Newcastle University

Introduction

I am a member of the Medical Toxicology Centre ( www.ncl.ac.uk/mtc/ ) at the Wolfson Building and also at the Institute of Neuroscience and the Institute for Ageing and Health at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality, where I am a member of the Dementia and Neurodegenerative Diseases Group. Additionally, I am a member of the Complex Genetics and Pharmacogenetics Research Group.

Roles and Responsibilities

Chair, Institute of Neuroscience GM Safety Committee
Chair, Institute for Ageing and Health GM Safety Committee
Biological Safety Advisor, Institute for Ageing and Health Research Laboratories

Advisory Committee on Pesticides, Member (2012-2015)

Member of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides Medical and Toxicology Panel (2012-2015)

Qualifications 

BSc(Hons)
PhD

Previous Positions

Medical Research Council Staff Scientist, MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit, 1987-1999
Medical Reearch Council External Staff Scientist, MRC/University of Newcastle Centre Development in Clinical Brain Ageing, 2000-2005

Memberships

British Toxicology Society

Projects

• Cognitive Function After Stroke (COGFAST) study
  Project Leader(s): Professor Raj N Kalaria
• Multimorbidity in the ageing human brain - assessment by quantitative neuropathology
  Project Leader(s): Dr. Johannes Attems

Undergraduate Teaching

Biomedical Sciences BMS306 Diseases of the Nervous System

Postgraduate Teaching

MRCPsych Course
MRes in Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Genetic Basis of Common (Complex) Disease PGY807

