Dr Jeffrey Davies

Research Highlights

1. Hornsby, A., Buntwal, L., Carisi, C., Santos, V., Johnston, F., Roberts, L., Sassi, M., Mequinion, M., Stark, R., Reichenbach, A., Lockie, S., Siervo, M., Howell, O., Morgan, A., Wells, T., Andrews, Z., Burn, D., & Davies, J. (2020). Unacylated-Ghrelin Impairs Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Memory in Mice and Is Altered in Parkinson’s Dementia in Humans. Cell Reports Medicine, 1(7), 100120

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100120, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55678

   http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100120
2. Rees, D., Roberts, L., Carisi, C., Morgan, A., Brown, R., & Davies, J. (2020). Automated Quantification of Mitochondrial Fragmentation in an In-Vitro Parkinson’s Disease Model (Pre-print version). BioRxiv

   https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.15.093369, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54322
3. Rees, D., Roberts, L., Carisi, C., Morgan, A., Brown, R., & Davies, J. (2020). Automated Quantification of Mitochondrial Fragmentation in an In Vitro Parkinson's Disease Model. Current Protocols in Neuroscience, 94(1)

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cpns.105, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55596
4. Davies, J., Chung, S., Thomas, R., Robinson, A., Hammond, C., Mullins, J., Carta, E., Pearce, B., Harvey, K., Harvey, R., Rees, M., & Davies, J. (2010). The glycinergic system in human startle disease: a genetic screening approach. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 3, 8-16.

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2010.00008, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa13967
5. Beynon, A., Brown, M., Wright, R., Rees, M., Sheldon, I., Davies, J., Brown, R., & Sheldon, M. (2013). Ghrelin inhibits LPS-induced release of IL-6 from mouse dopaminergic neurones. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 10(1), 40

   https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-2094-10-40, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa14452
6. Johnston, A., Kang, J., Shen, W., Pickrell, W., Cushion, T., Davies, J., Baer, K., Mullins, J., Hammond, C., Chung, S., Thomas, R., White, C., Smith, P., Macdonald, R., Rees, M., & Pickrell, O. (2014). A Novel GABRG2 mutation, p.R136*, in a family with GEFS+ and extended phenotypes. Neurobiology of Disease

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2013.12.013, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa17001
7. Hornsby, A., Redhead, Y., Rees, D., Ratcliff, M., Reichenbach, A., Wells, T., Francis, L., Amstalden, K., Andrews, Z., & Davies, J. (2016). Short-term calorie restriction enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis and remote fear memory in a Ghsr-dependent manner. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 63, 198-207.

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.09.023, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26484
8. Churm, R., Davies, J., Stephens, J., Prior, S., Prior, S., Stephens, J., Davies, J., & Churm, R. (2017). Ghrelin function in human obesity and type 2 diabetes: a concise review. Obesity Reviews, 18(2), 140-148.

   https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12474, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29770
9. Churm, R., Caplin, S., Barry, J., Davies, J., Stephens, J., & Prior, S. (2019). Acyl-ghrelin mediated lipid retention and inflammation in obesity-related Type 2 diabetes. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 481, 8-13.

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2018.11.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa45975
10. Corney, B., Widnall, C., Rees, D., Davies, J., Crunelli, V., Carter, D., Davies, J., & Rees, D. (2018). Regulatory Architecture of the Neuronal Cacng2/Tarpγ2 Gene Promoter: Multiple Repressive Domains, a Polymorphic Regulatory Short Tandem Repeat, and Bidirectional Organization with Co-regulated lncRNAs. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-018-1208-x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa47951
11. Churm, R., Barry, J., Caplin, S., Davies, J., Stephens, J., & Prior, S. (2017). Effect of increased endogenous glucose levels within Type 2 diabetes on cellular lipid profiles. Endocrine Abstracts, 48(2)

    https://doi.org/10.1530/endoabs.48.p2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51491
12. Holter, J., Davies, J., Leresche, N., Crunelli, V., & Carter, D. (2005). Identification of Two Further Splice Variants of GABABR1 Characterizes the Conserved Micro-Exon 4 as a Hot Spot for Regulated Splicing in the Rat Brain. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 26(1), 099-108.

