The University of Sheffield
Department of Neuroscience

Dr Andrew Grierson PhD

Dr. Andy Grierson

Academic Neurology Unit
Department of Neuroscience
Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience
University of Sheffield
Room B25
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ

Tel: +44 (0) 114 22 22277
Fax: +44 (0) 114 22 22290
Email: a.j.grierson@sheffield.ac.uk

Secretary: Jo Brodie (Mon, Tue)
Tel: 0114 22 22262
Email:j.brodie@sheffield.ac.uk

Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience

2009 –present: Senior Lecturer

2001 - 2008: Lecturer, University of Sheffield

1997 - 2001: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London

1994 - 1997: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

1991 - 1994: PhD (Molecular Genetics) University of Sheffield

1988 - 1991: BSc (Genetics) University of Sheffield

Research

Research in my laboratory concerns identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of axonal transport in health and disease. In particular we are investigating the involvement of axonal transport in diseases including motor neurone disease (MND) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). In addition we are developing and characterising novel vertebrate models of neurodegeneration in zebrafish and mouse. With support from the NC3Rs we are refining the widely used SOD1G93A model of motor neuron disease.

Funding Sources:

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (USA)

Alzheimer's Research Trust

BBSRC

MRC

NC3Rs

UK Motor Neurone Disease Association

Research Group

• Ellen Bennett (Senior Research Technician)
• Anna Chapman (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
• Lynn Duffy (PhD Student)
• Channa Hewamadumma (Clinical Fellow)
• Alifiya Kapasi (PhD Student)
• Qurat Ul-ain Mahmood (PhD Student)

Former Group Members

• Paul Kasher (University of Amsterdam)
• Roy Milner (Astra-Zeneca)
• Kurt De Vos (Institute of Psychiatry)
• Jenny Waby (University of Sheffield)

Research Collaborations

Christopher Miller, Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London
Pamela Shaw, Academic Neurology Unit, University of Sheffield
Bob Johnston,University of Sheffield

Recent Publications

Kasher PR, De Vos KJ, Wharton SB, Manser C, Bennett EJ, Bingley M, Wood JD, Milner R, McDermott CJ, Miller CC, Shaw PJ, Grierson AJ. Direct evidence for axonal transport defects in a novel mouse model of mutant spastin-induced hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and human HSP patients. J Neurochem. 2009; 110(1):34-44. Abstract


De Vos KJ, Grierson AJ, Ackerley S, Miller CC. Role of axonal transport in neurodegenerative diseases. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2008;31:151-73. Abstract


De Vos KJ, Chapman AL, Tennatn ME, Manser C, Tudor EL, Lau KF, Brownlees J, Ackerley S, Shaw PJ, McLoughlin DM, Shaw CE, Leigh PN, Miller CC, Grierson AJ. Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked SOD1 mutants perturb fast axonal transport to reduce axonal mitochondria content. Hum Mol Genet. 2007; 16(22):2720-8. Abstract


Sathasivam S, Grierson AJ, Shaw PJ. Characterization of the caspase cascade in a cell culture model of SOD1-related familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: expression activation and therapeutic effects of inhibition. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2005; 31(5):467-85. Abstract


De Vos KJ, Allan VJ, Grierson AJ, Sheetz MP. Mitochondrial function and actin regulate dynamin-related protein 1-dependent mitochondrial fission. Curr Biol. 2005; 12;15(7):678-83. Abstract


Ackerley S, Grierson AJ (co- first author), Banner S, Perkinton MS, Brownlees J, Byers HL, Ward M, Thornhill P, Hussain K, Waby JS, Anderton BH, Cooper JD, Dingwall C, stress-activated protein kinaseLeigh PN, Shaw CE, Miller CC. p38 phosphorylates neurofilaments and is associated with neurofilament pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2004; 26(2):354-64. Abstract


Saha AR, Hill J, Utton MA, Asuni AA, Ackerley S, Grierson AJ, Miller CC, Davies AM, Buchman VL, Anderton BH, Hanger DP. Parkinson's disease alpha-synuclein mutations exhibit defective axonal
transport in cultured neurons. J Cell Sci. 2004 117(Pt 7):1017-24. Abstract


McDermott CJ, Grierson AJ, Wood JD, Bingley M, Wharton SB, Bushby KM, Shaw PJ. Hereditary spastic paraparesis: disrupted intracellular transport associated with spastin mutation. Ann Neurol. 2003; 54(6):748-59. Abstract


Wharton SB, McDermott CJ, Grierson AJ, Wood JD, Gelsthorpe C, Ince PG, Shaw PJ. The cellular and molecular pathology of the motor system in hereditary spastic paraparesis due to mutation of the spastin gene. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2003; 62(11):1166-77. Abstract


Ackerley S, Thornhill P, Grierson AJ (co-first author), Brownlees J, Anderton BH, Leigh PN, Shaw CE, Miller CC. Neurofilament heavy chain side arm phosphorylation regulates axonal transport of neurofilaments. J Cell Biol. 2003; 161(3):489-95. Abstract


Brownlees J, Ackerley S, Grierson AJ, Jacobsen NJ, Shea K, Anderton BH, Leigh PN, Shaw CE, Miller CC. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease neurofilament mutations disrupt neurofilament assembly and axonal transport. Hum Mol Genet. 2002; 11(23):2837-44. Abstract


Ackerley S, Grierson AJ (co-first author), Brownlees J, Thornhill P, Anderton BH, Leigh PN, Shaw CE, Miller CC. Glutamate slows axonal transport of neurofilaments in transfected neurons. J Cell Biol. 2000; 150(1):165-76. Abstract