application. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary and span the remits of the EPSRC, BBSRC and MRC. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Development of novel light sheet microscopes for imaging of synapses within intact tissue |
| Organisation | M Squared Lasers Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Materials, Intellectual input and expertise in synapse and stem cell biology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training of staff, access to novel materials and instruments, intellectual input. |
| Impact | Several papers in preparation; Institute of Physics innovation award |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | City, University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Fidmag Sisters Hospitallers |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Free University of Amsterdam |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Henri Mondor Hospital |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Manchester University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | McGill University |
| Department | Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital |
| Country | Canada |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Monash University |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Moscow State University |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Philipp University of Marburg |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | Roehampton University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University Hospital Jena |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University of Auckland |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University of Bonn |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University of Geneva |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University of Groningen |
| Department | Neuroimaging Center Groningen |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University of Münster |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University of New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | ENIGMA Schizotypy |
| Organisation | University of Zurich |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I created this worldwide consortium for neuroimaging data sharing and analyses in the field of schizotypy. I have been chairing this consortium since its creation in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The consortium currently involves +30 sites worldwide contributing their data for neuroimaging meta-analyses. |
| Impact | Several publications at international conferences (Schizophrenia International Research Society, International Consortium of Schizotypy Researchers, Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Society for Biological Psychiatry...) since 2019. Our first paper was published in Molecular Psychiatry in 2022, and several others have been published, available as preprints, or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Estrogens in health and disease |
| Organisation | AstraZeneca |
| Department | Astra Zeneca |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | My lab has conducted experiments, provided expertise in synapse biology, intellectual input and training of staff. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators have have conducted experiments, provided intellectual input, training of staff as well as reagents. |
| Impact | We have a joint PhD student funded by BBSRC and several publications either published or under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | Bristol Royal Hospital for Children (BRHC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | North Bristol NHS Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Extension of study to all major Epilepsy Surgery sites in the UK. |
| Organisation | Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We received REC approval for our amendment in November 2024, including: Adult and Paediatric Epilepsy Surgery NHS sites included: London (UCLH and Great Ormond Street Hospital) Bristol (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol Children Hospital) Oxford (Oxford University Hospital) Manchester (Salford Royal, Manchester University Nhs Trust, Northern Care Alliance) Cambridge (Addenbrookes Hospital) and Newcastle (Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts). The following will be Local PIs; Prof Matthew Walker, Professor of neurology at the Institute of Neurology, UCL and Consultant neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof Helen Cross, The Prince of Wales's Chair of Childhood Epilepsy and Head of the Developmental Neuroscience Programme at UCL-Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Neurology Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London and Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK: lead collaborator for UCLH Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Kasia Sieradzan, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for Neurology and the Clinical Lead of the Bristol Adult Epilepsy Surgery Programme, North Bristol NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Bristol Adult site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr Michael Carter, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon and Clinical Lead, Bristol Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Bristol: lead collaborator for Bristol Paediatric site, patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Prof. Arjune Sen, Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group and Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Oxford site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rajiv Mohanraj, Consultant Neurologist, Epilepsy Lead at Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences at Salford Royal Foundation Trust and Clinical Lead for Manchester Epilepsy Research Network: lead collaborator for Manchester Adult site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Mr John Kitchen, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, Manchester University NHS Trust: lead collaborator for Manchester Paediatric site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rachel Thornton, Consultant Neurophysiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals: lead collaborator for Cambridge site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. Dr Rhys Thomas, Honorary Consultant Neurologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals: lead collaborator for Newcastle site: patient identification and recruitment and review of scholarly articles. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of patients Consent Recruitment of 1-2 patient per site |
| Impact | We are leading site initiation visits (virtual) and finalising details with the local R&D Departments. Recruitment to commence as soon as studies open. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Generation of dorsal and ventral telencephalic organoids |
| Organisation | Harvard University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are collaborating with Prof. Paola Arlotta's laboratory to generate dorsal and ventral telencephalic organoids from human ESCs and IPSCs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Arlotta has shared unpublished protocols with our laboratory. |
| Impact | No outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Investigating the retrotranscriptome and its role in brain development and stem cell fate |
| Organisation | George Washington University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Training of staff, intellectual input, expertise in stem cell biology and neuroscience. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Training of staff, intellectual input, expertise in virology. |
| Impact | Several publications are currently in preparation or are under review. This collaboration is multi-disciplinary including neuroscience and virology. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | MRC/NIHR Rare disease node - EpiGenRare |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Department | Manchester Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading the EpiGenRare node together with University of Manchester |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in different complementary areas of epigenomics of rare diseases |
