David Morgan

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Biography

I joined the School of Pharmacy at as a Reader in Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technology in September 2013, following 12 years of drug-discovery research at AstraZeneca, and a PhD and Postdoc at the Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College, London. My research interests are based around peptide hormone/neurotransmitter control of metabolism, in particular the ghrelin and Melanin Concentrating Hormone systems.

As well as teaching pharmacology to undergraduates on the MPharm programme, I have a role in the school focussing on "Student Engagement and Wellbeing".

Research and scholarship

ISTM Research theme: Therapeutics

My research before I came to Keele was in the area of obesity and diabetes, and in particular on hypothalamic control of food intake. Since coming to Keele I have shifted to investigate the role of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases, with an aim of bringing the two areas together to address the question “does increased neuroinflammation play a role in the altered epidemiology of neurodegenerative diseases in obese people?” Currently this research involves in vitro cell culture models of neurodegenerative inflammation, using cell lines and primary cell cultures to investigate the effects of hypoxia & amyloid protein on microglial activation.

Selected Publications

Chen CPC, Preston JE, Zhou S, Fuller HR, Morgan DGA, Chen R. 2018. Proteomic analysis of age-related changes in ovine cerebrospinal fluid. Exp Gerontol, vol. 108, 181-188. link> doi> full text>
Bake T, Baron J, Duncan JS, Morgan DGA, Mercer JG. 2017. Arcuate nucleus homeostatic systems reflect blood leptin concentration but not feeding behaviour during scheduled feeding on a high-fat diet in mice. J Neuroendocrinol, vol. 29(8). link> doi> full text>
Waring MJ, Baker DJ, Bennett SNL, Dossetter AG, Garcia MFR, Georgsson J, Groombridge SD, Loxham S, MacFaul PA, Maskill KG, Morgan D, Morrell J, Pointon H, Robb GR, Smith DM, Stokes S, Wilkinson G. 2015. Discovery of a series of 2-(pyridinyl)pyrimidines as potent antagonists of GPR40. MEDCHEMCOMM, vol. 6(6), 1024-1029. link> doi> full text>
McCoull W, Barton P, Brown AJH, Bowker SS, Cameron J, Clarke DS, Davies RDM, Dossetter AG, Ertan A, Fenwick M, Green C, Holmes JL, Martin N, Masters D, Moore JE, Newcombe NJ, Newton C, Pointon H, Robb GR, Sheldon C, Stokes S, Morgan D. 2014. Identification, optimization, and pharmacology of acylurea GHS-R1a inverse agonists. J Med Chem, vol. 57(14), 6128-6140. link> doi> full text>
Zhang LN, Sinclair R, Mitchell S, Morgan DGA, Clapham JC, Speakman JR. 2014. Effects of a specific MCHR1 antagonist (GW803430) on energy budget and glucose metabolism in diet-induced obese mice. Obesity. doi> link>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

