Home ▻ Research▻People▻Medicine

Medicine

Prof Eilís Dowd

B.Sc, Ph.D

Contact Details

Personal Professor
Dept of Pharmacology
NUI, Galway.
T: Ext. 2776
E: eilis.dowd@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography


Prof Eilís Dowd received her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, UK, after which she completed post-doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, UK, McGill University, Canada and Cardiff University, UK. She then returned to her home country of Ireland in 2005 to take-up a tenured position as Lecturer in Pharmacology at National University of Ireland, Galway.

Eilís was President of Neuroscience Ireland, Ireland's official neuroscience society, from 2017-2019, and President of the Network for European CNS Transplantation and Restoration (NECTAR) from 2014-2018. 

She currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and Chairs the FENS Communications Committee. She is also Associate Editor of Neuronal Signaling, Section Editor of the European Journal of Neuroscience, and Editorial Board member at the British Journal of Pharmacology.

CAREER PROFILE  
Education & Post-Doctoral Positions:
1996 - 1999: PhD in Pharmacology, The University of Edinburgh, UK
1999: Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Cambridge, UK
2000 - 2002: Wellcome Trust Post-Doctoral Fellow, McGill University, Canada
2002 - 2005: Wellcome Trust Post-Doctoral Fellow, Cardiff University, UK

Academic Positions:
2021 - Present: Personal Professor in Pharmacology, NUI Galway, Ireland
2014 - 2021: Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology, NUI Galway, Ireland
2005 - 2014: Lecturer in Pharmacology, NUI Galway, Ireland 

Notable Scientific Positions:
2017 - 2019: President, Neuroscience Ireland
2014 - 2018: President, Network for European CNS Transplantation and Restoration (NECTAR)
2020 - Present: Member, FENS Executive Committee
2020 - Present: Chair, FENS Communications Committee
2017 - 2019: Member, FENS Governing Council
2017 - 2019: Member, International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) Governing Council

Journal Positions: 
2020 - Present: Editorial Board, British Journal of Pharmacology
2018 - Present: Section Editor, European Journal of Neuroscience
2016 - Present: Associate Editor, Neuronal Signaling
2014 - 2019: Editorial Board, Scientific Reports

Research Interests

Overview:
Parkinson's disease is a motor disorder and the main symptoms of the disease are caused by the progressive degenerative of dopamine-containing neurons from a discrete region of the brain. Current therapy only provides relief from the symptoms of the disease - it does not offer a "cure", nor does it halt the unrelenting degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons. 

Eilís' research is focused on experimental approaches that offer the possibility of halting or repairing the degenerative process. These include developing and validating novel neuroprotective or neuroreparative drug, gene, cell and biomaterial therapies. 

One of Eilís' main research interests is whether neurotrophin-enriched collagen hydrogels can enhance the repair and reconstruction of the Parkinsonian brain provided by cell-based therapies. The promise of this approach is highlighted by the fact that her published work in this field was recently featured in the BBC Science Focus magazine as one of "Five Incredible Advances in Brain Disease Treatment" and the British Neuroscience Association described it as a "Ground-Breaking Study by Neuroscientists in Ireland". 

This research was also the focus of the recent Parkinson's documentary "Feats of Modest Valour" which won The Scientist Award and the runner-up People's Choice Award at the Imagine Science Film Festival in New York, as well as the Professional Documentary Award at the Raw Science Film Festival in California. The Scientist Award is given by the leading international science journal, Science, and its publisher, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the select jury included Nobel prize-winning scientist, Professor Martin Chalfe, and award-winning science journalist, Professor Carl Zimmer.

Research Funding:

Science Foundation Ireland
Title: Harnessing the potential of biomaterials for improving stem cell-derived brain repair for Parkinson's disease
Role: PI
Amount: ¿460,000
Duration: 10/2019 to 09/2023

Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Title: Biomaterial-enhanced cellular brain repair for Parkinson's disease
Role: PI
Amount: ¿300,000
Duration: 10/2019 to 03/2022  

Irish Research Council
Title: Neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration: Harnessing the potential of microglial cannabinoid CB2 receptors for anti-inflammatory disease modification in Parkinson's disease.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿72,000
Duration: 10/2018 to 12/2021  

European Union Horizon 2020 Programme
Title: BrainMatTrain: Development of Biomaterial-based Delivery Systems for Parkinson's disease.
Role: Co-PI
Amount: ¿4,000,000 of which ¿500,000 was for Eilis Dowd
Duration: 01/2016 to 12/2019  

Irish Research Council
Title: Adult stem cells as vehicles for delivery of neurotrophins to the Parkinsonian brain.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿96,000
Duration: 10/2014 to 10/2018  

Irish Research Council
Title: Gene-environment interactions as an approach to modelling Parkinson's in rats.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿96,000
Duration: 10/2013 to 09/2017  

Irish Health Research Board
Title: Harnessing the anti-inflammatory potential of cannabinoid CB2 receptors for disease modification in Parkinson's disease.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿200,000
Duration: 10/2012 to 09/2016  

Irish Research Council
Title: Development and characterisation of novel gene-environment interaction rat models of Parkinson,s disease
Role: PI
Amount: ¿96,000
Duration: 10/2012 to 09/2016  

Science Foundation Ireland
Title:  Harnessing adult stem cells for neurotrophin delivery to the degenerating brain.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿250,000
Duration: 09/2011 to 09/2016  

Science Foundation Ireland
Title: Assessment of the biocompatability and biodegradation of biomaterial scaffolds in the rat brain.
Role: Funded investigator; Network for Excellence in Functional Biomaterials
Amount: ¿162,000
Duration: 03/2011 to 04/2013  

