Key details
Dr Alison Bratt
Senior Lecturer Biomedical/Physiological Sciences
Alison has a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences, (University of Bradford 1989); a PhD in Neuropharmacology (University of Bradford 1992); and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (University of Brighton 2001). In the HE sector, Alison has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate Psychology students at the University of Memphis, MPharm students at the School of Pharmacy at the University of Brighton, and Medway School of Pharmacy, jointly run by the University of Greenwich/University Kent. She has also taught for three years at FE levels 3, 4 and 5 in Veterinary Nursing/Animal Management at Mid Kent College.
Alison has previously held in vivo lead optimisation scientist posts within 3 pharmaceutical companies, Syntex, Centaur and Organon Pharmaceuticals Inc in the UK and the USA. She worked in pharmaceutical company divisions working on producing novel antidepressants (mirtazepine; a noradrenaline and serotonin specific antidepressant NaSSA); and antipsychotic drugs, (asenapine); both produced by Organon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Alison has research interests in diverse areas of Neuroscience and the Neuropharmacology of psychiatric conditions.
Responsibilities within the university
Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences teaching and research role including teaching/research contributions to the following undergraduate/postgraduate modules:
- Biochemistry 1 (Teaching content + Replacement module lead)
- Metabolism & Disease (Teaching content)
- Biomed Online Project (Project Evaluation / Feedback)
- Life Sciences Undergraduate Project (Supervision / Evaluation / Moderation))
- Pathophysiology of Disease (Teaching content)
- Biotechnology Research Project (Supervision / Evaluation / Moderation)
- Pharmaceutical & Formulation Sci Research Project (Moderation)
Recognition
- Member of Society for Neuroscience: 1990-2001
- Member of the British Association for Psychopharmacology 1990-2001
- Member of European Neuroscience Association: 1990-2001
- Member of International Society for Autism Research (INSAR): 2015-2022
- Occasional Reviewer (previously) for the following journals:
- Pharmacology, Biochemistry & behaviour, BMJ Open Access, Cognitive Psychology, J. Pharmaceutical Sciences & Experimental Pharmacology; Pharmacy; Pharmaceuticals; International J. Environmental Research & Public Health & Autism Int. J. of Research & Practice.
- External Examiner to the School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences University of Brighton for their Master's in Research (MRes) postgraduate degree program: 2010-2023
Research / Scholarly interests
Alison’s research has focussed on studying the brain pathways and neurotransmitter interactions involved in the interwoven processes of mammalian cognition, emotion and response to reward. Her early work studied the cholinergic pathways of the limbic system and cognitive decline associated with aging. Alison is a behavioural pharmacologist and has published most extensively around the topic of in vivo translational models of human disease. Specifically focussing on in vivo models of anxiety and substance dependence (ethanol self-administration) and the evaluation of putative therapeutic drug manipulation of these behaviours. A range of neurotransmitters have been studied for their role in anxiety and substance dependence; including the serotonergic system (specifically the 5HT3A receptor subtype, plus the GABA-ergic, glutamatergic and neuropeptidergic brain systems).
Alison also has interests in what role stress plays in the pathophysiology of psychiatric conditions and has published on the interaction of the HPA stress-axis with behavioural and biochemical endpoints both in animals and in humans (with Fragile X syndrome).
Alison’s recent research focusses on trying to understand the heterogeneity inherent in the populations suffering from the neurodevelopmental conditions, Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC’s) and Fragile X syndrome. She is interested in how sensory and emotional responding may be altered in these patients, how this affects their behaviour, and what benefit / risk is derived from prescribed medications to treat behaviours that challenge. She is also most interested in hearing the voices of autistic people and their carers, to learn from them what specific social/health and educational support they want and need to fulfil their full and happy life potential.
Key funded projects
1992-1994 : French Government Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Bratt AM: “Investigating effects of intra-hippocampal transplantation of neonatal cholinergic tissue on rodent cognition”. 660,000 FF (2 year grant) awarded to work within the C.N.R.S. (Universite Louis-Pasteur, Strasbourg)
1994 : Royal Society Travel Grant £1,000 awarded. Bratt AM. “An analysis of the effects of specific lesions of the subfields of the septo-hippocampal system on memory in rodents”. To travel to work at the University of Memphis. £1,000 awarded.
2018:“Life Skills Training in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder”: A 1-day Conference to Open Discussion of What Parents Want & What Special Education Teachers Provide Bratt AM & Chantziara S. Public Engagement with Research Grant: The University of Kent £2,000 awarded & 70 people attended the conference.
Recent publications
Biijam R, Shorter S., Bratt A M, O’Leary V B, Ntziachristos V, Ovespian SV. (2024). Neurotoxin-derived optical probes for elucidating molecular and developmental Biology of neurons and synaptic connections.Molecular Imaging & Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-024-01954-6
Sakhenevch S, Yasinska I.N., Bratt A. M., Benloauer O, Silva I G, Hussain R, Siligardi G, Fielder W, Wellbrock J, Gibbs B F, Ushkaryov Y A, Sumbayev V V. (2018). Cortisol facilitates the immune escape of human acute myeloid leukaemia cells by inducing latrophillin 1 expression. Cell & Molecular Immunology. 11:994-997.
Bratt AM, Masanyero-Bennie B, Kelley SP. (2017). A meta-analytical assessment of the efficacy of immediate release methylphenidate to reduce hyperactivity in children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). J. Pharmaceutical Sciences & Experimental Pharmacology. 1:10-18.
Hardiman R & Bratt AM. (2016) Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis function in Fragile X Syndrome and its relationship to behaviour: A systematic review. Physiology & Behaviour: 167:341-353.