| Impact | Outreach sessions at rare chromatin disorder support groups/conferences |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Mass spectrometry brain tissue |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Department | MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | this study involves measuring metabolites initially fetal human tissue with and without T21 |
| Collaborator Contribution | supplied tissue |
| Impact | on going . no outputs as yet. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Mechanisms of sensory discrimination in rodents |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have investigated how disruption of the excitatory-inhibitory cellular balance in the cerebral cortex impacts the learning of sensory discrimination tasks in head-fixed mice. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Adil Khan has helped our laboratory to set up sensory discrimination tasks in head-fixed mice. |
| Impact | A manuscript is being prepared for publication. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Modelling of circuit dynamics |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Department of Bioengineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided the biological data on the properties of multi-synaptic boutons in the hippocampus. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators used this the biological data to model the effects of multi-synaptic boutons on circuit dynamics |
| Impact | A paper was published: Rigby et al., Cell Reports, 2023. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Modelling schizophrenia using patient-specific induced puripotent stem cells. |
| Organisation | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are providing intellectual input and training of staff. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators are providing novel materials. |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Molecular programs cortical neurons |
| Organisation | Aix-Marseille University |
| Department | Mediterranean Institute of Neurobiology |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have contributed with our discoveries on interneuron connectivity and helped them to shape their database. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our collaborators have carried out a Bioinformatic analysis to provide the molecular programs of interneurons and pyramidal cell connectivity across development by single cells sequencing. |
| Impact | Our collaborators have carried out a Bioinformatic analysis to provide the molecular programs of interneurons and pyramidal cell connectivity across development by single cells sequencing. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Psychosis group MRS studies groups Gemma Modinos and Philip McGuire |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Department | Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We generated and provided an interneuron-deficient genetic model that shows schizophrenia-like phenotypes, including changes in cortical activity and cognitive deficits caused by a synaptic phenotype. These mutants have been scanned to detect the levels of GABA and glutamatergic metabolites, an approach that is currently used in humans. The rationale behind this study is to identify biomarkers that can be correlated with specific pathological deficits. We have discussed and provided inputs on the preliminary results obtained with the MRS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our colleagues have scanned controls and mutant model on a 9.4T Bruker MR scanner at the BRAIN Centre (King's college London) to detect the levels of GABA and glutamatergic metabolites, an approach that is currently used in humans. |
| Impact | The rationale behind this study is to identify biomarkers that can be correlated with specific pathological deficits. For example, changes in specific metabolics in a well-characterised genetic model can informed us that similar changes in metabolics are expected to change in alterations on the same circuitries in humans. This will help to stratify patients for a better drug targeting design. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Psychosis studies: genetic and environment, group of Marta di Forti |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Department | Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In the cortex of our MRC Programme grant, we are going to text how influence stressors like cannabis in a genetic model with interneuron deficiency. To achieve that we will use THC and CBD to text the positive and negative influence of these compounds in a mouse model with schizophrenia-like phenotypes. Marta di Forti group will use blood samples from our groups to test epigenetic changes comparing control and mutant model groups and compare these findings with control and schizophrenia patients that intake cannabis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partner, Marta di Forti, in addition will test how the combination of THC and CBD together can influence behaviour and whether these modified the epigenetic profile. Marta has been recently awarded with an MRC SCF to begin this collaboration. |
| Impact | The outcomes of this collaboration will be to identify genetic profiles that can lead to changes is signalling pathways driven by the intake of cannabis that can help to understand why cannabis increases the probability of psicosis in a likely borderline genetic background. These data will help to stratify patients and to identify potential targets for intervention. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Roche collaboration |
| Organisation | F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | My group is testing a GABA compound provided by Roche in animal models of autism. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Roche is providing a GABA compound to us. |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Role of NRXN1 in autism Spectrum Disorders |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Autism Research Centre (ARC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Intellectual input, training of staff, expertise in stem cell biology and synapse biology, access to novel materials. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual input and access to novel materials. |
| Impact | This work has lead to 1 publication, 1 manuscript under review and several manuscripts under preparation. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Sensory perception, repetitive behaviour and aggression |
| Organisation | University of Coimbra |
| Country | Portugal |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In this translational project, we are working together to identify neural mechanisms/circuits underlying sensory processing difficulties, repetitive behaviours and aggression linked to the Nrxn1 genetic mutation, which is associated with autism. As an integral component of our collaboration, we co-supervise a PhD student. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborators from the University of Coimbra are contributing clinical data on autistic individuals who share the same Nrxn1 mutation as our mouse models. This data encompasses a range of clinical phenotypes including sensory processing, locomotion, aggression, and repetitive behaviors. |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Testing potential drugs for the treatment of ALS with an in vitro neuromuscular circuit model |
| Organisation | AstraZeneca |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | My student Perrine Pluchon worked at Astra Zeneca/Cambridge with support from the MRC Proximity to Discovery scheme from January to June 2018. The aim of her project at AZ is to transfer the neuromusuclar tissue culture technology she developed during her PhD thesis into a pharma industry setting and test if it is suitable for low-medium scale drug screens. We have since continued the collaboration with David Baker (AZ) and will adapt our neuromuscular model to high-medium throughput screening platforms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Astra Zeneca will provide lab space and access to proprietary chemical compounds. We also have access to additional ALS candidate drugs in our lab at KCL through an Open Innovation partnership with AZ. |
