Associate Professor Andrew Moorhouse

Research Interests:
Dr Moorhouse's broad interest are in the molecular and cellular basis of neuronal excitability, focusing on electrical and chemical signaling in nerve cells and glia contribute to neural circuit activity in health and disease . He leads the Neurobiology Research Lab that aims to develop improved and novel strategies to treat different brain disorders by gaining greater understanding of underlying cellular mechanisms. In collaboration with colleagues at UNSW and Japan, we use a range of techniques, including electrophysiology, cell culture, live cell imaging, biochemical and histological approaches and behavioural analysis. Dr Moorhouse and his colleagues have published over 50 journal articles in this area with over 3500 citations.  Dr Moorhouse's current research focus is on; i) the role of KCC2 transporter in Cl- homeostasis and neuronal inhibition in health and disease;  ii) the molecular basis of ion permeation in GABA and glycine receptors, and iii) functions of microglia and astrocytes in neural circuit plasticity 

Broad Research Areas:
Neuroscience, Cell Physiology, Ion Channels, Membrane Transport Proteins, Glia. 

Qualifications:
BSc, PhD Syd

Society Memberships & Professional Activities:
Dr Moorhouse is a regular member of the Australian Neuroscience Society (ANS) and the Australian Physiological Society (AuPS).  He regularly reviews grants and research papers for a variety of National and International funding bodies (e.g., NH&MRC, ARC, Wellcome Trust) and scientific journals (e.g., Neuropharmacology, Pain, Journal of Physiology, British Journal of Pharmacology) and is on the editorial review board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Specific Research Keywords:
Membrane Transporters, Ion Channels, Electrophysiology, Synapse Function and Plasticity, Neuronal Inhibition, GABA receptors, Microglia.