Newcastle University

Qualifications

2005 Home Office Modules 1-3
2006 BSc (hons) Pharmacology (2:1), Newcastle University
2006 Home Office Module 4
2009 PhD 'Detection and alleviation of pain and distress in laboratory rodents' Newcastle University

 My PhD was concerned with the detection and alleviation of pain and distress in laboratory rodents, predominately focussing on post-operative pain. I used manual and automated behavioural scoring methods alongside nociceptive and anxiety testing methods in order to gain knowledge of the pain and distress surgery may cause to laboratory rodents.  The overall objective of this project was in order to identify suitable analgesic regimes to employ for rodents undergoing surgical procedures thus improving the welfare of rodents used in various aspects of medical research.

Current work focuses on determining if mice used in cancer research experience pain, and if so, to determine when this occurs and its severity. Using automated behaviour analysis alongside conditioned place preference and nociceptive testing we hope to identify specifically when pain does present in order to refine end points for studies and improve welfare.

• Leach MC, Klaus K, Miller AL, ScottodiPerotolo M, Sotocinal S, Flecknell PA. The assessment of post-vasectomy pain in mice using behaviour and the mouse grimace scale. PLoS One 2012, 7(4), e35656.
• Miller AL, Flecknell PA, Leach MC, Roughan JV. A comparison of a manual and an automated behavioural analysis method for assessing post-operative pain in mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2011, 131(3-4), 138-144.
• Miller A, Richardson C. Rodent analgesia. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice 2011, 14(1), 81-92.
• Leach MC, Bailey HE, Dickinson AL, Roughan JV, Flecknell PA. A preliminary investigation into the practicality of use and duration of action of slow-release preparations of morphine and hydromorphone in laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 2010, 44(1), 59-65.
• Miller A. Assessment of rodent behavioural analysis software. Animal Technology and Welfare 2010, 9(1), 53-55.
• ScottodiPerrotolo M, Miller AL, Leach MC, Flecknell PA. Mesure de la fiabilité et de la precision des expressions facials pour évaluer la douler chez la souris. STAL 2010, 36(4), 49-58.
• Dickinson AL, Leach MC, Flecknell PA. Influence of early neonatal experience on nociceptive responses and analgesic effects in rats. Laboratory Animals 2009, 43(1), 11-16.
• Dickinson AL, Leach MC, Flecknell PA. The analgesic effects of oral paracetamol in two strains of mice undergoing vasectomy. Laboratory Animals 2009, 43(4), 357-361.