Science Foundation Ireland
Title: Behavioural and neuropathological characterisation of a novel intracerebral rotenone model of Parkinson's disease.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿165,000
Duration: 09/2008 to 03/2012  

Science Foundation Ireland
Title: Heat shock proteins as a novel neuroprotective therapy for Parkinson's disease.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿250,000
Duration: 09/2007 to 03/2011  

Irish Research Council
Title: The endocannabinoid system as a novel pharmacotheraputic target for Parkinson's disease
Role: PI
Amount: ¿72,000
Duration: 10/2007 to 03/2011

Irish Health Research Board
Title: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as an alternative source of cells for neuroreparation and/or neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease.
Role: PI
Amount: ¿165,000
Duration: 10/2006 to 09/2010  

Parkinson's UK
Title: Effects of alternative cell repair therapies on deficits induced by dopamine cell loss
Role: Co-PI
Amount: ¿175,000
Duration: 06/2003 to 05/2006  

Wellcome Trust
Title: Functional evaluation of rat models of neurodegenerative diseases.
Role: PI/Fellow
Amount:¿160,000
Duration: 01/2000 to 04/2003

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'The Small Molecule Alpha-Synuclein Aggregator, FN075, Enhances Alpha-Synuclein Pathology in Subclinical AAV Rat Models'
Kelly, R; Cairns, AG; Aden, J; Almqvist, F; Bemelmans, AP; Brouillet, E; Patton, T; McKernan DP; Dowd, E. (2021) 'The Small Molecule Alpha-Synuclein Aggregator, FN075, Enhances Alpha-Synuclein Pathology in Subclinical AAV Rat Models'. Biomolecules, 11 (11) [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Time-course of alterations in the endocannabinoid system after viral-mediated overexpression of ¿-synuclein in the rat brain'
Kelly, R; Bemelmans, AP; Josephine, C; Brouillet, E; McKernan, DP; Dowd, E (2022) 'Time-course of alterations in the endocannabinoid system after viral-mediated overexpression of ¿-synuclein in the rat brain'. Molecules, 27 (2) [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Anti-inflammatory cytokine-eluting collagen hydrogel reduces the host immune response to dopaminergic cell transplants in a rat model of Parkinson's disease'
Cabré S, Alamilla V, Moriarty N, Pandit A, Dowd E. (2021) 'Anti-inflammatory cytokine-eluting collagen hydrogel reduces the host immune response to dopaminergic cell transplants in a rat model of Parkinson's disease'. Neuronal Signaling, 23 (5) [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Growth Factor Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: Alternative Delivery Systems'
Jarrin S;Hakami A;Newland B;Dowd E; (2021) 'Growth Factor Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: Alternative Delivery Systems'. Journal Of Parkinsons Disease, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Back to the future: lessons from past viral infections and the link with Parkinson’s disease'
Dowd, E. & McKernan, D (2021) 'Back to the future: lessons from past viral infections and the link with Parkinson’s disease'. Neuronal Signaling, 16 (5) [Details]
(2021) 'The potential of biomaterials for central nervous system cellular repair'
Jarrin S;Cabré S;Dowd E; (2021) 'The potential of biomaterials for central nervous system cellular repair'. Neurochemistry International, 144 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Microglial phenotypes and their relationship to the cannabinoid system - therapeutic implications for Parkinson's disease'
Kelly, R; Joers, V; Tansey, MG; McKernan, DP; Dowd, E. (2020) 'Microglial phenotypes and their relationship to the cannabinoid system - therapeutic implications for Parkinson's disease'. Molecules, 25 (3):453-492 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Primary tissue for cellular brain repair in Parkinson's disease: Promise, problems and the potential of biomaterials'
Moriarty N;Parish CL;Dowd E; (2019) 'Primary tissue for cellular brain repair in Parkinson's disease: Promise, problems and the potential of biomaterials'. European Journal Of Neuroscience, 49 (4) [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Harnessing stem cells and biomaterials to promote neural repair'
Bruggeman KF;Moriarty N;Dowd E;Nisbet DR;Parish CL; (2019) 'Harnessing stem cells and biomaterials to promote neural repair'. British Journal Of Pharmacology, 176 (3) [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'In memory of Tom Isaacs: The epitomical mover and shaker'
Isaacs, L,Barker, R,Dowd, E (2019) 'In memory of Tom Isaacs: The epitomical mover and shaker'. European Journal Of Neuroscience, 49 :303-303 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2019) 'Encapsulation of young donor age dopaminergic grafts in a GDNF-loaded collagen hydrogel further increases their survival, reinnervation, and functional efficacy after intrastriatal transplantation in hemi-Parkinsonian rats'
Moriarty, N,Cabre, S,Alamilla, V,Pandit, A,Dowd, E (2019) 'Encapsulation of young donor age dopaminergic grafts in a GDNF-loaded collagen hydrogel further increases their survival, reinnervation, and functional efficacy after intrastriatal transplantation in hemi-Parkinsonian rats'. European Journal Of Neuroscience, 49 :487-496 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Viral mimetic priming enhances alpha-synuclein-induced degeneration: Implications for Parkinson's disease'
Olsen, LK,Cairns, AG,Aden, J,Moriarty, N,Cabre, S,Alamilla, VR,Almqvist, F,Dowd, E,McKernan, DP (2019) 'Viral mimetic priming enhances alpha-synuclein-induced degeneration: Implications for Parkinson's disease'. Brain Behavior And Immunity, 80 :525-535 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Gamma Band Light Stimulation in Human Case Studies: Groundwork for Potential Alzheimer's Disease Treatment'
Jones M;McDermott B;Oliveira BL;O'Brien A;Coogan D;Lang M;Moriarty N;Dowd E;Quinlan L;Mc Ginley B;Dunne E;Newell D;Porter E;Elahi MA;O' Halloran M;Shahzad A; (2019) 'Gamma Band Light Stimulation in Human Case Studies: Groundwork for Potential Alzheimer's Disease Treatment'. Journal Of Alzheimers Disease, [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2018) 'Brain repair for Parkinson's disease: is the answer in the matrix?'
