I am a research student in the Genes to Cognition program at the Sanger Institute. I am supervised by Seth Grant.

My primary interest is the Molecular Evolution of NMDA receptors.

NMDA receptors are a type of doubly gated ion channel found at the postsynaptic membrane of excitatory synapses in the mammalian brain. Genetic and pharmacological studies have shown that NMDA receptors are crucial for learning and memory and its physiological correlate of long term potentiation (LTP). When opened, calcium ions flow through NMDA receptors and into the postsynaptic neuron where second messengers reponsible for long-lasting plasticity are activated.

I am currently working on generating in vivo models of NMDA receptor evolution using gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. I will be studying the phenotypes using a combination of behavioural analysis and brain region specifc transcriptional profiles during postnatal development.