We are interested in three major problems in neuroscience:

1. Why do we sleep and how is sleep initiated and maintained?
2. What are the molecular and neuronal mechanisms underlying the loss of consciousness induced by general anaesthetics and
3. What is the molecular basis of neuropathic pain.

We use a wide variety of techniques and model systems to investigate these problems. Our work involves the genetic modification of model organisms from fruit flies to mice, electrophysiology on acute brain slices and cultured cells, confocal microscopy, real-time PCR, proteomic analysis with mass spectrometry and structural biology.

Our work is supported by the MRC, BBSRC and Wellcome Trust and we have close ties to the Neuroscience Technology Network at Imperial College and the London Pain Consortium.

Research groups