Moriarty, N,Dowd, E (2018) 'Brain repair for Parkinson's disease: is the answer in the matrix?'. Neural Regeneration Research, 13 :1187-1188 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2018) 'A role for viral infections in Parkinson’s etiology?'
Olsen LK, Dowd E, McKernan DP (2018) 'A role for viral infections in Parkinson’s etiology?'. Neuronal Signaling, 2 (2) [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2018) 'Preparation of Cytocompatible ITO Neuroelectrodes with Enhanced Electrochemical Characteristics Using a Facile Anodic Oxidation Process'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Pampaloni, NP,Pallipurath, AR,Mokarian-Tabari, P,O'Connell, J,Holmes, JD,Trotier, A,Krukiewicz, K,Orpella-Aceret, G,Pugliese, E,Ballerini, L,Kilcoyne, M,Dowd, E,Quinlan, LR,Pandit, A,Kavanagh, P,Biggs, MJP (2018) 'Preparation of Cytocompatible ITO Neuroelectrodes with Enhanced Electrochemical Characteristics Using a Facile Anodic Oxidation Process'. Advanced Functional Materials, 28 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Time-course of striatal Toll-like receptor expression in neurotoxic, environmental and inflammatory rat models of Parkinson's disease'
McCabe, K,Concannon, RM,McKernan, DP,Dowd, E (2017) 'Time-course of striatal Toll-like receptor expression in neurotoxic, environmental and inflammatory rat models of Parkinson's disease'. Journal Of Neuroimmunology, 310 :103-106 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Interaction between subclinical doses of the Parkinson's disease associated gene, alpha-synuclein, and the pesticide, rotenone, precipitates motor dysfunction and nigrostriatal neurodegeneration in rats'
Naughton, C,O'Toole, D,Kirik, D,Dowd, E (2017) 'Interaction between subclinical doses of the Parkinson's disease associated gene, alpha-synuclein, and the pesticide, rotenone, precipitates motor dysfunction and nigrostriatal neurodegeneration in rats'. Behavioural Brain Research, 316 :160-168 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Encapsulation of primary dopaminergic neurons in a GDNF-loaded collagen hydrogel increases their survival, re-innervation and function after intra-striatal transplantation'
Moriarty, N,Pandit, A,Dowd, E (2017) 'Encapsulation of primary dopaminergic neurons in a GDNF-loaded collagen hydrogel increases their survival, re-innervation and function after intra-striatal transplantation'. Scientific Reports, 7 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2016) 'Central CB2 receptors in inflammation-driven neurodegeneration: dysregulation and therapeutic potential'
Concannon, RM,Dowd, E (2016) 'Central CB2 receptors in inflammation-driven neurodegeneration: dysregulation and therapeutic potential'. Neural Regeneration Research, 11 :1409-1410 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2016) 'Targeting delivery in Parkinson's disease'
Newland B;Dunnett SB;Dowd E; (2016) 'Targeting delivery in Parkinson's disease'. Drug Discovery Today, 21 (8) [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Upregulation of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor in environmental and viral inflammation-driven rat models of Parkinson's disease'
Concannon, RM,Okine, BN,Finn, DP,Dowd, E (2016) 'Upregulation of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor in environmental and viral inflammation-driven rat models of Parkinson's disease'. Experimental Neurology, 283 :204-212 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Differential pattern of motor impairments in neurotoxic, environmental and inflammation-driven rat models of Parkinson's disease'
Naughton, C,Moriarty, N,Feehan, J,O'Toole, D,Dowd, E (2016) 'Differential pattern of motor impairments in neurotoxic, environmental and inflammation-driven rat models of Parkinson's disease'. Behavioural Brain Research, 296 :451-458 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural applications'
Vallejo-Giraldo, C,Pugliese, E,Larranaga, A,Fernandez-Yague, MA,Britton, JJ,Trotier, A,Tadayyon, G,Kelly, A,Rago, I,Sarasua, JR,Dowd, E,Quinlan, LR,Pandit, A,Biggs, MJP (2016) 'Polyhydroxyalkanoate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: flexible electrically conducting elastomers for neural applications'. Nanomedicine, 11 :2547-2563 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Differential upregulation of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor in neurotoxic and inflammation-driven rat models of Parkinson's disease'
Concannon, RM,Okine, BN,Finn, DP,Dowd, E (2015) 'Differential upregulation of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor in neurotoxic and inflammation-driven rat models of Parkinson's disease'. Experimental Neurology, 269 :133-141 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Fibrin As a Scaffold for Delivery of GDNF Overexpressing Stem Cells to the Adult Rat Brain'
Moloney, TC,Fhlathartaigh, MN,Kulkarni, M,Pandit, A,Dowd, E (2015) 'Fibrin As a Scaffold for Delivery of GDNF Overexpressing Stem Cells to the Adult Rat Brain'. Acs Biomaterials-Science & Engineering, 1 :559-566 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'GDNF-SECRETING MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS PROVIDE LOCALIZED NEUROPROTECTION IN AN INFLAMMATION-DRIVEN RAT MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE'
Hoban, DB,Howard, L,Dowd, E (2015) 'GDNF-SECRETING MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS PROVIDE LOCALIZED NEUROPROTECTION IN AN INFLAMMATION-DRIVEN RAT MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE'. Neuroscience, 303 :402-411 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Fibrin-based microsphere reservoirs for delivery of neurotrophic factors to the brain'
Samal, J,Hoban, DB,Naughton, C,Concannon, R,Dowd, E,Pandit, A (2015) 'Fibrin-based microsphere reservoirs for delivery of neurotrophic factors to the brain'. Nanomedicine, 10 :765-783 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'The Reduction in Immunogenicity of Neurotrophin Overexpressing Stem Cells after Intra-Striatal Transplantation by Encapsulation in an In Situ Gelling Collagen Hydrogel'
Hoban D, Newland B, Moloney T, Howard L, Pandit A, Dowd, E. (2014) 'The Reduction in Immunogenicity of Neurotrophin Overexpressing Stem Cells after Intra-Striatal Transplantation by Encapsulation in an In Situ Gelling Collagen Hydrogel'. Biomaterials, 34 (37):9420-9429 [Details]