| Impact | This collaboration started only recently. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Xenotransplantation of cortical organoids |
| Organisation | Stanford University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are collaborating with Prof. Sergiu Pasca's laboratory to generate "humanised" models of cortical development using xenotransplantation of cortical organoids. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Pasca has shared unpublished observations and protocols. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Zebrafish models of autism |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My lab has developed a scientific idea of development of zebrafish models carrying mutations associated with autism, namely Nrxn1, Nlgn3 and Ptchd1, as well as detailed strategy what to test for in those models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Hindges lab, and the PhD students we co-supervise, is developing 3 zebrafish models of autism and will be performing behavioral tests on them. |
| Impact | NA |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | developmental assessment and analysis |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr Hana d' Souza Cardiff University we shared details of our resarch particpants and Dr De Souza and her team gathered further dvelopmental outocme data |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sharing of contact data. ( following consent) Analysis of assessments |
| Impact | not available yet. data will be used in student PHD thesis and publication |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | fMRI of emotion in high-risk and first-episode psychosis |
| Organisation | University of Pennsylvania |
| Department | Perelman School of Medicine |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are now using Prof. Ruben Gur's fMRI task of facial emotional processing in our ongoing experiments with clinical high-risk for psychosis and first-episode psychosis patients. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Ruben Gur shared their fMRI task of facial emotional processing that they had used to identify reliable alterations in adolescents with psychotic-like experiences. |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | fetal cortical tissue |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | this is a new collaboration looking at cortical folding in fetal brain . No collaborative awards yet. These are being prepared . |
| Collaborator Contribution | expertise in transcriptomics of developing brain tissue to look at cortical folding |
| Impact | none as yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | mass spectrometry of human tissue metabolites |
| Organisation | King's College London |
| Department | MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Idea to perform Mass spectrometry to compare with in vivo proton spectroscopy |
| Collaborator Contribution | supplied tissue |
| Impact | nil as yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | multi-cell models of the human brain with optimised open-source protocols |
| Organisation | Bit.Bio |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are alpha and beta testing protocols from bit.bio and are developing optimised open-sourced protocols to be used with these products and similar research tools. My team is working directly with the cell products generated by bit.bio |
| Collaborator Contribution | bit.bio are providing my team with access to newly developed cell products in a 'first-access' manner - that is, access before products are available to general users. We are also given opportunities to meet with other researchers and collaborative opportunities. |
| Impact | None yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Title | Mos-FED (Mosaicism in Focal Epilepsy Cortical Dysplasia Tissue) is the Rare Disease clinical trial running funded by this grant (IRAS 303113, Ethics approval 22-WA-0326). We have recruited 10 patients in 2024. |
| Description | We are actively recruiting at King's and due to open other national and international sites. |
| Type | Diagnostic Tool - Non-Imaging |
| Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2025 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| UKCRN/ISCTN Identifier | NCT06053671 |
| Impact | as above |
| Title | Mos-FED (Mosaicism in Focal Epilepsy Cortical Dysplasia Tissue) is the Rare Disease clinical trial running funded by this grant (IRAS 303113, Ethics approval 22-WA-0326). We have recruited 3 patients. We have further 5 who have expressed interest and are awaiting a recruitment appointment and further 6 awaiting consent for contact. MENTOR is the trial to which I am Chief Investigator, which we are submitting for our mTOR node work which will fund extension of MosFED to the other UK Research sit |
| Description | This trial is still running and diagnostic tools are not yet evaluated. |
| Type | Diagnostic Tool - Non-Imaging |
| Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2024 |
| Development Status | On hold |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| Impact | na |
| Description | 19th National Meeting of the Spanish Society of Neuroscience, symposium on Origin and expansion of the neocortex |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited speaker for the Origin and expansion of the neocortex symposium at the 19th National Meeting of the Spanish Society of Neuroscience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | 2021 World's Mental Health Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Finalising my collaboration with artist Izzy Parker, we organised 2 workshops with service users from the Maudsley Hospital, and also held an exhibition of Izzy's work for World's Mental Health day. We discussed issues around our how our brains process emotions and there was increased interest in our research by service users. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://maudsleycharity.org/events/wmhd-at-the-ortus/ |
| Description | 6th Form College Visit (Uxbridge) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Described research career to students interested in studying science as part of a careers week lab visit |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | A School visit |
| 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 | Presented a workshop "Growing Brains, Nurturing Minds: Neuroplasticity and Learning" to the audience of ca 70 parents of children attending Duncombe School (Independent School) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | A talk and discussion panel on the field of research into the Axon Initial Segment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 25 researchers working a on the Axon Initial Segment discussed current state of the field and future directions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Art of the Brain |
| 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 | Explain the development and functions of the brain to the public through artistic activities during an evening organised by the MRC at the Dana Centre in London Improvement of the understanding of neuroscience by the wider public |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006 |
| Description | Bristol Brain Awareness Week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is a worldwide initiative dedicated to enhancing public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. One of these activities, is to establish a network of researchers and professionals to exchange ideas and discuss concerns but also work to close the gap between science and the general public. With this in mind, the 2024 BAW event is under the slogan of "Feeding Connections: Bringing the Brain of Tomorrow." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.fens.org/engagement/outreach/baw |
