The most recent work in my laboratory has been involved in mapping central pathways and the effects of neuroinflammation (particularly microglia)on signalling and neonatal brain injury.  We have been conducting numerous studies using a preterm hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury model to investigate how the serotonergic neural network is disrupted after neonatal HI. Major neurological impairments are seen in HI-affected neonates and include long-term disorders such as learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, hyperactivity and depression. Many of these disorders match outcomes reported following early disruption to the serotonergic network.

Serotonergic neurons are distributed in an array of raphé nuclei in the brainstem and constitute the source of a pervasive serotonergic network in the brain. Different raphé sub-divisions represent differential brain connectivity patterns. Axons project from the dorsal raphe dorsal, caudal, and ventrolateral predominantly to the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus and amygdala. Due to the substantial neural network in the brain, these raphé subdivisions are able to regulate, or at least influence, numerous functions. Animal models show that dorsal raphé nuclei incur significant losses of serotonergic neurons following a neonatal HI insult and such losses have been reported to occur in association with disruption of the serotonergic transporter (SERT), reductions in serotonergic fibres, decreased 5-HT levels and loss of 5-HT7 receptors in the brain. However, not all serotonergic raphé neurons are lost after a neonatal HI insult and thus the functional viability of remaining serotonergic neurons is likely to be important in determining neurological, physiological and autonomic outcomes in the HI-affected neonate.

Using a well-established preterm HI model in the rat on post-natal day 3 (P3), we tested the hypothesis that HI in the immature brain affects the responses of serotonergic raphé neurons to an external stimulus. We examined restraint stress-induced activation of serotonergic raphé neurons in five dorsal raphé nuclei with or without P3 HI using dual immunolabelling for Fos (a marker of neuronal activation) and 5-HT (a marker for serotonergic cells).

This is an example of the many studies I have conducted. I have skills in immunohistochemistry, small animal neurosurgery, neonatal hypoxia-ischemia models, neuroscience, imaging, central neuronal mapping and more. I also have a significant skill-set in iOS app programming, app and website development and project management in IT.

Key areas I'm looking to work in:

• Neuroscience iOS applications

• Brain mapping, neural network models

• Website development in the higher education job search space

• Promotion of early-career researchers and postgraduates

• Project management of iOS and Android applications