Chen CPC, Preston JE, Zhou S, Fuller HR, Morgan DGA, Chen R. 2018. Proteomic analysis of age-related changes in ovine cerebrospinal fluid. Exp Gerontol, vol. 108, 181-188. link> doi> full text>
Bake T, Baron J, Duncan JS, Morgan DGA, Mercer JG. 2017. Arcuate nucleus homeostatic systems reflect blood leptin concentration but not feeding behaviour during scheduled feeding on a high-fat diet in mice. J Neuroendocrinol, vol. 29(8). link> doi> full text>
Waring MJ, Baker DJ, Bennett SNL, Dossetter AG, Garcia MFR, Georgsson J, Groombridge SD, Loxham S, MacFaul PA, Maskill KG, Morgan D, Morrell J, Pointon H, Robb GR, Smith DM, Stokes S, Wilkinson G. 2015. Discovery of a series of 2-(pyridinyl)pyrimidines as potent antagonists of GPR40. MEDCHEMCOMM, vol. 6(6), 1024-1029. link> doi> full text>
McCoull W, Barton P, Brown AJH, Bowker SS, Cameron J, Clarke DS, Davies RDM, Dossetter AG, Ertan A, Fenwick M, Green C, Holmes JL, Martin N, Masters D, Moore JE, Newcombe NJ, Newton C, Pointon H, Robb GR, Sheldon C, Stokes S, Morgan D. 2014. Identification, optimization, and pharmacology of acylurea GHS-R1a inverse agonists. J Med Chem, vol. 57(14), 6128-6140. link> doi> full text>
Zhang LN, Sinclair R, Mitchell S, Morgan DGA, Clapham JC, Speakman JR. 2014. Effects of a specific MCHR1 antagonist (GW803430) on energy budget and glucose metabolism in diet-induced obese mice. Obesity. doi> link>
Bake T, Murphy M, Morgan DGA, Mercer JG. 2014. Large, binge-type meals of high fat diet change feeding behaviour and entrain food anticipatory activity in mice. Appetite, vol. 77, 60-71. link> doi> full text>
Bake T, Morgan DGA, Mercer JG. 2014. Feeding and metabolic consequences of scheduled consumption of large, binge-type meals of high fat diet in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Physiol Behav, vol. 128, 70-79. link> doi>
Harris LE, Morgan DGA, Balthasar N. 2014. Growth hormone secretagogue receptor deficiency in mice protects against obesity‐induced hypertension. Physiological Reports, vol. 2(e00240). doi> full text>
McCoull W, Barton P, Broo A, Brown AJH, Clarke DS, Coope G, Davies RDM, Dossetter AG, Kelly EE, Knerr L, MacFaul P, Holmes JL, Martin N, Moore JE, Morgan D, Newton C, Osterlund K, Robb GR, Rosevere E, Selmi N, Stokes S, Svensson TS, Ullah VBK, Williams EJ. 2013. Identification of pyrazolo-pyrimidinones as GHS-R1a antagonists and inverse agonists for the treatment of obesity. MEDCHEMCOMM, vol. 4(2), 456-462. link> doi>
Bake T, Duncan JS, Morgan DGA, Mercer JG. 2013. Arcuate nucleus homeostatic systems are not altered immediately prior to the scheduled consumption of large, binge-type meals of palatable solid or liquid diet in rats and mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, vol. 25, 357-371. doi>
Zhang L-N, Gamo Y, Sinclair R, Mitchell SE, Morgan DG, Clapham JC, Speakman JR. 2012. Effects of Chronic Oral Rimonabant Administration on Energy Budgets of Diet-Induced Obese C57BL/6 Mice. Obesity, vol. 20, 954-962. doi>
Zhang L-N, Morgan DG, Clapham JC, Speakman JR. 2012. Factors predicting nongenetic variability in body weight gain induced by a high-fat diet in inbred C57BL/6J mice. Obesity, vol. 20, 1179-1188. doi>
Zhang L-N, Mitchell SE, Hambly C, Morgan DG, Clapham JC, Speakman JR. 2012. Physiological and behavioral responses to intermittent starvation in C57BL/6J mice. Physiology & behavior, vol. 105, 376-387. doi>
Egecioglu E, Ploj K, Xu X, Bjursell M, Salomé N, Andersson N, Ohlsson C, Taube M, Hansson C, Bohlooly-Y M, others. 2009. Central NMU signaling in body weight and energy balance regulation: evidence from NMUR2 deletion and chronic central NMU treatment in mice. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology And Metabolism, vol. 297, E708-E716. doi>
Berglund S, Egner BJ, Gradén H, Gradén J, Morgan DGA, Inghardt T, Giordanetto F. 2009. Optimization of 2-piperidin-4-yl-acetamides as melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCH-R1) antagonists: Designing out hERG inhibition. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, vol. 19, 4268-4273. doi>
Berglund S, Egner BJ, Gradén H, Gradén J, Morgan DGA, Inghardt T, Giordanetto F. 2009. Optimization of piperidin-4-yl-urea-containing melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCH-R1) antagonists: Reducing hERG-associated liabilities. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, vol. 19, 4274-4279. doi>