| Description | CDN DNA Champions visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | DNA Champions is the follow-on programme of interactions designed specially for our DNA Summer School participants. The Y13 DNA Champions will be moving around the department between 11:00-13:00 and partaking in lab tours and some short sessions with researchers exploring the lab and the research questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://kings.padlet.org/leighwilson/e5gnn6qik6igoiht |
| Description | Co-led a taskforce on research into developmental forms of epilepsy for the ERI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A mix of practitioners, researchers and patient groups took part in a taskforce to discuss the aims and future work of the Neurodevelopment Theme of the Epilepsy Research Institute. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Coin Street Developing Brain workshops |
| 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 | We ran a series of 4 half-day workshops at the Coin Street Community Centre for local families and key stake-holders (social workers, teachers, health visitors) about the developing human brain, neurodivergence, current research in the area, and how to access support (through the NHS, education and social services) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Consultant for the Science Media Centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Consultant for the Science Media Centre which are an independent press office helping to ensure that the public have access to the best scientific evidence and expertise through the news media when science hits the headlines. In this role, I review articles highlighted by the press and comment on the interpretation and impact of the research, advising the media on how to present the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022,2023,2024 |
| URL | https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/ |
| Description | Dev Neuro Academy talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Each year we host Dev Neuro Academy, an outreach programme for sixth-form students at local schools under-represented at leading universities. I met with the students during their week's visit and gave a talk about careers in science, and specifically in neuroscience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2022,2023,2024,2025 |
| URL | https://devneuro.org/cdn/public-engagement-dna1.php |
| Description | DevNeuro Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The DevNeuro Academy Widening Participation project consists of a regular programme of activities designed to improve the progression and success of students currently under-represented at our university and other institutes of higher education. The project combines a series of four in-school interactive 'Discovery workshops' with a two-week laboratory summer research work experience in our Centre. At the end of the work experience there will be a graduation ceremony here at Guy's campus. The students' families, class-mates and teachers will be invited and the students will be presented with a certificate. Students from non-selective state schools are widely under-represented at top universities. 48% of privately educated children go on to study at a highly selective university, whilst only 18% of state school children, and a staggering 2% of children eligible for free school meals, gain a place at a highly selective university. The primary objective of the DevNeuro Academy project is to engage with local non-selective state schools and contribute towards changing these numbers. The workshops were designed with the goal of providing the students with solid conceptual foundations, as well as skills and new ideas to further build on. Each workshop combines theoretical talks and lots of interactive activities about the exciting field of developmental neurobiology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023,2024,2025 |
| Description | DevNeuro Academy |
| 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 | The DevNeuro Academy Widening Participation project consists of a regular programme of activities designed to improve the progression and success of students currently under-represented at our university and other institutes of higher education. The project combines a series of four in-school interactive 'Discovery workshops' with a two-week laboratory summer research work experience in our Centre. At the end of the work experience there will be a graduation ceremony here at Guy's campus. The students' families, class-mates and teachers will be invited and the students will be presented with a certificate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023,2024 |
| URL | https://devneuro.org/cdn/public-engagement-dna.php |
| Description | DevNeuro Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The DevNeuro Academy Widening Participation project consists of a regular programme of activities designed to improve the progression and success of students currently under-represented at our university and other institutes of higher education. The project combines a series of four in-school interactive 'Discovery workshops' with a two-week laboratory summer research work experience in our Centre. At the end of the work experience there will be a graduation ceremony here at Guy's campus. The students' families, class-mates and teachers will be invited and the students will be presented with a certificate. Students from non-selective state schools are widely under-represented at top universities. 48% of privately educated children go on to study at a highly selective university, whilst only 18% of state school children, and a staggering 2% of children eligible for free school meals, gain a place at a highly selective university. The primary objective of the DevNeuro Academy project is to engage with local non-selective state schools and contribute towards changing these numbers. The workshops were designed with the goal of providing the students with solid conceptual foundations, as well as skills and new ideas to further build on. Each workshop combines theoretical talks and lots of interactive activities about the exciting field of developmental neurobiology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | DevNeuro Academy |
| 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 | I have also recently joined the public engagement committee for the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CNDD), which includes the organisation of the DevNeuro Academy. The DevNeuro academy which is a widening participation project to improve progression and success of school students from under-represented backgrounds, who have a particular interest in understanding Neuroscience. It includes specific events across the year and a week long programme of activities in the Summer which provides exposure and teaching about different aspects of Neuroscience and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | https://devneuro.org/cdn/public-engagement-dna.ph |
| Description | DevNeuro Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | My group has been participating in the activity of "The DevNeuro Academy ", which is Widening Participation project consists of a regular programme of activities designed to improve the progression and success of students currently under-represented at our university and other institutes of higher education. The contribution of the PIs and lab members supported by the BBSRC has been an excellent platform to engage the educational activity for students from non-selective state schools are widely under-represented at top universities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2024,2025 |
| Description | DevNeuro Champions |
| 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 | A spin-off from DevNeuro Academy - DevNeuro Champions - was launched to offer in-person Campus visits and lab workshops to those in DevNeuro Academy 2021. As well as lab experience, the Champions have also been receiving careers and university applications advice from Centre members. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023,2024,2025 |
| Description | DevNeuroAcademy 2021 |
