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Full NameDr Andrew Harkin

Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

Trinity College Dublin

Webpage:www.tcd.ie

Email Address:Email hidden; Javascript is required.

Research Fields

neuroscience and mental health

Postgrad Medical Specialties

Medicine
Psychiatry
Pathology

Medical Subspecialties

Immunology
Neurology
Neuropsychiatry
Pharmacology

My Work

The research group is focused on elucidation of mechanisms and biomarkers related to neuro-endocrine-immune axis dysregulation, inflammation and brain glia-neuron interactions in psychiatric disorders and age associated pathologies.

Currently the group collaborates within EU funded networks that gather experts on molecular mechanisms of age-associated pathologies including neurodegeneration and depression. The goal is to identify stress-regulated molecules provoking neuronal atrophy and to monitor the consequences of these processes in human brain. At the cellular level, neuronal atrophy contributes to cognitive decline and increased depressive and anxiety disorders that are associated with ageing. A further current objective is the development of a biomarker test for mood disorder patients based on an activated inflammatory response system and inflammation-mediated disturbances in tryptophan metabolism.

A broad range of techniques spanning molecular and cellular approaches incorporating animal and clinical investigations are employed including imaging (MRI), histopathology/immunohistochemistry, molecular neuroscience, neuropharmacology and patient studies.

Recent relevant publications:
[1] Hughes MM, Connor TJ, Harkin A. (2016) Stress-Related Immune Markers in Depression: Implications for Treatment. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. Review. PMID: 26775294
[2] O'Farrell K, Harkin A. (2015) Stress-related regulation of the kynurenine pathway: Relevance to neuropsychiatric and degenerative disorders. Neuropharmacology. Review. PMID: 26690895