Dr Frederick Walker

Biography

Dr Walker undertook a PhD with A/Prof Deborah Hodgson in the Psychobiology and Neuroimmunology Research Group in the University of Newcastle’s School of Psychology and completed this in 2006. Dr Walker then joined the laboratory of Professor Trevor Day, in the School of Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, as an NHMRC research officer where he began investigations into the brain mechanisms that underpin individual differences in vulnerability to psychological stress. In 2007 Dr Walker was awarded an NHMRC Biomedical (Peter Doherty) Postdoctoral Fellowship and in 2009 established the Affective Neuroscience and Neuroimmunology research group at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Over the past several years Dr Walker’s research has been focused on the role of glia in complex behaviour and mood disturbances. He has established himself as an emerging researcher leader in the field and is regularly invited to speak at national and international conferences, and called upon to review NHMRC grant applications and manuscripts.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 2006
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1999

Research

Research keywords

• Depression
• Microglia
• Neuroinflammation
• Neuron-Glia interactions
• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Stress

Research expertise

The primary objective of our research group is to understand the neurobiological mechanisms through which psychological stress increases vulnerability to psychiatric illnesses such as depression. Our research makes uses of a large variety of techniques spanning from the analysis of individual genes of interest through to the behavioural level. Our research laboratories, situated at with the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, are ideally equipped with state of the art equipment to undertake these multi-level investigations.

Collaboration

Dr Murray Cairns (University of Newcastle): Genome wide profiling of stress induced changes within the brain

Professor Trevor Day (Deakin University): Neuroninflammatory modulation of mood state

Professor Michael Nilsson (University of Newcastle): Glial remodelling in stroke

Languages

• English

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health (CTNMH)
• Hunter Medical Research Institute

Group

• Hunter Medical Research Institute - Brain and Mental Health

Memberships

Conference Chair

• Member - Autonomic Neuroscience Workshop

Appointments

Awards

Research Award.

Invitations

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Biomedical Statistics
• Learning and Memory
• Neuroscience
• Research Design and Methodology