Research group

Clinical Neurosciences

We study clinical areas that include major human infectious diseases and diseases that affect the central nervous system.

Part of Medicine

About

Our group is part of the University-wide Southampton Neurosciences Group (SoNG). The group was established in 2001 to provide a focus for collaborative, interdisciplinary and applied neuroscience. 

We research the clinical and environmental factors that impair brain development. This includes studies on the impact on neurological and neurodevelopmental function in children who were both at high risk and/or have suffered adverse effects. We also explore the pathology, prevention and repair strategies for damaged neural tissue.  

Our research programme is aimed at understanding the biological basis and treatment of neurodegenerative disease. We do this through a number of projects: 

  • drug clinical trials 
  • immunotherapy 
  • tissue engineering 
  • neuroimaging 

Our laboratory-based research is helping us understand the main risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases (for example, ageing, genotype and neuroinflammation) and the repair potential of stem cells using animal models and human tissue. 

People, projects and publications

People

Professor Ruihua Hou MD, MSc, PhD, SFHEA

Associate Dean International

Research interests

  • 1) Psychoneuroimmunology studying how psychological processes, the central nervous system, and the immune system interact and impact mental health;          
  • 2) human psychopharmacology focusing on the role of the locus coeruleus in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, and novel interventions targeting the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic pathway;
  • 3) neuroinflammatory mechanisms underlying anxiety and affective disorders as well as comorbid anxiety, depression, and fatigue in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Sam Chamberlain MB/BChir, PhD, MRCPsych

Professor of Psychiatry

Research interests

  • Clinical conditions of interest include Impulsive/Compulsive Disorders; such as but not limited to Gambling disorder, Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder), Skin picking (also known as excoriation) disorder, Compulsive Stealing, Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • My work also explores mental health and well-being of university students.
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Dr Sandrine Willaime-Morawek

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • How brain development and function are affected by external factors such as maternal diet
  • In vitro stem cells modelling of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases' molecular and cellular pathology

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Skaiste Linceviciute

Research Fellow
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Professor Tracey Newman

Professor

Research interests

  • The demographic of populations worldwide is changing. People are living longer but with more years with affected by disability in the last two decades of life. The societal and economic consequences of this change are not being well managed. There is a lag in the development of health interventions and a need for rapid learning for future health and infrastructure planning. Typically, people in poorer economic situations are disproportionately affected by disability in later life.
  • Hearing loss and dementia: I lead multidisciplinary research focussed on hearing loss, the use of cochlear implants to restore hearing in otherwise deaf people and the interaction between hearing loss and dementia.
  • My focus is understanding cellular mechanisms in these conditions and also how the learning and methodologies used to investigate this can be applied across discipline boundaries. I am driving the implementation of data science methodologies for improved management of people who hear with cochlear implants and for the identification of early indicators of cognitive decline. I am championing the engagement of patients in research and as ambassadors to increase awareness of healthcare interventions amongst hard to reach and marginalised communities.

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Tracey
During neurological disease, brain tissue including vessels and blood within are destroyed, leading to inflammation, release of haemoglobin and blood-brain barrier compromise. We study these pathological processes across a range of neurological diseases.
Prof (Clinical & Experimental Neurology)