Monoamine transmission: from mechanisms to movement
The neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain is critical to how we choose our everyday actions, by signaling our motivations and selecting appropriate movements. When dopamine function is disrupted, a range of psychomotor disorders can result that include addiction disorders and Parkinson’s disease.
Our work explores how dopamine function is governed and dysregulated through study of dopamine transmission in real-time.
In a range of parallel and intersecting projects, we are exploring:
- Mechanisms on dopamine axons that govern dopamine output
- Circuits that govern dopamine transmission
- Dopamine signalling dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease
- How drugs of addiction modify dopamine signals
- How dopamine controls behaviour
Please get in touch if you’d like to find out how to join the lab.
Cragg Group Announcements
May 2022 - We are delighted to begin our new Wellcome Trust-funded collaboration with Profs Richard Wade-Martins, Peter Magill, Birgit Liss and Josef Kittler
April 2022 - We are currently recruiting for a Post-doctoral Research Scientist for a project funded by the MRC. See link for more information and how to apply. Please get in touch!
April 2022 - Welcome to new lab member Daniel Rial!
February 2022 - Welcome to our new ASAP Project Manager Claudia Mendes!
January 2022 - Welcome to new lab member Ross McLeod!
November 2021 - We are delighted to begin our new major international research project supported by Aligning Science Across Parkinson's with Mark Howe (Boston University), Dinos Meletis (Karolinska Institutet), Richard Wade-Martins (Oxford) and Peter Magill (Oxford)
October 2021 - Welcome to new lab members Callum Sumpter, Bethan O'Connor, Shinil Raina, and returning members Lucille Duquenoy and Jess Livesey!
Please read our pledge to support inclusivity, diversity and equality here.
Cragg Group News
Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre awarded £3.8 million to reveal the role of calcium in Parkinson’s
29 April 2022
A collaborative research team led by the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre (OPDC) has been awarded a £3.8 million Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award to study the function of calcium in dopamine neurons, and how this is plays a role in Parkinson’s. Their research will help explain how and why dopamine neurons are vulnerable in the disease and look at how they may be preserved.
My Primary School Visit for Science Week
21 April 2022
On 2 March 2022, Dr Katherine Brimblecombe visited two primary school classes (ages 8-11) as part of their “Science week”. Read her interview to learn more about public engagement with school children in the local Oxford community.
OPDC researchers welcome Parkinson’s UK and the Oxford Branch committee
13 April 2022
Researchers from the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre (OPDC) recently hosted Caroline Rassell, Parkinson’s UK Chief Executive; David Dexter, Associate Research Director; Trustee Board members, Gary Shaughnessy (Chair) and Sally Bromley; together with members of the Parkinson’s UK Oxford Branch committee, for a visit to showcase the research being carried out in Oxford.
Dopamine Club
Welcome to the Dopamine Club!
Dopamine Club is an informal, lab meeting-style forum that brings dopamine researchers together from across the University to exchange and discuss our different perspectives on dopamine.
About us
Dopamine Club was founded in 2014 to bring together dopamine researchers within the University and promote interactions towards the common goal of understanding dopamine function.
Core contributors
Anyone is welcome to attend, organise and participate in Dopamine Club meetings and we'd like it to be as interactive as possible so if you want to be involved please get in touch (stephanie.cragg@dpag.ox.ac.uk, or any of the other contributing groups).
Meeting format
Meetings are held termly, usually on Monday of 8th week, in DPAG. Meetings are chaired by different labs on a rotating basis.
Latest publications
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Dopamine release in nucleus accumbens is under tonic inhibition by adenosine A1 receptors regulated by astrocytic ENT1 and dysregulated by ethanol.
Journal article
Roberts BM. et al, (2022), J Neurosci
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Dopamine release in nucleus accumbens is under tonic inhibition by adenosine A1 receptors regulated by astrocytic ENT1 and dysregulated by ethanol
Preprint
Roberts BM. et al, (2021)
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Revisiting dopamine-acetylcholine imbalance in Parkinson’s disease: glutamate co-transmission as an exciting partner in crime
Journal article
CRAGG S. and Zhang Y-F., (2021), Neuron
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Stratification of hippocampal electrophysiological activation evoked by selective electrical stimulation of different angular and linear acceleration sensors in the rat peripheral vestibular system.
Journal article
Hitier M. et al, (2021), Hear Res, 403
Related research themes
We host a number of internationally recognised ...