    https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:26:1:099, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52033
13. Buntwal, L., Sassi, M., Morgan, A., Andrews, Z., & Davies, J. (2019). Ghrelin-Mediated Hippocampal Neurogenesis: Implications for Health and Disease. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 30(11), 844-859.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2019.07.001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52032
14. Ratcliff, M., Rees, D., McGrady, S., Buntwal, L., Hornsby, A., Bayliss, J., Kent, B., Bussey, T., Saksida, L., Beynon, A., Howell, O., Morgan, A., Sun, Y., Andrews, Z., Wells, T., & Davies, J. (2019). Calorie restriction activates new adult born olfactory‐bulb neurones in a ghrelin‐dependent manner but acyl‐ghrelin does not enhance subventricular zone neurogenesis. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 31(7)

    https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12755, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa51124
15. Elabi, O., Duskova, K., Davies, J., Lane, E., & Davies, J. (2018). The Impact of Ghrelin on the Survival and Efficacy of Dopaminergic Fetal Grafts in the 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat. Neuroscience, 395, 13-21.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.10.045, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa46112
16. Morgan, A., Rees, D., Andrews, Z., & Davies, J. (2018). Ghrelin mediated neuroprotection - A possible therapy for Parkinson's disease?. Neuropharmacology, 136, 317-326.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.12.027, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38126
17. Morgan, A., Andrews, Z., Davies, J., Davies, J., & Morgan, A. (2017). Less is more: Caloric regulation of neurogenesis and adult brain function. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 29(10), e12512

    https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12512, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38127
18. Santos, V., Stark, R., Rial, D., Silva, H., Bayliss, J., Lemus, M., Davies, J., Cunha, R., Prediger, R., & Andrews, Z. (2017). Acyl ghrelin improves cognition, synaptic plasticity deficits and neuroinflammation following amyloid beta (Aβ1-40) administration in mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 29(5)

    https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12476, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa33091
19. O'Keeffe, S., Beynon, A., Davies, J., Moynagh, P., Coogan, A., Silver, R., & Davies, J. (2017). NF-κB signalling is involved in immune-modulation, but not basal functioning, of the mouse suprachiasmatic circadian clock. European Journal of Neuroscience, 45(8), 1111-1123.

    https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13553, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa33089
20. Hopkins, A., Nelson, T., Guschina, I., Parsons, L., Lewis, C., Brown, R., Christian, H., Davies, J., & Wells, T. (2017). Unacylated ghrelin promotes adipogenesis in rodent bone marrow via ghrelin O-acyl transferase and GHS-R1a activity: evidence for target cell-induced acylation. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 45541

    https://doi.org/10.1038/srep45541, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa33090
21. Golding, D., Rees, D., Davies, J., Relkovic, D., Furby, H., Guschina, I., Hopkins, A., Davies, J., Resnick, J., Isles, A., & Wells, T. (2017). Paradoxical leanness in the imprinting-centre deletion mouse model for Prader–Willi syndrome. Journal of Endocrinology, 232(1), 123-135.

    https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-16-0367, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa31060
22. Bayliss, J., Lemus, M., Stark, R., Santos, V., Thompson, A., Rees, D., Galic, S., Elsworth, J., Kemp, B., Andrews, Z., Davies, J., & Rees, D. (2016). Ghrelin-AMPK Signaling Mediates the Neuroprotective Effects of Calorie Restriction in Parkinson's Disease. Journal of Neuroscience, 36(10), 3049-3063.

    https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4373-15.2016, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26033
23. Alquier, T., Bayliss, J., Lemus, M., Santos, V., Deo, M., Davies, J., Kemp, B., Elsworth, J., & Andrews, Z. (2016). Metformin Prevents Nigrostriatal Dopamine Degeneration Independent of AMPK Activation in Dopamine Neurons. PLOS ONE, 11(7), e0159381

    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159381, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa29599
24. Kent, B., Beynon, A., Hornsby, A., Bekinschtein, P., Bussey, T., Davies, J., & Saksida, L. (2014). The orexigenic hormone acyl-ghrelin increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis and enhances pattern separation. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 51, 431-439.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.10.015, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19690

    http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453014003990
25. Wells, T., Davies, J., Guschina, I., Ball, D., Davies, J., Davies, V., Evans, B., Votruba, M., & Davies, J. (2012). Opa3, a novel regulator of mitochondrial function, controls thermogenesis and abdominal fat mass in a mouse model for Costeff syndrome. Human Molecular Genetics, 21(22), 4836-4844.

