I am a Senior Clinical Research Associate working with Prof. Paul Fletcher. I work on brain reward systems using pharmacological fMRI and behavioural measures, to study the role of environmental influences and opioid and dopaminergic systems in controlling food reward processing and eating behaviour. In collaboration with GSK, we have recently completed a proof of concept study of a novel mu-opioid antagonist. My current work involves the use of pharmacological fMRI to study the role of the dopaminergic system in food reward processing in healthy controls. This work has a particular focus on the effect of the atypical antipsychotics which cause significant weight gain with serious consequences for health. As a side interest, I have spent some time looking at the matter of food addiction both in the scientific literature and in stand up comedy (sets on YouTube) I am also an honorary consultant psychiatrist working with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust (CPFT).
