Academics

Academics • Research Only Academics •
Teaching Fellows • Honorary Fellows

Academics

Email addresses & phone numbers for Academics

	Dr István Ábrahám • Mechanism and the role of estrogen-inuced non-genomic actions in cholinergic and GnRH neurons. • Neuroprotective action of estrogen. • The effect of estrogen on second messenger pathways of cholinergic and GnRH neurons following immune-challenge.
	Dr Andrew Bahn • Organic anion transport. • Urate transport. • Post-transciptional regulation of GLUT9.
	Dr Chris Bolter • Baroreceptor function in health and disease. • Autonomic control of the heart. • Intrinsic cardiac control mechanisms. Convener: PHSL 232 Course Adviser
	Dr Colin Brown • Autocrine modulation of intrinsic membrane properties in oxytocin and vasopressin neurons. • Generation of rhythmic activity in vasopressin neurons. • Cellular mechanisms of withdrawal excitation in opioid dependent oxytocin neurons. Convener: PHSL 231 Course Adviser Facilitator of Research Focus Group: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
	Assoc Prof Grant Butt • Cellular mechanisms and regulation of ion transport in the mammalian intestine. • Epithelial ion channels. • Epithelial HCO₃ secretion. • The interaction of bacteria with the intestinal epithelium. Convener: PHSL 343 Course Adviser Chair: Emtech Management Committee
	Dr Rebecca Campbell • Defining the neuronal network regulating GnRH neurons and fertility in health and disease. • Mechanisms of pulse generation in the GnRH neuronal network. • Spatial distribution of synaptic inputs to the dendrites of GnRH neurons. • Exploring the neuroendocrine mechanisms of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
	Dr Steven Condliffe • SNARE protein regulation of ion channel activity via protein-protein interactions. • Characterisation of neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel function in specific cell types. • Control of ENaC and CFTR channel insertion and trafficking.
	Assoc Prof Pat Cragg • Myocardial infarction: effect on sympathetic nerve activity and peripheral chemoreceptor activity. • Pulmonary endothelial dysfunction during pulmonary hypertension in obesity. • Control of breathing: function of chemoreceptors and lung receptors. • Cardiorespiratory and renal responses to high altitude. • Surfactant deficiency in the newborn: replacement strategies, lung mechanics & cardiorespiratory function. Head of Department Convener: PHSL 344; Postgraduate Programmes Chief Course Adviser Chair: Administrative Committee, Curriculum Committee, Space Committee & Staff Meetings
	Dr Ged Davis • Cardiovascular control in obesity. • Cardiovascular control in hypertension. • Cardiovascular control in hypoxia. • Pathophysiology of renal function. Convener: PHSL 345; BBiomedSc
	Dr Ruth Empson • The contribution of a Ca²⁺ pump protein, the plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase, PMCA to Ca²⁺ signalling at central nervous system synapses. • Ca²⁺ dynamics and metabotropic glutamate receptor signalling in the cerebellum and its relevance to ataxia. • Cellular mechanisms that contribute to long term adaptive plasticity of hippocampal synapses - synaptic scaling. Convener: PHSL 400 Convener: Departmental Research Seminars Library Liaison Officer
	Dr Simon Green • Vascular and metabolic control in human skeletal muscle. • Oxygen and muscle fatigue. • Exercise and peripheral arterial disease. Facilitator of Research Focus Group: Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiology Chair: Departmental Publicity Committee
	Dr Kirk Hamilton • Regulation of ion transport of the mammalian small intestine. • Pharmacological modulation of ion channels and transporters. • Molecular physiology of ion channels. Convener: PHSL 233 Course Adviser Facilitator of Research Focus Group: Membrane & Ion Transport
	Prof Allan Herbison • Neural regulation of fertility. • Gonadal steroid regulation of brain function. Chair: Research Committee
	Dr Phil Heyward • Circuit and cell physiology in the olfactory bulb. • Membrane properties and responses to synaptic input. Convener: PHSL 342 Course Adviser
	Assoc Prof Brian Hyland • Neural activity in brain reward systems during learning. • Neurophysiology of movement control systems in health, and in movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Deputy Head of Department Convener: Med3 Nervous System module Course Adviser Chair: Equipment Committee
	Assoc Prof Fiona McDonald • Regulation of the epithelial sodium channel by ubiquitination and endocytosis, and its role in blood pressure control. • Isolation and function of proteins binding to epithelial sodium channel proteins. Convener: PHSL 360 (300-level honours); HUBS 191 & 192
	Dr Daryl Schwenke • The benefits of early ghrelin treatment for improving survival and reducing cardiac sympathetic nerve activity following acute myocardial infarction. • Modulation of the pulmonary vasculature in health and disease. Chair: Social Committee
	Dr Phil Sheard • Development of the motor unit: early interactions between nerve cells and skeletal muscle fibres. • Sarcopenia, the process of age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, with particular regard to investigation of the role of the motor nerve in muscle loss and maintenance in non-senile animals. Convener: PHSL 341; MELS/PHTY/PHCY/PHSL 251 & DENT 262B Course Adviser Chair: ICT Committee