(2014) 'Heat Shock Protein 70 Reduces alpha-Synuclein-Induced Predegenerative Neuronal Dystrophy in the alpha-Synuclein Viral Gene Transfer Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease'
Moloney, TC;Hyland, R;O'Toole, D;Paucard, A;Kirik, D;O'Doherty, A;Gorman, AM;Dowd, E (2014) 'Heat Shock Protein 70 Reduces alpha-Synuclein-Induced Predegenerative Neuronal Dystrophy in the alpha-Synuclein Viral Gene Transfer Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease'. Cns Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 20 :50-58 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Untying a nanoscale knotted polymer structure to linear chains for efficient gene delivery in vitro and to the brain'
Newland, B,Aied, A,Pinoncely, AV,Zheng, Y,Zhao, T,Zhang, H,Niemeier, R,Dowd, E,Pandit, A,Wang, W (2014) 'Untying a nanoscale knotted polymer structure to linear chains for efficient gene delivery in vitro and to the brain'. Nanoscale, 6 :7526-7533 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Biomaterial approaches to gene therapies for neurodegenerative disorders of the CNS'
Newland, B,Dowd, E,Pandit, A (2013) 'Biomaterial approaches to gene therapies for neurodegenerative disorders of the CNS'. Biomaterials Science, :556-576 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'The reduction in immunogenicity of neurotrophin overexpressing stem cells after intra-striatal transplantation by encapsulation in an in situ gelling collagen hydrogel'
Hoban, DB;Newland, B;Moloney, TC;Howard, L;Pandit, A;Dowd, E (2013) 'The reduction in immunogenicity of neurotrophin overexpressing stem cells after intra-striatal transplantation by encapsulation in an in situ gelling collagen hydrogel'. Biomaterials, 34 :9420-9429 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Further characterisation of the LPS model of Parkinson's disease: A comparison of intra-nigral and intra-striatal lipopolysaccharide administration on motor function, microgliosis and nigrostriatal neurodegeneration in the rat'
Hoban, DB;Connaughton, E;Connaughton, C;Hogan, G;Thornton, C;Mulcahy, P;Moloney, TC;Dowd, E (2013) 'Further characterisation of the LPS model of Parkinson's disease: A comparison of intra-nigral and intra-striatal lipopolysaccharide administration on motor function, microgliosis and nigrostriatal neurodegeneration in the rat'. Brain Behavior And Immunity, 27 :91-100 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'The behavioural and neuropathological impact of intranigral AAV-alpha-synuclein is exacerbated by systemic infusion of the Parkinson's disease-associated pesticide, rotenone, in rats'
Mulcahy, P;O'Doherty, A;Paucard, A;O'Brien, T;Kirik, D;Dowd, E (2013) 'The behavioural and neuropathological impact of intranigral AAV-alpha-synuclein is exacerbated by systemic infusion of the Parkinson's disease-associated pesticide, rotenone, in rats'. Behavioural Brain Research, 243 :6-15 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'The neurotoxicity of gene vectors and its amelioration by packaging with collagen hollow spheres'
Newland, B,Moloney, TC,Fontana, G,Browne, S,Abu-Rub, MT,Dowd, E,Pandit, AS (2013) 'The neurotoxicity of gene vectors and its amelioration by packaging with collagen hollow spheres'. Biomaterials, 34 :2130-2141 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'GDNF Gene Delivery via a 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate Based Cyclized Knot Polymer for Neuronal Cell Applications'
Newland, B;Abu-Rub, M;Naughton, M;Zheng, Y;Pinoncely, AV;Collin, E;Dowd, E;Wang, W;Pandit, A (2013) 'GDNF Gene Delivery via a 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate Based Cyclized Knot Polymer for Neuronal Cell Applications'. Acs Chemical Neuroscience, 4 :540-546 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Nigral grafts in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Is recovery beyond motor function possible?'
Lelos, MJ;Dowd, E;Dunnett, SB (2012) 'Nigral grafts in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Is recovery beyond motor function possible?'. Temporal Sampling And Representation Updating, 200 :113-142 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Kinetics of thermally induced heat shock protein 27 and 70 expression by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells'
Moloney, TC,Hoban, DB,Barry, FP,Howard, L,Dowd, E (2012) 'Kinetics of thermally induced heat shock protein 27 and 70 expression by bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells'. Protein Science, 21 :904-909 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF A NOVEL RAT MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE INDUCED BY SEQUENTIAL INTRANIGRAL ADMINISTRATION OF AAV-alpha-SYNUCLEIN AND THE PESTICIDE, ROTENONE'
Mulcahy, P;O'Doherty, A;Paucard, A;O'Brien, T;Kirik, D;Dowd, E (2012) 'DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF A NOVEL RAT MODEL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE INDUCED BY SEQUENTIAL INTRANIGRAL ADMINISTRATION OF AAV-alpha-SYNUCLEIN AND THE PESTICIDE, ROTENONE'. Neuroscience, 203 :170-179 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'CHARACTERISATION OF A NOVEL MODEL OF Parkinson's DISEASE BY INTRA-STRIATAL INFUSION OF THE PESTICIDE ROTENONE'
Mulcahy, P,Walsh, S,Paucard, A,Rea, K,Dowd, E (2011) 'CHARACTERISATION OF A NOVEL MODEL OF Parkinson's DISEASE BY INTRA-STRIATAL INFUSION OF THE PESTICIDE ROTENONE'. Neuroscience, 181 :234-242 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'TIME-COURSE OF NIGROSTRIATAL NEURODEGENERATION AND NEUROINFLAMMATION IN THE 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE-INDUCED AXONAL AND TERMINAL LESION MODELS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE IN THE RAT'
Walsh, S;Finn, DP;Dowd, E (2011) 'TIME-COURSE OF NIGROSTRIATAL NEURODEGENERATION AND NEUROINFLAMMATION IN THE 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE-INDUCED AXONAL AND TERMINAL LESION MODELS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE IN THE RAT'. Neuroscience, 175 :251-261 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Human Amniocytes Regulate Serotonin Levels by Active Uptake and Express Genes Suggestive of a Wider Role in Facilitating Neurotransmitter Regulation in the Fetal Environment'
