Neurobiology and Experimental Therapeutics

+44 1865 223621 (fax +44 1865 251076)
phil.burnet@psych.ox.ac.uk

Quick Facts

Founded 2006

Actively supporting public engagement in science

Funded by the BBSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, and Industry

We are dedicated to testing and developing new ways of improving treatments for psychiatric disorders, and maintaining brain health during aging. A significant proportion of people suffering from disturbances of mood and memory, do not respond to the available medication, and so there is an urgency to supplement or provide an alternative to current therapies.

Image shows a pill capsule with a strand of DNA molecule inside.

The aim of the Neurobiology and Experimental Therapeutics group is to bridge basic and clinical science through translational research that tests the validity of novel therapies for psychiatric and age-related disorders. We use molecular, pharmacological, and nutritional approaches to manipulate key molecules and pathways in experimental models, and assess their impact on brain function and behaviour, with the goal of translating these findings into potential therapeutic strategies. To ensure our aims are achieved, we maintain extensive collaborations within and outside Oxford, providing access to state-of-the-art technology and multidisciplinary expertise essential for advancing translational neuroscience.

We are currently investigating the role of the microbiome–gut–brain axis (MGBA) in modulating cognitive and emotional function by assessing both microbial community composition and activity, as well as through targeted manipulation of the gut microbiome. Our approach focuses on enhancing the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, using prebiotics (nutrients that promote bacterial growth) and probiotics (live cultures of beneficial bacteria). We are also investigating the therapeutic potential of postbiotics (biologically active metabolites or components derived from these bacteria), that interact directly with the host in a pharmacological manner. Changes in brain function are then linked with microbial and host metagenomic, metabolomic, and molecular profiles. In parallel, we are exploring the role of the immune system in mediating gut–brain interactions, recognizing that the gut represents a central hub of immune activity. Through this work, we aim to unravel the interconnected mechanisms linking the MGBA and host immunity as key mediators of microbial influence on brain function.

Our team

Philip Burnet

Professor of Neuroscience
Liliana Capitao

Honorary Member
Katerina Johnson

Research Associate
Patricia Anna Handschuh

Academic Visitor

OUR RESEARCH

Investigating the effect of early-life prebiotic feeding on adult brain function, metabolism and microbial metagenomics
Oxford Study of Prebiotics in Children (OxPiC)
A study of the molecular, metabolic and psychological mechanisms underlying the psychotropic effects of minocycline
The cognitive and metabolic effects of prebiotics in psychosis (PrePsy)
Exploring the molecular neurobiology and psychopharmacology of D-amino acids
Cerebellar molecular neuropathology and the microbiome in neurodegenerative disorders

COLLABORATORS

Prof Daniel Anthony (Pharmacology, Oxford)
Prof David Bannerman (Experimental Psychology, Oxford)
Dr Ben Gronier (School of Pharmacy, DeMontfort University)
Prof Catherine Harmer (Psychiatry, Oxford)
Prof Paul Montgomery (Social Policy and Intervention, Oxford)
Prof Peter Oliver (DPAG, Oxford)
Prof Philip Poole (Plant Sciences, Oxford)
Prof Trevor Sharp (Pharmacology, Oxford)
Prof Jeremy Spencer (School of Chemistry and Food Biosciences, Reading University)
Prof Jon Swann (Imperial College, London)
Dr George Tzortzis (Clasado Ltd)
Prof Matthew Wood (Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford)