Dr Jeremy Parr, Neurodevelopment Disability and Lifecourse Research Group, Newcastle University Institute of Neuroscience https://research.ncl.ac.uk/neurodisability/ Jeremy.Parr@ncl.ac.uk Covering mental health strengths in: Dementia Mood Disorders Autism spectrum Disorder
Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre Lewy body Dementia Theme Diagnostics International leader in diagnosis and management of Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) Major contributor to establishment of imaging as a clinical diagnostic tool in DLB Focus now on prodromal DLB Mechanistic perspectives Leading international brain bank centre with over 1000 dementia brains Focus on symptom aetiology in Lewy body dementias e.g. hallucinations, cognitive fluctuations and motor symptoms Expertise and focus on developing complex multi-modal imaging approaches including combined PET-MR Treatment Novel electroceutical approaches of amelioration of symptoms e.g. tdcs Clinical trials using cognitive enhancers and disease modifying agents
Northern Centre for Mood Disorders Epidemiology Early onset bipolar disorder Impact of childhood trauma Pathophysiology Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and serotonergic function in mood disorders Endophenotypes Cognitive dysfunction Sleep and physical activity Treatment Lithium stratification and brain distribution Treatment trials in treatment resistant depression and bipolar disorder e.g. antiglucocorticoids, ketamine & ECT, rtms, psilocybin, lithium vs quetiapine, pramipexole
Neurodevelopment Disability and Lifecourse Research Translational neurodevelopment and disability research; autism and cerebral palsy; mental health a main focus; lifespan Multidisciplinary team: Neurology, neurodisability, psychiatry (lifespan), clinical psychology (lifespan), speech and language therapy, occupational therapy with Health Economists, Social Scientists, Health Psychologists, Public Health and Technology in Healthcare, Implementation Scientists Funded by NIHR, MRC, Autistica, EU, various charities Last 5 years, consistently leading research totalling > 4 million, plus many other collaboration funding awards Impact: Discovery journal publications; capacity building; real world impact in healthcare ( Impact Cases )
International leaders in autism research registers/databases, and cohorts (cross sectional and longitudinal data); web based, paper Hypothesis driven research Improve research infrastructure Research registers/databases (consent); 80 health providers (NHS Trusts) ASD-UK / Dasl n e: 4500 families of children; 2000 local (55% of local ASD families largest internationally). Co-existing conditions, age at diagnosis Longitudinal cohorts (consent); work with 50 NHS Trusts, plus community Adult ASC-UK: 1300 adults on the autism spectrum, 500 relatives of adults. Largest internationally. Mental health, how lives change with time; mixed methods. Includes people lacking capacity to consent for themselves Expertise and materials shared and exported (Ireland, US, Canada) Materials and expertise could be shared with SA collaborators
Service models, service delivery, effectiveness: Transition (commissioners) Databases/Registers and Cohorts allow us to contact large numbers of participants quickly. Underpins areas of research strength: Research priority setting: with people on the autism spectrum and funders What outcomes to measure?: MeASURe https://research.ncl.ac.uk/measure/ Measurement tool development: eg ASC-ASD, WHOQoL-BREF ASQoL Genetics: Within AGP; plus collaboration with Scherer, Toronto; clinical utility of genetic testing Clinical trials (medication; non pharma; complex interventions): PACT (7-11) and PACT-G. Anxiety interventions (group, VRE, personalised anxiety treatment); GSH for depression; physical health interventions; AIMS- 2-TRIALS; pharma
Jeremy.Parr@ncl.ac.uk Families of children Adults and relatives