Prof Alistair Mathie

Biography

Alistair carried out his PhD research at the University of Leicester (1981-1984) supervised by Professor Asa Blakeley and Dr Stewart Petersen, and used intracellular electrophysiological recording techniques to study the electrical responses of sympathetically innervated smooth muscles, following neurotransmitter release at the neuroeffector junction. Alistair carried out his PhD research at the University of Leicester (1981-1984) supervised by Professor Asa Blakeley and Dr Stewart Petersen, and used intracellular electrophysiological recording techniques to study the electrical responses of sympathetically innervated smooth muscles, following neurotransmitter release at the neuroeffector junction.

Research Interest

The main research focus of Alistair’s laboratory is the study of mammalian cell excitability and how this is regulated. In particular, his major ongoing research theme is the determination of the roles of different ion channels in controlling the excitability and firing of mammalian cells, particularly neurons. Such ion channels are important in a variety of clinical conditions, such as epilepsy, stroke, neuropathic pain and depression and represent major potential therapeutic targets for future research. His laboratory uses a variety of state-of-the-art methodologies to study the properties of these ion channels, including whole-cell and single-channel patch clamp electrophysiology, two-electrode voltage clamp from oocytes, molecular biology (such as site-directed mutagenesis), fluorescent imaging of intracellular ions and fluorescently labelled proteins, tissue culture and computer modelling of ion channel structure and functional behaviour. Much of this work is done in collaboration with other laboratories and, currently, he has collaborative ventures with the pharmaceutical industry, academic laboratories elsewhere in the UK, and groups in Germany, USA and Australia.