Staff Profile
Career Summary
Biography
Dr. Tooney has a keen interest in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of diseases, so that better diagnoses and treatment strategies can be developed. Dr. Tooneys research background during his PhD and postdoctoral work was in cancer biology where he gained experience in cellular and molecular biology techniques. As a post-doctoral scientist at the University of Wisconsin (1995-1998), Dr. Tooney investigated the biology of the extracellular matrix protein thrombospondin and published for the first time the expression of thrombospondin-2 in the developing mouse embryo.
In March 1998, with a growing interest in mental illness and a desire to develop his knowledge and skills in neuroscience, Dr. Tooney took the opportunity to focus on the neurobiology of schizophrenia and joined the Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (NISAD). As a NISAD Research Officer (1998-2000), Dr. Tooney investigated the density of GABAergic interneurons in the prefrontal cortex but observed no significant changes in schizophrenia (PT4). He also investigated the expression of tachykinin receptors (putative targets for new treatments in mental illness) in schizophrenia and described the localisation of the NK1 receptors in the human prefrontal cortex for the first time. Dr. Tooney observed a significant increase in the density of NK1 receptor-like immunoreactivity in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia (PT5). In a follow-up guinea-pig study of the effects of antipsychotic drugs on the NK1 receptor, Dr. Tooney demonstrated that this increase was likely to be due to drug treatment effects (PT3). Dr. Tooney gave oral presentations of this work at 4 National (2 as invited speaker ASBP, APPS) and one International conference (ICOSR; invited to give an oral presentation).
As a NISAD Senior Research officer (2000-2004), Dr. Tooney established a collaboration with Prof. Rodney Scott, Prof. Pat Michie, A/Prof. Ullrich Schall and Dr. Pablo Moscato from the University of Newcastle to study the genetics of schizophrenia, with the aim of using genetics, endophenotypes and neuroimaging measures to further the understanding of schizophrenia, develop a biological means for diagnosing the disorder and identify new targets for drug discovery. Dr. Tooney wrote grant applications that attracted funding to establish microarray technology and then conduct a pilot project investigating gene expression in schizophrenia from NISAD ($15,000; 2002) and the Hunter Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) Adamstown Lions Club Young Investigator Award ($21,000; 2001-03) and the HMRI Clinical Neuroscience Program ($110,000 2001-03). This project identified changes in the expression of brain-related genes in peripheral blood lymphocytes in schizophrenia (PT1). Dr. Tooney and his collaborators coupled gene expression profiling with demographic, clinical and neurobiological measures, and showed that this approach has the ability to identify subtypes of schizophrenia (PT1).
In 2002 Dr. Tooney established a program of research to investigate gene expression changes in post-mortem brains in schizophrenia to further the understanding of the molecular changes in schizophrenia, which is essential for the identification of new drug targets. Studies in the amygdala from schizophrenia subjects identified novel changes in genes involved in the cytomatrix active zone of the synapse, which controls vesicle release (PT8). Studies in the superior temporal gyrus have identified changes in the expression of three genes identified in the peripheral blood lymphocyte study described above and two important schizophrenia candidate genes, RGS4 and COMT.
From 2003 to present, Dr. Tooney played a major role in establishing and managing the Hunter DNA Bank for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders. He is an associate investigator and integral member of the national consortium lead by Prof. Vaughan Carr that was awarded an NHMRC enabling grant ($1.75 million; 2006-2010) for t
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Newcastle, 27/04/1995
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle, 11/05/1990
Research
Research keywords
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Schizophrenia
Research expertise
Dr. Tooney has a keen interest in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of diseases, so that better diagnoses and treatment strategies can be developed. His research background during his PhD and postdoctoral work was in cancer biology where he gained experience in cellular/molecular biology techniques. He spent 3 years as a post-doctoral scientist at the University of Wisconsin (1995-1998) investigating the extracellular matrix protein thrombospondin-2. In March 1998, Dr. Tooney took the opportunity to return to Australia and focus on the neurobiology of schizophrenia and joined the Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (NISAD). As a NISAD Research Officer (1998-2000), Dr. Tooney investigated GABAergic interneurons and the expression of tachykinin receptors in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in schizophrenia. He described the localisation of the NK1 receptors in the human PFC for the first time, observing a significant increase in NK1 receptor-like immunoreactivity in the PFC in schizophrenia. In a follow-up guinea-pig study, Dr. Tooney demonstrated that this increase was likely to be due to antipsychotic drug treatment effects. As a NISAD Senior Research Officer (2000-2004), Dr. Tooney established a collaboration with Prof. Rodney Scott, Prof. Pat Michie, A/Prof. Ullrich Schall and Dr. Pablo Moscato from the University of Newcastle to study the genetics of schizophrenia, with the aim of using genetics, endophenotypes and neuroimaging measures to further the understanding of schizophrenia, develop a biological means for diagnosing the disorder and identify new targets for drug discovery. Using microarray technology, this project identified changes in the expression of brain-related genes in peripheral blood lymphocytes in schizophrenia and showed that this approach has the ability to identify subtypes of schizophrenia. In 2002 Dr. Tooney applied this technology to post-mortem brains identifying novel changes in many genes in schizophrenia. Dr. Tooney recruited Dr. Murray Cairns to his laboratory to investigate why these gene expression changes occur in schizophrenia using functional genomic approaches. This research has identified miRNAs that are dysregulated in schizophrenia. From 2003 to present, Dr. Tooney played a major role in establishing and managing the Hunter DNA Bank for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders and the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank (ASRB, a national consortium lead by Prof. Vaughan Carr that was awarded an NHMRC enabling grant ($1.75 million; 2006-2010). Dr. Tooney was appointed Lecturer in Pharmacology in the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Newcastle in July 2004 and continues to focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia to develop better diagnosis and treatment strategies. Since switching from full-time research and becoming an independent academic in July 2004, Dr. Tooney has published 6 peer-reviewed papers, submitted three further manuscripts for consideration and is a chief investigator on successful external funding applications totalling over $0.5 million. During this time, Dr Tooney co-supervised three honours students (all received Honours Class I) and two PhD students to successful completion. Dr. Tooney currently co-supervises four PhD and one Honours student.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 060199 | Biochemistry And Cell Biology Not Elsewhere Classified | 40 |
| 060400 | Genetics | 30 |
| 110900 | Neurosciences | 30 |
Memberships
Body relevant to professional practice.
- General Member - Australian Neuroscience Society
Other
- Affiliated Scientist - Schizophrenia Research Institute
Awards
Research Award.
| 1991 | Australian Postgraduate Research Award University of Newcastle (Australia) |
|---|
Invitations
| Tachykinin NK1 receptor immunoreactivity is increased in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia International Congress On Schizophrenia Research, Canada (Invited to give oral preseantation) | 2001 |
Collaboration
My primary research interests are in the udnerstanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease so that better diagnoses and treatment strategies can be developed. Since Feb 1998 I developed a growing interest in mental illness and focused on the neurobiology of schizophrenia encompassing projects investigating changes in the cortex to neurons and their gene expression, right down to the genetics of the disorder. Dr. Tooney played a role in establishing the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank (ASRB) and the Neurobehavioural Genetics Unit that has the aim of conducting large-scale genetic analyses on blood samples from individuals with schizophrenia. Dr. Tooney applies a range of state of the art molecular technologies to RNA and DNA extracted from human brain tissue and peripheral tissues to help understand what causes schizophrenia, develop biological means to diagnose and/or identify who is at-risk of developing the disorder and how the genome impacts on treatment of the disorder.
Administrative
Administrative expertise
Dr. Tooney was a member of the Faculty of Health Research Grants Committee that ranked research applications submitted in 2004 for the Research Grants Committees Small Grant Scheme. Dr. Tooney is a member of the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) Advisory Committee (2005 present) where he represents the School of Biomedical Sciences on this committee to oversee the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) Program. The primary concern of this committee since late 2005 was the accreditation of the Program with the NSW Nursing and Midwives Board (NMB). The MNB awarded accreditation of the program for the maximum possible time of 4 years. Dr. Tooney is a member of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC; Dec 2005 - present) representing the School of Biomedical Sciences. The IBC oversees all aspects of biosafety for the University, reviews biosafety applications by researchers and provide recommendations on approval of their research projects, inspects laboratories to provide feedback on biosafety requirements. Particularly I was involved in dientifyiing a deficiency in the availability of PC2 level facilities in the Medical Sciences building (MSB). As a consequence, funding to upgrade the facilities has been allocated in 2007. Dr. Tooney is also a member of the Master of Pharmacy Accreditation and Program Review Committee (2006 present). In early 2006, Dr. Rohan Rasiah (Convenor of the Master of Pharmacy Program) asked him to assist with preparing the documentation for preliminary approval and provisional accreditation of the Program by the New Zealand and Australian Pharmacy Schools Accreditation Committee (NAPSAC). Documentation from the coordinators of the science-based courses within the Program was then collected and collated to assist Dr. Rasiah with the integration of this information with that from the Pharmacy based courses into the accreditation application. Dr. Tooney also reviewed the entire application and made comments and recommendations, as well as assisting with the adaptation of these documents into an interactive CD. NAPSAC sent an evaluation team for a site visit in May 11-12, 2006. Dr. Tooney met with the team, gave presentations and answered questions regarding the molecular- and pharmacology-based courses within the Program. NAPSAC granted preliminary and provisional accreditation to the Master of Pharmacy Program. Dr. Tooney was also a member of the School of Biomedical Sciences Working Party for the NISAD Chair in Schizophrenia Research Chair application (2005). NISAD called for expressions of interest from NSW Universities to host the Inaugural NISAD Chair in Schizophrenia Research worth $1 million/year. Due to strong collaborations with NISAD, Prof. Mike Calford (then Head of School of Biomedical Sciences; PVC Research) asked Dr. Tooney to attend a meeting of senior academics in the School of Biomedical Sciences regarding the bid to host the Chair at the University of Newcastle. Dr. Tooney gave advice on what type of research NISAD was expecting the Chair to be involved with and also provided information and comments on the initial application. The Newcastle bid was one of two applications short-listed for interview, but was not successful.
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Pharmacology
Teaching expertise
Dr. Tooney has expertise in teaching basic cell biology and pharmacology. Dr. Tooney developed pharmacology content for the new Bachelor of Nursing program, assisted with the re-development of Pharmacology content for the Master of Pharmacy program, Assisted with the re-develolopment of the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences program by developing and delivering a course in Human Pharmacology for the first time, coordinated 4 Pharmacology courses in three different degree Programs (Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Master of Pharmacy, Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner), supervised/supervisor of 6 PhD students (2 completed, supervisor of 4 honours students (3 received first class honours). Dr. Tooney has delivered pharmacology content into 6 Degree programs serviced by the Faculty of Health at teh university of Newcastle.
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 46 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $3,957,888 |
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (2 grants)
Leica TP 1020 Automatic Tissue Processor for histology applications$35,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Pradeep Tanwar, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Professor Xu Dong Zhang, Professor Robert Callister, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor Hubert Hondermarck, Doctor Jean-Marie Sontag, Professor Dirk Van Helden, Doctor Doug Smith, Doctor Phil Jobling, Associate Professor Estelle Sontag, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Susan Hua, Doctor Janet Holt, Doctor Jay Horvat, Associate Professor Liz Milward, Professor Adam McCluskey, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Rebecca Lim, Associate Professor Alan Brichta | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $35,000 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1201185 | ||
Ultra-Low Temperature Cryogenic Freezer$24,596
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Pradeep Tanwar, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Doctor Murray Cairns, Professor Hubert Hondermarck, Professor Xu Dong Zhang, Associate Professor Estelle Sontag, Doctor Chen Chen Jiang, Associate Professor Liz Milward, Doctor Jean-Marie Sontag, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Matt Dun, Doctor Chris Dayas, Doctor Lin Kooi Ong, Professor Dirk Van Helden, Mr Ben Copeland, Ms Gabrielle Briggs, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $24,596 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1201189 | ||
2012 (2 grants)
Testing for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies in a large Australian cohort of schizophrenia patients$30,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Mr Paul Rasser, Mr Tim Ehlkes, Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Professor Ulli Schall, Doctor Carmel Loughland | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $30,000 | 2012 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1200854 | ||
Testing for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies in a large Australian cohort of schizophrenia patients$10,000
Funding Body: Schizophrenia Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Associate Professor Ute Vollmer-Conna, Mr Paul Rasser, Mr Tim Ehlkes, Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Professor Ulli Schall, Doctor Carmel Loughland | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2012 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1201020 | ||
2011 (2 grants)
Emerging Research Leaders Program 2011$15,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Emerging Research Leaders Program | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $15,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1101112 | ||
IMPLEN NanoPhotometer pearl$10,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Murray Cairns, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Professor John Rostas, Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Professor Ulli Schall, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Doctor Frederick Walker, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Chris Dayas, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Janet Holt, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Associate Professor Liz Milward, Doctor Charles De Bock, Doctor Julie Merriman-Jones, Doctor Jing Qin Wu, Doctor Bing Liu, Mr Dan Johnstone, Ms Belinda Goldie, Ms Natalie Beveridge | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1100030 | ||
2010 (7 grants)
Molecular and cellular characterisation of schizophrenia associated dysfunction in microRNA biogenesis$478,500
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Murray Cairns, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor John Rostas, Associate Professor Alan Brichta | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $478,500 | 2010 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0190196 | ||
Laser microdissection microscopy system for cell and development biology$350,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Doug Smith, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Christopher Grof, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Doctor Brett Graham, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Paul Foster, Professor Trevor Day, Professor Robert Callister | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $350,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0190369 | ||
Laser microdissection microscopy system for cell and development biology$215,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Doug Smith, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Christopher Grof, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Doctor Brett Graham, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Paul Foster, Professor Trevor Day, Professor Robert Callister | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $215,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000874 | ||
Targeting neuroinflammation to improve the efficacy of antidepressant drugs$50,000
Funding Body: BellBerry Limited
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Frederick Walker, Dr Kathryn Buller, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Near Miss | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2010 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0900219 | ||
ABI 7500 Real Time PCR System
$34,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Rick Thorne, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Doctor Murray Cairns, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Doug Smith, Professor Gordon Burns, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Charles De Bock, Doctor Chris Dayas, Doctor Brett Graham, Doctor Martin Horan, Doctor Rebecca Lim, Doctor Severine Roselli, Doctor Larisa Bobrovskaya, Doctor Kathryn Skelding, Doctor Frederick Walker, Doctor Jude Weidenhofer, Associate Professor Philip Bolton, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Professor Robert Callister, Professor Trevor Day, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor Manohar Garg, Doctor Phil Jobling, Associate Professor Derek Laver, Associate Professor Eugene Nalivaiko, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $34,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G1000055 | ||
Analysis of schizophrenia-associated gene and mircoRNA signatures in purified CD4 and CD8 positive T-cells$25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Children`s Research Foundation
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Murray Cairns, Doctor Jing Qin Wu, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Rodney Scott | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2010 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0900188 | ||
Do chiropractic spinal adjustments modulate brain derived neurotrophic factor levels in the brain - a study in the rodent$21,715
Funding Body: Australian Spinal Research Foundation
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Philip Bolton, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $21,715 | 2010 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0190387 | ||
2009 (4 grants)
An Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$495,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Marcel Maeder, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Roger Smith, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Conjoint Professor Alison Jones, Professor Mike Calford, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Rick Thorne, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor John Rostas, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Pablo Moscato, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Peter Lewis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $495,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189122 | ||
An Advanced Mass Spectrometry Facility for Applications in Proteomics and Organic Chemistry$50,000
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Adam McCluskey, Doctor Mark Baker, Doctor Nikki Verrills, Professor Marcel Maeder, Doctor Xiaojing Zhou, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Associate Professor Brett Nixon, Doctor Shaun Roman, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Professor Hugh Dunstan, Professor Christopher Grof, Professor Roger Smith, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Conjoint Professor Alison Jones, Professor Mike Calford, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Doctor Rick Thorne, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor John Rostas, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Phil Hansbro, Professor Pablo Moscato, Professor Paul Dastoor, Professor Peter Lewis | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) Partner funding | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $50,000 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189948 | ||
Investigation of schizophrenia associated gene and miRNA expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex$19,719
Funding Body: Schizophrenia Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Murray Cairns, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $19,719 | 2009 | 2012 |
| GNo:G0190436 | ||
Leica VT1200S - Fully automated vibrating blade microtome$16,209
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Robert Callister, Associate Professor Alan Brichta, Conjoint Professor Keith Jones, Associate Professor Jon Hirst, Doctor Brett Graham, Associate Professor Philip Bolton, Doctor Phil Jobling, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Angela McPherson, Doctor Rebecca Lim, Doctor Ramatis De Oliveira, Mr Matthew Walsh | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $16,209 | 2009 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189842 | ||
2008 (4 grants)
Micro-array gene expression and grey matter changes in treatment - naive schizophrenia patients in Sri Lanka$56,000
Funding Body: Schizophrenia Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Ulli Schall, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $56,000 | 2008 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0189009 | ||
A road map of schizophrenia associated with gene and miRNA expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex$25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Murray Cairns, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188461 | ||
Brain Science and Young People's Mental Health: A gene expression study in young people at ultra high risk of developing schizophrenia$25,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Professor Ulli Schall, Professor Rodney Scott, Associate Professor Helen Stain, Doctor Rebbekah Atkinson | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $25,000 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188475 | ||
Investigation of miRNA influence on NRG1 dysregulation in schizophrenia$16,000
Funding Body: Schizophrenia Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Murray Cairns | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $16,000 | 2008 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0188594 | ||
2007 (5 grants)
HMRI Postdoctoral Fellowship in Youth Mental Health Research$150,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Ulli Schall, Emeritus Professor Patricia Michie, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Associate Professor Helen Stain, Doctor Carmel Loughland, Conjoint Professor Vaughan Carr | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postdoctoral Fellowship | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $150,000 | 2007 | 2009 |
| GNo:G0188274 | ||
Gene silencing in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia$23,750
Funding Body: Schizophrenia Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Murray Cairns | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $23,750 | 2007 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0187724 | ||
The functional characterization of schizophrenia-associated non-coding RNA expression$23,750
Funding Body: Schizophrenia Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Murray Cairns | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $23,750 | 2007 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0187725 | ||
Investigation of Genetic and epigenetic mechanism underlying dysregulation of RGS4 in schizophrenia$8,702
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Murray Cairns | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Pilot Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $8,702 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187862 | ||
International Congress on Schizphrenia Research, The Broadmoor, Colorado Sprins, Colorado, 28/3/2007 - 01/04/2007$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $2,500 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187387 | ||
2006 (2 grants)
PRC - Priority Research Centre for Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery & Information-Based Medicine (CIBM)$621,143
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Pablo Moscato, Professor Rodney Scott, Professor John Rostas, Professor John Forbes, Conjoint Professor Peter Hersey, Conjoint Professor Stephen Ackland, Conjoint Professor Wayne Smith, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor John Attia, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Associate Professor Liz Milward, Professor Alistair Sim, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Associate Professor Regina Berretta, Conjoint Professor David Sibbritt, Conjoint Professor Chris Levi, Professor Xu Dong Zhang, Conjoint Associate Professor Patricia Crock, Conjoint Associate Professor Jeannette Lechner-Scott | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Priority Research Centre | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $621,143 | 2006 | 2013 |
| GNo:G0186919 | ||
Investigation of miRNAs in schizophrenia$20,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Murray Cairns, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Rodney Scott | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Pilot Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $20,000 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0186685 | ||
2005 (2 grants)
High throughput proteomics - Thermo Finnigan ProteomeX LCQ Integrated Proteomicis Workstation$207,189
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Laureate Professor John Aitken, Professor Eileen McLaughlin, Professor Peter Lewis, Conjoint Associate Professor Renate Griffith, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose, Emeritus Professor John Patrick, Associate Professor David McCurdy, Professor Adam McCluskey, Emeritus Professor Ellak Von Nagy-Felsobuki, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Professor John Rostas, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Gordon Burns, Professor Paul Foster, Conjoint Professor Peter Gibson, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Alistair Sim, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Dr Fraser Ross | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $207,189 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:G0184185 | ||
Schizophrenia DNA Bank$119,500
Funding Body: Australian Rotary Health
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Project | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $119,500 | 2005 | 2006 |
| GNo:17794418 | ||
2004 (5 grants)
Senior research Officer Salary$246,800
Funding Body: Schizoprhenia Research Institute (formerly NISAD)
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Investigator | ||
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $246,800 | 2004 | 2007 |
| GNo:17794489 | ||
Biacore3000-Expansion of Proteomics Facility$187,341
Funding Body: ARC (Australian Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Professor Alistair Sim, Laureate Professor John Aitken, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor John Rostas, Associate Professor Phillip Dickson, Conjoint Professor Leonie Ashman, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Gordon Burns, Professor Adam McCluskey, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Dr Fraser Ross, Conjoint Professor Ray Rose | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $187,341 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183030 | ||
