Dr Emma Robinson
Professor of Psychopharmacology, University of Bristol
Emma completed her BSc in Pharmacology in Bristol in 1995 and PhD in Psychopharmacology in 1999 supervised by Prof David Nutt, Dr Alan Hudson and Dr Helen Jackson.
She was awarded an RCUK Academic Fellowship, co-funded by the BPS Integrative Pharmacology Fund, which provided an opportunity to work at the University of Cambridge, Experimental Psychology Department with Profs Trevor Robbins and Jeffery Dalley.
Now based in Bristol’s School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Emma’s research investigates the neural and neurochemical mediators of normal cognitive and emotional behaviour and their disruption in psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. Her work on novel rodent models for depression research has also provided an opportunity to undertake objective assessments of laboratory animal welfare.
Alongside research, Emma is involved in teaching across the science and professional programmes; development of online learning resources; and is actively involved in public engagement in science, including organising the Bristol Neuroscience Festival.
Professor Amin Rostami-Hodjegan
Professor of Systems Pharmacology and Director of Centre for Applied Pharmacokinetic Research, The University of Manchester
Professor Amin Rostami is an internationally recognised scientist and renowned thought leader in the area of translational modelling for drug development and precision dosing. He is recognised by many as a dynamic individual who has contributed to science education and business development equally. He has progressed through the ranks of Lecturer through Reader before becoming the first professor with the title of “Systems Pharmacology” in the world (University of Sheffield, 2007). In parallel, he has gathered his business and management acumen by serving on the board of directors of Simcyp (2002-2012) and the Certara Executive Team as Chief Scientific Officer (2014-current).
Professor Jonathan Cavanagh
University of Glasgow
Jonathan Cavanagh is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow and an honorary consultant neuropsychiatrist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
He leads a group that is focused on exploring mechanisms underlying immune-mediated behaviours relevant to major psychiatric disorders using the techniques of molecular neuroimmunology.
David Heal
Executive Director and co-founder, DevelRx Ltd
David is an Executive Director and co-founder of DevelRx Ltd. DevelRx provides consultancy support to pharmaceutical companies developing novel CNS drugs. His initial training was as a neuroscientist and behavioural pharmacologist at the University of Oxford.
After a career in academic research, he joined the pharmaceutical industry with responsibility for CNS and metabolic drug research at Boots Pharmaceuticals and BASF Pharma. He co-founded and for 20 years was an Executive Director at the non-clinical CRO, RenaSci, before leaving to set up DevelRx. His experience in R&D encompasses the approval of 15 novel drugs for indications including ADHD, binge-eating disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, opiate withdrawal, opiate-induced adverse events, anaesthesia, haemodialysis-induced pruritis, and obesity.
He was awarded a DSc by Kings College, London University for his contribution to pharmacology research. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Bath, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. He has authored more than 200 scientific articles and reviews, co-edited books and journal special issues on a range of clinical topics and serves on the editorial boards of several international scientific journals.
