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Dr Ashley Pringle BSc(Hons), PhD

Senior Lecturer

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Dr Ashley Pringle is Senior Lecturer within Medicine at the University of Southampton.

Dr Pringle has been a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine since 2005. He has a pharmacology degree from the University of Portsmouth. Subsequently, he obtained a PHD in neuropharmacology from the University of Southampton studying the electrophysiological properties of benzodiazepine ligands in the cerebellum. Since 1993 he has worked as a research fellow and academic in the Clinical Neurosciences group in the Faculty of Medicine at Southampton.

Dr Pringle’s research interests focus on the role played by endogenous mediators such as cytokines and neurotrophins in response to acute brain injury. His research is centred around the use of in vitro models, and he is interested in developing novel tissue culture methods to study neurodegeneration.

Dr Pringle has an active interest in the career development and training of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, University of Portsmouth, 1990
PhD, University of Southampton, 1994

Appointments held

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, 1993-1997

Career Track Postdoctoral Fellow, Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, 1997-2000

Lecturer, Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, 2000-2005

Senior Lecturer, Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, 2005-present

Research interests

Dr Pringle’s research focuses on acute neurodegenerative conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both of these conditions have high rates of mortality and long-term morbidity but treatment options are currently limited. Developing a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the neurodegenerative processes should allow the development of more effective treatments for the future.

Role of Endogenous Mediators in Acute Neurodegeneration

Research in this area focuses on the use of in vitro models, in particular the organotypic hippocampal slice culture system. Such models maintain the complex multi-cellular structure and cytoarchitecture found in the brain in vivo, and therefore have significant advantages over traditional primary cell culture systems. The aim of this area of research is to understand the way the brain responds to injury, in particular through the synthesis, release and actions of cytokines and neurotrophins. Previous work has shown that the effects of raised Interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor and interleukin-6 are complex, with both neuroprotective and neurotoxic actions observed under different conditions. We are currently investigating the signalling pathways underlying these actions with the hope of identifying potential thereapeutic targets.

Preconditioning

In response to a mild stress, the brain has the capacity to alter its response to subsequent periods of stress. In the ischaemic brain (stroke), this response is often protective, meaning neurones can survive periods of ischaemia that would normally be lethal. In contrast, mild injury (concussion) may lead to greatly exacerbated neuronal loss following a subsequent mild injury. We are currently developing in vitro models of both ischaemic and traumatic preconditioning with the aim of understanding the different molecular responses involved in these two processes.

Department(s)

Clinical and Experimental Sciences

Affiliate Department(s)

Clinical Neuroscience Research group

Postgraduate Student Supervision

2005, Christopher Harper PhD
2007 Ryan Waters PhD
2008 Ana Shtaya PhD
2008 Malik Zaben PhD
2009 Iain Scott PhD

Current

Maureen Gatherer MPhil/PhD
Mazir Sadri, DM

Faculty of Medicine

Director of Postsgraduate Studies
Coordinator – Nervous & Locomotor II course (BM5 Yr2)
Chair of Faculty Research Programmes Committee

University of Southampton

Member of University Programmes Committee
Member Researcher Development and Graduate Centre Committee

National and International

Member of Vitae Implementation and Evaluation Group
Member of UK Research Staff Association Steering Group

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Articles

Conferences

Foundation Tutor
Personal Tutor

BM5 and BM4: Coordinator of the Nervous and Locomotor Systems Course in year 2 of the BM5 programme. Lectures and small group relating to neurophysiology and neurodegeneration. Graduate group facilitator for both 1st and 2nd year students on the BM4 course.

Interprofessional Learning (IPL): Facilitator of small group activities for year 1 students. “Supermarker” for IPLU3.

BMedSc: Project supervisor for laboratory-based projects investigating the role of inflammatory mediators in acute brain injury.

Dr Ashley Pringle
Faculty of Medicine, Room AB215, Mailpoint 801, South Academic Block, University Hospital Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD

Room Number: SGH/LD66/MP806

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