Berglund S, Egner BJ, Gradén H, Gradén J, Morgan DGA, Inghardt T, Giordanetto F. 2008. Discovery of 1, 3-disubstituted-1< i> H</i>-pyrrole derivatives as potent Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Receptor 1 (MCH-R1) antagonists. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, vol. 18, 4859-4863. doi>
Giordanetto F, Karlsson O, Lindberg J, Larsson L-O, Linusson A, Evertsson E, Morgan DGA, Inghardt T. 2007. Discovery of cyclopentane-and cyclohexane-< i> trans</i>-1, 3-diamines as potent melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 antagonists. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, vol. 17, 4232-4241. doi>
Bjursell M, Egecioglu E, Gerdin A-K, Svensson L, Oscarsson J, Morgan D, Snaith M, Törnell J, Bohlooly-Y M. 2005. Importance of melanin-concentrating hormone receptor for the acute effects of ghrelin. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, vol. 326, 759-765. doi>
Åstrand A, Bohlooly-Y M, Larsdotter S, Mahlapuu M, Andersén H, Tornell J, Ohlsson C, Snaith M, Morgan DGA. 2004. Mice lacking melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 demonstrate increased heart rate associated with altered autonomic activity. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 287, R749-R758. doi>
Bohlooly-Y M, Mahlapuu M, Andersén H, Åstrand A, Hjorth S, Svensson L, Törnell J, Snaith MR, Morgan DG, Ohlsson C. 2004. Osteoporosis in MCHR1-deficient mice. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, vol. 318, 964-969. doi>
Kim MS, Small CJ, Russell SH, Morgan DGA, Abbott CR, AlAhmed SH, Hay DL, Ghatei MA, Smith DM, Bloom SR. 2002. Effects of Melanocortin Receptor Ligands on Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Release: Evidence for the Differential Roles of Melanocortin 3 and 4 Receptors. Journal of neuroendocrinology, vol. 14, 276-282. doi>
Stanley SA, Small CJ, Murphy KG, Rayes E, Abbott CR, Seal LJ, Morgan DG, Sunter D, Dakin CL, Kim MS, others. 2001. Actions of cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide on regulation of appetite and hypothalamo-pituitary axes in vitro and in vivo in male rats. Brain research, vol. 893, 186. doi>
Russell SH, Kim MS, Small CJ, Abbott CR, Morgan DGA, Taheri S, Murphy KG, Todd JF, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. 2001. Central administration of orexin A suppresses basal and domperidone stimulated plasma prolactin. Journal of neuroendocrinology, vol. 12, 1213-1218. doi>
Small CJ, Kim MS, Stanley SA, Mitchell JRD, Murphy K, Morgan DGA, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. 2001. Effects of chronic central nervous system administration of agouti-related protein in pair-fed animals. Diabetes, vol. 50, 248-254. doi>
Abbott CR, Rossi M, Wren AM, Murphy KG, Kennedy AR, Stanley SA, Zollner AN, Morgan DGA, Morgan I, Ghatei MA, others. 2001. Evidence of an orexigenic role for cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript after administration into discrete hypothalamic nuclei. Endocrinology, vol. 142, 3457-3463. doi>
Russell SH, Small CJ, Dakin CL, Abbott CR, Morgan DGA, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. 2001. The central effects of orexin-A in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in vivo and in vitro in male rats. Journal of neuroendocrinology, vol. 13, 561-566. doi>
Goldstone AP, Morgan I, Mercer JG, Morgan DGA, Moar KM, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. 2000. Effect of leptin on hypothalamic GLP-1 peptide and brain-stem pre-proglucagon mRNA. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, vol. 269, 331-335. doi>
Kim MS, Rossi M, Abusnana S, Sunter D, Morgan DG, Small CJ, Edwards CM, Heath MM, Stanley SA, Seal LJ, others. 2000. Hypothalamic localization of the feeding effect of agouti-related peptide and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Diabetes, vol. 49, 177-182. doi>
Kim MS, Rossi M, Abusnana S, Sunter D, Morgan DGA, Small CJ, Edwards CMB, Heath MM, Stanley SA, Seal LI, others. 2000. Metabolism and Signal Transduction-Hypothalamic localization of the feeding effect of agouti-related peptide and a-melanocyte–Stimulating hormone. Diabetes-American Diabetes Association, vol. 49, 177-182.
Kim MS, Small CJ, Stanley SA, Morgan DG, Seal LJ, Kong WM, Edwards CM, Abusnana S, Sunter D, Ghatei MA, others. 2000. The central melanocortin system affects the hypothalamo-pituitary thyroid axis and may mediate the effect of leptin. Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol. 105, 1005-1011. doi>
