Project Code MRCNMH26Br Chrobok Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary Most physiological processes, including feeding, follow circadian (~24h) cycles. In mammals, these rhythms are generated by endogenous ‘body clocks’ within the brain.…
Alternative mitochondrial destinations of PINK1 and its role in Parkinson’s Disease
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Collinson Project Type It is both a wet and a dry project. Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary Mitochondria are vital for energy production, cell function and homeostasis, and thereby health. This project…
Unlocking the secrets of fentanyl: exploring the anomalous pharmacology of fentanyl at the μ-opioid receptor
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Corey Project Type The project will be chiefly a dry project, but with the opportunity to work in the labs of the co-supervisors. It will be partly down to the student how much they do, however they…
Understanding and reprogramming axonal transport with protein design
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Cross Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary Intracellular transport is essential for organising and maintaining the function of eukaryotic cells. This is particularly important in neurons, where cargo must…
Targeting lysosomal dysfunction to treat age-related macular degeneration
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Dick Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. Projected to affect 288M by 2040, there are…
Towards a better understanding and treatments for the rare genetic brain disorder called CASK
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Hodge Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary CASK is a synaptic scaffolding molecule and kinase with mutations causing brain and behavioural defects including severe learning difficulties, movement and sleep…
The impact of parental mental health on the brain bases of early executive function development
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Holmboe Project Type The project is lab based and involves cognitive testing and neuroimaging of young children. Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary In recent years we have made new discoveries in how…
Brain-heart connections: how astrocytes shape the cardiovascular protective effects of GLP-1
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Mastitskaya Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary This PhD project will investigate how glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone central to metabolism, interacts with astrocytes – supportive “star-shaped” brain cells…
Linking neuronal function to mental health: How genetic risk factors impair cognitive flexibility and neural plasticity in schizophrenia
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Mellor Project Type Wet lab Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary Genetic risk factors for schizophrenia are clustered around genes that regulate synaptic function and adaptation, pointing to underlying biological processes whose disruption…
Hope in the Darkness: Identifying Protective Factors to Prevent Self-Harm
Project Code MRCNMH26Br Padmanathan Project Type Dry lab Research Theme Neuroscience and Mental Health Project Summary Download Summary Self-harm is an important and growing public health concern. Previous research has focused mainly on risk factors and little is known about…