Professor David Grundy

School of Biosciences

Emeritus Professor

D.Grundy@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 4657

Full contact details

Professor David Grundy
School of Biosciences
E06a
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile

Brief career history

  • 1999-Present: Personal Chair, School of Biosciences, Sheffield
  • 2012-2016: Head of Department
  • 1998-2004: Germany Gästprofessor in the Department of Surgery, University of Tübingen, Germany
  • 1996-1999: Reader, Dept. of Biomedical Science, Sheffield
  • 1990-1996: Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Biomedical Science, Sheffield
  • 1990: Visiting Scientist, University of Hohenheim, Germany
  • 1988: Visiting Scientist, University of Western Australia, Perth
  • 1987-1990: Wellcome Trust Senior Lecturer, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield
  • 1981: Visiting Scientist, University of Calgary, Canada
  • 1980-1987: Lecturer, Department of Physiology, University of Sheffield
  • 1978-1980: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, University of Sheffield
Research interests

Neurogastroenterology – The neural control of gut function

My research is focused on the neural control of gut function. The term "neurogastroenterology" has been coined to describe the field of brain-gut interactions. This field has undergone rapid expansion recently for a number of reasons.

Sensory signals from the bladder and bowel: An age old problem

The aim of our research is to understand the function of sensory nerves innervating the bladder and bowel. Sensory signals are pivotal to reflexes that control bladder and bowel function and also mediate sensations associated with urgency and pain. Sensory signaling is up-regulated as a consequence of inflammation and is manifested as hypersensitivity to distension that persists long after inflammation has resolved.

Bladder and bowel disorders such as overactive bladder syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome are often associated with increased sensory signaling and pain.

These disorders have a profound impact on quality of life and are prevalent in the elderly causing constipation, urgency and incontinence but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

Our lab employs neurobiological techniques to study the transduction of sensory signals generated from within the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder.

Our recent studies have identified changes in ion channels and receptors that determine signal transduction and regulate excitability in the peripheral endings.

Mediators released from the epithelial lining of the bladder and bowel play a role in maintaining aberrant signalling. In aged animals there is a differential effect on sensory signalling with augmented signalling in the bladder and a deficit in signalling in the bowel. Current efforts are to identify the molecular basis of aberrant signalling.

While our approach is largely basic science, a strong clinical element is maintained through collaborations aimed at understanding the basis of sensations that arise in both functional and organic GI disorders.

