Research
Substance use, misuse, and dependence
I have several publications and book chapters which focus on brain function following chronic drug use. Here I use multimodal neuroimaging techniques (EEG, fNIRS, fMRI, sMRI) to observe brain changes that are associated with illicit drug use (MDMA, cannabis, cocaine). The focus of this work is to better understand potential drug related harm, and to inform harm reduction strategies. I am interested in public health policy surrounding the misuse of drugs, as well as harm reduction interventions. I am also interested the potential development of brief interventions that may help reduce harmful drug use.
In addition to potential harms, and harm reduction. I am also interested in therapeutic potential of psychoactive substances
Psychopharmacology of appetite
I am interested in observing how pharmaceutical drugs (typically for obesity of diabetes) produce changes in eating behaviour. There are several pharmaceutical drugs which purportedy produce weight loss, which work on various neurotransmitters. It is therefore entirely possible that these drugs produce different effects on eating behaviour. I am interested in looking at specific effects of pharmacotherapy on eating behaviour, with a keen interest in how this is underpinned by brain mechanisms and networks assocaited with reward motivated eating, satiety and behavioural control.
Microbiomes and neurobiological indicators of stress and well-being
I am interested in the bi-directional relationship between microbiomes (skin and gut) and wellbeing/stress
Research grants
Applied neuroscience for emotion & wellbeing: Knowledge transfer for Unilever partnership
UNILEVER PLC (UK)
December 2022 - November 2023
KTP between The University of Liverpool and Unilever U.K. Central Resources Limited
INNOVATE UK (UK), UNILEVER PLC (UK)
January 2023 - March 2025
Brain imaging of key ingredients/reformulation in relation to reward
UNILEVER UK CENTRAL RESOURCES LTD (UK)
November 2016 - December 2024
The neurobiology of acquired food and taste preferences and the impact of attention
UNILEVER NEDERLAND BV (NETHERLANDS)
September 2014 - December 2023
BBSRC iCASE - Investigating the bidirectionality of microbiome composition and neurobiological indicators of stress and wellbeing
UNILEVER PLC (UK)
October 2022 - September 2026