Staff Profile

Roles and Responsibilities

Director of Education: Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute

Degree Programme Director: MSc Clinical Research

Degree Programme Director: MSc Oncology and Palliative Care

Qualifications

DPhil (Oxford University, UK, 1997)

BPharm (Rhodes University, South Africa, 1987)

Senior Fellow HEA

Memberships

British Pharmacological Society
British Association for Psychopharmacology

I lecture pharmacology and psychopharmacology on a number of degree courses including, MPharm, BSc Honours in Pharmacology, BSc Honours in Biomedical Sciences, BDS, MRes and MBBS.

I am Degree Programme Director for a suit of postgraduate distance learning programmes including, MSc in Clinical Research,  and MSc in Oncology and Palliative Care

I am also Director of Education for Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute

Research Interests

Investigating the effect of lithium on dopamine signalling through glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β)
The aim of this study is to further our understanding of the mechanism of action of the mood stabiliser lithium. Two neurobiological effects of the mood stabiliser lithium which may be relevant to its therapeutic mechanism of action are attenuation of dopamine neurotransmission and inhibition of the intracellular signalling enzyme glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β). Recent reports that GSK-3β is involved dopamine receptor signalling suggest that these two neurobiological effects of lithium may be related. In this project we are investigating the effect of lithium on dopamine receptor signalling through GSK-3β.

