Section of Neurochemical Imaging

Research in the section is focused on the neuropharmacology of psychosis (emphasizing schizophrenia). This includes the use of SPET (single photon emission tomography) and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) neuroimaging techniques to identify basic neurochemical disturbances in the disorder, and probe targets for new antipsychotic drug discovery. This work is carried out on two sites (the Institute of Psychiatry and the Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, in collaboration with Professor Peter Ell). The section also pursues research into novel service and treatment innovations in schizophrenia, as well as the basis of adverse side effects to antipsychotic drugs.

These efforts have been supported by research grants from the Medical Research Council and industrial sponsors. The section comprises two full-time psychiatrists and a research psychiatric nurse based at the IoP and a radiochemist and a physicist on the Middlesex site.