Prof. Alun Davies
Based at the Neuroscience Group, School of Biosciences
Research Keywords
Neuronal development, neurotrophic factors, intracellular signaling.
Research Interests and Facilities
We use a wide variety of cellular, molecular and transgenic approaches to understand the regulation of neuronal survival and the growth and elaboration of neural processes in the developing vertebrate nervous system, focusing on the functions and mechanisms of action of neurotrophic factors.
Our laboratories occupy the first floor of the new Life Sciences Building and are fully equipped for primary neuron culture, molecular biology, immunohistochemistry and biochemical aspects of cell signalling. We have a confocal microscope and numerous other high specification microscopes for the analysis of neuronal form and structure. There are currently 5 post-docs and 5 PhD students in the laboratory and external grant funding in excess of £2M.
Available PhD Projects
- Transcriptional targets of NF-kB in positive and negative regulation of neurite growth
- Regulation of dendritic growth in the developing CNS by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor
- Role of the TNF superfamily in regulating dendritic growth in the developing CNS
Publications
- O’Keeffe G, Gutierrez H, Pandolfi PP, Riccardi C and Davies AM (2008) NGF-promoted axon growth and target innervation requires GITRL-GITR signalling. Nature Neuroscience 11:135-142.
- Vizard TN, O’Keeffe G, Gutierrez H, Kos CH, Riccardi D and Davies AM (2008) Regulation of axonal and dendritic growth by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor. Nature Neuroscience 11:285-291.
- Gutierrez H, O’Keeffe G, Gallagher D, Gavalda N and Davies AM (2008) The phosphorylation status of the p65 NF-kB subunit determines whether NF-kB promotes or inhibits neurite growth. J. Neurosci. 28:8246-8256.
- Gavalda N, Gutierrez H and Davies, AM (2009) Developmental switch in NF-kB signalling required for neurite growth. Development 136:3405-3412
- Gutierrez H and Davies AM (2011) Regulation of neural process growth, elaboration and structural plasticity by NF-kB. Trends Neurosciences 34:316-325