Biography
I graduated with a BS in Experimental Psychology, and a BA in Philosophy from Austin Peay State University in the US. From there, I went on to do my PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Tennessee (UT), where I researched how astrocytes (glial cells) affect the development and repair of neural circuits in the central nervous system. After successfully completing my degree at UT, I was fortunate to work 2.5 years in the laboratory of Dr. Anders Bjorklund (the innovator of the technique of neural transplantation for Parkinson’s disease) at Lund University in Sweden, where I conducted studies on the possibility of astrocyte phenotypes existing in the brain. Following my studies there, I went to Harvard University where I became a postdoctoral Fellow, working with Dr. Jeffrey Macklis to study development of cortical projection neurons and axon guidance. After 3 years at Harvard University, I begin working with Professor Stephen B. Dunnett at Cardiff University, where I conducted work on the emergence and development of dopaminergic neurons in the developing brain. I then came to Keele University where I have (hopefully) combined this body of work by beginning studies on what proteins and cells are involved in the development of motor circuitry in the central nervous system.
Research and scholarship
ISTM Research theme: Therapeutics
My lab focuses on the use of proteomics, cell culture, and in vivo models to understand how cells develop and find appropriate targets in the central nervous system. Over the past 5 years, we have developed a unique device to transplant tissue and constructs into the brain for repair, and have begun to describe changes (at the molecular level) in the brain as it develops, ages, and degenerates. We have a great deal of interest in Parkinson’s disease, and how dopamine neurons are born, develop and degenerate. We are particularly interested in how dopamine neurons, and other neurons involved in the motor output of the brain (e.g., cortico-spinal neurons) find their appropriate target / connection during development. The hope of this research is to find ways to (re) wire the brain to repair diseases and disabilities that affect an individual’s ability to move.
Selected Publications
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Directional control of neurite outgrowth: emerging technologies for Parkinson's disease using magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic field gradients. J R Soc Interface, 20220576, vol. 19(196). link> doi> full text>2022.
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An Anatomy of the Blood Eagle: The Practicalities of Viking Torture. Speculum. full text>2021.
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Paclitaxel is effective for controlling astrocyte proliferation in vitro: Implications for generating ventral mesencephalic cultures enriched with dopamine neurons. J Neurosci Methods, 109065, vol. 351. link> doi> full text>2021.
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Parallelized Manipulation of Adherent Living Cells by Magnetic Nanoparticles-Mediated Forces. Int J Mol Sci, vol. 21(18). link> doi> full text>2020.
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Quantitative proteomic profiling of the rat substantia nigra places glial fibrillary acidic protein at the hub of proteins dysregulated during aging: Implications for idiopathic Parkinson's disease. J Neurosci Res, 1417-1432, vol. 98(7). link> doi> full text>2020.
Full Publications Listshow
Books
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Fuller HR and Gates MA (Eds.). 2016. Recovery of Motor Function Following Spinal Cord Injury. (12 vols.). Intech. link>
Journal Articles
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Directional control of neurite outgrowth: emerging technologies for Parkinson's disease using magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic field gradients. J R Soc Interface, 20220576, vol. 19(196). link> doi> full text>2022.
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An Anatomy of the Blood Eagle: The Practicalities of Viking Torture. Speculum. full text>2021.
-
Paclitaxel is effective for controlling astrocyte proliferation in vitro: Implications for generating ventral mesencephalic cultures enriched with dopamine neurons. J Neurosci Methods, 109065, vol. 351. link> doi> full text>2021.
-
Parallelized Manipulation of Adherent Living Cells by Magnetic Nanoparticles-Mediated Forces. Int J Mol Sci, vol. 21(18). link> doi> full text>2020.
-
Quantitative proteomic profiling of the rat substantia nigra places glial fibrillary acidic protein at the hub of proteins dysregulated during aging: Implications for idiopathic Parkinson's disease. J Neurosci Res, 1417-1432, vol. 98(7). link> doi> full text>2020.
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Magnetic Mechanoactivation of Wnt Signaling Augments Dopaminergic Differentiation of Neuronal Cells. Adv Biosyst, e1900091, vol. 3(9). link> doi> full text>2019.
- 2000.
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Monoclonal antibody Py recognizes neurofilament heavy chain and is a selective marker for large diameter neurons in the brain. Brain Struct Funct, 867-879, vol. 222(2). link> doi> full text>2017.
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Stathmin is enriched in the developing corticospinal tract. Mol Cell Neurosci, 12-21, vol. 69. link> doi> full text>2015.
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The rat striatum responds to nigro-striatal degeneration via the increased expression of proteins associated with growth and regeneration of neuronal circuitry. Proteome Sci, 20, vol. 12. link> doi> full text>2014.
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Development of a stereotaxic device for low impact implantation of neural constructs or pieces of neural tissues into the mammalian brain. Biomed Res Int, 651236, vol. 2014. link> doi> full text>2014.
- 2013.
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Transplanting intact donor tissue enhances dopamine cell survival and the predictability of motor improvements in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. PLoS One, e47169, vol. 7(10). link> doi> full text>2012.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2010.
- 2009.
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Improved survival of young donor age dopamine grafts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Neuroscience, 1606-1617, vol. 146(4). doi>2007.
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Re-examining the ontogeny of substantia nigra dopamine neurons. European Journal of Neuroscience, 1384-1390, vol. 23(5). doi>2006.
- 2004.
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Spatially and temporally restricted chemoattractive and chemorepulsive cues direct the formation of the nigro-striatal circuit. European Journal of Neuroscience, 831-844, vol. 19(4). doi>2004.
- 2004.
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Striatal neurons in striatal grafts are derived from both post-mitotic cells and dividing progenitors. Eur J of Neurosci, 513-520, vol. 19.2004.
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The influence of astrocytes on the development, regeneration and reconstruction of the nigrostriatal dopamine system. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience , 67-83, vol. 19(1-2).2001.
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Long-term, EGF-stimulated cultures of attached GFAP-positive cells derived from the embryonic mouse lateral ganglionic eminence: in vitro and transplantation studies.2000.
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Abnormal differentiation and process elongation by TrKB deficient neocortical neurons in vitro and in vivo. Neurosci, 437-447, vol. 98.2000.
- 2000.
- 1999.
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Mena is required for neurulation and commissure formation. Neuron, 313-325, vol. 2(22).1999.
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Mena is required for neurulation and commissure formation. Neuron, 313-325, vol. 22(2).1999.
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Mena is required for neurulation and commissure formation. Neuron, 313-325, vol. 22(2).1999.
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Region-specific migration of embryonic glia grafted to the neonatal brain.1998.
- 1998.
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In utero gene transfer reveals survival effects of nerve growth factor on rat brain cholinergic neurones during development. European Journal of Neuroscience.1998.
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Incorporation of mouse neural progenitors transplanted into the rat embryonic forebrain is developmentally regulated and dependent on regional and adhesive properties. European Journal of Neuroscience.1998.
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Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan and tenascin in the wounded adult mouse neostriatum in vitro: dopamine neuron attachment and process outgrowth. The Journal of Neuroscience.1996.
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Astrocytes and extracellular matrix following intracerebral transplantation of embryonic ventral mesencephalon or lateral ganglionic eminence. Neuroscience.1996.
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Young neurons from the adult subependymal zone proliferate and migrate along an astrocyte, extracellular matrix-rich pathway. Glia.1996.
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Cell and molecular analysis of the developing and adult mouse subventricular zone of the cerebral hemispheres. Journal of Comparative Neurology.1995.
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The complex nature of interactive neuroregeneration-related molecules. Experimental Neurology.1993.
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Neuron-glial interactions during the in vivo and in vitro development of the nigrostriatal circuit. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy.1993.
Chapters
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Neural Transplantation. In Handbook of Experimental Neurology: Methods and Techniques in Animal Research. Tatlisumak T and Fisher M (Eds.). Cambridge University Press.2006.
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Neocortical neural transplantation. In Progress in Brain Research: Functional Neural Transplantation 2nd Edition. Bjorklund A and Dunnett S (Eds.). Elsevier.2001.
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Glia and glycoconjugates in the neostriatum. In Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of the Striatum. Surmeier DJ and Ariano M (Eds.). Austin, TX: Springer-Verlag.1995.
School address:
School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering
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Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG
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Stoke-on-Trent
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