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New Garland/Dora group paper provides a novel mechanism for the vasospasm underlying cardiovascular disease
17 August 2020
The Vascular Pharmacology group has published a paper in Hypertension showing that loss of nitric oxide production by endothelial cells, a ubiquitous feature of cardiovascular disease, raises the electrical excitability of arterial smooth muscle by recruiting T-type voltage-gated calcium channels. This change switches physiological vasomotion to pathological vasospasm.
The Department mourns the loss of three greats in neuropharmacology
11 August 2020
This summer three of the world’s most distinguished neurochemists died; each was a member of the Department during their outstanding scientific careers.
Professor Fran Platt secures £1M funding over two years for vital Parkinson's Disease research, in collaboration with Pfizer
4 August 2020
There is an increasing body of genetic and biochemical evidence that points toward lysosomal dysfunction as a risk factor for developing age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Optical method to study interaction between sympathetic nerves and heart muscle
3 August 2020
Research led by Associate Professor Rebecca Burton at Oxford, together with Associate Professor Gil Bub at McGill University (Canada) and Professor Emilia Entcheva at George Washington University (USA), has demonstrated a purely optical method that makes it possible to stimulate cells and to directly observe both the effects of spatial distribution and functional connectivity between neurons and heart muscle cells. This model system provides a unique window into the relationship between the tissue health, neuron density and the excitability of the heart muscle. These insights are particularly relevant to understanding complications that arise after damage to the heart tissue, such as potentially lethal heart arrhythmias after a heart attack.
New Galione group paper explores the role for early Ca2+ signals in phagocytosis
9 June 2020
The Galione Lab has a paper published in The EMBO Journal showing that local Ca2+‐nanodomains formed by two‐pore channels (TPCs) on endo-lysosomes are shown to drive phagocytosis in macrophages. Moreover, different endo-lysosomal Ca2+ channels do different jobs at phagocytosis (extreme compartmentation).
Nafamostat to be evaluated as potential treatment for COVID-19
19 May 2020
Daniel Anthony, Professor of Experimental Neuropathology in the Department of Pharmacology, is the scientific lead in a joint research team running a new clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness for the treatment of COVID-19 of Nafamostat. This existing medicine, manufactured by Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, is a well-established treatment in Japan for pancreatitis. The company has generously donated supplies of Nafamostat for the initial clinical evaluation.
Interdisciplinary project could lead to a personalised approach for mood stabilisation for bipolar patients
18 May 2020
The Vasudevan laboratory, in an interdisciplinary project with scientists and clinicians, across the Department of Psychiatry, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Warneford Hospital, Department of Pathology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, and the Oxford StemBANCC, have used bipolar patient-derived fibroblasts to gain a deeper understanding into patient circadian rhythms, and how these rhythmic changes could predict lithium sensitivity in bipolar disorder.
BDNF-TRKB signalling is pivotal for the sequential maturation of intrinsic hippocampal circuits
11 May 2020
The Minichiello laboratory through an excellent interdisciplinary collaborative effort, particularly with the laboratories of Prof E. Cherubini at the European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) in Rome, Italy, and Prof JM. Delgado-García at the University Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain, have now uncovered a novel essential role for BDNF-TrkB signalling in driving sequential maturation of intrinsic hippocampal circuits. They show the in vivo consequences of Ntrk2/Trkb selective deletion at a time-sensitive window both on postnatal development and adult brain.
Oxford Pharmacology tops QS World Rankings once again in 2020
4 March 2020
Oxford Department of Pharmacology has been judged best in the world for the second year in a row in the QS World Rankings, published today.
Pharmacology Workshop Manager, John Harris, receives Honorary Degree in recognition of his 50 years of service
2 March 2020
John Harris, who started work in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford in 1969, was awarded an MA by the Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson at a ceremony in the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 29 February 2020. John was described at the ceremony as "an essential pillar on whom to rely, to lean on in times of need, a craftsman of skill and imagination, a stalwart friend and steward to some of our most important scientific endeavours".
Pharmacology seeks a Blaschko Fellow for 2020
29 January 2020
Two year fellowship post available for early career researchers
Russell group research reveals molecular target of the Utrophin modulator Ezutromid
6 January 2020
A collaboration between the Russell group (Chemistry and Pharmacology) and the Davies group (Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics) has identified, via a chemical proteomics and phenotypic profiling strategy, the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR) as the molecular target of ezutromid, the utrophin modulator that recently completed a Phase 2 clinical trial in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.