Research Aims
Areas that have been given priority in the Department include molecular pharmacology, cardiac pharmacology, neuropharmacology, cell signalling, and pharmacogenetics. In many of these areas the Department plays a leading role in the international pharmacological community. The research of the Department has consistently been given a very high ranking in the Government’s assessments of research in Universities.
The research projects in the Department are highly interdisciplinary covering the complete range from basic to clinical science. Locally, nationally and internationally the Department plays a pivotal role in a network of collaborations, with basic science collaborations covering engineering, chemistry and biochemistry, as well as physiology and molecular biology. Recently, an interdisciplinary collaboration, including the Humanities, has also been put in place. The Department also has an extensive interaction with industrial partners, including basic instrument development, as well as joint projects with most major global pharmaceutical companies and Biotech companies.
The fundamental challenge for all biomedical research is to validate measurements made in vitro in an in vivo context. The Department is currently developing minimally invasive microendoscope-based imaging methods capable of collecting high resolution images of cells from deep within the intact brain. The establishment of this technique would be a first for Oxford and the UK.
A major strategic initiative between the Department, Medical Sciences Division and the world-renown Oxford Chemistry Department will establish the Oxford Medicinal Chemistry Institute providing a unique environment where pharmacologists and other biomedical scientist can work side by side with chemists to foster drug discovery and develop tools to probe biological systems.
The Pharmacology Department is part of the Medical Sciences Division within the University of Oxford. The Departmental building is located in the centre of the historic City of Oxford.
Department themes
Cardiovascular/Autonomic Professor Derek Terrar, Professor Chris Garland, Dr Kim Dora, Dr Keith Brain
In vivo/Systems Neuroscience Professor Trevor Sharp, Dr Daniel Anthony
Drug Discovery/Medicinal Chemistry Professor Edith Sim, Dr Grant Churchill, Dr Angela Russell
Cell Signalling, Molecular Neuroscience and Disease Professor Antony Galione, Dr John Parrington, Professor Fran Platt
Cellular Neuroscience Professor Nigel Emptage, Dr Colin Akerman, Dr Karri Lamsa
Principal Investigators
Professor Antony Galione, Chair of Pharmacology, Head of Department
Dr Colin Akerman, RCUK Fellow
Dr Daniel Anthony, University Lecturer
Dr Grant Churchill, University Lecturer
Dr Kim Dora, BHF Senior Basic Science Research Fellow
Professor Nigel Emptage, University Lecturer
Professor Chris Garland, Professor of Vascular Pharmacology
Baroness Susan Greenfield, Senior Research Fellow
Dr Karri Lamsa, Wellcome Trust Fellow
Dr John Parrington, University Lecturer
Professor Fran Platt, Research Fellow
Dr Angela Russell, RCUK Fellow
Professor Trevor Sharp, Reader in Pharmacology
Professor Edith Sim, Professor of Pharmacology, Director of Graduate Training, Division of Medical Sciences
Professor Derek A Terrar, Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology
Associate Members
Dr Jeff Aronson, Department of Primary Health Care
Dr Chas Bountra, Structural Genomics Consortium
Dr Stuart Conway, Chemistry Research Laboratory
Professor Garth Cooper, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Professor Claudio Cuello, McGill University, Canada
Dr Maureen Dale
Professor Leslie Iversen
Professor Barry Potter, University of Bath
Professor Len Seymour, Department of Clinical Pharmacology
Professor Steve Watson, University of Birmingham
