Networking - Bristol Neuroscience

Catherine Brown, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Research Development Administrator for the Health Research Networks

1 July 2021

World-leading research into the fundamental science of the brain and nervous system lies at the heart of the Neuroscience Research Network at Bristol. This is embodied by Bristol Neuroscience (BN) which represents a large, diverse neuroscience community with an excellent international reputation. In the third of our series of Network blogs, Catherine Brown, Research Development Administrator for the Health Research Networks, shares some highlights from Bristol Neuroscience Network.

Bristol Neuroscience Network

Bristol Neuroscience Network Director, Professor Matt Jones is now a member of Cardiff’s CUBRIC Management Board. Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre is bringing together world-leading expertise in brain imaging, mapping and stimulation to better understand the causes of neurological and psychiatric conditions. This link is contributing to our strategic partnership with the university.

Eli Lilly & Co. funded the establishment of a Lilly Translational Neuroscience Unit, committing an initial USD 1M to support a postdoctoral fellow (Tony Blockeel) and PhD studentship (to be determined) housed in the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience. The Unit currently focuses on chronic pain drug discovery but will build new links with Lilly’s Neuroscience Next Generation Therapeutics (NGTx) labs in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Thanks to a £100k donation from one of Bristol’s Alumni a PhD studentship in Alzheimer’s disease was supported. A call for projects was launched in Aug 2020 and after scoring it was allocated Claire Rice and Scott Miners in Bristol Medical School. The same alumnus donated a further £100k for the purchase of graphics processing units.

In TV news, Denize Atan (Bristol Medical School/Translational Health Science) took part in the Channel 4 show Food Unwrapped Investigates with a contribution to episode 4, aired on 16 November 2020, which explored How Dangerous is Fussy Eating? Presenter Kate Quilton met families where young lives are at risk and asked what's 'normal' and when parents should seek help? Watch the episode.

Further information

The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute supports a number of Networks across the University of Bristol, there to provide researchers with opportunities for collaboration and partnership across schools and faculties.

Find out more about our research Networks