Pfeiffer, S;Boyle, J;Daly, S;Dowd, E;Haase, J;McLaughlin, D (2011) 'Human Amniocytes Regulate Serotonin Levels by Active Uptake and Express Genes Suggestive of a Wider Role in Facilitating Neurotransmitter Regulation in the Fetal Environment'. Stem Cells And Development, 20 :341-349 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'Survival and Immunogenicity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells From the Green Fluorescent Protein Transgenic Rat in the Adult Rat Brain'
Moloney, TC;Dockery, P;Windebank, AJ;Barry, FP;Howard, L;Dowd, E (2010) 'Survival and Immunogenicity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells From the Green Fluorescent Protein Transgenic Rat in the Adult Rat Brain'. Neurorehabilitation And Neural Repair, 24 :645-656 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'The effects of cannabinoid drugs on abnormal involuntary movements in dyskinetic and non-dyskinetic 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats'
Walsh, S;Gorman, AM;Finn, DP;Dowd, E (2010) 'The effects of cannabinoid drugs on abnormal involuntary movements in dyskinetic and non-dyskinetic 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats'. Brain Research, 1363 :40-48 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'Potential of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells as vehicles for delivery of neurotrophins to the Parkinsonian rat brain'
Moloney, TC;Rooney, GE;Barry, FP;Howard, L;Dowd, E (2010) 'Potential of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells as vehicles for delivery of neurotrophins to the Parkinsonian rat brain'. Brain Research, 1359 :33-43 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'Loss of cannabinoid CB1 receptor expression in the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced nigrostriatal terminal lesion model of Parkinson’s disease in the rat'
Walsh S, Mnich K, Mackie K, Gorman AM, Finn DP, Dowd E (2010) 'Loss of cannabinoid CB1 receptor expression in the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced nigrostriatal terminal lesion model of Parkinson’s disease in the rat'. Brain Research Bulletin, 81 (6):543-548 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'Inhibition by anandamide of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cell death in PC12 cells'
Mnich, K., Finn, D., Dowd, E., & Gorman, A. (2010) 'Inhibition by anandamide of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cell death in PC12 cells'. International Journal Of Cell Biology, 818497 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2008) 'Unilateral axonal or terminal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine causes rapid-onset nigrostriatal degeneration and contralateral motor impairments in the rat'
Grealish, S;Xie, L;Kelly, M;Dowd, E (2008) 'Unilateral axonal or terminal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine causes rapid-onset nigrostriatal degeneration and contralateral motor impairments in the rat'. Brain Research Bulletin, 77 :312-319 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'Recovery of functional deficits following early donor age ventral mesencephalic grafts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease'
Torres, EM,Dowd, E,Dunnett, SB (2008) 'Recovery of functional deficits following early donor age ventral mesencephalic grafts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease'. Neuroscience, 154 :631-640 [DOI] [Details]
(2007) 'Movement without dopamine: Striatal dopamine is required to maintain but not to perform learned actions'
Dowd, E., Dunnett, S.B. (2007) 'Movement without dopamine: Striatal dopamine is required to maintain but not to perform learned actions'. Biochemical Society Transactions, :428-432 [Details]
(2006) 'Further validation of the corridor task for assessing deficit and recovery in the hemi-Parkinsonian rat: Restoration of bilateral food retrieval by dopamine receptor agonism'
Fitzsimmons, DF,Moloney, TC,Dowd, E (2006) 'Further validation of the corridor task for assessing deficit and recovery in the hemi-Parkinsonian rat: Restoration of bilateral food retrieval by dopamine receptor agonism'. Behavioural Brain Research, 169 :352-355 [DOI] [Details]
(2005) 'Lentivector-mediated delivery of GDNF protects complex motor functions relevant to human Parkinsonism in a rat lesion model'
Dowd E, Monville C, Torres EM, Azzouz, M, Wong, LF, Mazarakis, ND & Dunnett SB. (2005) 'Lentivector-mediated delivery of GDNF protects complex motor functions relevant to human Parkinsonism in a rat lesion model'. European Journal Of Neuroscience, 22 :2587-2595 [Details]
(2005) 'Comparison of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced medial forebrain bundle and nigrostriatal terminal lesions in rats using a lateralised nose-poking task with low stimulus-response compatibility'
Eilís Dowd & Stephen B. Dunnett (2005) 'Comparison of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced medial forebrain bundle and nigrostriatal terminal lesions in rats using a lateralised nose-poking task with low stimulus-response compatibility'. Behavioural Brain Research, [Details]
(2005) 'The corridor task: a simple spontaneous behavioural test sensitive to unilateral dopaminergic deafferentation and graft-derived dopamine replacement in the striatum'
Dowd E, Monville C, Torres EM & Dunnett SB. (2005) 'The corridor task: a simple spontaneous behavioural test sensitive to unilateral dopaminergic deafferentation and graft-derived dopamine replacement in the striatum'. Brain Research Bulletin, 68 :24-30 [Details]
(2004) 'Deficits in a lateralized associative learning task in dopamine-depleted rats with functional recovery by dopamine-rich transplants'
Dowd, E. & Dunnett, S.B. (2004) 'Deficits in a lateralized associative learning task in dopamine-depleted rats with functional recovery by dopamine-rich transplants'. European Journal Of Neuroscience, :1953-1959 [Details]
(2004) 'Altered mitogen-activated kinase, tau hyperphosphorylation and mild spatial learning dysfunction in transgenic rats expressing the b-amyloid peptide intracellularly in hippocampal and cortical neurons'
Echeverria V, Ducatenzeiler A, Dowd E, Jänne J, Grant SM, Szyf M, Wandosell F, Avila J, Grimm H, Dunnett SB, Hartmann T, Alhonen L : Cuello AC. (2004) 'Altered mitogen-activated kinase, tau hyperphosphorylation and mild spatial learning dysfunction in transgenic rats expressing the b-amyloid peptide intracellularly in hippocampal and cortical neurons'. Neuroscience, 129 (583) [Details]
