Behavioural and Psychopharmacology Group

Chief Investigator:

Dr. Jillian Broadbear, Senior Lecturer, SPPPM

Students:

4th year - Daniel Shea, Plato Mak, Vanessa Smithies, Edith Drajkopyl, Kinga Kotlarski

PhD – Rowan Ogeil, Kristina Vacy

Research Assistant: David Ralph

This group, based in the SPPPM Animal Testing Facility on Clayton campus, specializes in the Behavioural Measurement of Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Circadian Activity, Drug Discrimination, Threat Avoidance, Memory and Learning, Locomotor Activity.

Research conducted in our group evaluates the behavioural effects produced by drugs that act on the brain to change mood, behaviour and cognition.  This includes drugs used for the treatment of medical and mood disorders, as well as drugs used for their rewarding effects (drugs of misuse and abuse). The influence of environment on behaviour and neuroplasticity is also being investigated (in association with A/Prof. Ramesh Rajan, Dept. Physiology).

Techniques/Equipment:

1. Drug Discrimination (food reinforced operant behaviour)
2. Drug Self-Administration
3. Running Wheel cages (measurement of circadian activity patterns and exercise)
4. Forced Swim Test (detection of anti-depressant-like behaviour)
5. Morris Water Maze (Learning and Memory)
6. Radial Arm Maze (Learning and Memory)
7. Odour avoidance apparatus (behavioural assessment of threatening/aversive stimuli)
8. Elevated Plus Maze (detection of anxiolytic/anxiogenic behavioural effects)
9. Open Field (detection of anxiolytic and locomotor activity)
10. Conditioned Place Preference (assessment of rewarding and aversive stimuli)
11. Measurement of analgesia (mice and rats)

Support Technology includes Ethovision, SigmaPlot, SPSS, and video and computer equipment.

Chief Investigator holds a Poisons Licence and Controlled Substance Import Licence, Material Transfer Agreements with several pharmaceutical companies (e.g. Ferring, Pierre-Fabre), Confidentiality Agreements/Collaborations (e.g. CNSBio).

For further information regarding projects and publications, please visit Dr Jillian Broadbear's Webpage.