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Anthony Isles

Professor Anthony Isles

(he/him)

Professor, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences

School of Medicine

Email
IslesAR1@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29206 88467
Campuses
Hadyn Ellis Building, Room 2.48, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Comment
Media commentator
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am a molecular and behavioural neuroscientist interested in the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms to brain and behaviour. In particular, we are investigating an intriguing family of genes, the imprinted genes, which are subject to epigenetic control acquired during development resulting in expression from one parental copy only; this is in contrast to most genes in our genome that are expressed, on average, equally from both parental copies. The research is focused on addressing what these imprinted genes are doing in the brain and how they may contribute to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.

I am also interested in the use and development of preclinical models for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders more generally, and am currently leading the MURIDAE cluster within the UKRI:MRC National Mouse Genetic Network

Publication

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Articles

Book sections

Research

My group is interested in the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms to brain and behaviour. In particular, we are investigating an intriguing family of genes, the imprinted genes, which are subject to epigenetic control acquired during development resulting in expression from one parental copy (allele) only. The research is focused on addressing what these imprinted genes are doing in the brain and how they may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.  Recent research in collaboration with Prof Rosalind John (Cardiff University) is investigating whether changes in the placental expression of imprinted genes can influence both maternal behaviour and later offspring outcomes.

I am also interested in the development anduse of preclinical models for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, and am currently leading the MURIDAE cluster within the UKRI:MRC National Mouse Genetic Network.

Our work requires a multi-disciplinary approach in order to examine aspects of behaviour, neurobiology and molecular genetics. We primarily examine behavioural phenotypes in rodent models and use molecular techniques for addressing gene expression and epigenetic regulation of the genome (histone modification and DNA methylation).

Current research project areas

  • Imprinted genes, brain and behaviour
  • Coordination of placenta, maternal brain, and offspring outcomes
  • Brain and behaviorual development in genetic mouse models for schizophrenia

Research Funding

UKRI:Medical Research Council (2022-2027) - "MURIDAE: Modalities for Understanding, Recording and Integrating Data Across Early life"

UKRI:Medical Research Council / Neumora (2024-2025) - "Rescue of neuronal and behavioural deficits using a novel NMDA receptor PAMs"

The Leverhulme Trust, project grant (2022-2025) - "The contribution of maternally expressed imprinted genes to parental behaviour"

UKRI:Biolotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council, project grant (2021-24) - "Prenatal adversity and the intergenerational transmission of atypical maternal caregiving"

Teaching

Year 1 SCC Literature review supervisor

Lecturer on Genomics of Common and Rare inherited Disease (MET 950)

Intercalated Pscyhology module 'Scientific basis of psychological medicine' (ME3085)

Personal tutor to students following the MBBCh programme

Bioinformatices and Genetic Epidemiology MSc - Data project supervisor; Dissertation project supervisor

I am also currently leading the development of two modules for a new Neuroscience MSc.

Biography

Education and qualifications

  • 2000: PhD (Zoology) University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
  • 1994: BSc Zoology & Genetics, University of Sheffield, UK

Academic positions

  • 2006 - present: Professor, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
  • 2003 - 2008 Beebe Trust Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
  • 1999 - 2003 Post-doctoral researcher, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
  • 1994 - 1995 ESF Trainee technician, Department of Genetics, Leicester University, UK

Committees and reviewing

Internal

  • Director of the Wellcome Trust Integrative Neuroscience PhD programme (2014-2024)
  • MEDIC, DENTL & PHRMY representative on the BIological Standards Committee (2022-present)
  • Lead, Neuroscience and Mental Health theme, GW4 MRC BioMed doctoral training programme (2015-2022)

External

  • Member of Wellcome Brain and Behavioural Sciences Discovery Advisory Group (2023-present)
  • Editorial Board member, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B (2020-present)
  • Associate Editor, Frontiers in Developmental Epigenetics (2017-present)
  • Editorial Board member, Genes Brain and Behavior (2017-present)
  • Editorial Board member, Brain and Neuroscience Advances (2017-present)
  • Trustee, British Association of Neuroscience (2017-2022)
  • Medical Research Council GEMM panel member (2016-2022)
  • Associate Editor, European Journal of Neurosciences (2008-2020)

Supervisions

Current supervision

Isadora Sinha

Isadora Sinha

Research student

Past projects

Recent PhD students (lead supervisor)

Engagement

It is essential that scientists try to explain their research field to lay audiences, and indeed that, where possible, our research is informed by our interactions with the general public. I regularly undertake engagement activities and have spoken at events such as Pint of Science, the Cardiff Philosophy Cafe, and the MRC Centenary celebrations at BayArt.

I also am keen on promoting neuroscience and was a British Neuroscaince Association Trustee from 2017-2022, where I lanched their society journal, helped with the BNA Credible Neuroscience projects and was the keynote speaker in a webinar session entitled ‘Careers in neuroscience (and beyond!)’ that was attended by early career researchers from around the world.

In addtion, I have discussed my research with parents and carers of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome at events such as the IPWSO Leadership ECHO, and recorded podcasts for Nature and the Biochemical Society explaining my research. Our work has also been feature in news articles in the Smithsonian, Scientific American and even the Daily Mail.