• Halff EF, Cotel MC, Natesan S, McQuade R, Ottley CJ, Srivastava DP, Howes OD, Vernon AC. Effects of chronic exposure to haloperidol, olanzapine or lithium on SV2A and NLGN synaptic puncta in the rat frontal cortex. Behavioural Brain Research 2021, 405, 113203.
• McQuade R, Kometa S, Brown J, Bevitt D, Hall J. Research project assessments and supervisor marking: maintaining academic rigour through robust reconciliation processes. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education 2020, 45(8), 1181-1191.
• Savage MA, McQuade R, Thiele A. Segregated fronto-cortical and midbrain connections in the mouse and their relation to approach and avoidance orienting behaviors. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2017, 525(8), 1980-1999.
• Savy CY, Fitchett AE, McQuade R, Gartside SE, Morris CM, Blain PG, Judge SJ. Low-level repeated exposure to diazinon and chlorpyrifos decrease anxiety-like behaviour in adult male rats as assessed by marble burying behaviour. Neurotoxicology 2015, 50, 149-156.
• Wallace J, Marston HM, McQuade R, Gartside SE. Evidence that aetiological risk factors for psychiatric disorders cause distinct patterns of cognitive deficits. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2014, 24(6), 879-889.
• Wallace J, Marston HM, McQuade R, Gartside SE. Evidence that the attentional set shifting test in rats can be applied in repeated testing paradigms. Journal of Psychopharmacology 2014, 28(7), 691-696.
• Wallace J, Jackson RK, Shotton TL, Munjal I, McQuade R, Gartside SE. Characterization of electrically evoked field potentials in the medial prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex of the rat: Modulation by monoamines. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2013, n/a, n/a.
• Ayissi Mbomo R, Gartside SE, Ngo Bum E, Njikam N, Okello E, McQuade R. Effect of Mimosa pudica (Linn.) extract on anxiety behaviour and GABAergic regulation of 5-HT neuronal activity in the mouse. Journal of Psychopharmacology 2012, 26(4), 575-583.
• Wallace J, McQuade R, Marston HM, Gartside SE. Subchronic flattening of the glucocorticoid rhythm induces performance deficits in the attentional set shifting task. In: Journal of Psychopharmacology: Summer Meeting of the British Association for Psychopharmacology. 2011, Harrogate: Sage Publications Ltd.
• Minton GO, Young AH, McQuade R, Fairchild G, Ingram CD, Gartside SE. Profound changes in dopaminergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex in response to flattening of the diurnal glucocorticoid rhythm: implications for bipolar disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2009, 34(10), 2265-2274.
• Ferrie LJ, Gartside SE, Martin KM, Young AH, McQuade R. Effect of chronic lithium treatment on D_2/3 autoreceptor regulation of dopaminergic function in the rat. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 2008, 90(2), 218-225.
• Young AH, McQuade R. Encephalopathy with combined lithium-risperidone administration. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2008, 117(5), 396.
• Gartside SE, Cole AJ, Williams AP, McQuade R, Judge SJ. AMPA and NMDA receptor regulation of firing activity in 5-HT neurons of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. European Journal of Neuroscience 2007, 25(10), 3001-3008.
• Ferrie L, Young AH, McQuade R. Effect of lithium and lithium withdrawal on potassium-evoked dopamine release and tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the rat. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology 2006, 9(6), 729-735.
• Ferrie L, Young AH, McQuade R. Effect of chronic lithium and withdrawal from chronic lithium on presynaptic dopamine function in the rat. Journal of Psychopharmacology 2005, 19(3), 229-234.
• McQuade R, Leitch MM, Gartside SE, Young AH. Effect of chronic lithium treatment on glucocorticoid and 5-HT1A receptor messenger RNA in hippocampal and dorsal raphe nucleus regions of the rat brain. Journal of Psychopharmacology 2004, 18(4), 496-501.
• Leitch MM, Ingram CD, Young AH, McQuade R, Gartside SE. Flattening the corticosterone rhythm attenuates 5-HT_1A autoreceptor function in the rat: relevance for depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2003, 28(1), 119-125.
• Gartside SE, Leitch MM, McQuade R, Swarbrick DJ. Flattening the glucocorticoid rhythm causes changes in hippocampal expression of messenger RNAs coding structural and functional proteins: implications for aging and depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2003, 28(5), 821-829.
• McQuade R, Young AH, McLaughin DP, Ahmed FP, Stamford JA. Maudsley reactive and nonreactive rats exhibit differences in brain glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor mRNA. In: Journal of Psychopharmacology: Summer Meeting of the British Association for Psychopharmacology. 2003, Cambridge, UK: Sage Publications Ltd.
• Leitch MM, McQuade R, Gartside SE, Young AH. Corticosterone rhythm regulates 5-HT1A autoreceptor function and glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus. In: Journal of Psychopharmacology: Summer Meeting of the British Association for Psychopharmacology. 2002, Harrogate: Sage Publications Ltd.
• Leitch MM, McQuade R, Gartside SE, Young AH. Corticosterone, rhythm regulates 5-HT1A autoreceptor function and glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus. In: Journal of Psychopharmacology: Summer Meeting of the British Association for Psychopharmacology. 2002, Harrogate: Sage Publications Ltd.
• McQuade R, Clare Stanford S. Differences in central noradrenergic and behavioural responses of Maudsley non-reactive and Maudsley reactive inbred rats on exposure to an aversive novel environment. Journal of Neurochemistry 2001, 76(1), 21-28.
• McQuade R, Stanford SC. A microdialysis study of the noradrenergic response in rat frontal cortex and hypothalamus to a conditioned cue for aversive, naturalistic environmental stimuli. Psychopharmacology 2000, 148(2), 201-208.
• McQuade R, Young AH. Future therapeutic targets in mood disorders: the glucocorticoid receptor. British Journal of Psychiatry 2000, 177, 390-395.
• McQuade R, Creton D, Stanford SC. Effect of novel environmental stimuli on rat behaviour and central noradrenaline function measured by in vivo microdialysis. Psychopharmacology 1999, 145(4), 393-400.
• Hajos-Korcsok E, McQuade R, Sharp T. Influence of 5-HT1A receptors on central noradrenergic activity: microdialysis studies using (+-) MDL 73005EF and its enantiomers. Neuropharmacology 1999, 38(2), 299-306.
• T. Sharp, R. McQuade, S. Gartside, V. Umbers and M. Hajos. Antidepressant action on anatomically distinct 5-HT pathways: Combined electrophysiological and neurochemical studies. Journal of Neurochemistry 1996, 66, S35-S35.