Biography

Professor William T. (Billy) O'Connor is Foundation Chair and Head of Teaching and Research in Physiology at the University of Limerick Graduate Entry Medical School, Ireland. Before joining Faculty in 2007 he was Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and Head of Neuroscience Research at University College Dublin where he established a brain research unit in 1995. His research focus includes an understanding of illness of mind and brain as a disorder of the nerve network, and in the emerging field of neuroeducation - the brain science of learning -, which arose from his long-standing interest in education, particularly those factors which allow the human brain to learn optimally. Professor O'Connor has published more than 450 research papers, review article, book chapters, editorials and one book, and has received numerous awards for his research. Professor O'Connor retains a strong commitment to scientific outreach and communication. This is best illustrated through his popular Inside-the-Brain website, Twitter and Facebook accounts which report on the latest findings from the world of brain research.

Research Interests

Multitudes of different neurotransmitters are used to relay messages between nerve cells in the brain. Using microdialysis (via a specially constructed and very small artificial blood vessel) I monitor the release of neurotransmitters from nerve cells in those nerve circuits mediating movement and emotion. The aim is to understand the role of neurotransmitter release in these nerve circuits thereby leading to new treatments for Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia and head trauma. All studies are performed in the intact brain of animals and man. During the past 15 years my research has focussed on the application of microdialysis to the study of neurotransmitter release in the intact conscious brain of animals and man although other topics, namely the neurpharmacology of neurological and psychiatric disorders, analytical chemistry, data management and neuroinformatics have attracted my attention and continue to do so. A more recent initiative is the development of a neurotrauma model in the rat, which mimics the brain damage associated with mild and severe head injuries in the human. A neuroinformatics workbench is also being developed whereby the findings from the microdialysis studies obtained from the rat is pooled into a biologically based, object driven computer model for probing limbic and motor nerve circuitry I believe that this approach will lead to the prediction of better and safer drugs for the treatment of brain damage and mental illnesses in the human.

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

2015

An in vivo microdialysis characterization of the transient changes in the interstitial dialysate concentration of metabolites and cytokines in human skeletal muscle in response to insertion of a microdialysis probe

Carson, BP,McCormack, WG,Conway, C,Cooke, J,Saunders, J,O'Connor, WT,Jakeman, PM (2015) An in vivo microdialysis characterization of the transient changes in the interstitial dialysate concentration of metabolites and cytokines in human skeletal muscle in response to insertion of a microdialysis probe. Cytokine :327-333

2015

An in vivo microdialysis characterization of the transient changes in the interstitial dialysate concentration of metabolites and cytokines in human skeletal muscle in response to insertion of a microdialysis probe

Carson, B. P. and McCormack, W. G. and Conway, C. and Cooke, J. and Saunders, J. and O'Connor, W. T. and Jakeman, P. M. (2015) An in vivo microdialysis characterization of the transient changes in the interstitial dialysate concentration of metabolites and cytokines in human skeletal muscle in response to insertion of a microdialysis probe. Cytokine :327-33

2012

Rapid quantification of histamine in human psoriatic plaques using microdialysis and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Guihen, E; Ho, WL; Hogan, AM; O'Connell, ML; Leahy, MJ; Ramsay, B; O'Connor, WT (2012) Rapid quantification of histamine in human psoriatic plaques using microdialysis and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Journal Of Chromatography B-Analytical Technologies In The Biomedical And Life Sciences :119-124

2012

Rapid quantification of histamine in human psoriatic plaques using microdialysis and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Guihen, E., Ho, W. L., Hogan, A. M., O'Connell, M. L., Leahy, M. J., Ramsay, B., O'Connor, W. T. (2012) Rapid quantification of histamine in human psoriatic plaques using microdialysis and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Journal Of Chromatography B-Analytical Technologies In The Biomedical And Life Sciences :119-124

2012

Striatal NTS1, dopamine D2 and NMDA receptor regulation of pallidal GABA and glutamate release - a dual-probe microdialysis study in the intranigral 6-hydroxydopamine unilaterally lesioned rat

Ferraro, L,O'Connor, WT,Beggiato, S,Tomasini, MC,Fuxe, K,Tanganelli, S,Antonelli, T (2012) Striatal NTS1, dopamine D2 and NMDA receptor regulation of pallidal GABA and glutamate release - a dual-probe microdialysis study in the intranigral 6-hydroxydopamine unilaterally lesioned rat. European Journal Of Neuroscience :207-220

2006

'NAAG peptidase inhibitor increases dialysate NAAG and reduces glutamate, aspartate and GABA levels in the dorsal hippocampus following fluid percussion injury in the rat

Zhong, C; Zhao, XR; Van, KC; Bzdega, T; Smyth, A; Zhou, J; Kozikowski, AP; Jiang, JY; O'Connor, WT; Berman, RF; Neale, JH; Lyeth, BG (2006) 'NAAG peptidase inhibitor increases dialysate NAAG and reduces glutamate, aspartate and GABA levels in the dorsal hippocampus following fluid percussion injury in the rat. Journal Of Neurochemistry :1015-1025

