Eurohead Project: About us

ION

Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK

Prof. Goadsby is the principle investigator of the Headache Group at the Department of Clinical neurology of the ION (Institute of Neurology) in London. He has a longstanding expertise in the pathogenesis of migraine. Next to his clinical work, he has contributed crucially to the insight in the pathogenesis of migraine by implementing the cat as a test model to study the brain stem. Recently, he has forwarded the (functional) imaging technology. He will perform functional analysis of Cortical Spreading Depression (in collaboration with UNPD I - University of Padova, Italy), analysis of nociceptive periaquaductal grey (PAG) neurons in the brain stem on transgenic mouse models. Prof. Kullmann at ION will perform calcium imaging in single neurons using multiphoton imaging of the same transgenic animals.

Summary of relevant expertise

In vivo Animal Electrophysiology. The Headache Group at the Institute of Neurology at ION has particular expertise in whole animal physiological models of trigeminovascular nociception. While much can be done to understand genetic mutations in isolated models, such as with calcium image mentioned below, it remains essential to assess the whole animal consequences of mutations. Whole animal studies allow the determination of the integrated physiology of a change in the genotype, and are a fundamental prelude to interventions directed at the development of new therapies.
Multiphoton Calcium Imaging.Within the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy Prof. Kullmann heads a research team with well-established expertise in calcium imaging using expressed channels. This expertise will allow mutations already identified, and those that will be identified to be studied in isolated well controlled models that will permit their initial characterization.