Research Only Academics

Email addresses & phone numbers for Researchers

	Dr Zoe Ashley (Postdoctoral Fellow - Assoc Prof Pat Cragg's lab)
	Zsuzsanna Barad (Assistant Research Fellow - Dr István Ábrahám's lab) • Investigating the interactions between the neuroendocrine and immune system.
	Dr Jordi Boix i Coll (Postdoctoral Fellow - Assoc Prof Brian Hyland's lab)
	Isabel Campillo (Assistant Research Fellow - Dr Daryl Schwenke's lab)
	Dr Jenny Clarkson (Postdoctoral fellow): Professor Allan Herbison's lab • Dissecting the critical role of kisspeptin neuron in the control of fertility.
	Dr Stephanie Constantin (Postdoctoral Fellow): Professor Allan Herbison's lab • Characterization of calcium oscillations in GnRH neurons.
	Lisa Fan (Assistant Research Fellow): Assoc Prof Grant Butt's lab • Possum-specific toxins.
	Justine Fuller (Assistant Research Fellow): Assoc Prof Brian Hyland's lab • Investigating dopamine release.
	Katrin Geist (Assistant Research Fellow): Dr Rebecca Campbell's lab • Investigating the spatial distribution of synaptic inputs to GnRH dendrites.
	Emily Gray (Assistant Research Fellow): Dr Daryl Schwenke's lab)
	Jody Hazlett (Assistant Research Fellow): Dr Paul Hessian's lab • Interaction between genetics and immunology: an aid to predicting diagnosis and prognosis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
	Dr Paul Hessian (Senior Research Fellow) • The mechanisms of human chronic inflammatory disease involving monocyte/ macrophages, integrin activation, S100 calcium-binding proteins and their receptor(s). • Ectopic lymphoid follicles and prognosis in human inflammation • RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products), glycosylation and ligand recognition – the impact on inflammation. Chair: Health, Safety & Compliance Committee
	Melanie Hutchison (Assistant Research Fellow): Assoc Prof Brian Hyland's lab • New pathways for new learning. • Effects of flibanserin on midbrain neurons.
	Dr Karl Iremonger (Postdoctoral Fellow): Professor Allan Herbison's lab • Mechanisms responsible for the synchronization of GnRH neuronal networks.
	Dr Andrea Kwakowsky (Postdoctoral Fellow): Dr István Ábrahám's lab • Investigating the effect of estrogen on signaling pathways in gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons.
	Dr Kiho Lee (Research Fellow): Professor Allan Herbison's lab • Electrophysiological characterisation of GnRH neurons. • Calcium and excitability of GnRH neurons.
	Dr Yuhong Li (Postdoctoral Fellow): Assoc Prof Brian Hyland's lab • Neuronal basis of associative learning in the rat.
	Dr Xinhuai Liu (Research Fellow): Professor Allan Herbison's lab • Starting puberty with a kiss [peptin].
	Dr Sam Lucas (Postdoctoral Fellow): Dr Phil Ainslie's lab • Regulation of cerebral blood flow and cerebral autoregulation in health and disease. • Mechanisms of hypoxia induced cerebral dysfunction. • Cerebral perfusion during exercise and at high altitude. • Effects of fitness and ageing on cerebrovascular function. • Effects of hydration, heat and ageing on cerebrovascular function.
	Erin McAllum (Assistant Research Fellow): Professor Allan Herbison's lab • Neural regulation of fertility in the mouse.
	Dr Louise Parr-Brownlie (Research Fellow): Assoc Prof Brian Hyland's lab • Record neuronal changes associated with Parkinson's disease via single cell and local field potential activities in anaesthetised or awake, freely-moving rats.
	Daniil Potapov (Assistant Research Fellow): Dr István Ábrahám's lab • Investigating the non-classical estrogen action in the mouse central nervous system.
	Mel Prescott (Assistant Research Fellow): Dr Rebecca Campbell's lab • Investigating neuroendocrine alterations in a murine model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
	Dr Juan Roa Rivas (Postdoctoral Fellow): Professor Allan Herbison's lab • Metabolic control of GnRH neurons.
	Dr Ming Ruan (Postdoctoral Fellow): Associate Professor Brian Hyland's lab • Effects of Boehringer Ingleheim test compound Flibanserin (BIMT-17) on electrophysiological properties of dopamine cells in awake and behaving rats.
	Dr Vicki Scott (Research Fellow): Dr Colin Brown's lab • Mechanisms of plasticity in vasopressin cell activity during dehydration.
	Jay Shin (Assistant Research Fellow): Dr Rebecca Campbell's lab
	Dr Cristina Shirley (Postdoctoral Fellow): Dr Phil Heyward's lab • Input frequency modulation of olfactory processing.
	Dr Paul Turner (Postdoctoral Fellow): Dr Ruth Empson's lab • Binding partners of the calcium export pump (PMCA2). • Targeting protein-protein interactions at synapses. • Behavioural phenotyping in ataxia.

