Staff Profile:Dr Ben Whalley

Name:

Dr Ben Whalley

Job Title:

Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology

Responsibilities:

• Departmental Director of Research (Pharmacy)
• Module convenor PM4TH4  
• Joint Faculty Staff Student Committee (Pharmacy Staff Representative)
• RETF Travel Grants Committee
• Reading Systems Biology Network Committee (Pharmacy Member)
• UK Epilepsy Research Network I&T CSG Core Member
• Local Group Representative, British Neuroscience Association 

Areas of Interest:

Dr B. J. Whalley is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and has been a lecturer at the School of Pharmacy, University of Reading since 2005. His research interests lie in investigating neuronal processes that underlie complex physiological functions such as neuronal hyperexcitability states and their consequential disorders (e.g. epilepsy, ataxia and dystonias) and learning and memory. A significant component of this research has been the development of experimental platforms that combine biological (neuronal cell culture) and machine (robotic) systems to produce 'animats' as tools for investigating the cellular correlates of complex CNS functions.

He also conducts extensive work with in vitro models of epileptiform activity using sharp microelectrode, patch clamp and multi-electrode array electrophysiological methods and in vivo rodent models of seizure. This work examines cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of anticonvulsants in clinical use or currently in clinical trials (UCB Pharmaceuticals), the identification of anticonvulsant cannabinoids (GW Pharmaceuticals, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and University of Reading Endowment Trust Fund), cannabinoid effects upon appetite and feeding behaviours (Reading Endowment Trust Fund), anti-ataxic actions of phytocannabinoids (Ataxia UK) and the development of novel electrophysiological screening methods for candidate PET ligands (GE Healthcare). Dr Whalley has also received funding from the BBSRC and EPSRC.

Dr Whalley has also been successful in obtaining grant funding from both the University of Reading and the Royal Society to build and maintain a computational cluster for the analysis of the large datasets generated by multi-electrode electrophysiological research. His group currently comprises 8 PhD students, two PDRAs and 3 research technicians. In addition to his work being featured in New Scientist, national newspapers and an exhibition at the Science Museum (London), he has also appeared in, and advised on, a number of scientific television programmes that have been broadcast.

Current research group members:

Dr Imogen Smith (PDRA)

Dr Sajjida Jaffer (PDRA)

Dr Yuki Yamasaki (Visiting Scientist, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals)

Mrs Ahlam Al-Husaini (PhD)

Mr Naoki Amada (PhD & Visiting Scientist, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals)

Mrs Rebecca Hadid (PhD)

Mr Thomas Hill (PhD)

Miss Isabelle Peres (PhD)

Mr Marcus Haag (PhD)

Mr Satoshi Akiyama (Visiting Scientist, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals)

Miss Sarah Glyn (Research Technician)

Research groups / Centres:

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Research Group (Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics)

Publications:

Y

Jump to: 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

Number of items: 38.

2013

• Wang, X. , Whalley, B. J. and Stephens, G. J. (2013) The du2J mouse model of ataxia and absence epilepsy has deficient cannabinoid CB1 receptor-mediated signalling. Journal of Physiology. ISSN 1469-7793 doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.244947 (In Press)
• Hammond, M.W., Xydas, D., Downes, J.H., Bucci, G., Becerra, V., Warwick, K., Constanti, A., Nasuto, S. and Whalley, B. (2013) Endogenous cholinergic tone modulates spontaneous network level neuronal activity in primary cortical cultures grown on multi-electrode arrays. BMC Neuroscience, 14 (38). ISSN 1471-2202 doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-38