    https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/dds315, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa12321
26. Davies, J., Klein, D., Carter, D., & Davies, J. (2011). Selective Genomic Targeting by FRA-2/FOSL2 Transcription Factor: REGULATION OF THE Rgs4 GENE IS MEDIATED BY A VARIANT ACTIVATOR PROTEIN 1 (AP-1) PROMOTER SEQUENCE/CREB-BINDING PROTEIN (CBP) MECHANISM. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286(17), 15227-39.

    https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.201996, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa9832
27. Glad, C., Kitchen, E., Russ, G., Harris, S., Davies, J., Gevers, E., Gabrielsson, B., Wells, T., & Davies, J. (2011). Reverse Feeding Suppresses the Activity of the GH Axis in Rats and Induces a Preobesogenic State. Endocrinology, 152(3), 869

    https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2010-0713, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa10231
28. Davies, J., Kotokorpi, P., Eccles, S., Barnes, S., Tokarczuk, P., Allen, S., Whitworth, H., Guschina, I., Evans, B., Mode, A., Zigman, J., Wells, T., & Davies, J. (2009). Ghrelin Induces Abdominal Obesity Via GHS-R-Dependent Lipid Retention. Molecular Endocrinology, 23(6), 914

    https://doi.org/10.1210/me.2008-0432, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa9833
29. El-Kasti, M., Christian, H., Huerta-Ocampo, I., Stolbrink, M., Gill, S., Houston, P., Davies, J., Chilcott, J., Hill, N., Matthews, D., Carter, D., Wells, T., & Davies, J. (2008). The Pregnancy-Induced Increase in Baseline Circulating Growth Hormone in Rats is not Induced by Ghrelin. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 20(3), 309

    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01650.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa9835
30. Davies, J., Gevers, E., Stevenson, A., Coschigano, K., El-Kasti, M., Bull, M., Elford, C., Evans, B., Kopchick, J., & Wells, T. (2007). Adiposity profile in the dwarf rat: an unusually lean model of profound growth hormone deficiency. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 292(5), E1483-E1494.

    https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00417.2006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38129
31. Davies, J., Thompson, N., Christian, H., Pinilla, L., Ebling, F., Tena-Sempere, M., Wells, T., & Davies, J. (2006). Hypothalamic Expression of Human Growth Hormone Induces Post-Pubertal Hypergonadotrophism in Male Transgenic Growth Retarded Rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 18(10), 719-731.

    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2006.01467.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38130
32. Davies, J., Carter, D., & Davies, J. (2006). Protein/DNA interaction profiling reveals novel regulators of the pineal transcriptome. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 252(1-2), 19-26.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2006.03.020, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38131
33. Martini, A., Fernández-Fernández, R., Tovar, S., Navarro, V., Vigo, E., Vazquez, M., Davies, J., Thompson, N., Aguilar, E., Pinilla, L., Wells, T., Dieguez, C., Tena-Sempere, M., & Davies, J. (2006). Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Ghrelin and Unacylated Ghrelin on Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in Male Rats. Endocrinology, 147(5), 2374-2382.

    https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2005-1422, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38132
34. Holter, J., Davies, J., Leresche, N., Crunelli, V., & Carter, D. (2005). Identification of Two Further Splice Variants of <I>GABABR1</I> Characterizes the Conserved Micro-Exon 4 as a Hot Spot for Regulated Splicing in the Rat Brain. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 26(1), 099-108.

    https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:26:1:099, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38133
35. Davies, J. & Davies, J. (2004). Manipulating sorting signals to generate co-expression of somatostatin and eGFP in the regulated secretory pathway from a monocistronic construct. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 33(2), 523-532.

    https://doi.org/10.1677/jme.1.01578, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38134
36. Davies, J., Carter, D., & Wells, T. (2004). Photic Stimulation Inhibits Growth Hormone Secretion in Rats: A Hypothalamic Mechanism for Transient Entrainment. Endocrinology, 145(6), 2950-2958.