(1998) 'P2X receptor-mediated excitation of nociceptive afferents in the normal and arthritic rat knee joint'
Dowd, E., McQueen, D.S., Chessell, I.P. & Humphrey, P.P. (1998) 'P2X receptor-mediated excitation of nociceptive afferents in the normal and arthritic rat knee joint'. British Journal Of Pharmacology, :341-346 [Details]
(1998) 'Adenosine A1 receptor-mediated excitation of nociceptive afferents innervating the normal and arthritic rat knee joint'
Dowd, E., McQueen, D.S., Chessell, I.P. & Humphrey, P.P. (1998) 'Adenosine A1 receptor-mediated excitation of nociceptive afferents innervating the normal and arthritic rat knee joint'. British Journal Of Pharmacology, :1267-1271 [Details]
(1998) 'Activation of P2X receptors for adenosine triphosphate evokes cardiorespiratory reflexes in anaesthetized rats'
McQueen, D.D., Bond, S.M., Moores, C., Chessell, I., Humphrey, P.P. & Dowd, E. (1998) 'Activation of P2X receptors for adenosine triphosphate evokes cardiorespiratory reflexes in anaesthetized rats'. Journal Of Physiology, :843-855 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2015) 'Cannabinoids in Parkinson’s disease'
Concannon RM, Finn DP, Dowd E. (2015) 'Cannabinoids in Parkinson’s disease' In: Cannabinoids in Neurological and Mental Disease. USA: Elsevier. [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2019) 'Neuroelectrode functionalisation through heparan sulphate mimetics. International'
C Vallejo-Giraldo, IO Mohand, MB Huynh, K Krukiewicz, A Flannery, AR Pallipurath, A Trotier, M Kilcoyne, E Dowd, D Papy-Garcia, A Pandit, MJ Biggs (2019) 'Neuroelectrode functionalisation through heparan sulphate mimetics. International' Journal Of Experimental Pathology, 100 :A4-A5. [Details]
(2016) 'Functionalized PEDOT polymeric coatings for neuroelectrodes: topographical and biological strategies'
Vallejo-Giraldo C, Dowd E, Papy-Garcia D, Pandit A and Biggs MJ (2016) 'Functionalized PEDOT polymeric coatings for neuroelectrodes: topographical and biological strategies' Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol, . [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'The effects of viral priming on neurotoxin induced neurodegeneration and synapse dysfunction in cell culture models relevant to Parkinson’s disease'
Olsen, L, Dowd, E & McKernan DP (2016) 'The effects of viral priming on neurotoxin induced neurodegeneration and synapse dysfunction in cell culture models relevant to Parkinson’s disease' Movement Disorders, 31 . [Details]
(2013) 'HSP70 reduces alpha-synuclein-induced neuronal pathology in the alpha-synuclein viral gene transfer rat model of Parkinson's disease'
Moloney, T., R. Hyland, D. O'Toole, A. Paucard, D. Kirik, A.O. Doherty, A. Gorman, and Dowd, E. (2013) 'HSP70 reduces alpha-synuclein-induced neuronal pathology in the alpha-synuclein viral gene transfer rat model of Parkinson's disease' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 182 :S130-S131. [Details]
(2013) 'An investigation of the translatability of the topical fibrin scaffold system for neural application'
Moloney, T., M. Kulkarni, A. Pandit, and Dowd, E (2013) 'An investigation of the translatability of the topical fibrin scaffold system for neural application' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 182 :S139-S140. [Details]
(2013) 'Assessment of an injectable matrix for ex vivo neurotrophin gene therapy in the rat'
Hoban, D.B., B. Newland, T.C. Moloney, L. Howard, A. Pandit, and Dowd, E. (2013) 'Assessment of an injectable matrix for ex vivo neurotrophin gene therapy in the rat' Irish Journal of Medical Science, (182) :S130-S131. [Details]
(2012) 'Cyclic polymer structure shows high potential for neuronal transfection'
Newland, B., Dowd, E., W. Wang, and A. Pandit (2012) 'Cyclic polymer structure shows high potential for neuronal transfection' Movement Disorders, 27 :S493-S493. [Details]
(2012) 'Self-assembled hydrogels enhance bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cell distribution and retention following transplantation to the intact rat striatum'
Newland, B., T. Moloney, D. Hoban, Dowd, E., and A. Pandit (2012) 'Self-assembled hydrogels enhance bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cell distribution and retention following transplantation to the intact rat striatum' Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, (6) :272-273. [Details]
(2012) 'A biomaterials approach to modulate striatal toxicity of gene vectors: A comparative study'
Newland, B., T. Moloney, P. Mulcahy, Dowd, E., and A. Pandit (2012) 'A biomaterials approach to modulate striatal toxicity of gene vectors: A comparative study' Movement Disorders, 27 :S148-S148. [Details]
(2012) 'Modelling Parkinson's disease by direct intranigral administration of lipopolysaccaharide'
2. Hoban, D., E. Connaughton, C. Connaughton, G. Hogan, C. Thornton, and Dowd, E. (2012) 'Modelling Parkinson's disease by direct intranigral administration of lipopolysaccaharide' Movement Disorders, 27 :S424-S424. [Details]
(2012) 'Development and characterisation of a novel model of Parkinson's disease by sequential intra-nigral administration of AAV-alpha-synuclein and the pesticide, rotenone, in the rat'
Mulcahy, P.J., A. O'Doherty, T. O'Brien, D. Kirik, and Dowd, E. (2012) 'Development and characterisation of a novel model of Parkinson's disease by sequential intra-nigral administration of AAV-alpha-synuclein and the pesticide, rotenone, in the rat' Movement Disorders, 27 :S491-S491. [Details]
(2012) 'Modelling Parkinson's disease by chronic systemic exposure of alpha-synuclein overexpressing rats to the pesticide, rotenone'
Mulcahy, P.J., A. O'Doherty, T. O'Brien, D. Kirik, and Dowd, E (2012) 'Modelling Parkinson's disease by chronic systemic exposure of alpha-synuclein overexpressing rats to the pesticide, rotenone' Movement Disorders, 27 :S491-S491. [Details]
(2011) 'Heat shock protein gene therapy in the alpha-synuclein viral gene transfer rat model of Parkinson’s disease'
Hyland, R., A.M. Gorman, A. O'Doherty, and Dowd, E (2011) 'Heat shock protein gene therapy in the alpha-synuclein viral gene transfer rat model of Parkinson’s disease' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 180 :18-19. [Details]
