Professor Kevin Moffat

While I am now retired - I still have a few teaching interests in the department - where I contribute to first year "Cell Biology of Neurons" - in particular escape and reflex behaviours. In second year I also contribute workshops and lectures to Invertebrate Neuroscience. I also teach Science Communication skills to students on Health Sciences in the Medical School as well Postgraduate Research students within SLS.

Research Interests and Other Activities

I have now closed my research laboratory, although a few publications keep emerging through collaborations – largely in the fields of tauopathies.

Externally I am a 'STEM for BritainLink opens in a new window' judge and I am an editor for the UK six-form magazine 'Biological Sciences ReviewsLink opens in a new window'. I am also a trustee for the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the UK Biology CompetitionsLink opens in a new window charity.

While I still give public research talks when asked, above all I have a passion for crashing the arts and the sciences together. I have worked with a variety of creatives - Physical theatre groups (Highly SprungLink opens in a new window and LAStheatreLink opens in a new window), dramatists (Daniel ByeLink opens in a new window), musicians and poets (Su MenonLink opens in a new window).

Likely my last major project is the 60th Anniversary Poetry Trail - celebrating a number of scientists on Gibbet Hill. It is due for completion in May 2025.

Biography

Professor Emeritus 2024
Professor University of Warwick 2016
Lecturer University of Warwick 1995
Post-doctoral Fellow University of Warwick 1990 – 1994
Post-doctoral Research Assistant University of Adelaide Australia 1986-1990
PhD Bacterial Genetics Cranfield Institute of Technology 1982 - 1986
BSc (Hons) Physiology and Biochemistry University of Reading 1979 - 1982

Publications

Lee, Chooi Yeng, Moffat, Kevin G., Harris, Philippa, Shepherd, Irwyn and McIntosh, Paul (2024) Cross-discipline teaching and learning of cardiology through an augmented reality application. International Journal of Healthcare Simulation . doi:10.54531/nstx3966 ISSN 2754-4524. (In Press)

Hill, Emily, Moffat, Kevin G., Wall, Mark J., Zetterberg, Henrik, Blennow, Kaj and Karikari, Thomas K. (2023) Functional applications of stable Tau Oligomers in cell biology and electrophysiology studies. In: Protein Aggregation. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2551 . New York, NY: Humana, pp. 147-161. ISBN 9781071625972

Hill, Emily, Moffat, Kevin G., Wall, Mark J., Zetterberg, Henrik, Blennow, Kaj and Karikari, Thomas K. (2022) A validated method to prepare stable Tau Oligomers. In: Cieplak, A. S., (ed.) Protein Aggregation. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2551 . New York, NY: Humana, pp. 203-224. ISBN 9781071625965

Jacomin, Anne-Claire, Gohel, Raksha, Hussain, Zunoon, Varga, Agnes, Maruzs, Tamas, Eddison, Mark, Sica, Margaux, Jain, Ashish, Moffat, Kevin G., Johansen, Terje, Jenny, Andreas, Juhasz, Gabor and Nezis, Ioannis P. (2021) Degradation of arouser by endosomal microautophagy is essential for adaptation to starvation in Drosophila. Life Science Alliance, 4 (2). e202000965. doi:10.26508/lsa.202000965 ISSN 2575-1077.

Karikari, Thomas K., Keeling, Sophie, Hill, Emily, Lantero Rodrı́guez, Juan, Nagel, David A., Becker, Bruno, Höglund, Kina, Zetterberg, Henrik, Blennow, Kaj, Hill, Eric J. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2020) Extensive plasmid library to prepare Tau protein variants and study their functional biochemistry. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 11 (19). pp. 3117-3129. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00469 ISSN 1948-7193.

Karikari, Thomas K., Thomas, Rachel and Moffat, Kevin G. (2020) The C291R Tau variant forms different types of protofibrils. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 13 . 39. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2020.00039 ISSN 1662-5099.

Hill, Emily, Wall, Mark J., Moffat, Kevin G. and Karikari , T. (2020) Understanding the pathophysiological actions of tau oligomers : a critical review of current electrophysiological methods. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 13 . 155. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2020.00155 ISSN 1662-5099.

Hill, Emily, Karikaria, Thomas K., Moffat, Kevin G., Richardson, Magnus J. E. and Wall, Mark J. (2019) Introduction of tau oligomers into cortical neurons alters action potential dynamics and disrupts synaptic transmission and plasticity. eNeuro, 6 (5). 0166. doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0166-19.2019 ISSN 2373-2822.

Karikari, Thomas K., Nagel, David A., Grainger, Alastair, Clarke-Bland, Charlotte, Crowe, James, Hill, Eric J. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2019) Distinct conformations, aggregation and cellular internalization of different tau strains. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 13 . 296. doi:10.3389/fncel.2019.00296 ISSN 1662-5102.

Karikari, Thomas K., Nagel, David A., Grainger, Alastair, Clarke-Bland, Charlotte, Hill, Eric J. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2019) Preparation of stable tau oligomers for cellular and biochemical studies. Analytical Biochemistry, 566 . pp. 67-74. doi:10.1016/j.ab.2018.10.013 ISSN 0003-2697.