• Lehmann DJ, Schuur M, Warden DR, Hammond N, Belbin O, Kolsch H, Lehmann MG, Wilcock GK, Brown K, Kehoe PG, Morris CM, Barker R, Coto E, Alvarez V, Deloukas P, Mateo I, Gwilliam R, Combarros O, Arias-Vasquez A, Aulchenko YS, Ikram MA, Breteler MM, van Duijn CM, Oulhaj A, Heun R, Cortina-Borja M, Morgan K, Robson K, Smith AD. Transferrin and HFE genes interact in Alzheimer's disease risk: the Epistasis Project. Neurobiology of Aging 2012, 33(1), 202.e1.
• Fitchett AE, Judge SJ, Morris CM. Using olive oil to orally dose laboratory rats. Animal Technology and Welfare 2012, 10(1), 39-41.
• Keane PC, Judge SJ, Blain PG, Morris CM. An investigation into the mechanism of trichloroethylene neurotoxicity in relation to Parkinsonism. In: Annual Congress of The British Toxicology Society. 2011, Durham: Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
• Savy CY, Morris CM, Blain PG, Judge SJ. Behavioural effects of low level exposure to organophosphate pesticides. Toxicology 2011, 290(2-3), 116.
• Baron AW, Steeg R, Morris CM, Blain PG, Judge SJ. Motor activity is a sensitive behavioural biomarker of low level exposure to the shellfish toxin, domoic acid, in male and female rats. In: Toxicology: Annual Congress of The British Toxicology Society. 2011, Durham, UK: Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
• Atkinson A, Singleton AB, Steward A, Ince PG, Perry RH, McKeith IG, Fairbairn AF, Edwardson JA, Daly AK, Morris CM. CYP2D6 is associated with Parkinson's disease but not with dementia with Lewy Bodies or Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacogenetics and Genomics 1999, 9(1), 31-36.
• Morris CM. Any old iron?. Brain 2011, 134(4), 924-927.
• Khundakar AA, Morris CM, Oakley AE, Thomas AJ. Cellular pathology within the anterior cingulate cortex of patients with late-life depression: A morphometric study. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 2011, 194(2), 184-189.
• Elstner M, Morris CM, Heim K, Bender A, Mehta D, Jaros E, Klopstock T, Meitinger T, Turnbull DM, Prokisch H. Expression analysis of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease and aging links transcriptional dysregulation of energy metabolism to cell death. Acta Neuropathologica 2011, 122(1), 803-809.
• Keane PC, Kurzawa M, Blain PG, Morris CM. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease 2011, 2011, 716871.
• Morris CM, Ballard CG, Allan L, Rowan E, Stephens S, Firbank MJ, Ford GA, Kenny RA, O'Brien JT, Kalaria RN. NOS3 gene rs1799983 polymorphism and incident dementia in elderly stroke survivors. Neurobiology of Aging 2011, 32(3), 554.e1-554.e6.
• Reeve AK, Park TK, Jaros E, Campbell GR, Lax NZ, Hepplewhite PD, Krishnan KJ, Elson JL, Morris CM, McKeith IG, Turnbull DM. Relationship Between Mitochondria and α-Synuclein: A Study of Single Substantia Nigra Neurons. Archives of Neurology 2012, 69(3), 385-393.
• Spitzer P, Klafki H, Blennow K, Buée L, Esselmann H, Herruka S, Jimenez C, Klivenyi P, Lewczuk P, Maler J, Markus K, Meyer H, Morris C, Müller T, Otto M, Parnetti L, Soininen H, Schraen S, Teunissen C, Vecsei L, Zetterberg H, Wiltfang J. CNEUPRO: Novel biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2010, 548145.
• Hanson PS, Hiscock DRR, Morris CM, Thomas AJ. Biomarkers For Depression. GB: GE Healthcare Limited, PCT/EP2009/055943, 15/05/2009.
• Hanson PS, Hiscock DRR, Morris CM, Thomas AJ. GABA Biomarkers of Depression. GB: GE Healthcare Limited, WO/2009/138500, 2009, 15/05/2008.
• Hanson PS, Hiscock DRR, Morris CM, Thomas AJ. Glutamine Biomarkers of Depression. GB: GE Healthcare Limited, PCT/EP2009/055945, 15/05/2009.
• Newton JL, Donaldson P, Parry S, Kenny RA, Smith J, Gibson AM, Morris C. Angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphisms in vasovagal syncope. Europace 2005, 7(4), 396-399.
• Vollbach H, Heun R, Morris CM, Edwardson JA, McKeith IG, Jessen F, Schulz A, Maier W, Kolsch H. APOA1 polymorphism influences risk for early-onset nonfamiliar AD. Annals of Neurology 2005, 58(3), 436-441.
• Nowotny P, Hinrichs AL, Smemo S, Kauwe JSK, Maxwell T, Holmans P, Hamshere M, Turic D, Jehu L, Hollingworth P, Moore P, Bryden L, Myers A, Doil LM, Tacey KM, Gibson AM, McKeith IG, Perry RH, Morris CM, Thal L, Morris JC, O'Donovan MC, Lovestone S, Grupe A, Hardy J, Owen MJ, Williams J, Goate A. Association studies between risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease and variants in insulin degrading enzyme. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics 2005, 136(1), 62-68.
• Wilson KE, Marouga R, Prime JE, Pashby DP, Orange PR, Crosier S, Keith AB, Lathe R, Mullins J, Estibeiro P, Bergling H, Hawkins E, Morris CM. Comparative proteomic analysis using samples obtained with laser microdissection and saturation dye labelling. Proteomics 2005, 5(15), 3851-3858.
