Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience Research (UoA4)

We link world-leading discovery Neuroscience with innovative translational studies. We develop diagnostic tools and interventions to benefit patients.
 
Key topics include:

• cognitive function in health and disease, which has pioneered research into fundamental aspects of vision, hearing, attention, decision making. This includes their links to dementia and mental health
• motor studies in animals and humans informing novel technologies for diagnosing and treating movement disorders
• Neurological Disorders, including ground-breaking research into epilepsy, stroke and motor neuron disease
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Neurodisability & Autism, providing interventions for autistic adults and acquired brain injury in children
  
  

We are grouped around three main research areas:

• Lewy Body Disease spectrum, to improve diagnosis and management of patients with this disorder. Newcastle is recognised as a world leader in this field by Expertscape.com
• Parkinson’s disease, including identifying gait as a predictive biomarker
• Affective Disorders, including identifying potential therapeutic targets in bipolar disorder
  
  

Our focuses include:

• human and animal behaviour. This ranges from understanding the evolutionary origins of obesity to collision avoidance in locusts
• forensic psychology, where our research underpinned the introduction of two new Bills into UK law

High effectiveness

The most severe type of stroke, large arterial occlusion, accounts for a large amount of the stroke disability burden.

Newcastle confirmed the high effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy in treating large arterial occlusion. These findings came via randomised trial, systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

We also identified that 8,000 stroke patients in England are eligible for thrombectomy every year. We modelled the best service configuration of thrombectomy units to provide care to these patients.

Treatment growth

This research informed national commissioning of thrombectomy services. It underpinned planned changes in the numbers of units providing thrombectomy care.

It also increased the number of thrombectomies performed in England from around 150 in 2015 to around 1,600 in 2019-20.

The number of thrombectomy referrals did reduce by ~28% during COVID-19 pandemic peaks.

Effective theft deterrent

Newcastle University conducted pioneering field experiments into eye imagery. Findings showed eye imagery affects behaviour, which then promotes pro-social behaviour.

Posters displaying 'watching eyes' reduced cycle thefts 63% compared to the same period the year before. We placed them at three cycle racks on the university campus for 12 months.

Newcastle University academics worked with police forces across the UK on this project. They displayed watching eyes posters as cheap, simple and effective cycle theft interventions.

Wider adoption

A German police force has also tested watching eyes posters as a cycle theft deterrent in their region.

Other UK universities have introduced watching eyes posters to combat cycle theft. Personal protective equipment companies produced eye imagery posters after learning of Newcastle research.

Treating drooling in neurodisability cases

Neurodevelopmental conditions account for the majority of disability in children. A common symptom is severe and chronic drooling. 

Researchers associate drooling with:

• social embarrassment
• increased carer burden
• risk of pneumonia

The Newcastle-led Drooling Reduction Intervention identified some important findings.

One type of medication used to treat drooling, glycopyrronium bromide (GBr) had fewer side effects. They included dry mouth, pupil dilation and seizures, compared to hyoscine, the most prescribed treatment in the UK. 

Approval and increased use

This research informed a NICE recommendation that GBr should become a first-line treatment, like hyoscine. Newcastle research underpinned UK approval of two proprietary GBr drugs. One of which received further European approval. 

Following licensing, there is now increasing use of GBr in practice in preference to hyoscine.

Benefits of speech therapy

Dysarthria affects over 10,500 children in the UK with cerebral palsy. This is a group of speech disorders that result from poor control of muscles of the chest, throat, face and mouth. 

Newcastle research investigated the benefits of intensive speech therapy. It mainly focused on breath control.

This found significant increases in children’s intelligibility. It increased their confidence and improved participation in communicative interactions.

Newcastle leading by example 

The findings informed national NICE guidelines and these have already started to change practice.

A survey of speech therapists found that they were now focusing on therapies that Newcastle found to be effective. 

The research has also underpinned international undergraduate teaching, including the authoritative textbook.

We have purpose-designed, state of the art facilities. The Henry Wellcome Building accommodates the Centre for Translational Systems Neuroscience. It was purpose-built, 2002, and extended in 2012 to double the size. It is funded in part by £1M from The Reece Foundation. The investment provided by NuTH allowed for the expansion of research space and specialist labs in the Sir James Spence Institute.

The Health Innovation Neighbourhood provides space for active collaborations with citizens and houses clinical research activities from:

• our NIHR Biomedical Research Centre
• Newcastle Brain Tissue Resource
• Clinical Ageing Research Unit (CARU)
• Centre for In Vivo Imaging
• Wolfson Research Building

We cultivate a supportive, inclusive, fair research environment. The faculty holds Athena Swan Silver status (2019, led by Rowe). The former Institute of Neuroscience held Silver status in 2015. Other key achievements include:

• members of UoA4 chair the NU Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Advisory Group and the 'For Families' project to make NU more family-friendly
• five UoA4 researchers, including two ECRs, are members of the ALBA network to promote EDI in brain science research
• women have key roles within both the Faculty and University. Roles held include University Dean of Research Culture and Strategy, Dean of Advancement, Dean of Research, Faculty Director of EDI, Population and Health Sciences Institute Director, and two former Institute Directors
• NU is a member of the Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter and the Business Disability Forum. It is also a Global Stonewall Diversity Champion

We support our emerging talent through various training programmes within and beyond the Faculty. We aim to develop research and translational skills. NU offers various non-clinical fellowship schemes, including:

• faculty fellowships
• University Research Fellowships
• University Academic Track fellowships

Each fellowship supports different levels of seniority and needs. They support the transition to independence and strive to develop clinical academic researchers. Our ECR community is diverse, with 62% women, 29% from BAME backgrounds and 16% international. It is also successful, with 127 PhDs awarded.

Post-doctoral successes are celebrated at an annual symposium, organised by our Post-Doctoral Committee. At which one ECR winning the best paper prize and appointed ECR keynote speaker at the inaugural symposium. Across NU, we promote research excellence amongst all staff with full compliance with the Research Concordats. Example success stories include the UKRI Future Leaders award to Young. 

We strive to create an interdisciplinary research centre. We encourage collaboration in which experimental and computational scientists, engineers, and clinicians collaborate. They strive to tackle major leading-edge questions and develop research tools that transform neuroscience in the following areas:

• cognitive systems. The understanding of the basis of cognition and its link to dementia and mental health
• artificial intelligence for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders
• neuro-medical engineering for implants, assistive and wearable technology
• the development of novel animal models that harnesses our unique rodent-to-primate-to-human translational capabilities
• translational to applied research enhancing understanding and treatment of dementias and mental illness
• understand how mental navigation of abstract concepts is supported by cerebellar-medial temporal- and prefrontal networks
• develop molecular and opto-electronic tools to address clinical needs in epilepsy and motor dysfunction
• understand how sensation and perception of basic features link to high-level cognition

We will continue to create a work environment that embraces equality, diversity and inclusivity. We establish a research culture based on openness. Talent at whatever level is nurtured and creative thinking can thrive.