| 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 | Together with my lab members we held talks and break-out rooms about our research with 50 year-12 students from 3 schools across London who had been accepted into the DNA academy, ran by the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. We also run an art-science workshop with Izzy Parker, the artist in residence in my lab. This was all online due to the covid-19 pandemic. The break-out rooms sparked many interesting questions by the students and increased their interest in a career in science and mental health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://devneuro.org/cdn/public-engagement-dna5.php |
| Description | DevNeuroAcademy mentor |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A postdoctoral researcher member of my Team, Frederike Winkel, participated in this activity. The DevNeuroAcademy Widening Participation Program includes a series of interactive discovery workshops aiming to improve the progression and success of students currently underrepresented at our university. The mentoring role involves supporting and helping the students in the preparation of a mini-project as well as hosting them during a lab visit. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Devneuro Academy workshop on brain imaging for high school students |
| 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 | Took part in a full day workshop for 6th form school students to teach about brain imaging. This included a brief lecture about brain imaging and a demonstration of MRI brain scanning, together with workshop sessions about understanding the brain in disease with imaging, and ethics around neuroimaging. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | EMBO Practical Course, Developmental neurobiology: From stem cells to circuits |
| 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 | Co-organiser for the 2 week EMBO practical course, organising lab sessions, speakers, poster sessions and discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://meetings.embo.org/event/21-dev-neurobiology |
| Description | Evidence provided to the EU Parliament on the effect of cannabis on mental health and the need for intervention |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was ask to provide evidence and contribute to an official document presented by the Onorevole Danzi at the EU Permanent at the end of the 2023. The document reviewed the evidence on the impact of cannabis use on Mental Health in young adults and the need for public education and for treatment services for those who develop dependence |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Frontiers in Science talk: How does the human brain develop? The role of size and shape. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a frontiers in science talk to science educators at the Annual Conference of the Association of Science Education. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://2024aseannualconference.sched.com/event/1O497/frontier-science-how-does-the-human-brain-deve... |
| Description | Hidden Figures |
| 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 | Career in Science, women in Science Guest speaker in the course called Hidden Figures at Virginia University. The course introduces students to the basic concepts in neuroscience while highlighting contributions from women and other groups historically excluded from STEM. Each week features a guest scientists whose work is related to the concepts taught that week. Students generate Wikipedia entries for the guest speakers as a part of their final assignment, aiming to increase the proportion of Wikipedia entries for women in STEM. In addition, Lectures are transcribed by students in form of an interview and posted on a collaborative arts and sciences blog: https://www.conjugate.blog/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatriz_Rico_(neuroscientist) |
| Description | I'm a Scientist contributor |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I'm a Scientist is a student-led STEM enrichment activity which connects school students with scientists through energetic real-time text-based Chats. I have taken part in 10 x 30 min chats with schools across the UK, with average of 15-20 students in each chat, covering topics ranging from careers in science to psychology, genetics and using animals in research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://imascientist.org.uk/ |
| Description | In preprints: shaping the developing human brain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A short commentary on the preprint Jain, A., Gut, G., Sanchis-Calleja, F., Okamoto, R., Streib, S., He, Z., Zenk, F., Santel, M., Seimiya, M., Holtackers, R. et al. (2023). Morphodynamics of human early brain organoid development. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.21.553827, including a summary of the findings and how this compares to other papers in the field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://journals.biologists.com/dev/article/150/24/dev202567/336561/In-preprints-shaping-the-develop... |
| Description | Interview and KCL blog post "In Conversation with Dr Tomoki Arichi" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interview and blog post about ultra-high field imaging, recent attainment of funding, and current research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/in-conversation-with-dr-tomoki-arichi |
| Description | Interview for New Scientist article on our paper, Massimo et al 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I was interview by the journalist Michael Marshall for the following article https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376051-does-covid-19-affect-pregnancies-and-do-the-vaccines-reduce-any-risks/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376051-does-covid-19-affect-pregnancies-and-do-the-vaccines-re... |
| Description | Invited Lecture "Implementing Advances and Translation of Research", mTOR PPI Meeting London, 5th Dec 2024. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | We identified important points to implement for different rare disease charities to improve understanding of rare mTOR diseases and promote access to our research programme and clinics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited Talk "TSC RDCN Webinar: Implementing Advances and Translation of Research", Neurology Transformation Webinar Series, NHS England, 22 nd August 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Our clinical and academic work was presented at a webinar series of NHS England as a model that other rare disease groups could follow to implement clinical advances and do research in rare diseases. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited member of the London Meyor Drug Commission |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The London Drug Commission as been set up to review the local and international evidence on cannabis use health, crime and different aspect of society to inform of possible policy changes in London and UK The work of the commission lead by Lord falconer is ongoing |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| URL | https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/mopac-governa... |
| Description | Invited panellist for "5 Years of Plan S: webinar", organised by cOAlition S |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was invited panellist in a webinar to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Plan S, the European initiative on open access publishing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.coalition-s.org/5-years-of-plan-s-webinar/ |
| Description | Invited speaker at symposium on Bringing structural biology to cells and tissues |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A symposium was organised at King's College London to explore the wider use of EM in revealing the organisation and molecular details of subcellular compartments within cells. Following my talk I discussed possible collaborations with both the speakers and scientists in the audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Invited speaker at the joint Oxford-Cambridge-KCL BNA Symposium on EI balance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | PhD students from Oxford, Cambridge and KCL organised a symposium to discuss EI balance - it sparked discussions on the topic and led to possible collaborations with people in the audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Keynote speaker for UMC Utrecht PhD Course on Neurodevelopment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote speaker for the UMC Utrecht PhD Course on Neurodevelopment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | King's Artists Award |