• Newton JL, Kerr S, Pairman J, McLaren A, Norton M, Kenny RA, Morris CM. Familial neurocardiogenic (vasovagal) syncope. American Journal of Medical Genetics: Part A 2005, 133(2), 176-179.
• Rowan E, Morris CM, Stephens S, Ballard C, Dickinson H, Rao H, Saxby BK, McLaren AT, Kalaria RN, Kenny RA. Impact of hypertension and apolipoprotein E4 on poststroke cognition in subjects >75 years of age. Stroke 2005, 36(9), 1864-1868.
• Myers AJ, Kaleem M, Marlowe L, Pittman AM, Lees AJ, Fung HC, Duckworth J, Leung D, Gibson A, Morris CM, de Silva R, Hardy J. The H1c haplotype at the MAPT locus is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Human Molecular Genetics 2005, 14(16), 2399-2404.
• Morris CM, Wilson KE. High throughput approaches in neuroscience. In: International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience: International Conference on Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection. 2004, Leipzig, Germany: Pergamon.
• Margallo-Lana M, Morris CM, Gibson AM, Tan AL, Kay DWK, Tyrer SP, Moore B, Ballard CG. Influence of the amyloid precursor protein locus on dementia in Down syndrome. Neurology 2004, 62(11), 1996-1998.
• Gibson AM, Edwardson JA, Turnbull DM, McKeith IG, Morris CM, Chinnery PF. No evidence of an association between the T16189C mtDNA variant and late onset dementia. Journal of Medical Genetics 2004, 41(1), e7.
• Johnson J, Hague SM, Hanson M, Gibson A, Wilson KE, Evans EW, Singleton AA, McInerney-Leo A, Nussbaum RL, Hernandez DG, Gallardo M, McKeith IG, Burn DJ, Ryu M, Hellstrom O, Ravina B, Eerola J, Perry RH, Jaros E, Tienari P, Weiser R, Gwinn-Hardy K, Morris CM, Hardy J, Singleton AB. SNCA multiplication is not a common cause of Parkinson disease or dementia with Lewy bodies. Neurology 2004, 63(3), 554-556.
• Heckmann JM, Low WC, Morris CM, de Villiers C, Rutherfoord S, Ramesar R, Kalaria R. Novel presenilin 1 mutation with profound neurofibrillary pathology in an indigenous South African (Xhoas) family with early onset familial Alzheimer's disease. In: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry: Joint Congress of the Association of British Neurologists/Neurological Association of South Africa. 2003, Cape Town, South Africa: BMJ Group.
• Singleton AB, Wharton A, O'Brien KK, Walker MP, McKeith IG, Ballard CG, O'Brien J, Perry RH, Ince PG, Edwardson JA, Morris CM. Clinical and neuropathological correlates of apolipoprotein E genotype in dementia with Lewy bodies. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2002, 14(3-4), 167-175.
• Fey C, Curtis ARJ, Chinnery PF, Lombes A, Morris CM, Curtis A, Burn J. Did neuroferritinopathy originate in France?. In: European Journal of Human Genetics: European Society of Human Genetics European Human Genetics Conference in Conjuction With European Meeting on Psychosocial Aspects of Genetics. 2002, Strasbourg, France: Nature Publishing Group.
• Curtis ARJ, Fey C, Morris CM, Bindoff LA, Ince PG, Chinnery PF, Coulthard A, Jackson MJ, Jackson AP, McHale DP, Hay D, Barker WA, Markham AF, Bates D, Curtis A, Burn J. Mutation in the gene encoding ferritin light polypeptide causes dominant adult-onset basal ganglia disease. Nature Genetics 2001, 28(4), 350-354.
• Khan N, Graham E, Dixon P, Morris C, Mander A, Clayton D, Vaughan J, Quinn N, Lees A, Daniel S, Wood N, de Silva R. Parkinson's disease is not associated with combined alpha-synuclein/apolipoprotein E susceptibility genotype. Annals of Neurology 2001, 49(5), 665-668.
• Leake A, Morris CM, Whateley J. Brain matrix metalloproteinase 1 levels are elevated in Alzheimer's disease. Neuroscience Letters 2000, 291(3), 201-203.
• Twist SJ, Taylor GA, Weddell A, Weightman DR, Edwardson JA, Morris CM. Brain oestradiol and testosterone levels in Alzheimer's disease. Neuroscience Letters 2000, 286(1), 1-4.
• Tyrer SP, Margallo-Lana ML, Moore PD, Kay DW, Perry RH, Berney TP, Morris C. Factors associated with cognitive decline in Down syndrome. In: 11th World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID). 2000, Seattle, Washington, USA: John Wiley & Sons.
• Thomas NJ, Morris CM, Scaravilli F, Johansson J, Rossor M, De Lange R, St Clair D, Nicoll J, Blank C, Coulthard A, Bushby K, Ince PG, Burn D, Kalaria RN. Hereditary vascular dementia linked to Notch 3 mutations: CADASIL in British families. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2000, 903, 293-298.
• Kalaria RN, Cookson NJ, Mizuno T, Oakley A, Singleton AB, Morris CM, Coulthard A, Blank SC, Bushby KMD, Nicoll J, De Lange RPJ, Burn DJ, St Clair D. Microvascular pathology in familial multi-infarct dementia or CADASIL: implications for cerebral blood flow. In: Fukuuchi, Y; Tomita, M; Koto, A, ed. Ischemic Blood Flow in the Brain. Tokyo, New York: Springer, 2000, pp.431-442.