Publications

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Journal articles

All publications

Books

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

  • Almuhammadi A & Grundy D (2020) Differential effects of oxidative stress on mouse jejunal and colonic mechanosensitive afferent.. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 32 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Almuhammadi A & Grundy D (2019) Differential effects of oxidative stress on mouse jejunal and colonic mechanosensitive afferent. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 31 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Uhlig F, Grundy L, Castro J, Brierley SM, Foster SJ & Grundy D (2018) Identification of modulators of intestinal nerve activity from Staphylococcus aureus. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 30 RIS download Bibtex download
  • Uhlig F, Foster S, Krueger D, Schemann M & Grundy D (2017) Effect of soluble mediators from Staphylococcus aureus on intestinal epithelial function and sensory signaling. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 29 (pp 128-128) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Konthapakdee N, Daly D, Chapple C & Grundy D (2016) ROLE OF 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE IN URINARY BLADDER AFFERENT SIGNALLING. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 35 (pp S66-S67) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Grundy L, Mills K, Grundy D & Chess-Williams R (2013) MODULATION OF UROTHELIAL FUNCTION AND AFFERENT SENSITIVITY BY NEUROKININ A.. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 32(6) (pp 637-639) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Nocchi L, Daly D, Chapple C & Grundy D (2013) EFFECT OF OXIDATIVE STRESS ON UROTHELIAL-AFFERENT SIGNALLING IN THE MOUSE: POSSIBLE ROLE IN AGED BLADDER DYSFUNCTION. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 32(6) (pp 535-537) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Tan S, Daly D, Nocchi L, Chapple C & Grundy D (2013) DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW MODEL FOR STUDYING UROTHELIAL-AFFERENT CROSS-TALK. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 32(6) (pp 537-538) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Grundy L, Chess-Williams R & Grundy D (2012) PRIMARY MOUSE UROTHELIAL CELL RESPONSE TO ATP IS MEDIATED BY P2X BUT NOT TRPV1 RECEPTORS. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 31(6) (pp 1021-1022) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Barki N, Winchester W & Grundy D (2012) THE EFFECT OF TRPM8 AGONISTS ON BLADDER AFFERENT FIRING. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 31(6) (pp 955-955) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Daly D, Nocchi L, Schluter M, McKay N, Keating C, Chapple C & Grundy D (2012) AGED RELATED CHANGES IN PURINERGIC SIGNALLING, AFFERENT FIRING AND RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN THE MOUSE BLADDER.. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 31(6) (pp 955-956) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Grundy L, Daly D, Mansfield K, Chess-Williams R & Grundy D (2012) SENSORY NERVE RESPONSES TO ATP ARE REGULATED BY TRPV1 RECEPTORS.. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 31(6) (pp 794-796) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Donovan J, Chetrit J, Collins VM, Braak B, Wouters MM, Nassar MA, Boeckxstaens GE & Grundy D (2012) The Effect of Human Supernatants From IBS Patients on Neuronal Excitability and Sodium Channel Trafficking. GASTROENTEROLOGY, Vol. 142(5) (pp S702-S703) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gooch LJ, Daly DM, Chapple CR & Grundy D (2011) THE ROLE OF THE UROTHELIUM IN POTASSIUM SENSITIVITY TESTING IN THE CLINIC.. NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Vol. 30(6) (pp 1065-1066) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Jiang W & Grundy D (2010) Mast cells are early responders driving mesenteric afferent signaling during intestinal ischemia. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 22 (pp 31-+) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yang J, Zhao J, Chen P, Nakaguchi T, Grundy D & Gregersen H (2010) Mechano-sensory properties in Goto-Kakizaki rat intestine: a genetic model for type 2 diabetes. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 22 (pp 56-56) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Yang J, Zhao J, Chen P, Nakaguchi T, Grundy D & Gregersen H (2010) Mechano-sensory properties of hypertrophic intestine following chronic obstruction. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 22 (pp 56-56) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Zhang Y, Lubbers T, Buurman WA & Grundy D (2010) Investigating the effect of lipid-containing nutrient on jejunal afferent mechanosensitivity. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 22 (pp 9-9) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Blackshaw LA, Brookes SJH, Grundy D & Schemann M (2007) Sensory transmission in the gastrointestinal tract. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY, Vol. 19 (pp 1-19) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kalia N, Bardhan KD, Hardcastle J & Grundy D (2005) The effects of bile acids on intestinal ion secretion in the trichinella spiralis infected mouse model of irritable bowel syndrome. GUT, Vol. 54 (pp A78-A79) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hillsley K & Grundy D (2005) Enteric sensory innervation. Functional Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract, Vol. 3 (pp 35-41) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kirkup A, Booth C, Stanisz A, Fraser E, Tougas G, Grundy D, Hillsley K & Stead RH (2003) Murine nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) infection induces changes in intestinal mucosal mast cells (IMMC), IgE levels and afferent nerve activity. Gastroenterology, Vol. 124(4) (pp A667-A667) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Burdyga G, Lal S, Varro A, Grundy D, Jiang W, Thompson DG, Spiller D, Dimaline R & Dockray GJ (2002) Expression of orexin-1 receptors by rat vagal afferent neurones. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, Vol. 543 (pp 54P-55P) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Baker FW, Sanders KM, Grundy D & Ward SM (1999) Compliance of the stomach wall during receptive relaxation is dependent upon interstitial cells of Cajal. Journal of Investigative Medicine, Vol. 47(2) RIS download Bibtex download
  • WOOD & GRUNDY (1998) Little Brain – Big Brain V. Neurogastroenterology & Motility, Vol. 10(5) (pp 377-385) RIS download Bibtex download
  • GRUNDY D & SCHEMANN M (1994) THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE ENTERIC AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. INNERVATION OF THE GUT (pp 157-166) RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Grants
  • Marie Curie (EUFP7)
Teaching activities

Undergraduate

  • Level 3 Practical and Dissertation Modules
Professional activities and memberships
  • Chairman of the Management Board of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
  • Member of the Varenna group, an international educational organisation providing teaching material for gastroenterology
  • Executive Board Member & Senior Ethics Editor of the Journal of Physiology
  • Fellow of the American Association of Gastroenterology
  • Member of the Editorial Boards for Gut, Journal of Physiology
  • Autonomic Neuroscience
  • Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology

Invited seminars

  • ANGMA (Adelaide 2015)
  • British Pharmacological Society (London 2014)
  • Nuffield Council (Sheffield 2014)
  • Australasian Neuroscience Society (Adelaide 2014)