Teaching Fellows

Email addresses & phone numbers for Teaching Fellows

	Dr Matt Bevin (Medical Professional Practice Fellow) Course Convener for Med 2 & 3 Physiology
	Dr Janice Bolter (Senior Teaching Fellow) Co-ordinator of Teaching Fellows
	Rahul Das (Teaching Fellow)
	Dr Susan George (Medical Teaching Fellow)
	Dr Neeraj Gupta (Medical Teaching Fellow)
	Erin Hoskins (Teaching Fellow)
	Jose McKenzie (Teaching Fellow)
	Beth Mallard (Teaching Fellow)
	Jennifer Schack (Teaching Fellow)
	Dr Ashik Srinivasan (Medical Teaching Fellow)
	Kathryn Tucker (Teaching Fellow)
	Mike Turner (Teaching Fellow)

Honorary Fellows

Associate Professor John Harris:
Associate Professor Harris retired in April 2005 having held a position in the Department since 1971. His research incorporated cell lineage studies in vertebrate embyros; embryonic origins and development of skeletal muscles; and definition of skeletal muscle founder cells. Since his retirement he has held a part-time research-only appointment on a sub-contract of an NIH grant. Assoc Prof Harris was appointed as an Honorary Fellow in 2009 and will hold the position until April 2012.

Dr Bernard McLeod:
Dr McLeod is a Senior Scientist at AgResearch, Invermay, and was appointed as an Honorary Fellow in 2003. His current Honorary Fellowship runs until 2012. Dr McLeod has done collaborative research with Associate Professor Grant Butt for several years and the two have funding from the Animal Health Board and the Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST). They are also members of the National Research Centre for Possum Bio-control. Dr McLeod is co-supervising a PhD student with Assoc Prof Butt – Toni-Ann Alsop.

Dr Hitomi Watanabe:
Dr Watanabe worked in the department as a visiting research fellow from 2005-2006 and a research fellow from 2007-2008. On her return to Japan, Hitomi was awarded an Honorary Research Fellow title in 2008 so she could continue her collaboration with Prof Tony Wheatley on researching the role of TLR4 in renal injury. Hitomi is a board certified Nephrologist of the Japanese Society of Nephrology and a fellow of both the Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy and the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. Dr Watanabe's Fellowship runs until July 2010.

Professor Tony Wheatley:
Professor Wheatley joined us in October 1997 as the Chair in Physiology. During his 12 years in the Department, he concentrated his research on the haemodynamics of the liver in health and disease, with particular reference to the effect of liver transplantation. In addition, he had a wide interest in microcirculation research for the non-invasive assessment of blood flow. As well as bring principal investigator in a number of successful research funding opportunities, Tony has also supervised a number of postgraduate thesis students and has taught papers from 100- to 400-level as well as teaching medical students during his time at Otago. Tony left the Department in July 2009 to take up a new position at the National University of Ireland, Galway as the Chair of Physiology. He has been appointed as an Honorary Professor until July 2011.

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