• Singleton AB, Hall R, Ballard CG, Perry RH, Xuereb JH, Rubinsztein DC, Tysoe C, Matthews P, Cordell B, Kumar-Singh S, De Jonghe C, Cruts M, van Broeckhoven C, Morris CM. Pathology of early-onset Alzheimer's disease cases bearing the Thr113-114ins presenilin-1 mutation. Brain 2000, 123(12), 2467-2474.
• Kurzawa-Akanbi M, Hanson PS, Blain PG, Lett DJ, McKeith IG, Chinnery PF, Morris CM. Glucocerebrosidase Mutations alter the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes in Lewy body disease. Journal of Neurochemistry 2012, 123(2), 298-309.
• Boulton SJ, Keane PC, Morris CM, McNeil CJ, Manning P. Real-time monitoring of superoxide generation and cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma mitochondria induced by 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline. Redox Report 2012, 17(3), 108-114.
• Fey C, Curtis ARJ, Chinnery PF, Morris CM, Ince PG, Coulthard A, Jackson MJ, Barker WA, Curtis A, Burn J. A dominant FTL mutation causes a novel and pleiotropic basal ganglia disorder that can mimic torsion-dystonia, Huntington's Disease and parkinsonism. American Journal of Human Genetics 2001, 69(4), 97.
• Kalaria RN, Ince PG, Kenny RA, McKeith IG, Morris CM, O'Brien JT, Perry EK, Perry RH, Edwardson JA. Multiple substrates of late-onset dementia: implications for brain protection. Ageing Vulnerability: Causes and Interventions: Novartis Foundation Symposium 235 2001, 235, 49-65.
• Kalaria RN, Ballard CG, Ince PG, Kenny RA, McKeith IG, Morris CM, O'Brien JT, Perry EK, Perry RH, Edwardson JA. Multiple substrates of late-onset dementia: Implications for brain protection. Ageing Vulnerability: Causes and Interventions: Novartis Foundation Symposium 235 2001, 235, 49-65.
• Curtis A, Fey C, Morris CM, Ince PG, Bindoff LA, Jackson MJ, Coulthard A, Curtis A, Burn J. Mutation in ferritin light chain causes dominant adult onset basal ganglia disease. In: Journal of Medical Genetics. 2001, BMJ Group.
• Curtis ARJ, Fey C, Morris CM, Bindoff LA, Ince PG, Chinnery PF, Coulthard A, Jackson MJ, Jackson AP, McHale DP, Hay D, Barker WA, Markham AF, Bates D, Curtis A, Burn J. Mutation in ferritin light chain causes dominant adult onset neurodegeneration. Nature Genetics 2001, 28(4), 350-354.
• Ballard C, O'Brien J, Morris CM, Barber R, Swann A, Neill D, McKeith I. The progression of cognitive impairment in dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2001, 16(5), 499-503.
• De Jonghe C, Cruts M, Rogaeva EA, Tysoe C, Singleton A, Vanderstichele H, Meschino W, Dermaut D, Vanderhoeven I, Backhovens H, Vanmechelen E, Morris CM, Hardy J, Rubinsztein DC, St George-Hyslop PH, Van Broeckhoven C. Aberrant splicing in the presenilin-1 intron 4 mutation causes presenile Alzheimer's disease by increased A beta 42 secretion. Human Molecular Genetics 1999, 8(8), 1529-1540.
• Nalls MA, Duran R, Lopez G, Kurzawa-Akanbi M, McKeith IG, Chinnery PF, Morris CM, Theuns J, Crosiers D, Cras P, Engelborghs S, DeDeyn PP, Van Broeckhoven C, Mann DM, Snowden J, Pickering-Brown S, Halliwell N, Davidson Y, Gibbons L, Harris J, Sheerin UM, Bras J, Hardy J, Clark L, Marder K, Honig LS, Berg D, Maetzler W, Brockmann K, Gasser T, Novellino F, Quattrone A, Annesi G, De Marco EV, Rogaeva E, Masellis M, Black SE, Bilbao JM, Foroud T, Ghetti B, Nichols WC, Pankratz N, Halliday G, Lesage S, Klebe S, Durr A, Duyckaerts C, Brice A, Giasson BI, Trojanowski JQ, Hurtig HI, Tayebi N, Landazabal C, Knight MA, Keller M, Singleton AB, Wolfsberg TG, Sidransky E. A Multicenter Study of Glucocerebrosidase Mutations in Dementia With Lewy Bodies. JAMA Neurology 2013, (epub ahead of print).
• Walker L, Thomas AJ, Morris CM, Attems J. Quantification of pathology in mixed Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. In: 114th Meeting of the British Neuropathological Society: Symposium on Advances in Motor Neuron Diseases. 2013, London: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Baron AW, Rushton SP, Rens N, Morris CM, Blain PG, Judge SJ. Sex differences in effects of low level domoic acid exposure. NeuroToxicology 2013, 34, 1-8.
• Hanson PS, Blain PG, Mulligan J, Morris CM. Brominated flame retardants - Neurotoxic to humans?. In: Health Protection. 2012, University of Warwick.
• Vergani F, Morris CM, Mitchell P, Duffau H. Raymond de Vieussens and his contribution to the study of white matter anatomy Historical vignette. Journal of Neurosurgery 2012, 117(6), 1070-1075.
• Elstner M, Muller SK, Leidolt L, Laub C, Krieg L, Schlaudraff F, Liss B, Morris C, Turnbull DM, Masliah E, Prokisch H, Klopstock T, Bender A. Neuromelanin, neurotransmitter status and brainstem location determine the differential vulnerability of catecholaminergic neurons to mitochondrial DNA deletions. Molecular Brain 2011, 4, 43.