    https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2003-1236, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38135
37. Thompson, N., Davies, J., Mode, A., Houston, P., & Wells, T. (2003). Pattern-Dependent Suppression of Growth Hormone (GH) Pulsatility by Ghrelin and GH-Releasing Peptide-6 in Moderately GH-Deficient Rats. Endocrinology, 144(11), 4859-4867.

    https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2003-0423, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa38136

All Research

• Untitled (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

  Other supervisor: Dr Owain Howell

• Detection of ghrelin species by Mass Spectrometry, novel biomarkers for diagnosing dementia? (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms of ghrelin-mediated neurogenesis (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• INVESTIGATING GHRELIN-MEDIATED MECHANISMS REGULATING ADULT HIPPOCAMPAL NEUROGENESIS (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• Characterising the effect of ghrelin-GHSR signalling on neuronal autophagy (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• Characterisation of the ghrelinergic system in human models of neurodegenerative diseases (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Owain Howell

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• Investigating the role of the ghrelin axis in cognitive decline and dementia. (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• 'Natural and Synthetic GHSR1a Agonists as Neuroprotective Agents in Models of Parkinson's Disease' (awarded 2018)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Catherine Thornton

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• 'Acyl-ghrelin mediated lipid retention and inflammation within in vitro and ex vivo adipose depots' (awarded 2018)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Jeffrey Stephens

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

  Other supervisor: Dr Sarah Prior

• Assessing the Role of the Ghrelin-axis in Extra-Hypothalamic Brain Function (awarded 2019)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Catherine Thornton

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• 'The Effects of Ghrelin and Mild Nutrient Restriction on Neuronal Autophagy' (awarded 2017)

  MRes

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• Untitled (current)

  MSc

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

  Other supervisor: Dr Jonathan Mullins

• Untitled (current)

  MSc

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

  Other supervisor: Dr Jonathan Mullins

• Ghrelin AMPK mediated mitochondrial dynamics (current)

  MSc

  Other supervisor: Prof Catherine Thornton

  Other supervisor: Dr Alwena Morgan

  Other supervisor: Dr Jeffrey Davies

• PM-139 Human Physiology I

  This module aims to provide an understanding of the structure and function of key physiological systems of the human body. Human physiology is the study of how our body works in an integrated way. A central principle of human physiology is homeostasis, the maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment. Failure to maintain homeostasis disrupts normal function that may lead to disease (or pathophysiology). Students will be taught the key concepts of homeostasis in the physiological systems of the body, enabling the student to understand the consequences of pathophysiology to human health. Students will gain practical experience in assessing physiological function during two laboratory based exercises.

• PM-154 Human Physiology

  Human physiology is the study of how our body works in an integrated way. A central principle of human physiology is homeostasis, the maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment. Failure to maintain homeostasis disrupts normal function that may lead to disease (or pathophysiology). Students will be taught the key concepts of homeostasis in the physiological systems of the body, enabling the student to understand the consequences of pathophysiology to human health. Emphasis will be given to how malfunction of key physiological systems gives rise to disease, using specific examples to enable students to appreciate the relationship between physiology/anatomy and medicine. Fundamental principles of physiology will be illustrated with appropriate clinical examples and during lectures and in practical assignments. Students will gain practical experience in assessing physiological function during four laboratory-based exercises. The impact of pathophysiology of such systems will be assessed through clinical case studies.

• PM-257 Neuroscience

  In order to help students understand the biological basis for behavioural neuroscience and neurological disorders, this module seeks to integrate the multidisciplinary sciences - for example, anatomy, physiology and biochemistry - that have combined to build the emerging field of neuroscience. The aim is to gain a mechanistic and holistic knowledge of the nervous system that builds from the molecular, cellular and developmental, to the systems level. In addition to exploring normal function, this module will introduce common disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems in an integrated way. Students will be guided in exploring the scientific evidence around what is known and unknown and will be introduced to current research findings in the scientific literature.

