Dr Trevor Bushell
Reader
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Personal statement
I obtained my BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology from the University of Glasgow (1992) and my PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Bristol (1996) before undertaking postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago and Imperial College London. I took up my position here at Strathclyde in 2002.
My research interest lies primarily in the field of neuroscience and focuses on the modulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. This currently takes several directions including the following:
- Identifying novel roles for protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) in the central nervous system (CNS).
- Examining how peripheral inflammation affect CNS function and animal behaviour (with Dr Hui-Rong Jiang)
- Determining the role of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in the CNS development.
- Investigating the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-2 (MKP2) in the CNS.
- Developing novel microfluidic devices for neuroscience research (with Dr Michele Zagnoni).
A variety of preparations are utilised in our research including mammalian expression systems, cultured neurones, organotypic slice cultures and acute brain slices. Techniques used include cell death assays, electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, overexpression of fluorescently tagged proteins of interest, molecular biological techniques including site-directed mutagenesis and real time RT-PCR and in collaboration with Professor Judy Pratt we utilise a variety of tests to understand rodent behaviour.
I am involved in teaching both the MPharm and BMS cohorts in numerous classes ranging from 1st to 4th year. In addition I am lead of the Neuroscience and Mental Health research group.
I am currently the Strathclyde local group representative for the British Neuroscience Association. I am also a full member of the Society for Neuroscience and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Prize And Awards
- Best poster prize at ARUK 2025 conference.
- Recipient
- 24/2/2025
Publications
- Developing human iPSC-derived cerebral organoids for stroke modelling : multi-level quality validation
- Omerigwe Simon Achi, Newton Kathryn, Bowles Kathryn R, Bushell Trevor, Gomez-Roman Natividad, Carswell Hilary VO
- Scottish Neuroscience Group 2026 (2026)
- Human astrocytes express functional protease-activated receptors that increase their reactive phenotype under certain conditions.
- Maruvada Aparna, Bushell Trevor
- Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (2026)
- Astrocytic reactivity and amyloid load are reduced in a sex-dependent manner in a mouse model of amyloid pathology following protease-activated receptor 2 activation
- Edwards Nicole, Sakata Shuzo, McConnell Gail, Bushell Trevor
- Neuropharmacology Vol 297 (2026)
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.111010
- Neuroprotection induced by protease-activated receptor 2 activation is independent of Gq signalling
- Moudio Serge, Nuthall Hugh N, Bushell Trevor J
- Brain and Neuroscience Advances Vol 9 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1177/23982128251345673
- Mesoscale standing wave imaging
- Foylan Shannan, Schniete Jana Katharina, Kölln Lisa Sophie, Dempster John, Hansen Carsten Gram, Shaw Michael, Bushell Trevor John, McConnell Gail
- Journal of Microscopy Vol 295, pp. 33-41 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.13189
- A simple image processing pipeline to sharpen topology maps in multi-wavelength interference microscopy
- Tinning Peter W, Schniete Jana K, Scrimgeour Ross, Kölln Lisa S, Rooney Liam M, Bushell Trevor J, McConnell Gail
- Optics Letters Vol 48, pp. 1092-1095 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.478402
Professional Activities
- Dynamic Na/K ATPase and Neuromodulation of Mammalian Spinal Motor Networks
- Examiner
- 3/12/2025
- University of Reading MPharm External Examiner
- Examiner
- 10/2025
- SIPBS UG Open Day
- Contributor
- 9/4/2025
- BNA Festival of Neuroscience 2025 Programme Committee
- Member of programme committee
- 2/2025
- SIPBS Open Doors - Glasgow Science Festival
- Contributor
- 30/6/2024
- SIPBS UG Open Day
- Contributor
- 23/3/2024
Projects
- Examining the consequence of astrocytic PAR2 activation on blood brain barrier permeability.
- Bushell, Trevor (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2024
- Are blood cytokine levels a marker for depression-like behaviour in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (Nicole Edwards)
- Bushell, Trevor (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2024
- £12,262.72 HaSS Bridging Disciplines: "Predicting healthy ageing and age-related disorders using the UK Biobank Database" Successfully funded
- McGeown, William (Principal Investigator) Mavroeidi, Alexandra (Principal Investigator) Parra Rodriguez, Mario (Co-investigator) Brown Nicholls, Louise (Co-investigator) Rasmussen, Susan (Co-investigator) Robertson, David (Co-investigator) Tse, Dwight (Co-investigator) Kirk, Alison (Co-investigator) Hafford-Letchfield, Trish (Co-investigator) Rattray, Nicholas (Co-investigator) Bushell, Trevor (Co-investigator) Gould, Gwyn (Co-investigator) GANGANNAGARIPALLI, Jaheedabegum (Co-investigator) Carswell, Hilary (Co-investigator) Tate, Rothwelle (Co-investigator) Kurdi, Amanj (Co-investigator) Lennon, Marilyn (Co-investigator) Moshfeghi, Yashar (Co-investigator) Roper, Marc (Co-investigator) McConnell, Gail (Co-investigator) Kerr, Andy (Co-investigator) Li, David (Co-investigator) Thomson, Avril (Co-investigator) Campbell, Gerard (Co-investigator) Vourganas, Ioannis (Co-investigator) Clark, Ruaridh (Co-investigator) Macdonald, Malcolm (Co-investigator)
- HaSS Bridging Disciplines.
Successfully funded for access to UK Biobank:
The overarching aim of the application is to investigate the predictors (e.g., lifestyle, neuroimaging metabolic and genetic) of healthy ageing (e.g., cognitive, physical and mental health in older age).
Our objectives are to identify the contribution of predictors (lifestyle, medication-related, neuroimaging, metabolic, and genetic) of the following outcomes, that occur at greater frequency in older age:
1) Cognitive impairment (e.g., due to normal ageing or neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke)
2) Poor physical health (e.g., osteoporosis, diabetes, falls and fractures)
3) Poor mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation) - 08-Jan-2023 - 09-Jan-2025
- Establishing cerebral organoids as a human model of stroke
- Carswell, Hilary (Principal Investigator) Bushell, Trevor (Co-investigator) McMullen, Calum (Co-investigator) Seib, Philipp (Co-investigator)
- 04-Jan-2023 - 04-Jan-2028
- Depression-like behaviour in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease: a reverse translational study.
- Bushell, Trevor (Principal Investigator) Sakata, Shuzo (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2025
- Does immunomodulation promote resilience to Alzheimer’s pathology?
- Bushell, Trevor (Principal Investigator) Sakata, Shuzo (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 28-Jan-2023
Contact
Dr
Trevor
Bushell
Reader
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Email: trevor.bushell@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 2856