DrJeffrey Glennon

Jeffrey C. Glennon is a neuroscientist linking experimental psychology to biological mechanisms with a track record in industry and academic settings. This is centred around rule making / rule breaking processes in cingulate cortex that govern rational versus emotional decision making. As a translational neuroscientist, he seeks to implement basic and preclinical efforts into clinical practice relevant to patients. This work underlies current research into drug-able mechanisms in type I myotonic dystrophy, autism and insulin-signalling pathways in type II diabetes as new drug targets relevant to treatment-resistant obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It also underlies his interest in loss of inhibitory GABAergic prefrontal cortical control mechanisms in conduct and antisocial problems. As a neurophysiologist / pharmacologist with both academic and pharmaceutical industry experience (3 patents), he has been fortunate to receive strong grant funding (3.9M euro) since his full-time return to academia in 2011.

Jeffrey's background is in cognitive neuroscience / experimental neuro-psychopharmacology with our work encompassing experimental psychology (operant virtual reality / touchscreen tasks of learning processes in mice / CANTAB in humans), molecular biology (RNA sequencing and pathway analysis), multimodal imaging (multi-parametric 11.7T MRI, 1H-MRS and more recently in collaboration two-photon imaging) and clinical trials (trials in those with learning impairments such as autism / type 1 myotonic dystrophy with cognitive dysregulation). On a more fundamental level as an experimental neuropharmacologist interested in disease mechanisms, he has been examining the role of insulin signalling and particularly a class of potassium channels regulating insulin release in relation to behavioural inflexibility. Comorbidity between metabolic risks and neurodevelopmental disorders is high. We are examining the relationship between insulin signalling and neurodevelopment by studying learning impairments in early life. The study of operant behaviour in rodents often entails long training times resulting in that testing can only be performed in adults. We have established cognitive tasks (examining attention, learning, memory and impulsivity) using a novel virtual reality setup in mice which dramatically shortens training times meaning the juvenile and adolescent life stages can be studied in mice. Furthermore, we are actively validating these mechanisms in a human population cohort (EPIPATHY) already established together with Dr. Inti Brazil (in the Netherlands) in which we are using machine learning approaches to examine causal relationships between different psychological traits. Biosamples from this cohort are being used to identify epigenetic targets which could be the site of modifying drug action.

Jeffrey's evolution as a researcher and leader has been somewhat different (with strong industry and academic leadership roles). In summary, he is an integrator. This pertains to people, research groups, complementary expertise, research ideas and visions. This ability to integrate across people and topics to create platforms in which they can create new research together was honed during a period of nearly 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry post-Ph.D. at Solvay Pharmaceuticals. His interest in cross-disciplinary teams has resulted in the leadership as lead-Principal Investigator of a 5.4M euro Dutch public-private consortium (funded by TI-Pharma) encompassing Dutch universities, university hospitals and pharmaceutical partners. Further, he has led a 4.5M euro EU Commission FP7 funded consortium (MATRICS) on conduct problems. In addition, he has been involved both as workpackage leader and partner in six Horizon 2020 / Marie Curie ITN funded / EU Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) II consortia focused on neurodevelopmental disorders, adult psychiatry and psychiatric conditions in neurological and somatic disorders (type I myotonic dystrophy and type II diabetes). This breadth of activities has led to a wide international network across a range of expertise areas both in academia, in small medium enterprises (SMEs), and major Pharma. This has led to novel translational medicine opportunities including his role as lead PI on the utility of robotics to improve pivotal response training (PRT) in autism. This has resulted in a successful Phase IIb study in which clinical outcomes on autism rating scales are improved versus care as usual and PRT alone.

On a personal level, he has an innate curiosity over science and people, what motivates them and how to develop them both as a person and as strong members of productive, effective multi-disciplinary teams.