| 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 | We received funding from KCL to support an artist in residence in my lab for the academic year 2019-2020. Due to covid-19 this was extended until end of 2021. We ran several workshops, in person and online, with MSc students at KCL, with the general public online, with the Southwark Young Advisors, with the NHS OASIS service for people at clinical high risk for psychosis. These were always very engaging workshops that sparked conversation about emotions, our brains, and mental health with these diverse audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/artists-in-residence/artists-in-psychiatry-psychology-neuroscience/iz... |
| Description | Living Well with Medi-Culture: Memory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a live audience Q&A interview about our work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.mediculture.co.uk/whats-on/living-well-with-medi-culturememory |
| Description | Member of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CNDD) Public Engagement Committee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Member of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CNDD) Public Engagement Committee - current campaigns include raising awareness of CNDD research via Instagram |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023,2024 |
| Description | Memoirs and Ageing workshops |
| 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 | A six-week series of workshops exploring the writing of memoirs and the effect of ageing on memory. The focus will be on creative writing: how to capture memories; how to write a longer memoir; and how to make writing vivid and truthful. not known |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Mentoring female refugee with interest in science career, partnering with the Charity Routes Collective. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I have been paired with a mentee who has been granted asylum in the UK and would like to pursue a career in science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://routescollective.com/mentoring |
| Description | NEUROART Exhibition. Amplifying neurodivergent voices in the neurosciences |
| 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 | NEUROART was a project driven by the vision of amplifying neurodivergent voices in the neurosciences. The initiative aimed to encourage a dialogue about the importance and value of living experience expertise in research, through art-science creative collaborations. The goal was to facilitate pairings between researchers in neuroscience and neurodivergent artists, who would have the chance to learn from each others' expertise and experience. Art pieces resulting from these interactions were shown at an exhibition event at the Workshop Space at Science Gallery London, which took place on 9th February 2024. Two researchers in neuroscience from two labs at King's College London were paired with two neurodivergent artists in the months leading up to an exhibition event at King's College London. The first was Anne-Laure Le Cunff, from the ADHD Research Lab spearheaded by Eleanor Dommett. Anne-Laure was paired with Carrie Ravenscroft. Anne-Laure's PhD work explores the application of neuroscience in the field of education. In particular, the ADHD Research Lab focuses on understanding how people with ADHD (as well as others who fall under the umbrella term of neurodiversity) experience learning and the strategies they develop to be successful in higher education. This was a natural fit with Carrie, who had already produced artwork prior to the NEUROART project on her experience as an ADHD'er in the education system. This collaboration involved Carrie participating in an EEG experiment of Anne-Laure's, an experience which was captured by Jeremy Chevilotte and premiered at the exhibition. You can see the final artwork, and read both Carrie and Anne-Laure's reflections "We Were Failed" and "Failing Forward", here. The second was Bhavani Esapathi and Deborah Reyes, from the Deepak Srivastava Lab at King's College London. Deepak's lab investigates synaptic biology in health and disease, focusing on the cellular and physiological aspect of disease with a translational focus. Unlike the former collaboration, which was based in a cognitive neuroscience lab, the latter was based in a lab using neurobiology methods, making the link between the research and neurodiversity less straightforward. As such, Bhavani opted to exploring the care of cells in the lab as a metaphor or a catalyst for understanding the relationship of care between physicians/scientists and their patients/"objects" of study. As part of this exploration, Bhavani developed a survey to better understand how models of care are interpreted within the scientific community and within a doctor-patient environment. Responses will help to expand upon the initial installation and ultimately bring ideas of care closer together within the aforementioned communities. You can find out more about this collaboration here. The project culminated in a one-day exhibition event at Workshop Space, Science Gallery London. The exhibition displayed the aforementioned artworks. We also organized an Open Call in the weeks leading up to the event, for students and staff from King's College London to offer their artwork on the theme of neurodiversity. As a community-based event, we felt that it was important to have more voices from within the community to share. 7 more art pieces were on display through the open call, 6 visual pieces and 1 poem. You can find the descriptions of these pieces in our guide, which was available to all attendees ahead of the event. We also displayed a piece by Bethan Burnside, the NEUROART project founder and alumni of the MSc Neuroscience King's College London program. This artwork provided the story of the impetus of the project, which started in March 2022 and stems from the living neurodivergent experience of its founder, as an ADHD'er studying a PhD Biomedical Sciences in a neurodevelopmental genetics lab. We also had two interactive pieces: 1. A chance for people to contribute their research priorities to the ADHD Research Lab; 2. Prompt cards with questions relating to neurodiversity (you can see some of these beautiful responses on our Instagram). You can find some photos from the exhibition here, our event accessibility measures here, and a write-up of the event from King's College London here. The event also hosted a panel discussion, on the topic of amplifying neurodivergent voices in research and art. You can read the bios of the four panelists here. The panel discussion was livestreamed, and a recording will be available on the website soon. It was a very lively discussion, offering a breadth of perspectives: two panelists are neurodivergent, three are researchers, one is an artist working on the intersection of health and art, and one is a researcher having done a project on the intersection of neuroscience, art, and neurodiversity. We received very positive feedback from both the audience and the panelists themselves on this experience. The event was attended by almost 100 people in total, and a further 77 people signed up to receive a link to the livestream. Carrie's artwork will have a permanent home on-site at King's College London. We have translated parts of the exhibition onto our website in a long-term online space (livestream recording will be uploaded soon). We documented the journey on our social media channels, with audiences of 1,230 (Instagram), 980 (Facebook), and 563 (LinkedIn). Bethan (founder) and two other volunteer team members (Shaakir Salam and Keshvi Shah, also King's College London alumni / current staff) will participate in an upcoming podcast episode, and Bethan has been invited to give some talks on the project to further disseminate and reflect on its process