Having graduated from University College Dublin with a BSc in Physiology in 1999, I then gained my PhD from University College Dublin (2003), for work utilising microdialysis to characterise pathways involved in cognitive function. I worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Sheffield (2003–2005), and Queens University Belfast (2005–2008) on projects investigating neurochemical and pathological deficits in animal models of schizophrenia. I was appointed as a Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Bradford in 2008, moving to the University of Manchester in 2013 and was appointed as Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology in the Division of Pharmacy & Optometry in 2022.

I am an active neuropharmacology researcher with over 20 years of experience in my field, specialising in neuropsychitric (e.g. schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Alzheimer's disease), with a strong focus on the characterisation of behavioural, pathological and neurochemical deficits in animal models of cognitive dysfunction.

My main research interests are focused around:

• Utilising preclinical models (genetic/pharmacological/non-pharmacological) to investigate the neural circuitry and neurochemistry involved in the aetiology and treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Assessing the effects of novel treatments on behavioural and patholgical deficits in preclinical models. 
• Investigating the pathological correlates and discrepancies between human post-mortem work and preclinical models of disease.

I have extensive experience in a large number of techniques and have established a fully equipped laboratory that includes provision for:

• Behavioural studies focussing manily on cognitive function.
• mRNA, Wes and Immunohistochemical analysis of human & rodent post-mortem tissue (e.g. staining of tissue for specific synaptic, neuronal and inflammatory populations followed by microscopic analysis using a state of the art image analysis systems)
• In vivo microdialysis
• HPLC (experienced in ex vivo analysis of brain and microdialysis samples for catecholamines, amino acids and N-acetylaspartate)

Member of -

• Society for Neuroscience
• Schizophrenia International Research Society
• British Association for Psychopharmacology
• British Neuroscience Association
• Associate Member of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

2007:    Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (PGCHET)

2006:    Preclinical Cert in Psychopharmacology, British Association of Psychopharmacology

2003:    PhD (Neuropharmacology), University College Dublin, Ireland

1999:    BSc. (Physiology, 2.I Honours) University College Dublin, Ireland