Emanuel Lopes
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
I am a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Cragg Group funded by a Celgene/Oxford collaboration. I am currently studying dopamine transmission in rodent models of experimental Parkinsonism centred on the identification, validation and development of modifiers of deubiquitinating enzymes for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
I first joined the lab as a DPhil student, where I studied the role of local striatal factors (such as GABA and acetylcholine) in regulating dopamine release, and how these factors could be altered in disease states such as Parkinson’s Disease. To study this, I mainly employed electrochemical techniques such as fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and amperometry, optogenetics, and immunohistochemistry.
Prior to my time in Oxford, I underwent my honours year practical project under the supervision of Dr Andrew Irving in the University of Dundee, where I studied the role of the putative cannabinoid receptor GPR55 in neuronal development and disease.
Recent publications
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Axonal Modulation of Striatal Dopamine Release by Local γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Signalling.
Journal article
Roberts BM. et al, (2021), Cells, 10
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GABA uptake transporters support dopamine release in dorsal striatum with maladaptive downregulation in a parkinsonism model.
Journal article
Roberts BM. et al, (2020), Nat Commun, 11
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Astrocytic striatal GABA transporter activity governs dopamine release and shows maladaptive downregulation in early parkinsonism
Journal article
Roberts BM. et al, (2019)
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Dopamine neuron-derived IGF-1 controls dopamine neuron firing, skill learning, and exploration.
Journal article
Pristerà A. et al, (2019), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 116, 3817 - 3826
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Inhibition of Nigrostriatal Dopamine Release by Striatal GABAA and GABAB Receptors.
Journal article
Lopes EF. et al, (2019), J Neurosci, 39, 1058 - 1065