Dr Rosemary Fricker

Title: Reader in Biomedical Sciences
Phone: +44 (0)1782 733874
Email:
Location: Huxley Building : 209
Role: Year 5 Scientific Lead for Keele MBChB
Contacting me: Try my office or arrange an appointment by e-mail
rose fricker

I completed my BSc in Applied Biology at Bath University in 1991. From there I moved to Cambridge University to undertake a PhD, investigating factors affecting the survival and function of neural transplants for use in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Huntington’s disease (HD). In 1995 I moved to the University of Lund, Sweden, to undertake a postdoctoral position, developing neural stem cells for transplantation in HD and PD. In 1998 I travelled to Harvard Medical School and spent two years investigating the potential of neural transplants in the cortex.

I returned to the UK in 2000, and held a Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowship, with my research group based at Cardiff University. In January 2005, I moved to Keele as a lecturer in the new Medical School, as well as having teaching duties in Life Sciences.

I have a research group within the Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine at the University, became a Senior Lecturer in 2008 and was promoted to reader in 2012.

 

image of cell

My group currently focuses on the characterisation of immature stem/progenitor cells and their ability for neuronal differentiation and axonal growth, both in vitro and in vivo. We work with neural stem cells and embryonic stem cells and our research aims to discover extrinsic factors that govern neuronal differentiation. Our goal is to derive dopaminergic neurons for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, and GABAergic neurons for the treatment and investigation of Huntington’s disease.

Using state-of-the-art proteomics techniques we have identified a number of novel signalling molecules that influence the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. With cell culture and targeted transplantation studies, we hope to tease out to what extent these signals drive stem cell differentiation.

In addition, in collaboration with Dr Paul Roach in ISTM, we are using chemical and topographical cues to fabricate biomaterial substrates that influence neuronal differentiation and direct axonal elongation. Our aims are to generate in vitro functional neuronal circuitries to serve as models of neurodegenerative disease.