and potential impact. The NEUROART project and event were spearheaded by volunteers, about half of whom are neurodivergent. The project was conceptualized and founded by Bethan Burnside. It was developed and driven by them, and Shaakir Salam and Keshvi Shah, with the help and input of Michael Motoc, Amar Mehta, and Aoife Coghlan. Special thanks to the other volunteers and consultants who provided invaluable support and expertise along the way. The project was supported by the UKRI MRC Centre for Developmental Disorders, WOHL Cellular Imaging Centre, and ADHD Research Lab, based at King's College London, in addition to Ness Labs and the British Neuroscience Association. In addition, the volunteer team are grateful to Leigh Wilson, Deepak Srivastava, and Ellie Dommett for facilitating our vision; to Science Gallery London for providing us with a venue; to our project artists Bhavani Esapathi and Carrie Ravenscroft; to our project researchers Anne-Laure Le Cunff and Deborah Reyes; to our panelists not yet mentioned Virginia Carter Leno and Bayparvah Kaur Gehdu; and to the Open Call respondents Toni Mo, Khushali Khowal, Anastasia Smirnova, Trinity Bernard-Jones, Sajal Porwal, and Zoe Grisedale-Sherry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.neuroartexhibition.com/ |
| Description | NRXN1 Patient Organization |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | This event was organized by the NRXN1 Network, a nonprofit patient advocacy group whose mission is to improve the lives of individuals with NRXN1 (2p16.3) Deletion. MOre than 80 participants (patients, funders, medical professionals and researchers) were present. In addition to talks and debates about the best way forward, we have provided help to the NRXN1 Network to apply for a grant from SFARI to support an in-person family and research conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Nature Careers Podcast on Leadership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by Nature Careers on leadership skills. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00130-0 |
| Description | NeuroAgenda was an initiative to celebrate and explore the journeys of the female scientists, educators, support and professional service members that contribute to the research at CDN and the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | NeuroAgenda was an initiative to celebrate and explore the journeys of the female scientists, educators, support and professional service members that contribute to the research at CDN and the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. As part of International Women's Day celebration, it was both a celebration of female contribution to neuroscience and a mean of raising awareness of the ongoing need for gender parity in science research, particularly at senior levels. The aim is to inspire interest in STEM careers by providing insight into the pathways that the NeuroAgenda champions have encountered in their careers. Short profile posts included details of the professional journeys (education, roles, experience) as well as any challenges and hopes. I was interviewed by my MRC-PhD student Sara Ratti, a member of my team, that was the person that was running the engagement activity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | New Generation Science for the British Council |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Sharing our lab's research interests and discovries with secondary school pupils from UK and Europe through presentation and games. Awareness of research advances; attraction to the UK for studies in biomed sciences |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006 |
| Description | Panel at MRC CNDD and Crick Symposium: Exploring the dimensions of research into the developing human brain |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Member of panel discussing three different views of this emerging landscape for exploring human brain development - how it speaks to those affected by conditions, the process of donation and how human developmental brain research can connect with a broader public audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution - CDN Dev Neuro Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Co-hosted a workshop on fetal brain development for 50 sixth form students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution - CDN Dev Neuro Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Co-hosted a workshop on fetal brain development for 50 sixth form students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://devneuro.org/cdn/public-engagement-dna1.php |
| Description | Pint of Science Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | More than 50 people attended the Pint of Science presentation on form and structure of neurons in the visual system. This sparked a very good discussion about visual perception and the processing of visual information. "What does the brain actually see?" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Pint of Science talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a Pint of Science talk in May 2022: Shaping the developing human brain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Pint of Science talk to general public |
| 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 | Pint of Science is a worldwide science festival which brings researchers to a local pub/cafe/space to share their scientific discoveries. I gave a talk entitled: 'A balancing act in the brain'. This was followed by a discussion and activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/brain-development-hanging-in-the-balance |
| Description | Podcast for Human Developmental Biology Initiative: Made the Same Way |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I have taken part in a series of podcasts with HDBI researchers that brings together a researcher and musician. We discussed our research and music, resulting in the creation of a piece of music by the artist for the end of the podcast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://anchor.fm/made-the-same-way |
| Description | Podcast series interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed on the 'Giant's Shoulder' podcast, broadcast on YouTube, about autism spectrum disorder. 1.1k views. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n0kfOG7cz4 |
| Description | Presentation to 1,000 13-16 old school children in Rome, at La Sapienza University Deanary |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I was invited, as international expert, to give a talk on the link between heavy cannabis use and psychosis to 1,000 school children from Rome secondary and high school as part of a program of Public Education run by the Roma La Sapienza, University |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.instagram.com/ass_valentina_de_castro/ |
| Description | Psychology in Action talks (x3) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Three talks as a part of Psychology in Action days aimed at sixth form students interested in psychology and neuroscience. The talks aimed to showcase the broad range of careers available with psychology and neuroscience degrees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://educationinaction.org.uk/study-day/psychology-in-action-29-11-2024/ |
