BA, Zoology, 1981 Cambridge University

PhD, Neuroscience, 1984, Bristol University

CTO & Director Sarissa Biomedical Ltd

Scientific Advisory Board of the British Neuroscience Association

Associate Editor, Purinergic Signalling

Member of the Society for Neuroscience

Member of the British Neuroscience Association

The overall theme of our group is how neurons communicate with each other to achieve the desired neural function. Our work splits into two major areas: Neurophysiology and Technology development. Neurophysiological studies Our interests presently concentrate around the investigation of chemical signalling in the brain. One common theme is purinergic signalling by ATP and adenosine and its roles in several different functional contexts such as: centrally mediated chemosensitive reflexes involved in the control of breathing and arousal; signalling by hypothalamic tanycytes in the context of the control of body weight and food intake; homeostatic control of sleep; endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms in the brain; and during early development. We use a combination of electrophysiological, imaging and biosensing methods to study these problems.

Technology development We have an active program to provide novel analytical tools for neuroscience research. In particular we are developing microelectrode biosensors specific for a number of transmitters to enable better exploration of chemical signalling in the nervous system. We have concentrated on microelectrode biosensors for the purines and have formed the Warwick Biosensors Group to further this aim. We are also developing biosensors for other analytes (such as glutamate, lactate, D-serine, acetylcholine) and have developed a range of highly selective biosensors for clinical diagnostic purposes. This latter work is linked to a spin out company Sarissa Biomedical Ltd specifically devoted to the commercialization of our biosensors and the development of diagnostic tools

de Wolf, Elizabeth, Cook, Jonathan, Dale, Nicholas. 2017. Evolutionary adaptation of the sensitivity of Connexin26 hemichannels to CO2. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, View Bjorness, T. E., Dale, Nicholas, Mettlach, G., Sonneborn, A., Sahin, B., Fienberg, A. A., Yanagisawa, M., Bibb, J. A., Greene, R. W.. 2016. An adenosine-mediated Glial-Neuronal circuit for homeostatic sleep. Journal of Neuroscience, 36 (13), pp. 3709-3721, View de Wolf, Elizabeth, van de Wiel, Joseph, Cook, Jonathan, Dale, Nicholas. 2016. Altered CO2 sensitivity of connexin26 mutant hemichannels in vitro. Physiological Reports, View Meigh, Louise, Cook, Daniel, Zhang, Jie, Dale, Nicholas. 2015. Rational design of new NO and redox sensitivity into connexin26 hemichannels. Open Biology, Volume 5 (Number 2), pp. 1-9, View Bjerring, Peter Nissen, Dale, Nicholas, Larsen, Fin Stolze. 2015. Acute hyperammonemia and systemic inflammation is associated with increased extracellular brain adenosine in rats : a biosensor study. Neurochemical Research, Volume 40 (Number 2), pp. 258-264, View Lopatà¡r, Jà¡n, Dale, Nicholas, Frenguelli, Bruno G.. 2015. Pannexin-1-mediated ATP release from area CA3 drives mGlu5-dependent neuronal oscillations. Neuropharmacology, Volume 93, pp. 219-228, View Burnstock, Geoffrey, Dale, Nicholas. 2015. Purinergic signalling during development and ageing. Purinergic Signalling, 11 (3), pp. 277-305, View Sims, Robert E., Dale, Nicholas. 2014. Activity-dependent adenosine release may be linked to activation of Na+-K+ ATPase : an in vitro rat study. PLoS One, Volume 9 (Number 1), View Tian, Faming, Greplovà¡, Marta, Frébort, Ivo, Dale, Nicholas, Napier, R. (Richard). 2014. A highly selective biosensor with nanomolar sensitivity based on cytokinin dehydrogenase. PLoS One, Volume 9 (Number 3), View Meigh, Louise, Hussain, Naveed, Mulkey, Daniel K., Dale, Nicholas. 2014. Connexin26 hemichannels with a mutation that causes KID syndrome in humans lack sensitivity to CO2. eLife, Volume 3, View