or
Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
'TO APPLY, PLEASE CLICK INSTITUTION WEBSITE'
Project outline: Schizophrenia is a common and severe disease with a strong genetic influence. A number of functionally-related genes are believed to interact with environmental factors, such as stress or infection during early development (in utero), to cause the disease. We have recently identified a gene involved in glutamatergic signalling in the CNS that shows strong genetic association with schizophrenia. This gene becomes especially interesting, considering that it is also activated during maternal exposure to infection during pregnancy. This project aims to test the hypothesis that dysfunction in this gene mediates stress and immune influences on disease risk, and contributes to the neurochemical and cognitive impairments of the disease.
Summary aim: To determine the extent to which the gene is involved in synaptic plasticity in the CNS, and in stress and immune responses, and whether gene deficiency produces cortical GABAergic deficits, impairs glutamatergic signalling or produces behavioural changes characteristic of schizophrenia (deficits in working memory and attentional processing).
Techniques to be used: A variety of molecular, cellular and systems level techniques will be used, including
Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters.
Check out our other PhDs in Glasgow, United Kingdom
Start a New search with our database of over 4,000 PhDs
Based on your current search criteria we thought you might be interested in these.
PhD Opportunity - The role of peripheral glial cytoplasmic mRNA localisation regulating synaptic plasticity of adjacent neurones in health and disease
University of Glasgow
Exciting PhD Opportunity: New Monitoring and Analysis Strategies for Energy Geostructures
University of Birmingham
PhD Research Scholarship Opportunity in NMR analysis of illicit drugs
University of Canterbury