Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology

Dr Deborah Dewar

  • Senior Lecturer (Stroke and Brain Imaging)

telephone: 01413305828
email: Deborah.Dewar@glasgow.ac.uk


Debbie Dewar is a neuroscientist with a B.Sc. in Biology & Psychology from Edinburgh University and a PhD from the Institute of Psychiatry, London. She has a long-standing interest in how brain chemistry and structure are altered after acute brain injury and in chronic brain disorders with a view to understanding pathogenic mechanisms and identifying targets for therapeutic intervention. Brain imaging at a variety of different levels, from tissue sections to whole brain is used in the majority of her research.

Developing novel treatments for reducing brain damage after a stroke is a major focus of current research. This work uses experimental models of cerebral ischaemia and insulin resistance in combination with various imaging techniques including, MRI, quantitative histology, immunohistochemistry and autoradiographic measurement of cerebral blood flow to understand how hyperglycaemia caused by either brain injury-induced stress or existing insulin resistance influences the extent of brain damage.

Figure shows MRI of rat brain slices following induction of focal cerebral ischaemia. The perfusion deficit is indicated in red and the diffusion lesion indicated in white. The mismatch between the two regions indicates the tissue that is “at risk” but may be protected from irreversible damage by intervention. Current work is aimed at determining if this area is compromised in the insulin resistant state. Images generated by PhD student David Tarr in collaboration with the Glasgow Experimental MRI Centre.

Previous research into neurotransmitter deficits in human postmortem brain from patients with Alzheimer’s disease or traumatic brain injury lead to current research developing novel molecular neuroimaging radiotracers for Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT). This work is done in collaboration with Sally Pimlott (NHS Radiopharmaceutical Research & Development) and Andy Sutherland (School of Chemistry). Current research is focussed on molecules that could be used to image the brain noradrenaline transporter or the translocator protein (as a biomarker of activated microglia after traumatic brain injury; collaboration with Willie Stewart, Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Neurological Sciences).

Image shows a whole body dynamic planar image obtained after intravenous injection of the noradrenaline transporter ligand ¹²³I-NKJ64. Image generated by PhD student Adriana Tavares.

Jump to: 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
Number of items: 28.

2012

Tavares, A.A.S., Lewsey, J. , Dewar, D. , and Pimlott, S.L. (2012) Radiotracer properties determined by high performance liquid chromatography: a potential tool for brain radiotracer discovery. Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 39 (1). pp. 127-135. ISSN 0969-8051 (doi:10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2011.06.011)

2011

Ruest, T., Holmes, W.M. , Barrie, J.A. , Griffiths, I.R., Anderson, T.J. , Dewar, D. , and Edgar, J.M. (2011) High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging of fixed brain in a mouse model of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease: comparison with quantitative measures of white matter pathology. NMR in Biomedicine, 24 (10). pp. 1369-1379. ISSN 0952-3480 (doi:10.1002/nbm.1700)

Tavares, A.A.S., Jobson, N.K., Dewar, D. , Sutherland, A. , and Pimlott, S.L. (2011) Development of the radiosynthesis of high-specific-activity 123I-NKJ64. Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 38 (4). pp. 493-500. ISSN 0969-8051 (doi:10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2010.11.011)

Moldrich, R.X. et al. (2011) Fgfr3 regulates development of the caudal telencephalon. Developmental Dynamics, 240 (6). pp. 1586-1599. ISSN 1058-8388 (doi:10.1002/dvdy.22636)

Tavares, A.A.S., Jobson, N.K., Dewar, D. , Sutherland, A. , and Pimlott, S.L. (2011) 123I-NKJ64: A novel single photon emission computed tomography radiotracer for imaging the noradrenaline transporter in brain. Synapse, 65 (7). pp. 658-667. ISSN 0887-4476 (doi:10.1002/syn.20895)

2010

Cavanagh, J., Patterson, J. , Pimlott, S.L. , Wyper, D.J. , and Dewar, D. (2010) SSRI antidepressants do not confound single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging studies using the 42 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor [123I]5-I-A85380 ligand: in vivo and in vitro evidence. Synapse, 64 (2). pp. 111-116. ISSN 0887-4476 (doi:10.1002/syn.20705)