Selected Publications

  • Balami JS, Fricker RA, Chen R. 2013. Stem cell therapy for ischaemic stroke: translation from preclinical studies to clinical treatment. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets, vol. 12(2), 209-219. link>
  • Orme RP, Bhangal MS, Fricker RA. 2013. Calcitriol imparts neuroprotection in vitro to midbrain dopaminergic neurons by upregulating GDNF expression. PLoS One, vol. 8(4), e62040. link> doi>
  • Chan A, Orme RP, Fricker RA, Roach P. 2013. Remote and local control of stimuli responsive materials for therapeutic applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev, vol. 65(4), 497-514. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Kuiper JH, Gates MA. 2012. Transplanting intact donor tissue enhances dopamine cell survival and the predictability of motor improvements in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. PLoS One, vol. 7(10), e47169. link> doi>
  • Shin E, Palmer MJ, Li M, Fricker RA. 2012. GABAergic neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells possess functional properties of striatal neurons in vitro, and develop into striatal neurons in vivo in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Stem Cell Rev, vol. 8(2), 513-531. link> doi>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Balami JS, Fricker RA, Chen R. 2013. Stem cell therapy for ischaemic stroke: translation from preclinical studies to clinical treatment. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets, vol. 12(2), 209-219. link>
  • Orme RP, Bhangal MS, Fricker RA. 2013. Calcitriol imparts neuroprotection in vitro to midbrain dopaminergic neurons by upregulating GDNF expression. PLoS One, vol. 8(4), e62040. link> doi>
  • Chan A, Orme RP, Fricker RA, Roach P. 2013. Remote and local control of stimuli responsive materials for therapeutic applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev, vol. 65(4), 497-514. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Kuiper JH, Gates MA. 2012. Transplanting intact donor tissue enhances dopamine cell survival and the predictability of motor improvements in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. PLoS One, vol. 7(10), e47169. link> doi>
  • Shin E, Palmer MJ, Li M, Fricker RA. 2012. GABAergic neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells possess functional properties of striatal neurons in vitro, and develop into striatal neurons in vivo in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Stem Cell Rev, vol. 8(2), 513-531. link> doi>
  • Orme RP, Gates MA, Fricker-Gates RA. 2010. A multiplexed quantitative proteomics approach for investigating protein expression in the developing central nervous system. J Neurosci Methods, vol. 191(1), 75-82. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates RA and Gates MA. 2010. Stem cell-derived dopamine neurons for brain repair in Parkinson's disease. Regen Med, vol. 5(2), 267-278. link> doi>
  • Orme R, Fricker-Gates RA, Gates MA. 2009. Ontogeny of substantia nigra dopamine neurons. J Neural Transm Suppl, 3-18. link> doi>
  • Bagga V, Dunnett SB, Fricker-Gates RA. 2008. Ascorbic acid increases the number of dopamine neurons in vitro and in transplants to the 6-OHDA-lesioned rat brain. Cell Transplant, vol. 17(7), 763-773. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates RA. 2006. Radial glia: a changing role in the central nervous system. Neuroreport, vol. 17(11), 1081-1084. link> doi>
  • Gates MA, Torres EM, White A, Fricker-Gates RA, Dunnett SB. 2006. Re-examining the ontogeny of substantia nigra dopamine neurons. Eur J Neurosci, vol. 23(5), 1384-1390. link> doi>
  • Gates MA, Coupe VM, Torres EM, Fricker-Gates RA, Dunnett SB. 2004. Spatially and temporally restricted chemoattractive and chemorepulsive cues direct the formation of the nigro-striatal circuit. Eur J Neurosci, vol. 19(4), 831-844. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates RA, White A, Gates MA, Dunnett SB. 2004. Striatal neurons in striatal grafts are derived from both post-mitotic cells and dividing progenitors. Eur J Neurosci, vol. 19(3), 513-520. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates RA, Muir JA, Dunnett SB. 2004. Transplanted hNT cells ("LBS neurons") in a rat model of huntington's disease: good survival, incomplete differentiation, and limited functional recovery. Cell Transplant, vol. 13(2), 123-136. link>
  • Hughes AC, Errington RJ, Fricker-Gates RA, Jones L. 2004. Endophilin A3 forms filamentous structures which colocalise with microtubules but not actin filaments. Molecular Brain Research, vol. 128(2), 182-192. doi>
  • Smith R, Bagga V, Fricker-Gates RA. 2003. Embryonic neural progenitor cells: the effects of species, region, and culture conditions on long-term proliferation and neuronal differentiation. J Hematother Stem Cell Res, vol. 12(6), 713-725. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates RA, Smith R, Muhith J, Dunnett SB. 2003. The role of pretraining on skilled forelimb use in an animal model of Huntington's disease. Cell Transplant, vol. 12(3), 257-264. link>
  • Fricker-Gates RA, Lewis J, Baird AL, Dunnett SB. 2002. Survival and differentiation of LBS neurons after transplantation in a rat model of Huntington's disease. EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY, vol. 175(2), 431. link>
  • Smith R, Fricker-Gates RA, Muhith J, Dunnett SB. 2002. The role of pretraining on skilled forelimb use after striatal neuron loss. EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY, vol. 175(2), 444. link>
  • FRICKER-GATES RA, Macklis JD, Shin JJ, Tai CC. 2002. Late-Stage Immature Neocortical Neurons Reconstruct Interhemispheric Connections and Form Synaptic Contacts with Increased Efficiency in Adult Mouse Cortex Undergoing Targeted Neurodegeneration. Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 22(10), 4045-4056. link>
  • Fricker-Gates RA, Shin JJ, Tai CC, Catapano LA, Macklis JD. 2002. Late-stage immature neocortical neurons reconstruct interhemispheric connections and form synaptic contacts with increased efficiency in adult mouse cortex undergoing targeted neurodegeneration. J Neurosci, vol. 22(10), 4045-4056. link>
  • Fricker-Gates RA and Dunnett SB. 2002. Rewiring the Parkinsonian brain. Nat Med, vol. 8(2), 105-106. link> doi>
