Dr Sharron Dolan

Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Pharmacology

Physiology and Pharmacology Subject Lead

T: 0141 331 8844
E: sharron.dolan@gcu.ac.uk

Profile:

Sharron Dolan graduated with a BSc (hons) in Developmental Biology from the University of Glasgow in 1989 and subsequently undertook a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Stirling with Dr Peter Cahusac. After completing her PhD in 1996, she took up a BBSRC funded post-doctoral position with Professor Andrea Nolan in the Division of Physiology and Pharmacology at Glasgow University Veterinary School, working to characterise the spinal mechanisms of inflammatory pain and analgesia. Sharron took up a lectureship in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University in January 2004, becoming senior lecturer 2009, and in 2011 was appointed Subject Lead in Physiology and Pharmacology in the newly established Department of Life Sciences.

Current Research Interests:

• the pathophysiology of pain co-morbidities, including obesity and depression
• adipokines and pathophysiological pain processing
• the therapeutic effects of medicinal herbs on pain and inflammation
• Potassium channels and pain processing

The aim of my research is to advance the understanding of pain processing in the central nervous system, in order to aid the development of therapeutically valuable drugs with novel mechanisms of action for the treatment of pathological and chronic pain. Over the years my research has focussed on the role of spinal cord metabotropic glutamate receptors in pain processing but more recent interests include the pharmacology of the medicinal herb Ginkgo biloba (in collaboration with Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Germany), and the role of adipokines in sensory dysfunction, pain, obesity and diabetic neuropathy (in collaboration with Dr Ann Graham, GCU).

Teaching Interests:

My expertise lies in nervous system physiology and pharmacology. I teach a range of topics across different disciplines in the School of Health and Life Sciences, including the pathophysiology of pain, the treatment of pain, CNS disorders, evidence-based medicine, placebo effect and clinical trials.

Selected recent publications:

• Iannitti, T., Graham, A., Dolan, S. Increased central and peripheral inflammation and inflammatory hyperalgesia in Zucker rat model of leptin receptor deficiency and genetic obesity. Exp Physiol. In press
• Dolan, S., Hastie, P., Crossan, C., Nolan, A.M. (2011) Co-induction of cyclooxyenase-2 and early growth response gene (Egr-1) in spinal cord in a clinical model of persistent inflammation and hyperalgesia. Molecular Pain 7, 91-101.
• Dolan, S., Gunn M.G., Crossan, C. Nolan, A.M. (2011) Activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 in spinal cord inhibits pain and hyperalgesia in a novel formalin model in sheep. Behavioural Pharmacology. 22, 582-588.
• Biddlestone, L., Goldie, M. Dolan, S. (2011) Central and local administration of Gingko biloba extract, EGb 761® inhibits thermal hyperalgesia and inflammation in the rat carrageenan model. Anesthesia and Analgesia 112, 226-231.
• Dolan, S., Gunn M.G., Biddlestone, L., Nolan, A.M. (2009) The selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 allosteric agonist AMN082 inhibits inflammatory pain- and incision-induced hypersensitivity in rat. Behavioural Pharmacology, 20, 596-604.
• Dolan, S., Cahusac, P.M.B., (2007). Enhanced short-latency responses in the ventral posterior medial (VPM) thalamic nucleus following whisker trimming in the adult rat. Physiology and Behaviour 92, 500-506.
• Biddlestone, L. Corbett, A.D., Dolan, S. (2007) Oral Administration of Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb-761 inhibits thermal hyperalgesia in rodent models of inflammatory and post-surgical pain. Br J Pharmacol. 151, 285-291.
• Dolan, S., Nolan, A.M. (2007). Blockade of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Activation Inhibits Mechanical Hypersensitivity Following Abdominal Surgery. Eur. J. Pain, 11, 644-651.
• Wilkie I.C., Dolan, S., Lewis, J., Blake, D. (2007) 'Autotomy': a terminological inexactitude. Pain, 128, 286-288.

Book Chapter:

• Dolan, S., Nolan, A.M. (2008) Pain and pain management: a pharmacological perspective, in Scientific assessment and management of animal pain. Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Technical Series, Vol. 10, Paris:Office International des Epizooties. (World Organisation for Animal Health).

Recent Funding:

• 2011, £15,000 - Joint research grant (Prof. A Graham) from Diabetes UK.
• 2010, £25,000 - Contract research grant from Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Germany.
• 2008, £50,000 - University funded studentship in collaboration with Prof Ann Graham.
• 2006, £50,000 - McConnell University funded studentship (2006). Value: >£50k
• 2004, £294,294 - Awarded a BBSRC Project Grant jointly with Professor Andrea Nolan, University of Glasgow, to investigate the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors in persistent inflammatory pain and hyperalgesia.
• 1999, £261,972 - Awarded a BBSRC Project Grant jointly with Professor Andrea Nolan, University of Glasgow, to investigate the spinal mechanisms regulating the pathophysiology of inflammatory hyperalgesia in sheep.

My Research Group:

• Tom Scullion, PhD student
• Craig Docherty, PhD student
• Nowara Bourwis, PhD student
• Duncan Johnston, Intern

Former PhD students:

• Dr Tommaso Iannitti; now a post doctoral scientist at University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY USA
• Dr Laura Biddlestone; now a post doctoral scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA USA

Former research assistants:

• Dr Peter Hastie; now lecturing in veterinary animal husbandry, University of Glasgow, UK. http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/vet/scottishcentreforproductionanimalhealthfoodsafety/ourstaff/seniorstaff/peterhastie/
• Ms Claire Crossan; now a research scientist, GCU, UK
• Dr Mark Gunn; now a student in optometry, GCU, UK
• Ms Judy Van Button, using her animal welfare and behavioural expertise at Scottish SPCA.
• Dr Andrea Pringle
• Dr Lois Field
• Mr Jim Kelly

• I am a member of the Higher Education Academy.
• External Examiner for BSc in Veterinary Bioscience; University of Glasgow.
• I am guest lecturer on the Ocular Therapeutics course for optometrists here at GCU, and lecture on the topic of psychotropic drugs at Stirling University. I have also visited India on a number of occasions, and delivered lectures to students in number of Pharmacy colleges there.

Sharron is the organiser and contact for GCU’s Staff Badminton club and the BIO cycle club