Stevenson, L., Tavares, A.A.S., Brunet, A., McGonagle, F.I., Dewar, D. , Pimlott, S.L., and Sutherland, A. (2010) New Iodinated Quinloine-2-Carboxamides for SPECT Imaging of the Translocator Protein. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 20 (3). pp. 954-957. ISSN 0960-894X (doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.12.061)

Tavares, A., Dewar, D. , Sutherland, A. , and Pimlott, S. (2010) (R,S)-2-Iodo-reboxetine: Development as a novel SPECT radiotracer for imaging the noradrenaline transporter in brain. Neuroimage, 52 . S115-S115. ISSN 1053-8119 (doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.094)

2009

Cain, S.M., Ruest, T., Pimlott, S.L. , Patterson, J. , Duncan, R.D. , Dewar, D. , and Sills, G.J. (2009) High resolution micro-SPECT scanning in rats using I-125 beta-CIT: Effects of chronic treatment with carbamazepine. Epilepsia, 50 (8). pp. 1962-1970. ISSN 0013-9580 (doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02095.x)

Jobson, NK, Crawford, AR, Dewar, D , Pimlott, SL , and Sutherland, A (2009) Design and synthesis of (2R,3S)-iodoreboxetine analogues for SPECT imaging of the noradrenaline transporter. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 19 (17). pp. 4996-4998. ISSN 0960-894X (doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.07.064)

2008

Jobson, NK, Crawford, AR, Dewar, D , Pimlott, SL , and Sutherland, A (2008) New iodoreboxetine analogues for SPECT imaging of the noradrenaline transporter. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 18 (18). pp. 4940-4943. ISSN 0960-894X (doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2008.08.041)

Jobson, NK, Spike, R, Crawford, AR, Dewar, D , Pimlott, SL , and Sutherland, A (2008) Stereoselective synthesis of (2S,3R)- and (2R,3S)-iodoreboxetine; potential SPECT imaging agents for the noradrenaline transporter. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 6 (13). pp. 2369-2376. ISSN 1477-0520 (doi:10.1039/B802819B)

MacKenzie, S.M., Dewar, D. , Stewart, W. , Fraser, R. , Connell, J. , and Davies, E. (2008) The transcription of steroidogenic genes in the human cerebellum and hippocampus: a comparative survey of normal and Alzheimer's tissue. Journal of Endocrinology, 196 (1). pp. 123-130. ISSN 0022-0795 (doi:10.1677/JOE-07-0427)

2007

De Michele, M, Sette, G, Chalmers, DT, Dewar, D , Toni, D, Sancesario, G, and McCulloch, J (2007) Focal cerebral ischaemia induces corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) vascular immunoreactivity in rat occluded hemisphere. Regulatory Peptides, 143 . pp. 69-75. (doi:10.1016/j.regpep.2007.03.004)

Dewar, D, Bentley, D, and Barnett, SC (2007) Implantation of pure cultured olfactory ensheathing cells in an animal model of parkinsonism. Acta Neurochirurgica, 149 . pp. 407-414. (doi:10.1007/s00701-007-1121-5)

2006

Cavanagh, J, Patterson, J, Pimlott, S, Dewar, D , Eersels, J, Dempsey, MF, and Wyper, D (2006) Serotonin transporter residual availability during long-term antidepressant therapy does not differentiate responder and nonresponder unipolar patients. Biological Psychiatry, 59 . pp. 301-308. (doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.06.029)

Cuthill, DJ, Fowler, JH, McCulloch, J, and Dewar, D (2006) Different patterns of axonal damage after intracerebral injection of malonate or AMPA. Experimental Neurology, 200 . pp. 509-520. (doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2006.03.021)

