Speakers
Morning Session: Setting the Scene – Expert Perspectives
There are many challenges facing neuroscience researchers when using pharmacological manipulations in animal models and deciding on what is an ‘appropriate dose’. It is generally acknowledged that studies in animals require an adjustment to the human clinical dose to reflect species differences in the pharmacokinetics of the drugs. However, in a recent systematic review of the literature relating to antidepressant drugs and their use in rodent models, we found a wide range of doses being used and often doses which were >10 times greater than would be used in the clinic.
These higher doses tend to also use routes of administration e.g. intraperitoneal, which achieve higher acute plasma concentrations than the oral route more commonly found clinically. Most publications referred to previous literature to justify their dose selection and tested only a single dose in their model. This widespread practice in neuroscience research poses significant challenges for translational research particularly when these drugs are being used to ask questions about underlying mechanisms. In this talk I will consider current practises in fundamental neuroscience research and why poor dose selection may limit the translational relevance of the mechanisms and novel drug targets identified.
I will also discuss whether the lack of development of more clinically relevant behavioural readouts for preclinical psychiatry is compounding the issues, and the importance of considering the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of the drug in both the study design and data interpretation.
Emma completed her BSc(Hons) and PhD in at the University of Bristol. She was awarded an RCUK Academic Fellowship in 2006 and worked at the University of Cambridge before returning to Bristol to establish her independent research group. Now based in Bristol’s School of Psychology and Neuroscience, Emma’s research investigates the mechanisms which regulate normal and pathological cognitive and emotional behaviour.
Her work is particularly interested in developing new behavioural approaches to explore the relationship between psychological and experience-dependent mechanisms which contribute to the development and treatment of mood disorders. Complementing the psychopharmacology research, the group runs a programme in animal welfare and research integrity from which the 3Hs (Housing, Handling, Habituation) framework and initiative emerged.