51³Ô¹Ïapp

Ben's main interests lie in the following areas:

• Psychopharmacology of dopamine and other central monoamines
• Pharmacology of antipsychotic drugs and pathology of schizophrenia
• Pharmacology and neuropathophysiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)
• Neurochemical and electrophysiological action of psychostimulants and cognition enhancers
• Function of brain glutamate and dopamine receptors and role in cognition and in brain disorders
• Brain mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of obesity.

Pharmacology

• Neuropsychopharmacology
• Psychiatry
• Neuro-electrophysiology
• Cognition Neurodevelopment disorders
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Antipsychotics
• Psychostimulants.

• Pharmacology
• Endocrinology
• Central Nervous System
• Nutrition
• Pharmacokinetics.

PhD

• Pharmacy (year 1-4)
• Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences (year 2)
• Biomedical Sciences (year 2)
• Speech and Language Therapy (year 1)
• Psychiatry trainees.

• Ben was nominated for the Vice Chancellor Teaching of Excellence (2006)
• Ben was part of the group that obtained the Curriculum development and Innovation award (2006).

• European college of Neuropsychopharmacology
• Society for Neuroscience.

• Home office animal licence (modules 1-4)
• Radioprotection supervisor.

European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, October 2012, Vienna, Austria

European College on Neuropsychopharmacology meeting, Istanbul, September 2009. Ben was invited to present and organize a session entitled: 'Age dependent effects of methylphenidate in animal studies; does it matter?'

• Electrophysiological and neurochemical studies ADHD drugs in the adult and developing brain
• Modulation of glutamate NMDA receptor function by psychotropic drugs
• Control of the neuronal activity in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic systems by psychotropic drugs and environmental factors

• Ahmed Alsabi, PhD student, 2nd supervisor
• Komal Siddiqi, PhD student, 2nd supervisor
• Adele Bousquet, MSC Pharmacology (France), 1st supervisor
• Razane El Bizre, MSC Pharmaceutical Technology, 1st supervisor
• Maryam Meriki, MSC/Pharmacy Student (France), 1st supervisor

Successful applications:

• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council co-application grant (Dr P Burnet, Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University) :
  The effect of D-alanine and a prebiotic on rat brain N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and executive function. £ 345,000.
• Industrial collaboration with Neurosearch (H Ponteck, Sweden). £ 29,900

 Pending:

• NARSAD (long term effect of methylpenidate on mesocortical dopamine neurones) $ 56,000.
• Industrial collaboration with Eli Lilly (Indianapolis, US) Long term effect of atomoxetine on prefrontal cortex neurones and cognitive functions. £ 42,000.

• Higher Education Innovation Funding (£10000). A multidisciplinary investigation on the use of intranasal administration of dopamine as an alternative treatment for ADHD. (In collaboration with Prof J Taylor).
• 51³Ô¹Ïapp PhD studentship to start in October 2012: Impact of psychostimulant administration during development on adult brain functions controlling motivation, impulsivity and cognition.