2012

• Hill, A. J., Mercier, M. S., Hill, T. D., Glyn, S. E., Jones, N. A., Yamasaki, Y., Futamura, T., Duncan, M., Stott, C.G., Stephens, G.J., Williams, C. M. and Whalley, B.J. (2012) Cannabidivarin is anticonvulsant in mouse and rat in vitro and in seizure models. British Journal of Pharmacology, 167 (8). pp. 1629-1642. ISSN 0007-1188 doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.02207.x
• Jones, N. A., Glyn, S., Akiyama, S., Hill, T. D.M., Hill, A., Weston, S., Burnett, M. D.A., Yamasaki, Y., Stephens, G., Whalley, B. and Williams, C. (2012) Cannabidiol exerts anti-convulsant effects in animal models of temporal lobe and partial seizures. Seizure, 21 (5). pp. 344-352. ISSN 1059-1311 doi: 10.1016/j.seizure.2012.03.001
• Farrimond, J. A., Whalley, B. J. and Williams, C. M. (2012) Cannabinol and cannabidiol exert opposing effects on rat feeding patterns. Psychopharmacology, 223 (1). pp. 117-129. ISSN 0033-3158 doi: 10.1007/s00213-012-2697-x
• Farrimond, J. A., Whalley, B. and Williams, C. (2012) Non-D9-tetrahydrocannabinol phytocannabinoids stimulate feeding in rats. Behavioural Pharmacology, 23 (1). pp. 113-117. ISSN 0955-8810 doi: 10.1097/FBP.0b013e32834ed832
• Downes, J. H., Hammond, M. W., Xydas, D., Spencer, M. C., Becerra, V. M., Warwick, K., Nasuto, S. and Whalley, B. (2012) Emergence of a small-world functional network in cultured neurons. PLoS Computational Biology, 8 (5). pp. 1-17. ISSN 1553-734X doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002522
• Hill, A. J., Williams, C. M., Whalley, B. J. and Stephens, G. J. (2012) Phytocannabinoids as novel therapeutic agents in CNS disorders. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 133 (1). pp. 79-97. ISSN 0163-7258 doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.09.002
• Vogl, C., Mochida, S., Wolff, C., Whalley, B. and Stephens, G. (2012) The SV2A ligand levetiracetam inhibits presynaptic Ca2+ channels via an intracellular pathway. Molecular Pharmacology, 82 (2). pp. 199-208. ISSN 1521-0111 doi: 10.1124/mol.111.076687

2011

• Spencer, M. C., Downes, J. H., Xydas, D., Hammond, M. W., Becerra, V. M., Warwick, K., Whalley, B. J. and Nasuto, S. J. (2011) Multiscale evolving complex network model of functional connectivity in neuronal cultures. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 59 (1). pp. 30-34. ISSN 0018-9294 doi: 10.1109/TBME.2011.2171340
• Xydas, D., Downes, J. H., Spencer, M. C., Hammond, M. W., Nasuto, S. J., Whalley, B. J., Becerra, V. M. and Warwick, K. (2011) Revealing ensemble state transition patterns in multi-electrode neuronal recordings using hidden Markov models. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 19 (4). pp. 345-355. ISSN 1534-4320 doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2011.2157360
• Wang, X., Horswill, J. G., Whalley, B. J. and Stephens, G. J. (2011) Effects of the Allosteric Antagonist 1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-3-[3-(6-pyrrolidin-1-ylpyridin-2-yl)phenyl]urea (PSNCBAM-1) on CB1 Receptor Modulation in the Cerebellum. Molecular Pharmacology, 79 (4). pp. 758-767. ISSN 1521-0111 doi: 10.1124/mol.110.068197
• Farrimond, J. A., Mercier, M. S., Whalley, B. J. and Williams, C. M. (2011) Cannabis sativa and the endogenous cannabinoid system: therapeutic potential for appetite regulation. Phytotherapy Research, 25 (2). pp. 170-188. ISSN 0951-418X
• Warwick, K., Nasuto, S. J., Becerra, V. M. and Whalley, B. J. (2011) Experiments with an in-vitro robot brain. In: Yang, C. (ed.) Computing with instinct: rediscovering artificial intelligence. Lecture notes in computer science (5987). Springer, pp. 1-16, 1st Edition, XIII, 163 p. ISBN 9783642197567 (Sub series: lecture notes in artifical intelligence)
• Miranda, E. R., Nasuto, S., Troisi, A. R., Downes, J., Chiaramonte, A., Spencer, M., Hammond, M., Xydas, D., Whalley, B., Becerra, V. and Warwick, K. (2011) A musical instrument using in vitro neural networks. In: International Computer Music Conference (ICMC 2011), 31 Jul - 5 Aug 2011, Huddersfield, pp. 567-570.