Fowler, JH, Edgar, JM , Pringle, A, McLaughlin, M , McCulloch, J, Griffiths, IR , Garbern, JY, Nave, KA, and Dewar, D (2006) alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid-mediated excitotoxic axonal damage is attenuated in the absence of myelin proteolipid protein. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 84 . pp. 68-77. (doi:10.1002/jnr.20859)

2005

Kennedy, L, Shelbourne, PF, and Dewar, D (2005) Alterations in dopamine and benzodiazepine receptor binding precede overt neuronal pathology in mice modelling early Huntington disease pathogenesis. Brain Research, 1039 . pp. 14-21. (doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2005.01.029)

2003

Culpan, D., MacGowan, S.H., Ford, J.M., Nicoll, J.A.R., Griffin, W.S., Dewar, D. , Cairns, N.J., Hughes, A., Kehoe, P.G., and Wilcock, G.K. (2003) Tumour necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease. Neuroscience Letters, 350 (1). pp. 61-65. ISSN 0304-3940 (doi:10.1016/S0304-3940(03)00854-1)

Dewar, D, Underhill, SM, and Goldberg, TP (2003) Oligodendrocytes and ischemic brain injury. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 23 . pp. 263-274. (doi:10.1097/01.WCB.0000053472.41007.F9)

Fowler, JH, McCracken, E, Dewar, D , and McCulloch, J (2003) Intracerebral injection of AMPA causes axonal damage in vivo. Brain Research, 991 . pp. 104-112. (doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2003.08.004)

McCracken, E, Dewar, D , and McCulloch, J (2003) Sipatrigine and oligodendrocyte and axonal pathology following transient focal cerebral ischaemia in the rat. NeuroReport, 14 . pp. 517-520. ISSN 0959-4965 (doi:10.1097/01.wnr.0000059627.96928.1b)

2002

McCracken, E, Fowler, JH, Dewar, D , Morrison, S, and McCulloch, J (2002) Grey matter and white matter ischemic damage is reduced by the competitive AMPA receptor antagonist, SPD 502. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 22 . pp. 1090-1097.

Murdoch, I, Nicoll, JAR, Graham, DI, and Dewar, D (2002) Nucleus basalis of Meynert pathology in the human brain after fatal head injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 19 . pp. 279-284.

2001

Dewar, D (2001) The absence of HLA-DRB1*03 is a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Reports, 4 . pp. 109-114.

Imai, H, Masayasu, H, Dewar, D , Graham, DI, and Macrae, IM (2001) Ebselen protects both gray model of focal and white matter in a rodent cerebral ischemia. Stroke, 32 . pp. 2149-2156.

McCracken, E, Dewar, D , and Hunter, AJ (2001) White matter damage following systemic injection of the mitochondrial inhibitor 3-nitropropionic acid in rat. Brain Research, 892 . pp. 329-335.

This list was generated on Thu May 24 09:31:09 2012 BST.
  • Visualisation of activated microglia in traumatic brain injury: an in vitro autoradiography study in human post-mortem brain tissue
    NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Endowment Funds Office
    2010 - 2011
     
  • Visualisation of activated microglia in traumatic brain injury: an in vitro autoradiography study in human post-mortem brain tissue
    NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Endowment Funds Office
    2010 - 2011
     
  • Metabolic syndrome, hyperglycemia and experimental stroke
    Scottish Executive Health Department
    2009 - 2010
     
  • Experimental validation by micro-SPECT of two different radioligands for imaging serotin transporter density
    Neurosciences Foundation
    2007 - 2008
     
  • Evaluation of antiepileptic drug action using in vivo micro-SPECT imaging
    Epilepsy Research Foundation
    2006 - 2007
     
  • A Pilot Study to Optimise High Resolution Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Imaging of fixed brain tissue from modified mice
    Neurosciences Foundation
    2006 - 2006
     
  • Development of a molecular imaging tracer for the noradrenaline transporter
    Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust
    2006 - 2008
     
  • Image analysis equipment for neurotransmitter autoradiography
    Tenovus-Scotland
    2006 - 2006
     
  • The use of olfactory epithelial stem cells for CNS repair
    MRC
    2004 - 2007