| Description | Public Engagement session at the the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Human Neurodevelopment Symposium, titled: "Exploring the dimensions of research into the developing human brain". |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A convergence of recent technical advances in studying biology coupled with the availability of samples through the Human Developmental Biology Initiative have led to an explosion of insights into brain development using the human as a model system. Transcriptomics, transplantation, cell & tissue culture, and imaging have revealed how our brains display unique strategies for producing and assembling neurons. Human neurodevelopment offers the opportunity to understand what sets us apart from other mammals but also how conditions that arise in the embryo and foetus might be better addressed in the clinic. This symposium brings together three different views of this emerging landscape for exploring human brain development - how it speaks to those affected by conditions, the process of donation and how human developmental brain research can connect with a broader public audience. The session will be open to both scientists and the general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School Visit (Essex) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I delivered a presentation to A-level students (~30) interested in careers in Life Sciences, Psychology and Medicine. As well as a general introduction to careers in Neuroscience, I delivered a new talk that I have been working on called 'learning to learn' which targets using our understanding of the biology of learning to enhance student approaches to their own education. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences (MHaPS) Research and Education Festival, Institute of Psychology and Psychiatry, King's College London |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited as one of the speakers at the first Research and Education Festival of the School of Mental Health & Psychological Sciences, Institute of Psychology and Psychiatry, King's College London which sparked questions and discussion at the 'Meet the presenter' session, as well as attracted collaborations in epigenetics and mental health research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/showcasing-cutting-edge-research-and-educational-success-at-inaugural-mhaps-fe... |
| Description | Science presentation at Green Man Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public engagement presentation on a stage to present neuroscience mechanisms in a theatre play. In addition, using a stall, the public was informed about ongoing neuroscience projects and model organisms. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Seminar at Imperial College London and online on World Wide Neuro |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Around 40 postgraduate students, postdocs and scientists attended the seminar in person. The seminar was also held on online via the World Wide Neuro site. My talk sparked long discussions on the topic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.world-wide.org/seminar/8320/ |
| Description | Services & Potential Technologies - Interactive Research into the needs of old people |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An event hosted by Newcastle Science City involving a panel of old people and examining their needs in terms of services and potential technologies. This is aimed at stimulating needs-based thinking to crystallise ideas for new research projects. not known |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Siemens Ultra-High field MRI Workshop in Poitiers France |
| 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 | Invited presentation about ultra-high field MR imaging of neonates at a workshop event hosted in Poitiers Hospital, France |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Sunnydown Synaptic: Journeys, Emotions + Brainstorms |
| 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 | An MRC-PhD student Sara Ratti, a member of my team, has been involved in this activity. The project captures the unique perspectives and experiences of students with communication and interaction needs associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, through their own exploration of brain anatomy, cell connections and circuitry using sculpture, movement, collage, robotics and lasers. Designed to forge valuable exchanges between science, art, engineering and young students we hope that the project highlights the relevance of creative engagement and its importance in understanding and refining the stories that explain and clarify research into Autistic Spectrum Disorder as well as provide a compelling and effective vehicle for students to express opinions, feelings and reflections about their own experiences and current research into brain development and neurodiversity. In partnership with Team London Bridge & the Mediculture Festival, the project has culminated in an installation at the Old Operating Theatre (London Bridge), created by artist Charlie Murphy from upcycled lab glassware and student programmed lasers, lodged dramatically in the rafters of the Herb Garret museum. Still ongoing until the 9th of April. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| Description | Talk at The Judd School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 30 pupils frpom the biology society at The Judd school invited me to give a talk on my work. It sparked quesitons and discussions on neuroscience, how our brains form and neurodevelopmental disorders. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Talk given at the Dev Neuro Academy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 50 pupils attended an online lecture as part of the Dev Neuro Academy organised by the Centre for Developmental Neurobiology at King's College London. It sparked questions on how neurons work and encode information, as well as the targets of different drugs and their effects on the brain. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Tours of our molecular genetics facility on King's K+ Academic Day (part of King's long-term widening participation scheme) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | K+ is King's College London's flagship widening participation programme for sixth form students. I contributed to an open day held at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (one of King's Health Faculties) which included a tour of our molecular genetics lab and an interactive session I ran about DNA and why it is important to understand its role in shaping our behaviour and mental health. I also was a panel member on the careers panel held on the same day. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/social-mobility/projects/prospective-students/k-plus#section-4 |
| Description | Video abstract for paper Massimo et al, 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We made a video abstract for our recent paper that has been released on the journal's youtube page. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJUJAI7qO3Q&ab_channel=BRAINJournals |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJUJAI7qO3Q&ab_channel=BRAINJournals |
| Description | Women in Neuroscience Awards blog - How to build inclusive research environments |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I was a finalist for the Women in Neuroscience award for Inclusive Workplace Development. The winners and finalists were interviewed for the blog on How to build inclusive research environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.womeninneuroscienceuk.org/post/how-to-build-inclusive-research-environments-advice-from-... |
| Description | Women in Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk at the IBIS (Seville, Spain) with the topic of women in Science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Workshop for Theme leads at the Epilepsy Research Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop to establish the goals of the Themes within the ERI. This included practitioners and researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| Description | Workshops with Lambeth ward inpatients |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Together with artist Izzy Parker, myself and several of the PhD students in my group ran a series of 9 workshops with 3 different inpatient mental health wards at Lambeth Hospital. The workshops sparked conversation with patients about their experiences feeling at home while away from home. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://modinoslab.com/artwork |
| Description | World Down Syndrome celebration wiht particpants and families 2023 . |
| 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 | day of presentations and activities to celebrate World Down Syndrome day |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | mTOR Charity Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | Online workshop to engage with all major mTOR disease Charities to shape our mTOR funded research including MosFED. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |