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Benjamin Whalley
PeerJ Editor & Author
335 Points

Contributions by role

Author 135
Editor 200

Contributions by subject area

Molecular Biology
Neuroscience
Neurology
Pharmacology
Clinical Trials
Drugs and Devices
Evidence Based Medicine
Biochemistry

Benjamin J. Whalley

PeerJ Editor & Author

Summary

Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Reading. British Neuroscience Association Local Group Representative. British Pharmacological Society (Member). UK Epilepsy Research Network (Interventions & Therapies CWG). Pharmacist (GPhC registered).

Investigating unmet clinical need in epilepsy with a specific focus on cannabinoid pharmacology using preclinical animal models and electrophysiological techniques supported by convention molecular and biochemical approaches.

Biophysics Neurology Neuroscience Pharmacology Translational Medicine

Editing Journals

PeerJ - the Journal of Life & Environmental Sciences

Past or current institution affiliations

University of Reading

Work details

Professor of Neuropharmacology

University of Reading
School of Pharmacy (Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Group)
Prof. Whalley is a Professor of Neuropharmacology and has worked at the Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading since 2005. His research interests lie in neuronal hyperexcitability states, their consequential disorders (e.g. epilepsy) and the preclinical development of new treatments for such disorders. A significant component of this research has been the development of new disease models, including the refinement of animal models of disease and the replacement of animals in medical research, with a particular focus on the application of electrophysiological techniques. Prof. Whalley's work has identified cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of anticonvulsants in clinical use or currently in clinical trials (e.g. UCB Pharmaceuticals), discovered non-psychoactive, anticonvulsant components of cannabis (GW Pharmaceuticals, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and University of Reading Endowment Trust Fund), investigated cannabinoid effects upon appetite and feeding behaviours (Reading Endowment Trust Fund), anti-ataxic actions of phytocannabinoids (Ataxia UK) and the development of novel electrophysiological screening methods for candidate PET ligands (GE Healthcare). Two components of cannabis that were identified and characterised by Prof. Whalley are now being developed in Phase II and Phase III human clinical trials as treatments for drug-resistant paediatric epilepsies. In addition to his work being featured in New Scientist, national newspapers and an exhibition at the Science Museum (London), Prof. Whalley has also appeared in, and advised on, a number of scientific television programmes. His work also comprised Impact Case Studies for the REF2014 exercise. Prof. Whalley is a member of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Prof. Whalley's research has been funded by grants from the pharmaceutical industry (e.g. GW Pharmaceuticals, UCB Pharmaceuticals), charities (e.g. Ataxia UK, CURE), BBSRC, EPSRC and NC3Rs.

Websites

  • Personal Homepage
  • Google Scholar
  • ResearchGate

PeerJ Contributions

  • Articles 1
  • Edited 2
November 21, 2013
Cannabidivarin (CBDV) suppresses pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced increases in epilepsy-related gene expression
Naoki Amada, Yuki Yamasaki, Claire M. Williams, Benjamin J. Whalley
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.214 PubMed 24282673

Academic Editor on

January 28, 2014
Ligand determinants of fatty acid activation of the pronociceptive ion channel TRPA1
William John Redmond, Liuqiong Gu, Maxime Camo, Peter McIntyre, Mark Connor
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.248 PubMed 24516781
August 6, 2013
Lacosamide adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures: a meta-analysis
Sonja C. Sawh, Jennifer J. Newman, Santosh Deshpande, Philip M. Jones
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.114 PubMed 23940830