(2011) 'The effect of pharmacological activation or blockade of the endocannabinoid system on the development of levodopa-induced dyskinesias in a rat model'
Walsh S, Finn DP, Gorman AM and Dowd E. (2011) 'The effect of pharmacological activation or blockade of the endocannabinoid system on the development of levodopa-induced dyskinesias in a rat model' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 180 :20-20. [Details]
(2011) 'Systemic rotenone does not enhance Parkinsonian pathology caused by intracerebral alpha-synuclein in rats'
Mulcahy, P.J., A. O'Doherty, T. O'Brien, D. Kirik, and Dowd, E. (2011) 'Systemic rotenone does not enhance Parkinsonian pathology caused by intracerebral alpha-synuclein in rats' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 180 :18-19. [Details]
(2010) 'Mesenchymal stem cells from the green fluorescent protein transgenic rat are hypoimmunogenic following transplantation to the intact adult rat striatum'
Moloney, T.C., P. Dockery, F.P. Barry, A.J. Windebank, L. Howard, and Dowd, E. (2010) 'Mesenchymal stem cells from the green fluorescent protein transgenic rat are hypoimmunogenic following transplantation to the intact adult rat striatum' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 179 :S127-S127. [Details]
(2010) 'Cannabinoid cb1 receptor expression is reduced following terminal lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway in the rat'
Walsh, S., K. Mnich, D.P. Finn, A.M. Gorman, K. Mackie, and Dowd, E. (2010) 'Cannabinoid cb1 receptor expression is reduced following terminal lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway in the rat' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 179 :S144-S144. [Details]
(2010) 'Intracerebral infusion of rotenone into the striatum or substantia nigra causes behavioural deficits and nigrostriatal degeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease'
Mulcahy, P.J., A. Paucard, S. Walsh, and Dowd, E. (2010) 'Intracerebral infusion of rotenone into the striatum or substantia nigra causes behavioural deficits and nigrostriatal degeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease' Irish Journal of Medical Science, 179 :S127-S128. [Details]
(2002) 'A rat transgenic model over expressing intraneuronal human abeta peptide shows tau hyperphosphorylation and mapk activation'
Echeverria, V., Dowd, E., L. Alhonen, K. Duff, A. Ducantenzeiler, S. Grant, M. Szyf, F. Wandossel, J. Avila, and A.C. Cuello (2002) 'A rat transgenic model over expressing intraneuronal human abeta peptide shows tau hyperphosphorylation and mapk activation' Society for Neuroscience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner, Abstract 522.3-Abstract 522.3 . [Details]
(2002) 'Poor spatial learning in transgenic rats that accumulate abeta intracellularly in the hippocampus and cortex but do not develop extracellular plaques'
Dowd, E., S.B. Dunnett, and A.C. Cuello (2002) 'Poor spatial learning in transgenic rats that accumulate abeta intracellularly in the hippocampus and cortex but do not develop extracellular plaques' Society for Neuroscience Abstract Viewer and Itinerary Planner, Abstract 881.5-Abstract 881.5 . [Details]
(2002) 'A rat transgenic model expressing human amyloidgenic A beta peptide intraneuronarly in the hippocampus and cortex shows up-regulation of activated MAPKs and tau phosphorylation'
Echeverria, V., Dowd, E., A. Ducatenzeiler, S. Grant, M. Szyf, A.C. Cuello, L. Alhonen, J. Janne, A. Muro, F. Baralle, F. Wandosell, and J. Avila (2002) 'A rat transgenic model expressing human amyloidgenic A beta peptide intraneuronarly in the hippocampus and cortex shows up-regulation of activated MAPKs and tau phosphorylation' Neurobiology of Aging, 23 . [Details]
(1998) 'Adenosine excites nociceptive afferents of the rat knee joint via adenosine A(1) receptors'
Dowd, E., D.S. McQueen, I.P. Chessell, and P.P.A. Humphrey (1998) 'Adenosine excites nociceptive afferents of the rat knee joint via adenosine A(1) receptors' Journal of Physiology-London, pp.162P-163P . [Details]
(1997) 'Nociceptors of the cat and rat cornea are not excited by P2X purinoceptor agonists'
Dowd, E, J. Gallar, D.S. McQueen, I.P. Chessell, P.P.A. Humphrey, and C. Belmonte (1997) 'Nociceptors of the cat and rat cornea are not excited by P2X purinoceptor agonists' British Journal of Pharmacology, pp.348P-348P . [Details]
(1997) 'P2X receptor activation evokes a Bezold-Jarisch-like reflex in anaesthetised rats'
McQueen, D.S., C. Moores, Dowd, E., S.M. Bond, I.P. Chessell, and P.P.A. Humphrey (1997) 'P2X receptor activation evokes a Bezold-Jarisch-like reflex in anaesthetised rats' British Journal of Pharmacology, pp.246P-246P . [Details]
(1997) 'Activation by P2X purinoceptor agonists of sensory nerves innervating the rat knee joint'
Dowd, E., D.S. McQueen, I.P. Chessell, and P.P.A. Humphrey (1997) 'Activation by P2X purinoceptor agonists of sensory nerves innervating the rat knee joint' British Journal of Pharmacology, pp.286P-286P . [Details]
(1997) 'Nociceptors of the cat and rat cornea are not excited by P2X purinoceptor agonists'
Dowd, E., J. Gallar, D.S. McQueen, I.P. Chessell, P.P.A. Humphrey, and C. Belmonte (1997) 'Nociceptors of the cat and rat cornea are not excited by P2X purinoceptor agonists' British Journal of Pharmacology, pp.U96-U96 . [Details]
(1997) 'P2X receptor activation evokes a Bezold-Jarisch-like reflex in anaesthetised rats'
McQueen, D.S., C. Moores, Dowd, E., S.M. Bond, I.P. Chessell, and P.P.A. Humphrey (1997) 'P2X receptor activation evokes a Bezold-Jarisch-like reflex in anaesthetised rats' British Journal of Pharmacology, pp.U45-U45 . [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
FENS, Executive Comittee Member Federation of European Neuroscience Societies; Executive Committee Member 01-JUL-20 / 01-JUL-22
FENS, Communications Committee Chair Federation of European Neuroscience Societies; Communications Committee Chair 01-JUL-20 / 01-JUL-22
Neuroscience Ireland, Immediate Past President President 01-SEP-17 / 01-SEP-19
IBRO, Governing Council International Brain Research Organisation, Governing Council Member 01-SEP-17 / 01-SEP-19
FENS, Governing Council Federation of European Neuroscience Societies; Governing Council Member 01-SEP-17 / 01-SEP-19
NECTAR, Immediate Past President Network for European CNS Transplantation & Repair, President 01-DEC-14 / 01-DEC-18