2010

• Farrimond, J., Whalley, B. J. and Williams, C. M. (2010) A low delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol cannabis extract induces hyperphagia in rats. Behavioural Pharmacology, 21 (8). pp. 769-772. ISSN 0955-8810 doi: 10.1097/FBP.0b013e328340a062
• Valderrama-Gonzalez, G. D., Gasson, M. N., Warwick, K. and Whalley, B. J. (2010) Prosthesis grasp reflex via peripheral nerve control: an in vitro study. In: IEEE 2010 9th International Conference on Cybernetic Intelligent Systems (CIS), 1-2 September 2010, University of Reading, UK, pp. 20-25. (IEEE, London)
• Hill, A. J., Weston, S. E., Jones, N., Smith, I., Bevan , S., Williamson, E. M., Stephens, G. J., Williams, C. M. and Whalley, B. J. (2010) Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin suppresses in vitro epileptiform and in vivo seizure activity in adult rat. Epilepsia, 51 (8). pp. 1522-1532. ISSN 0013-9580 doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02523.x
• Farrimond, J., Whalley, B. J. and Williams, C. M. (2010) Cannabis constituents modulate ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced hyperphagia in rats. Psychopharmacology, 210 (1). pp. 97-106. ISSN 0033-3158 doi: 10.1007/s00213-010-1821-z
• Aitchison, E., Weston, S. E., Constanti, A. and Whalley, B. J. (2010) Anticholinesterase-induced epileptiform activity in immature rat piriform cortex slices, in vitro. Neuroscience Letters, 473 (3). pp. 252-256. ISSN 0304-3940 doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.02.060
• Jones, N. A., Hill, A. J., Smith, I., Bevan, S. A., Williams, C. M., Whalley, B. J. and Stephens, G. J. (2010) Cannabidiol displays antiepileptiform and antiseizure properties in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 332 (2). pp. 569-577. ISSN 0022-3565 doi: 10.1124/jpet.109.159145
• Warwick, K., Xydas, D., Nasuto, S. J., Becerra, V. M., Hammond, M. W., Downes, J., Marshall, S. and Whalley, B. J. (2010) Controlling a mobile robot with a biological brain. Defence Science Journal, 60 (1). pp. 5-14. ISSN 0011-748X
• Hill, A. J., Jones, N., Williams, C. M., Stephens, G. J. and Whalley, B. J. (2010) Development of multi-electrode array screening for anticonvulsants in acute rat brain slices. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 185 (2). 246 -256 . ISSN 0165-0270 doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.10.007
• Xydas, D., Spencer, M., Downes, J., Hammond, M. W. J., Becerra, V. M., Warwick, K., Whalley, B. J. and Nasuto, S. J. (2010) Application of Poisson-based hidden Markov models to in-vitro neuronal data. In: 9th IEEE International Conference on Cybernetic Intelligent Systems, 1-2 Sept 2010, Reading, UK.
• Spencer, M., Xydas, D., Downes, J. H., Hammond, M., Becerra, V., Warwick, K., Whalley, B. J. and Nasuto, S. J. (2010) Investigation of spatio-temporal dependencies in neuronal functional connectivity. In: 9th IEEE International Conference on Cybernetic Intelligent Systems, 1-2 Sept 2010, Reading, UK.

2009

• Whalley, B. J., Stephens, G. J. and Constanti, A. (2009) Investigation of the effects of the novel anticonvulsant compound carisbamate(RWJ-333369) on rat piriform cortical neurones in vitro. British Journal of Pharmacology, 156 (6). pp. 994-1008. ISSN 0007-1188 doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2008.00110.x
• Farrimond, J., Hill, A. J., Jones, N., Stephens, G. J., Whalley, B. J. and Williams, C. M. (2009) A cost-effective high-throughput digital system for observation and acquisition of animal behavioral data. Behavior Research Methods, 41 (2). pp. 446-451. ISSN 1554-351X doi: 10.3758/BRM.41.2.446

2008

• Dennis, I., Whalley, B. J. and Stephens, G. J. (2008) Effects of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin on [35S]GTPgammaS binding in mouse brain cerebellum and piriform cortex membranes. British Journal of Pharmacology, 154 (6). pp. 1349-58. ISSN 0007-1188 doi: 10.1038/bjp.2008.190
• Whalley, B.J., Fletcher, K.E., Weston, S.E., Howard, R.L. and Rawlinson, C.F. (2008) Foundation in pharmacy practice. Pharmaceutical, London. ISBN 9780853697473
• Ma, Y. L., Weston, S. E., Whalley, B. J. and Stephens, G. J. (2008) The phytocannabinoid Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabivarin modulates inhibitory neurotransmission in the cerebellum. British Journal of Pharmacology, 154 (1). pp. 204-215. ISSN 0007-1188 doi: 10.1038/bjp.2008.57
• Ma, Y.-L., Weston, S.E. , Whalley, B.J. and Stephens, G.J. (2008) The phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin modulates inhibitory neurotransmission in the cerebellum. British Journal of Pharmacology, 154 (1). pp. 204-215. ISSN 0007-1188 doi: 10.1038/bjp.2008.57

