Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG)

Professor Sir Chris Whitty brings greater understanding of epidemics to Oxford

14 March 2023

Chief Medical Officer of England Professor Sir Chris Whitty KCB FMedSci delivers the Sherrington Prize Lecture: Public Understanding of Science to an audience of Oxford staff and students.

Annie Park to advance our understanding of how the brain encodes reward with new Wellcome Trust Award

13 March 2023

Congratulations are in order for Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Annie Park who has been awarded a prestigious Wellcome Early-Career Award.

New insights into chemogenetic designer drugs to enhance our study of behaviour

10 March 2023

A collaborative team of researchers in DPAG and Pharmacology led by Dr Lukas Krone have uncovered striking new data demonstrating that two widely used designer drugs used to turn populations of neurons on and off in the brain cause unexpected effects on sleep. These results demonstrate a critical need to improve chemogenetic approaches in behavioural studies.

Unlocking the Secrets of cAMP Signalling in the Heart: A Pathway to Targeted Therapeutics

9 March 2023

A new Zaccolo group study has revealed key new insights into the role of cAMP signalling in both healthy and disease settings within the heart. They have identified new cAMP nanodomains in cardiac muscle cells that have far reaching implications for the treatment of heart disease.

Key exosome subtype in cancer progression identified

8 March 2023

Collaborative work from DPAG and Oncology researchers has revealed a potential new pathway to block the production of a specific group of exosomes made in the cell’s recycling system that can promote the growth of cancerous tumours.

Physiological Society award to support prestigious CAJAL course for Raffaele Sarnataro

2 March 2023

Congratulations are in order for Dr Raffaele Sarnataro who has been awarded a Professional Development Award by The Physiological Society. The award will support Dr Sarnataro’s selected participation on the Experimental Neuroscience Bootcamp 2023 delivered by the CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Programme.

Armin Lak appointed Associate Professor of Integrative Neuroscience

24 February 2023

The post is in association with a Tutorial Fellowship at St John's College.

Professor Dino Giussani delivers the GL Brown Prize Lecture

10 February 2023

The GL Brown Prize Lecture series from The Physiological Society is aimed at an early career audience to stimulate an interest in physiology.

Inaugural Fellowship to Charmaine Lang paves the way to improved human models for Parkinson's drug discovery

3 February 2023

Congratulations are in order for Departmental Research Lecturer Dr Charmaine Lang who has been awarded the first jointly funded Senior Research Fellowship from Parkinson’s UK and Rosetrees Trust. With this award, Dr Lang will develop complex new induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models that target the interaction between dopamine neurons and astrocytes in the brain and how these fail in the context of Parkinson's.

New blood test from DPAG cardiac researchers could save lives of heart attack victims

31 January 2023

Researchers from the Herring group have developed a blood test that measures stress hormone levels after heart attacks. The test – costing just £10 – could ensure patients receive timely life-saving treatment.

Mootaz Salman set to target new treatments for stroke

25 January 2023

The Chief Scientist Office of the Government of Scotland has awarded a collaborative grant of £298,966 to Dr Mootaz Salman to seek new therapeutic avenues to treat stroke.

Gero Miesenböck awarded 2023 Japan Prize

24 January 2023

Congratulations are in order for Professor Gero Miesenböck, who has been awarded the 2023 Japan Prize in the field of Life Sciences, together with Professor Karl Deisseroth, for pioneering work in the field of optogenetics.

Mootaz Salman receives prestigious science award from Iraq

19 January 2023

Congratulations are in order for Dr Mootaz Salman, who has received the National Medal of Distinctive Scientific Achievement by the Government of Iraq.

Professor Denis Noble awarded the Lomonosov Gold Medal

12 January 2023

The Russian Academy of Sciences has awarded its highest accolade, the Lomonosov Gold Medal, to Emeritus Professor Denis Noble CBE, FRS.

Professor Dame Frances Ashcroft awarded the Manpei Suzuki International Prize for Diabetes Research

12 January 2023

The 2022 Manpei Suzuki International Prize for Diabetes Research recognises original and excellent achievements in diabetes research. Professor Ashcroft is the first women to win in the 15 years this prestigious Prize has been awarded.

Inaugural winners of the DPAG Prize for Public Engagement with Research announced

11 January 2023

Congratulations are in order for the winners Katherine Brimblecombe and Anna Kordala, and also to Jéssica Luiz and Andia Redpath who were highly commended for their outreach and public engagement work.

Shaping Destiny team showcases virtual reality experience

16 December 2022

DPAG researchers based at the IDRM joined Body Politic dance group members at Pegasus Theatre on Monday 21 November 2022 to showcase a unique virtual reality (VR) experience created by the interdisciplinary Shaping Destiny public engagement project.

New BBSRC grant to further our insights into how the cortex controls sleep

15 December 2022

Professor of Sleep Physiology Vladyslav Vyazovskiy and Professor of Developmental Neuroscience Zoltán Molnár have been awarded a Project Grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for “Brain mechanisms of sleep: top-down or bottom-up?”

David Paterson awards President's Medal to Sir Patrick Vallance

13 December 2022

The Physiological Society President and Head of DPAG Professor David Paterson presented the 2022 Presidential Medal to Sir Patrick Vallance at a ceremony at the Royal Society on 2 December.

Raised intracellular chloride levels underlie the effects of tiredness in cortex