Research Director

Dr. W.T. O'Connor

Curriculum vitae

Name

William Thomas O'Connor B.Sc., Ph.D.

Personal Details

Born: 26-08-59
Citizenship: Irish

Current Posts and Periods held

Research Director, The Microdialysis Laboratory, 1996
College Lecturer in Human Anatomy and Physiology, 1995

Institution

Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology,
National University of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
Tel.: ++ 353 1 7067202, Fax.: ++ 353 1 7067417
EMail:bill.oconnor@ucd.ie

Positions Held

Associate Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology Dept., Karolinska Institute, Sweden 1994.
Assistant Professor, Physiology and Pharmacology Dept., Karolinska Institute, Sweden 1990.
Senior Scientist, Physiology and Pharmacology Dept., Karolinska Institute, Sweden 1988.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Physiology and Pharmacology Dept., Karolinska Institute, Sweden 1987.
Graduate Student, Pharmacology Dept.,National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland 1981 - 1986.
Graduate Research Assistant, Pharmacology Dept., Organon B.V., Oss, The Netherlands 1984.

Educational Qualifications

Associate Professor, (Docent) Physiology and Pharmacology Dept., Karolinska Institute, Sweden 1994.
Ph.D. Pharmacology, NUIG (Galway) 1986.
B.Sc. Biochemistry, NUIG (Galway). 1981.

Supervisory Role

PhD. Students: Jeffrey Glennon BSc 1996, Bríd Nic Niocaill BSc 1996, Michael Harte BSc 1999, Philip Thomas, MB, BCh, BAO., 1999
BSc. Students: Angela Doherty, 1997, Fiona Boland, 1998, Michael Harte 1999

Fellowship Awards

Senior Scientist Award, 9^th Biennial Winter Schizophrenia Workshop, Switzerland. 2000.
Finalist, Young Psychopharmacologist Competiton. 21^st CINP Congress, Glasgow, UK. 1998.
Young Scientist Award, 8^th Biennial Winter Schizophrenia Workshop, Switzerland. 1996.
Mc Donnel - Pews Foundation Fellowship (USA), 1991.
J. Macy Foundation Fellowship (USA), 1991.
Travelling Fellowship, Wellcome Trust, Sweden 1988-1989.
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Karolinska Institute, Sweden 1987.
European Training Fellowship Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden 1987.
European Training Fellowship, Experimental Psychology Department, Cambridge, UK 1984.

Research Awards

Conway Review Lecturer, Silver Medal Research Award, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland. 2000.
Principal Investigator Project Award, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, UCD. 2000.
Stanley Foundation Schizophrenia Research Award (2 year), USA 1999.
Health Research Board Project Grant Award (3 year), Ireland 1996-1999.
Medical Research Council Research Award (3 year), Sweden. 1995.
Ake Wiberg Research Award, Sweden 1994.
Stanley Foundation Schizophrenia Research Award, USA 1994.
NIMH Postdoctoral Fellowship, Sweden 1990-1993.
Ake Wiberg Research Award, Sweden 1989.

Professional

Chairman, Organizing Committee for the 9^th International Conference on In Vivo Methods, Dublin, June, 2001.
Member, International Organizing Committee for the 8^th International Conference on In Vivo Methods, Stoney Brook NY, June, 1999.
Member, European college of Neuropsychopharmacology, (ECNP) 1999.
Expert Evaluator (Neuroscience), 5^th Framework Proposals, European Commission, 1999
Doctoral Thesis Examiner, Neurosurgery Dept., University of Ghent, Belgium, 1998.
Symposium Chairman, 21^st CINP Congress, Glasgow, UK.1998.
Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science 1991.
Member, American Society for Neuroscience. 1991.
Member, Swedish Physiological Society 1991.
Member , New York Academy of Science 1991.

Invited Speaker

Sensors for Brain Mapping, Lund, Sweden. 2000.

12^th ECNP Congress, Brussels, Belgium, 2000.

8^thInt. Conference on In Vivo Methods, Stoney Brook, NY, USA.1999.

21^st CINP Congress, Glasgow, UK.1998.

Microdialysis user group meeting, BAS, Riverside, Cheshire, UK 1998.

11^th ECNP Congress, Paris. France. 1998.

Erasmus-Tempus Programme, University of East London, UK 1996

6^thInt. Conference on In Vivo Methods, Nordweokerout, The Netherlands, 1999.

Publications

97 full publications
130 abstracts

Research Interests

Recent findings indicate that the neural mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders can be understood as dysfunctions in specific nerve circuits and their functions and dysfunctions can be influenced or altered by a variety of cognitive and pharmacological factors. I use microdialysis (via a specially constructed and very small artificial blood capillary) to study the chemistry of intact conscious brain and to investigate those nerve pathways and circuits implicated in motor and psychiatric disorders. This is achieved by studying the effect of selective monoamine, neuropeptide and amino acid receptor activation and blockade on the release of dopamine, GABA, glutamate and aspartate.
Main interests include the functional neuroanatomy of pathways and circuits implicated in the aetiology and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Working mechanisms of antipsychotic and antidepresant drugs including their actions on monoamines, acetlycholine, neuropeptides, glutamate and GABA release in the brain. Application of the microdialysis technique to study the chemistry of intact conscious brain of normal and transgenic animals.
Published findings include a behavioural, physiological and neurochemical investigation of the olfactory bulbectomized rat model of depression. Working mechanisms of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs including their actions on monoamines, acetlycholine, neuropeptides, glutamate and GABA release in the central nervous system (CNS). application of the microdialysis technique to study the chemistry of intact conscious brain of normal and transgenic animals. The contributions of the motor cortex, nigrostriatal dopamine and the caudate putamen to skilled forelimb use in the rat. The role of central cholinergic systems on striatal dopamine release, feeding, sensorimotor behaviour, locomotor activity and spatial navigation in the rat. The role of dopamine, glutamate, neurotensin and cholecystokinin in the modulation of GABA release in the brain. The relation between mRNA expression and blockade (i.e.,mRNA antisense technology) on changes in GABA release in the brain. The role of intracelluar Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ on the release of dopamine, GABA and glutamate in the CNS.
Current studies include the investigation of schizophrenia as a disorder of brain circuitry. The effect of acute and chronic antipsychotic administration on dopamine, GABA and glutamate and aspartate release in the CNS. The influence of endogenous peptides e.g. neurotensin and cholecystokinin on the release of these substances in this experimental situation. The application of microdialysis to study dopamine, GABA and glutamte transmission in brain and spinal cord. The effect of vigilance enhancing drugs such as caffeine, amphetamine and modafinil on these neurotransmitters in the CNS.

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