Wren AM, Small CJ, Ward HL, Murphy KG, Dakin CL, Taheri S, Kennedy AR, Roberts GH, Morgan DGA, Ghatei MA, others. 2000. The novel hypothalamic peptide ghrelin stimulates food intake and growth hormone secretion. Endocrinology, vol. 141, 4325-4328. doi>
Rossi M, Beak SA, Choi S-J, Small CJ, Morgan DG, Ghatei MA, Smith DM, Bloom SR, others. 1999. Investigation of the feeding effects of melanin concentrating hormone on food intake–action independent of galanin and the melanocortin receptors. Brain research, vol. 846, 164. doi>
Rossi M, Kim MS, Morgan DGA, Small CJ, Edwards CMB, Sunter D, Abusnana S, Goldstone AP, Russell SH, Stanley SA, others. 1998. A C-terminal fragment of Agouti-related protein increases feeding and antagonizes the effect of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone in vivo. Endocrinology, vol. 139, 4428-4431. doi>
Beak SA, Heath MM, Small CJ, Morgan DG, Ghatei MA, Taylor AD, Buckingham JC, Bloom SR, Smith DM. 1998. Glucagon-like peptide-1 stimulates luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone secretion in a rodent hypothalamic neuronal cell line. Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol. 101, 1334. doi>
Morgan DG, Kulkarni RN, Hurley JD, Wang ZL, Wang RM, Ghatei MA, Karlsen AE, Bloom SR, Smith DM. 1998. Inhibition of glucose stimulated insulin secretion by neuropeptide Y is mediated via the Y1 receptor and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase in RIN 5AH rat insulinoma cells. Diabetologia, vol. 41, 1482-1491. doi>
Morgan DGA, Small CJ, Abusnana S, Turton M, Gunn I, Heath M, Rossi M, Goldstone AP, O Shea D, Meeran K, others. 1998. The NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226 blocks NPY induced feeding via a non-specific mechanism. Regulatory peptides, vol. 75, 377-382. doi>
O Shea D, Morgan DGA, Meeran K, Edwards CMB, Turton MD, Choi SJ, Heath MM, Gunn I, Taylor GM, Howard JK, others. 1997. Neuropeptide Y induced feeding in the rat is mediated by a novel receptor. Endocrinology, vol. 138, 196-202. doi>
Small CJ, Morgan DGA, Meeran K, Heath MM, Gunn I, Edwards CMB, Gardiner J, Taylor GM, Hurley JD, Rossi M, others. 1997. Peptide analogue studies of the hypothalamic neuropeptide Y receptor mediating pituitary adrenocorticotrophic hormone release. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 94, 11686-11691. doi>
Morgan DGA, Lambert PD, Smith DM, Wilding JPH, Bloom SR. 1996. Reduced NPY Induced Feeding in Diabetic but not Steroid-Treated Rats: Lack of Evidence for Changes in Receptor Number or Affinity. Journal of neuroendocrinology, vol. 8(4), 283-290. doi>
Owji AA, Smith DM, Coppock HA, Morgan DG, Bhogal RANJEV, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. 1995. An abundant and specific binding site for the novel vasodilator adrenomedullin in the rat. Endocrinology, vol. 136, 2127-2134. doi>
Hanna FW, Smith DM, Johnston CF, Akinsanya KO, Jackson ML, Morgan DG, Bhogal RANJEV, Buchanan KD, Bloom SR. 1995. Expression of a novel receptor for the calcitonin peptide family and a salmon calcitonin-like peptide in the alpha-thyrotropin thyrotroph cell line. Endocrinology, vol. 136, 2377-2382. doi>
Smith DM, Owji AA, Morgan DGA, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. 1994. Distribution of adrenomedullin binding sites in rat tissues: Evidence for tissue specific receptor subtypes. Regulatory Peptides, vol. 51, 293. doi>
Owji AA, Smith DM, Morgan DGA, Nandha KA, Bhogal R, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. 1994. Specific binding sites for the novel vasodilator adrenomedullin are expressed in mammalian lung. Regulatory Peptides, vol. 51, 289. doi>
Veale PR, Bhogal R, Morgan DGA, Smith DM, Bloom SR. 1994. The presence of islet amyloid polypeptide/calcitonin gene-related peptide/salmon calcitonin binding sites in the rat nucleus accumbens. European journal of pharmacology, vol. 262, 133-141. doi>

Other

Hermansson N-O, Morgan DGA, Drmota T, Larsson N. 2007. Adenosine is not a direct GHSR agonist - artificial cross-talk between GHSR and adenosine receptor pathways. ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA (vol. 190, pp. 77-86). link> doi>
Bohlooly-Y M, Mahlapuu M, Andersen H, Astrand A, Hjorth S, Svensson L, Tornell J, Snaith MR, Morgan DG, Ohlsson C. 2003. Osteoporosis in melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1) deficient mice. JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH (vol. 18, p. S257). link>
Morgan D. 2000. Appetite regulation: new opportunities for weight control. Proc Nutr Soc (vol. 59, p. 431). link> doi>