1996

The secretory trypsin inhibitor like-peptide, PEC-60 increases dopamine D-2 receptor agonist induced inhibition of GABA release in the dorsolateral neostriatum of the awake freely moving rat. An in vivo microdialysis study

Rimondini, R; O'Connor, WT; Sillard, R; Mutt, V; Ungerstedt, U; Fuxe, K (1996) The secretory trypsin inhibitor like-peptide, PEC-60 increases dopamine D-2 receptor agonist induced inhibition of GABA release in the dorsolateral neostriatum of the awake freely moving rat. An in vivo microdialysis study. Regulatory Peptides

1996

Functional neuroanatomy of the nigrostriatal and striatonigral pathways as studied with dual probe microdialysis in the awake rat .2. Evidence for striatal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor regulation of ....

Ferre, S; O'Connor, WT; Svenningsson, P; Bjorklund, L; Morari, M; O'Connor, WT; Ungerstedt, U; Bianchi, C; Fuxe, K (1996) Functional neuroanatomy of the nigrostriatal and striatonigral pathways as studied with dual probe microdialysis in the awake rat .2. Evidence for striatal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor regulation of ..... Neuroscience

1996

The vigilance promoting drug modafinil decreases GABA release in the medial preoptic area and in the posterior hypothalamus of the awake rat: Possible involvement of the serotonergic 5-HT3 receptor

Ferraro, L; Tanganelli, S; O'Connor, WT; Antonelli, T; Rambert, F; Fuxe, K (1996) The vigilance promoting drug modafinil decreases GABA release in the medial preoptic area and in the posterior hypothalamus of the awake rat: Possible involvement of the serotonergic 5-HT3 receptor. Neuroscience Letters

1994

N-Methyl-D-Aspartic Acid Biphasically Regulates The Biochemical And Electrophysiological Response Of A10 Dopamine Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area - In-Vivo Microdialysis And In-Vitro Electrophysiological Studies

Wang, T; O'Connor, WT; Ungerstedt, U; French, ED (1994) N-Methyl-D-Aspartic Acid Biphasically Regulates The Biochemical And Electrophysiological Response Of A10 Dopamine Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area - In-Vivo Microdialysis And In-Vitro Electrophysiological Studies. Brain Research

1994

PEC-60 and related peptides as hormones in the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system and as generalized cotransmitter in catecholamine neurons

Fuxe, K.,Tanganelli, S.,Goldstein, M.,Staines, W.,Agnati, L.F.,Mutt, V.,Metsis, M.,Ferré, S.,O'Connor, W.T.,Tinner, B.,Cintra, A.,Östensson, C.G.,Efendic, S.,Agerberth, B. (1994) PEC-60 and related peptides as hormones in the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system and as generalized cotransmitter in catecholamine neurons. Biomed. Res. :103-113

1992

Neuropeptides, Excitatory Amino-Acid And Adenosine A2 Receptors Regulate D2 Receptors Via Intramembrane Receptor-Receptor Interactions - Relevance For Parkinsons-Disease And Schizophrenia

Fuxe, K; Agnati, LF; Voneuler, G; Tanganelli, S; O'Connor, WT; Ferre, S; Hedlund, P; Zoli, M (1992) Neuropeptides, Excitatory Amino-Acid And Adenosine A2 Receptors Regulate D2 Receptors Via Intramembrane Receptor-Receptor Interactions - Relevance For Parkinsons-Disease And Schizophrenia. Neurochemistry International

1992

Neuronal dependence of extracellular dopamine, acetylchoine, glutamate, aspartate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) measured simultaneously in the neostriatum of the rat with in vivo microdialysis: Recriprocal interactions.

Herera-Marschitz, M; Meana, JJ; O'Connor, WT; Goiny, M; Reid, MS; Ungerstedt, U (1992) Neuronal dependence of extracellular dopamine, acetylchoine, glutamate, aspartate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) measured simultaneously in the neostriatum of the rat with in vivo microdialysis: Recriprocal interactions.. Amino Acids :157-179

Books

2001

Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience

O'Connor, WT; Lowry, JL; O'Connor, JJ; O'Neill, R (2001) Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience. : Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on In Vivo Methods

Book Chapters

Edited Books

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Other Journals

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Conference Publications

Conference Contributions

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Published Reports

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Editorials

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Book Reviews

Other Publications

1994

The ventral striopallidal GABA pathway as a target for the action of antipsychotics and adenosine A2 receptor agonists. In vivo microdialysis in awake freely moving rats. Schizophrenia 1994, Exploring the Spectrum of Psychosis,.

O'Connor, WT; Ferre, S; Fuxe, K; Ungerstedt, U (1994) The ventral striopallidal GABA pathway as a target for the action of antipsychotics and adenosine A2 receptor agonists. In vivo microdialysis in awake freely moving rats. Schizophrenia 1994, Exploring the Spectrum of Psychosis,..