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Prof R S B Williams
Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only
About the Project
Research in biomedical neuroscience generally employs mammalian tissue culture experiments to look at disease-related neuronal cell function. To simplify the complex biology occurring in these cells, we employ a biomedical model system - the social amoeba Dictyostelium - for this research. This model has a range of advantages including the ability to rapidly knockout genes and to analyse isogenic strains for changes in cell function, biochemistry and/or cell signalling. We employ this model in a range of biomedical projects including examining cell signalling related to epilepsy, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia. We also pursue various pharmacological projects including the design and testing of new therapeutic compounds based around a simple branched chain fatty acid, valproic acid (commonly called Epilim), and in toxicology testing of new compounds. PhD projects in our laboratory will relate to these areas of research. For further information on my research and publications, please visit my web pages http://pure.rhul.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/robin-williams_f59210ed-f7c6-4b50-a29c-05c861d4b6c1.html
Funding Notes
Self Funded students only
References
1. Terbach and Williams (2009) Structure-function studies for the panacea, Valproic acid. Biochem Soc Trans. 37, 1126-32
2. Williams (2009) Bipolar Disorder: Molecular and Cellular Biology Biochemical Society Focused 2009. Employing multiple models, methods and mechanisms in bipolar disorder research, Biochemical Soc Trans. 37:1077-9
3. Xu, Müller-Taubenberger, Adley, Pawolleck, Lee, Sihra, Wiedemann, Maniak, Jin and Williams (2007) Attenuation of Phospholipid Signaling Provides a Novel Mechanism for the Action of Valproic Acid. Euk Cell, 6, 899-90
4. Shimshoni, Dalton, Eyal, Ewan, Jenkins, Williams, Yagen, Harwood, Bialer (2006) Probing CNS-active valproic acid analogues and amide derivatives for mood stabilizer properties. Mol Pharm, 71, 884-92
5. Boeckeler*, Adley*, Xu, Jenkins, Jin and Williams (2006) The neuroprotective agent, valproic acid, regulates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway through modulation of protein kinase A signalling in Dictyostelium discoideum. Eur J Cell Biol, 85, 1047-57
6. Williams, Boeckeler, Gräf, Müller-Taubenberger, Isberg, Wessels, Soll, Alexander & Alexander (2006) Towards a molecular understanding of human diseases using Dictyostelium discoideum. Trends in Mol Med, 12, 415-24
7. Williams, Cheng, Mudge and Harwood (2002) A common mechanism of action for three mood-stabilizing drugs. Nature 417, 292-5
2. Williams (2009) Bipolar Disorder: Molecular and Cellular Biology Biochemical Society Focused 2009. Employing multiple models, methods and mechanisms in bipolar disorder research, Biochemical Soc Trans. 37:1077-9
3. Xu, Müller-Taubenberger, Adley, Pawolleck, Lee, Sihra, Wiedemann, Maniak, Jin and Williams (2007) Attenuation of Phospholipid Signaling Provides a Novel Mechanism for the Action of Valproic Acid. Euk Cell, 6, 899-90
4. Shimshoni, Dalton, Eyal, Ewan, Jenkins, Williams, Yagen, Harwood, Bialer (2006) Probing CNS-active valproic acid analogues and amide derivatives for mood stabilizer properties. Mol Pharm, 71, 884-92
5. Boeckeler*, Adley*, Xu, Jenkins, Jin and Williams (2006) The neuroprotective agent, valproic acid, regulates the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway through modulation of protein kinase A signalling in Dictyostelium discoideum. Eur J Cell Biol, 85, 1047-57
6. Williams, Boeckeler, Gräf, Müller-Taubenberger, Isberg, Wessels, Soll, Alexander & Alexander (2006) Towards a molecular understanding of human diseases using Dictyostelium discoideum. Trends in Mol Med, 12, 415-24
7. Williams, Cheng, Mudge and Harwood (2002) A common mechanism of action for three mood-stabilizing drugs. Nature 417, 292-5
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