Presynaptic Physiology Group

Our group research the role of pre-synaptic proteins in neuronal communication in the healthy and diseased state, with a particular focus on neurodevelopmental disorders like intellectual disability, and neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

About our research

Research interests

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Neurodegenerative disorders
  • Neuronal communication

Research team

Research team head

Headshot_Sarah Gordon

Dr Sarah Gordon

Group Head

Team members

PhD students

  • Elyas Arvell
  • Holly Melland
  • Paul Park

Master students

  • James Carroll
  • Joshua Saito

Honours students

  • Nadia Saraya

Publications

  • Melland, H., Bumbak, F., Kolesnik-Taylor, A., Ng-Cordell, E., John, A., Constantinou, P., Joss, S., Larsen, M., Fagerberg, C., Laulund, L.W., Thies, J., Emslie, F., Willemsen, M., Kleefstra, T., Pfundt, R., Barrick, R., Chang, R., Loong, L., Alfadhel, M. and Smagt, J. van der (2022). Expanding the genotype and phenotype spectrum of SYT1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder. Genetics in Medicine, [online] 24(4), pp.880–893. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gim.2021.12.002.
  • ‌Luo, J.K., Melland, H., Nithianantharajah, J. and Gordon, S.L. (2021). Postsynaptic Neuroligin-1 Mediates Presynaptic Endocytosis During Neuronal Activity. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, [online] 14, p.744845. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2021.744845.
  • Melland, H., Carr, E.M. and Gordon, S.L. (2020). Disorders of synaptic vesicle fusion machinery. Journal of Neurochemistry, 157(2), pp.130–164. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15181.

Contact us

Dr Sarah Gordon

Group Head
[email protected]