Dr Jeffrey Stedehouder awarded Cambridge NeuroWorks Blue Sky Proof-of-Concept Award

Many congratulations to MRC CoRE RND Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Jeffrey Stedehouder on being awarded a Blue Sky Proof-of-Concept Award by Cambridge NeuroWorks.

Through the Award, Jeffrey will study the use of precise transcranial ultrasound stimulation as a tool to target difficult-to-treat cognitive symptoms in people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder with a high prevalence globally, regardless of continent, country, or culture. People with schizophrenia can have problems in thinking and memory, symptoms that are often not alleviated by medications. Preclinical research in the MRC CoRE RND has shown that a single region deep in the brain could play a key role in these symptoms. The new technique of transcranial ultrasound stimulation – high frequency sound waves delivered from outside the skull – could target this particular brain region safely and precisely, making it a promising candidate to improve cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia.

The project team includes MRC CoRE RND members Dr. Valentina Mancini, Tim den Boer, and Prof. Charlotte Stagg.

Jeffrey commented: “Cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia are a major unmet need, with people with schizophrenia facing important challenges in everyday life. The combined research in the MRC CoRE RND using preclinical disease models along with technological advances in non-invasive brain stimulation in humans has now enabled, for the first time, a direct informed approach to target these symptoms.” MRC CoRE RND Director Professor Peter Magill commented: “The effective translation of new knowledge gained through fundamental discovery science lies at the heart of the MRC CoRE RND’s research and innovation strategy. Jeff and the team deserve much credit for identifying and taking this important opportunity to advance their translational research towards new and improved treatments for psychiatric brain conditions.”