Analysis of gene expression in psychosis using microarray technology$93,474
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Brain and Mental Health Reseacrh program Infrastructure funding | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $93,474 | 2004 | 2006 |
| GNo:17794450 | ||
Investigation of the contribution of the use of cannabis in the development of schizophrenia in gentically predisposed individuals$16,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dr Fraser Ross, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $16,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0183754 | ||
Investigation of the contribution of the use of cannabis in the development of schizophrenia in genetically predisposed individuals$5,000
Funding Body: NISAD
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Investigator | ||
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $5,000 | 2004 | 2004 |
| GNo:17794511 | ||
2003 (2 grants)
DNA Bank for Schizophrenia Research$15,000
Funding Body: The Percy Baxter Foundation
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Investigator | ||
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $15,000 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:17794571 | ||
Assessment of somatosensory function in subjects with schizophrenia: touch, pain and axon reflex flare.$11,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Loris Chahl, Conjoint Professor Vaughan Carr, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Doctor Carmel Loughland, Professor Mike Calford | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $11,000 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0182466 | ||
2002 (5 grants)
The Genetics of Schizophrenia.$60,000
Funding Body: Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Professor Rodney Scott | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $60,000 | 2002 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0182268 | ||
The role of tachykinins and their receptors in schizophrenia: An investigation at a cellular and genetic level.$60,000
Funding Body: Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Conjoint Professor Loris Chahl, Professor Rodney Scott | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Postgraduate Research Scholarship | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $60,000 | 2002 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0182269 | ||
The development of microarray technology for biomedical research in the Hunter Region.$21,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Mr Douglas Dorahy, Professor Rodney Scott | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $21,000 | 2002 | 2004 |
| GNo:G0181184 | ||
Equipment for the analysis of gene expression in psychosis using microarray technology$15,000
Funding Body: NISAD
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Investigator | ||
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $15,000 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:17794597 | ||
The Effect of chronic treatment with a Tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist on the stress response to opiod withdrawal in guinea-pigs$9,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Loris Chahl, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $9,000 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0181266 | ||
2001 (2 grants)
Tachykinin NK, receptors in guinea-pig and human limbic systems: role in the response to stress$10,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Loris Chahl, Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Project Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $10,000 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180106 | ||
NK1 receptor immunoreactivity is increased in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia$1,500
Funding Body: Ian Potter Foundation
| Scheme | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Travel Grants | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $1,500 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:17794627 | ||
2000 (2 grants)
Neurolucida Imaging System.$24,000
Funding Body: NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council)
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Conjoint Professor Loris Chahl, Associate Professor Paul Tooney, Emeritus Professor Peter Dunkley, Professor John Rostas | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Equipment Grant | Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $24,000 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0179167 | ||
The effects of anti-psychotic drugs on the distribution of tachykinin receptors in Guinea Pig brain.$4,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Associate Professor Paul Tooney | ||
| Scheme | Role | |
| Early Career Researcher Grant | Chief Investigator | |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
| $4,500 | 2000 | 2000 |
| GNo:G0179335 | ||
Research Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 1 |
|---|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 0.5 |
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2012 | PhD(Experimental Pharmacology) | Principal Supervisor | Functional Analysis of Gene and microRNA Expression Profiling in Schizophrenia: Brain, Blood and Antipsychotics |
Past Supervision
| Year | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | PhD(Experimental Pharmacology) | Co-Supervisor | Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation in Schizophrenia, Antipsychotic Drug Treatment and the Developing Brain |
| 2013 | PhD (Behavioural Science) | Co-Supervisor | Microarray Gene Expression and Cerebral Cortical Grey Matter Changes in Treatment Naive Schizophrenia Patients in Sri Lanka |
| 2013 | PhD(Experimental Pharmacology) | Co-Supervisor | Genomic Characterisation of Small RNA-Mediated Post-Transcriptional Gene Regulation |
| 2011 | PhD(Experimental Pharmacology) | Co-Supervisor | Post-transcriptional Gene Silencing in Neuronal Differentiation, Development and Schizophrenia |
| 2010 | PhD (Anatomy) | Co-Supervisor | Cannabinoid Signaling Mechanisms in the Central Nervous System |
| 2006 | PhD (Medical Biochemistry) | Principal Supervisor | Investigation of Cellular and Molecular Changes in the Amygdala in Schizophrenia |
| 2006 | PhD (Medical Genetics) | Co-Supervisor | Gene Expression Profiling in Schizophrenia |
Associate Professor Paul Tooney
| Work Phone | (02) 4921 8691 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (02) 492 17903 |
| Paul.Tooney@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Position | Associate Professor School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Faculty of Health and Medicine |
| Focus Area | Pharmacy and Experimental Pharmacology |
| Office | MS614, Medical Sciences, Callaghan University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia |
| URL: | www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/paul-tooney |