• PM-275 Introduction to neuroscience

  In order to help students understand the biological basis for behavioural neuroscience and neurological disorders, this module seeks to integrate cell biology, physiology and biochemistry to understand the founding principles of neuroscience. The aim is to gain a mechanistic and holistic knowledge of the nervous system that builds from the molecular, cellular and developmental, to the systems level. In addition to exploring normal function, this module will introduce common disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems in an integrated way. Students will be guided in exploring the scientific evidence around what is known and unknown and will be introduced to current research findings in the scientific literature.

• PM-341 Human Biology and the Environment

  This module is intended to provide an understanding of how our environmental factors impact on key aspects of human biology. Various environmental factors such as diet, stress, and pollution will be considered with a focus on their effects on epigenetics, inflammation, gut microbiota, mitochondrial health, and oxidative stress in non-communicable diseases in particular (e.g. chronic respiratory disease, cancer and metabolic disorders). The effect of extreme environments (e.g. altitude, space) and ageing on multiple organ systems will be considered. Students will gain practical experience in communicating these issues to scientific and non-scientific audiences.

• PM-344 Capstone Project

  The aim of this module is to provide a capstone experience to students¿ learning, through participating in their own enquiry-based research project. The project may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, but it will always involve a research question that is drawn from the literature, and focused on a topic relevant to medical science. It will ask a novel research question and involve the critical analysis of research findings. Students will refine their oral and written communication skills to a graduate level through creating an introductory presentation on the project background, and a written dissertation and oral presentation on their research conclusions.

• PM-344C Prosiect Capfaen

  Nod y modiwl hwn yw rhoi cyfle i fyfyrwyr gael profiad dysgu capfaen drwy gymryd rhan yn eu prosiect eu hunain yn seiliedig ar gwestiwn ymchwil. Gall y prosiect fod mewn labordy neu heb fod yn labordy ond bydd bob amser yn cynnwys cwestiwn ymchwil sy'n deillio o'r llenyddiaeth, ac sy'n canolbwyntio ar bwnc perthnasol i wyddor feddygol. Bydd yn gofyn cwestiwn ymchwil newydd ac yn cynnwys dadansoddiad beirniadol o ganfyddiadau ymchwil. Bydd myfyrwyr yn mireinio eu sgiliau cyfathrebu llafar ac ysgrifenedig i lefel raddedig, drwy lunio cyflwyniad rhagarweiniol ar gefndir y prosiect, ynghyd â thraethawd estynedig a chyflwyniad llafar ar ganfyddiadau eu hymchwil.

• PM-347 Human Immunopathology

  The module aims to provide students with a greater understanding of the human immune system and the causes of a range of diseases associated with immune dysfunction including autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders and neurological conditions.

• PM-362C Prosiect Ymchwil Fiomoleciwlaidd

• PM-368C Doctor as a Practitioner 4

  This module enables medical students to consolidate their clinical and communication skills within their clinical practice, building on what they have learned in the previous years and preparing themselves for the foundation year training programme. Focusing on the notion of the Doctor as a practitioner (Tomorrow's Doctors, GMC 2009), this module enables students to further enhance their skills within a safe but clinically-focused environment.

• PM-402 Advanced Research Project B

  The advanced research project is a key component of the final year of study, providing students with experience of conducting cutting-edge research in the Institute of Life Science and Centre for Nanohealth over an extended period. The project will fall into one of the current medically-related research themes: Biomarkers and Genes; Microbes and Immunity; Devices. Students will employ a range of advanced analytical procedures to investigate a specific topic. In addition, they will gain experience in preparing a research proposal and presenting their data in various formats. Research topics will be assigned that are appropriate to a specific degree title. For example, a Genetics student could be assigned a project investigating gene function in an insect vector of a tropical disease, using the technique of RNA interference. The advanced research project is divided between 2 modules, PM-400 and PM-402. PM-402 comprises the final written dissertation.

• Integrated nanoscopy and microscopy in 3-D to study hippocampal neurogenesis at the synaptic and molecular level 2010

  Medical Research Council, £122,545

• Royal Society Research Grant: Ghrelin-mediated hippocampal neurogenesis: a role for GHSR/D1R heterodimerisation 2011

  , £15000

• Weston Brain Institute: Circulating ghrelin as a dementia biomarker. 2020

  , £315,898