  • Englund U, Fricker-Gates RA, Lundberg C, Björklund A, Wictorin K. 2002. Transplantation of human neural progenitor cells into the neonatal rat brain: extensive migration and differentiation with long-distance axonal projections. Exp Neurol, vol. 173(1), 1-21. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates R. 2001. New steps in combating the prions. NEUROREPORT, vol. 12(14), A85-A86. link>
  • Fricker-Gates R. 2001. Rival vaccines for Alzheimer's disease. NEUROREPORT, vol. 12(14), A85. link>
  • Fricker-Gates R. 2001. Food dependence - It's all in the mind!. NEUROREPORT, vol. 12(12), A72. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates RA, Lundberg C, Dunnett SB. 2001. Neural transplantation: restoring complex circuitry in the striatum. Restor Neurol Neurosci, vol. 19(1-2), 119-138. link>
  • Fricker-Gates RA. 2000. Axonal growth - from outside or within?. NEUROREPORT, vol. 11(18), F19-F20. link> doi>
  • Fricker-Gates R. 2000. Three neuroscientists to share Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine. Neuroreport, vol. 11(17), A13. link>
  • Gates MA, Fricker-Gates RA, Magavi SS, Macklis JD. 2000. Cellular repair of complex cortical circuitry. NEUROSCIENTIST, vol. 6(5), 326-337. link>
  • Fricker-Gates RA, Winkler C, Kirik D, Rosenblad C, Carpenter MK, Björklund A. 2000. EGF infusion stimulates the proliferation and migration of embryonic progenitor cells transplanted in the adult rat striatum. Exp Neurol, vol. 165(2), 237-247. link> doi>
  • Shin JJ, Fricker-Gates RA, Perez FA, Leavitt BR, Zurakowski D, Macklis JD. 2000. Transplanted neuroblasts differentiate appropriately into projection neurons with correct neurotransmitter and receptor phenotype in neocortex undergoing targeted projection neuron degeneration. J Neurosci, vol. 20(19), 7404-7416. link>
  • Englund U, Fricker RA, Lundberg C, Bjorklund A, Wictorin K. 2000. Comparison of the integration, migration and differentiation of human neural progenitor cells after transplantation into either the embryonic, neonatal or adult rat brain. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 12, 292. link>
  • Gates MA, Fricker-Gates RA, Macklis JD. 2000. Reconstruction of cortical circuitry. Prog Brain Res, vol. 127, 115-156. link>
  • Fricker RA, Carpenter MK, Winkler C, Greco C, Gates MA, Björklund A. 1999. Site-specific migration and neuronal differentiation of human neural progenitor cells after transplantation in the adult rat brain. J Neurosci, vol. 19(14), 5990-6005. link>
  • Englund U, Fricker RA, Eyes EM, Rosner MR, Victorin K. 1998. Transplantation of the conditionally immortalized hippocampal cell line H19-7 into the adult and neonatal rat striatum and hippocampus. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 10, 334. link>
  • Winkler C, Fricker RA, Gates MA, Olsson M, Hammang JP, Carpenter MK, Björklund A. 1998. Incorporation and glial differentiation of mouse EGF-responsive neural progenitor cells after transplantation into the embryonic rat brain. Mol Cell Neurosci, vol. 11(3), 99-116. link> doi>
  • Carpenter MK, Winkler C, Fricker R, Emerich DF, Wong SC, Greco C, Chen EY, Chu Y, Kordower JH, Messing A, Björklund A, Hammang JP. 1997. Generation and transplantation of EGF-responsive neural stem cells derived from GFAP-hNGF transgenic mice. Exp Neurol, vol. 148(1), 187-204. link> doi>
  • Kordower JH, Chen EY, Winkler C, Fricker R, Charles V, Messing A, Mufson EJ, Wong SC, Rosenstein JM, Björklund A, Emerich DF, Hammang J, Carpenter MK. 1997. Grafts of EGF-responsive neural stem cells derived from GFAP-hNGF transgenic mice: trophic and tropic effects in a rodent model of Huntington's disease. J Comp Neurol, vol. 387(1), 96-113. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Torres EM, Dunnett SB. 1997. The effects of donor stage on the survival and function of embryonic striatal grafts in the adult rat brain. I. Morphological characteristics. Neuroscience, vol. 79(3), 695-710. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Torres EM, Hume SP, Myers R, Opacka-Juffrey J, Ashworth S, Brooks DJ, Dunnett SB. 1997. The effects of donor stage on the survival and function of embryonic striatal grafts in the adult rat brain. II. Correlation between positron emission tomography and reaching behaviour. Neuroscience, vol. 79(3), 711-721. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Barker RA, Fawcett JW, Dunnett SB. 1996. A comparative study of preparation techniques for improving the viability of striatal grafts using vital stains, in vitro cultures, and in vivo grafts. Cell Transplant, vol. 5(6), 599-611. link> doi>
  • Hume SP, Lammertsma AA, Myers R, Rajeswaran S, Bloomfield PM, Ashworth S, Fricker RA, Torres EM, Watson I, Jones T. 1996. The potential of high-resolution positron emission tomography to monitor striatal dopaminergic function in rat models of disease. J Neurosci Methods, vol. 67(2), 103-112. link>
  • Brundin P, Fricker RA, Nakao N. 1996. Paucity of P-zones in striatal grafts prohibit commencement of clinical trials in Huntington's disease. Neuroscience, vol. 71(3), 895-897. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Annett LE, Torres EM, Dunnett SB. 1996. The placement of a striatal ibotenic acid lesion affects skilled forelimb use and the direction of drug-induced rotation. Brain Res Bull, vol. 41(6), 409-416. link> doi>
  • Torres EM, Fricker RA, Hume SP, Myers R, Opacka-Juffry J, Ashworth S, Brooks DJ, Dunnett SB. 1995. Assessment of striatal graft viability in the rat in vivo using a small diameter PET scanner. Neuroreport, vol. 6(15), 2017-2021. link> doi>
  • FRICKER R, TORRES E, LOMBROSO P, DUNNETT S. 1995. THE LOCALIZATION OF AN ANTIBODY TO STEP IN STRIATAL TISSUE GRAFTS (VOL 5, PG 2638, 1994). NEUROREPORT, vol. 6(7), 1072. link>
  • Barker RA, Fricker RA, Abrous DN, Fawcett J, Dunnett SB. 1995. A comparative study of preparation techniques for improving the viability of nigral grafts using vital stains, in vitro cultures, and in vivo grafts. Cell Transplant, vol. 4(2), 173-200. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Torres EM, Lombroso PJ, Dunnett SB. 1994. The localization of an antibody to STEP in embryonic striatal tissue grafts. Neuroreport, vol. 5(18), 2638-2640. link> doi>
  • Fricker RA, Orme R, Bhangal M. Calcitriol imparts neuroprotection to midbrain dopaminergic neurons through up-regulation of GDNF.

