My research is focussed on understanding the biology of neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders. I lead the Brain and Behaviour Lab at Portsmouth, which I established in 2015, act as research lead in the Zebrafish Research Facility. I have published more than 80 research articles, reviews and chapters in this area.

My group primarily use zebrafish as a model species to study interactions between molecular (genetic/epigenetic) and environmental (e.g., alcohol, stress) factors, and the associated neural circuits, that underlie several neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders. We then translate these finding to humans, and have an active clinical research programme (with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust). Our approach is theoretically guided by the principles of precision medicine, i.e., that understanding the biology of conditions will help develop individualised treatments for patients.  We employ a broad range of research methodologies, spanning psychopharmacology, neuroscience, genetics, psychology (and animal behaviour) and public health. 

We currently receive funding from NC3Rs; Dstl (Porton Down); INTERREG Channel (EU); CAPES Foundation (Brazil); Foundation for Liver Research; NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN); ESRC [via South Coast DTP]; Alzheimer’s Research UK; Petroleum Technology Development Fund (Nigeria).