2007

• Patel, N. A., Weston, S. E., Constanti, A., Halliwell, J. V. and Whalley, B. J. (2007) Cholinergic modulation of intrinsic fibre-evoked excitatory transmission contains a nicotinic component in immature but not adult rat piriform cortex, in vitro. Neuroscience Letters, 425 (1). pp. 43-48. ISSN 0304-3940 doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.08.005
• Weston, S.E., Whalley, B.J., Wilkinson, J.D. and Williamson, E.M. (2007) Medicinal cannabis: new findings on extracts and minor cannabinoids. In: Capasso, A. (ed.) Recent developments in medicinal plant research. Research Signpost, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, pp. 39-62. ISBN 9788130801605

2006

• Whalley, B. J. and Constanti, A. (2006) Developmental changes in presynaptic muscarinic modulation of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in rat piriform cortex in vitro: relevance to epileptiform bursting susceptibility. Neuroscience, 140 (3). pp. 939-956. ISSN 0306-4522 doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.02.046
• Weston, S. E., Williamson, E. M., Constanti, A., Stephens, G. J. and Whalley, B. J. (2006) Tetrahydrocannabivarin exhibits anticonvulsant effects in a piriform cortical brain slice model of epileptiform activity. In: British Pharmacological Society Winter Meeting 2006.

2005

• Whalley, B. J., Postlethwaite, M. and Constanti, A. (2005) Further characterization of muscarinic agonist-induced epileptiform bursting activity in immature rat piriform cortex, in vitro. Neuroscience, 134 (2). pp. 549-566. ISSN 0306-4522 doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.04.018

2004

• Whalley, B. J., Wilkinson, J. D., Williamson, E. M. and Constanti, A. (2004) A novel component of cannabis extract potentiates excitatory synaptic transmission in rat olfactory cortex in vitro. Neuroscience Letters, 365 (1). pp. 58-63. ISSN 0304-3940 doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.04.044

2003

• Wilkinson, J.D., Whalley, B. J., Baker, D., Pryce, G., Constanti, A., Gibbons, S. and Williamson, E. M. (2003) Medicinal cannabis: is delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol necessary for all its effects? Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 55 (12). pp. 1687-1694. ISSN 0022-3573 doi: DOI:10.1211/0022357022304

This list was generated on Tue Jun 18 06:59:08 2013 BST.

 

Other peer reviewed publications:

1. Warwick, K, Nasuto, SJ, Becerra, VM & Whalley BJ (Accepted for publication in 2010) Experiments with an in vitro robot brain" Lecture Notes In Artificial Intelligence (Editor: Y. Cai) Springer.

2. Preece DG & Whalley BJ (2009) Proportions of cannabis constituents: links to epileptic seizure susceptibility. Drug Information Journal 43(2): 228.

3. Hammond MW, Marshall S, Downes JH, Xydas D, Nasuto SJ, Becerra VM, Warwick K, Whalley BJ (2008) Robust Methodology For The Study Of Cultured Neuronal Networks on MEAs. Proceedings MEA Meeting 2008 BIOPRO edition Stuttgart: BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH 5: 293-295.

4. Downes JH, Hammond MW, Xydas D, Whalley BJ, Becerra VM, Warwick K & Nasuto SJ (2008) Real-time and Batch Control of MEA Channel Selection and Stimulation Proceedings MEA Meeting 2008 BIOPRO edition Stuttgart: BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg GmbH 5: 157-158.

Edited books

1. Fletcher K, Howard R, Weston S & Whalley BJ A Foundation in Pharmacy Practice, Pharmaceutical Press (London) ISBN 978-0-853-69747-3

Book chapters:

1. Xydas D, Norcott DJ, Warwick K, Whalley BJ, Nasuto SJ, Becerra VM, Hammond MW, Downes J & Marshall S Architecture for Neuronal Cell Control of a Mobile Robot pp23-31 in Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics (EUROS2008) Pub: Springer Berlin / Heidelberg ISBN 978-3-540-78315-2.

2. Weston S, Wilkinson J, Whalley BJ & Williamson EM New findings on medicinal cannabis (Ch. 3) in Recent developments in plant research Ed. Anna Capasso. Pub: Research Signpost, India. ISBN 978-8-130-8016-0

3. Xydas D, Warwick K, Whalley BJ, Nasuto SJ, Becerra VM, Hammond MW & Downes J Neuroscope (Ch. 3) in Material Beliefs Ed. J. Beaver & T. Kerridge Pub: Goldsmiths, University of London, UK ISBN 978-1-904158-95-0