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
National Committee for the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes Member 01-JAN-19 / 01-JAN-24

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Cardiff University Wellcome Trust Post-Doctoral Research Fellow 01-FEB-02 / 01-MAY-05
The University of Cambridge Post-Doctoral Research Scientist 01-MAY-99 / 30-SEP-99
McGill University Wellcome Trust Post-Doctoral Research Fellow 01-JAN-00 / 01-FEB-02

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
1999 The University of Edinburgh PhD in Pharmacology Pharmacology

Teaching Interests


Prof Dowd teaches in a variety of courses, and is responsible for coordinating a number of programmes, most notably the 4th year BSc in Pharmacology, the Structured PhD in Pharmacology (from inception to 2020), and the Graduate Research Committees in Pharmacology (from inception to 2020).

She is a committed and passionate teacher who has always loved to teach. At the heart of her teaching is a desire to share her passion and love of pharmacology with her students. Indeed, she wants to stimulate intrigue in her students - intrigue about how drugs work and their effects on our bodies, both beneficial and harmful.

Teaching Awards:

2021: Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence: Dr Dowd was awarded the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence from the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences in 2021. 

2014: President's Award for Teaching Excellence: Team Leader. Dr Dowd was Team Leader for the Pharmacology Team awarded the President's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013-2014. 

2018: National Forum DELTA Award Shortlist: Team Member. Dr Dowd was Team Member of the Pharmacology Team shortlisted for a National Teaching Award for Disciplinary Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment (DELTA) from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education in 2018.

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2010 Teresa Moloney PhD Y
2017 Catalina Vallejo Giraldo PhD
2012 Pádraig Mulcahy PhD Y
2013 Ben Newland PhD
2011 Rhona Hyland Msc Y
2015 Deirdre Hoban PhD Y
2016 Carol Naughton PhD Y
2016 Ruth Concannon PhD Y
2017 Kiah McCabe PhD Y
2018 Niamh Moriarty PhD Y
2020 Silvia Cabré PhD Y
2020 Verónica Rebeca Alamilla Marroquín PhD Y
2018 Laura Olsen PhD
2019 Juhi Samal PhD
2011 Sinead Walsh PhD Y

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
4th year BSc Pharmacology for science students Coordinator for 60 ECTS of final year modules. Final year coordinator for 60 ECTS of 4th year modules.
2nd year pharmacology for medical students. Teach on multiple 2nd year pharmacology modules.
2nd year BSc Pharmacology for science students Teach on multiple 2nd year pharmacology modules.
3rd year BSc Pharmacology for science students Teach on multiple 3rd year pharmacology modules.