Professor Giles Hardingham studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, and completed a PhD and postdoc at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. In 2002 he moved to the University of Edinburgh, first as a Royal Society Research Fellow, and latterly as a MRC Senior Non-Clinical Research Fellow. 

We are interested in the core signaling pathways and gene expression programs that influence neuronal health and brain homeostasis in development and maturity. Main areas of focus include mechanisms of excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction, NMDA receptor channel biology, synapse-to-nucleus signaling, regulation of antioxidant defences, and neuron-astrocyte communication.

The brain has an amazing ability to sustain itself. While neurons in the brain cannot regenerate, they nevertheless can survive and function for many decades. We work on understanding how neurons and surrounding cells in the brain work together to adapt to changing needs, to ensure that they remain in good health. We also investigate mechanisms that can lead to these processes malfunctioning in acute and chronic disorders of the brain.

See http://www.ed.ac.uk/integrative-physiology/staff-profiles/research-groups/giles-hardingham

-Contributions to University of Edinburgh teaching courses:

Year 3 Mechanisms of Brain Development, Hons General Neuroscience, Hons Neuroscience Synaptic Function and Plasticity in Health and Disease Elective, Somatosensory Neuroscience Elective, Applied Molecular Biology Elective, Clinical Neuroscience Elective; Hons Neuroscience (final year dissertation mentor); MSc Neuroscience tutorials; MSc Cell Communication tutorials; Hons Neuroscience. Physiology, Pharmacology project supervisor