Chapters

  • FRICKER-GATES RA, Dunnett SB, Torres EM, Gates MA. 2006. Neural Transplantation. In Handbook of Experimental Neurology: Methods and Techniques in Animal Research. Tatlisumak T and Fisher M (Eds.). Cambridge University Press.
  • FRICKER-GATES RA, Wictorin K, Campbell K, Olsson M. 1999. Cell and tissue transplantation. In Modern Techniques in Neuroscience Research. Windhorst U and Johansson H (Eds.). Springer.
  • FRICKER-GATES RA, Barker RA, Dunnett SB. 1994. Factors important in the survival of dopaminergic neurons in intracerebal grafts of substantia nigra. In Providing Pharmacological Access to the Brain. Flanagan TR, Emerich DF, Winn SR (Eds.). Academic Press, Orlando, Florida.
  • FRICKER-GATES RA, Bjorklund A, Campbell K, Sirinathsinghji DJS, Dunnett SB. 1994. Functional capacity of striatal transplants in the rat Huntington model. In Functional Neural Transplantation. Dunnett SB and Bjorklund A (Eds.). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Other

  • Fricker-Gates RA, Muir JA, Dunnett SB. 2003. Transplanted hNT cells ('LBS neurons') in a rat model of Huntington's disease: Good survival, incomplete differentiation, and no functional recovery. CELL TRANSPLANTATION (vol. 12, pp. 317-318). link>
  • MBChB         1st year Undergraduate Medical Degree Year 5 Scientific Lead (2012-date)
  • MBChB         1st year Undergraduate Medical Degree Module 1 Leader (2007-12)
  • MBChB         Modules 1 and 2 (years 1 and 2)
  • LSC-10024   Ethical issues in the Biosciences
  • PHA-10012   Ethical issues in the Biosciences for pharmacy students
  • PHA 20004   Principles of Pharmacology
  • LSC-30014   Biomedical Sciences Dissertation Projects
  • LSC-30015   Biology of Disease
  • LSC-30020   Neurobiology of Disease
  • LSC-30021   Final Year Project for Neuroscience
  • LSC-30023   Neuroscience Dissertation Projects