Research Talks

Dear all,

On 25^thof April 14:30–15:30 in Lecture hall of Dentistry (H1091) Dr. Anthony Vernon from London, UK, will give a lecture with a title:

Are structural brain changes in Schizophrenia related to antipsychotic medication? – insights from pre-clinical studies

Short introduction:

Dr. Anthony Vernon is a researcher and research group leader in Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, United Kingdom

https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/anthony-vernon(9bc872c8-e1b5-4a8e-aec9-209337cd300a).html

Anthony Vernon’s lab is an inter-disciplinary research group working at the interface of fundamental neuroscience and clinical research into mental health. Current work in the laboratory is focused on two themes:

(1) Understanding the effects of psychotropic drugs used in the treatment of mental health problems, such as antipsychotics and antidepressants, on the nervous, immune and endocrine systems.

(2) To understand how alterations in brain structure and function observed in patients with mental health disorders align with appropriate experimental models.

A common thread linking both themes is the role of glial cells and immune dysfunction as both a pathological mechanism and putative treatment target for mental illness. Specifically, Vernon’s group is interested in the role of neuron-microglia interactions in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and whether glial cells play a role in the therapeutic and adverse effects of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.

Anthony Vernon’s lab primarily study rodent models, but also human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSC) differentiated towards neural and glial cell fates. They use a broad range of methods that include, but are not limited to, small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; clinically comparable technology), next generation 3D histopathology (CLARITY), conventional 2D neuropathology, biochemistry, proteomics and transcriptomics.

Anthony Vernon’s research is important to advance knowledge of causative biological pathways and mechanisms to provide much-needed and more effective therapies for mental health problems, for example schizophrenia. Regarding 25^th April lecture, understanding the long-term impact of antipsychotic drug treatment will inform the clinical use of these drugs and improve risk:benefit profiles and potentially response rates.

Highlighted publications:

Vernon et al., Biol. Psychiatry, 2014, DOI:10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.09.012

Cotel et al., Eur. NPP, 2015, DOI:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.08.004

Crum et al., Psych. Med., 2016, DOI:10.1017/S0033291716001768

Hawkins et al., Human Brain Mapping, 2018, DOI:10.1002/hbm.23844

Coffee and snacks will be served before the seminar in the lecture hall!

PhD Students’ credits: Attendance to 10 seminars -> 0,5 ECTS

You are warmly welcome!

Best wishes,

Mirja

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Mirja Peltola

Koordinaattori | Coordinator

Oulun yliopisto | University of Oulu

Terveys- ja biotieteiden tohtoriohjelma | Health and Biosciences Doctoral Programme

Tel. 0294 48 5447

PO Box 5000, FI-90014 OULUN YLIOPISTO

(Aapistie 5A, Room 474B)