Galasso, Alessia, Cameron, Charles S., Frenguelli, Bruno G. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2017) An AMPK-dependent regulatory pathway in tau-mediated toxicity. Biology Open, 6 (10). pp. 1434-1444. doi:10.1242/bio.022863 ISSN 2046-6390.

Moffat, Kevin G. (2017) Biological Identity. In: Reconstructing Identity. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 61-82. ISBN 9783319584263

Karikari, Thomas K., Turner, Alexandra, Stass, Robert, Lee, Leonie C.Y., Wilson, Bethany, Nagel, David A., Hill, Eric J. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2016) Expression and purification of tau protein and its frontotemporal dementia variants using a cleavable histidine tag. Protein Expression and Purification, 130 . pp. 44-54. doi:10.1016/j.pep.2016.09.009 ISSN 1046-5928.

Pawar, Vidya, De, Antara, Briggs, Laura, Omar, Mahmoud M., Sweeney, Sean T., Lord, Mike, Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.), Spooner, Robert A. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2011) RNAi screening of Drosophila (Sophophora) melanogaster S2 cells for ricin sensitivity and resistance. Journal of Biomolecular Screening, Vol.16 (No.4). pp. 436-442. doi:10.1177/1087057110397890 ISSN 1087-0571.

Eddison, Mark, Guarnieri, Douglas J., Cheng, Ling, Liu, Che-Hsiung, Moffat, Kevin G., Davis, Graeme, Ph. D. and Heberlein, Ulrike (2011) arouser reveals a role for synapse number in the regulation of ethanol sensitivity. Neuron, Vol.70 (No.5). pp. 979-990. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.03.030 ISSN 0896-6273.

Price, Nigel T., Jackson, Vicky N., Müller, Jürgen, Moffat, Kevin G., Matthews, Karen L., Orton, Tim and Zammit, Victor A. (2010) Alternative exon usage in the single CPT1 gene of Drosophila generates functional diversity in the kinetic properties of the enzyme. Differential expression of alternatively spliced variants in Drosophila tissues. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol.285 (No.11). pp. 7857-7865. doi:10.1074/jbc.M109.072892 ISSN 0021-9258.

Caudron, Q., Lyn-Adams, Ceri Louise, Aston, John A. D., Frenguelli, Bruno G. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2010) Quantitative assessment of ommatidial distortion in Drosophila melanogaster : a tool to investigate genetic interactions. Journal of Neurogenetics, Vol.24 (No.1). p. 87. ISSN 0167-7063

Lyn-Adams, Ceri Louise, Frenguelli, Bruno G., Moffat, Kevin G. and Sutherland, Calum (2010) Regulation of tau-dependent toxicity by brain selective/SAD kinases. Journal of Neurogenetics, Vol.24 (No.1). p. 12. ISSN 0167-7063

Moffat, Kevin G., Patel, S. and Hultén, Maj A. (2009) Trisomy21, Down Syndrome and the origin of Alzheimer's disease. In: British Human Genetics Conference, University of Warwick, England, Aug 31 - Sep 02 2009. Published in: Journal of Medical Genetics, Vol.46 (Suppl. 1). S22-S22. ISSN 0022-2593.

Muraro, Nara I., Weston, Andrew J., Gerber, Andre P., Luschnig, Stefan, Moffat, Kevin G. and Baines, Richard A. (2008) Pumilio binds para mRNA and requires nanos and brat to regulate sodium current in drosophila motoneurons. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol.28 (No.9). pp. 2099-2109. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5092-07.2008 ISSN 0270-6474.

Moffat, Kevin G. (2008) Drosophila genetics for the analysis of neurobiological disease. In: Drosophila: a toolbox for the study of neurodegenerative disease. SEB experimental biology series, Vol.60 . New York; Abingdon: Taylor & Francis Group, pp. 9-24. ISBN 978-0-4154-1185-1

Allen, Stuart C. H., Moore, Katherine A. H., Marsden, Catherine J., Fülöp, Vilmos, Moffat, Kevin G., Lord, Mike, Ladds, Graham and Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) (2007) The isolation and characterization of temperature-dependent ricin A chain molecules in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEBS JOURNAL, 274 (21). pp. 5586-5599. doi:10.1111/j.1742-4658.2007.06080.x ISSN 1742-464X.

Allen, Stuart C. H., Moore, Katherine A. H., Marsden, Catherine J., Fülöp, Vilmos, Moffat, Kevin G., Lord, Mike, Ladds, Graham and Roberts, L. M. (Lynne M.) (2007) The isolation and characterisation of temperature-dependent Ricin A chain molecules in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEBS Journal, Vol.274 (No.21). pp. 5586-5599. doi:10.1111/j.1742-4658.2007.06080.x ISSN 1742-464x.

Allen, M. J., Drummond, J. A., Sweetman, D. J. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2007) Analysis of two P-element enhancer-trap insertion lines that show expression in the giant fibre neuron of Drosophila melanogaster. Genes, Brain and Behavior, Vol.6 (No.4). pp. 347-358. doi:10.1111/j.1601-183X.2006.00263.x ISSN 1601-1848.

Reeve, Simon, Carhan, Ahmet, Dee, Chris T. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2007) slowmo is required for Drosophila germline proliferation. Genesis: The Journal of Genetics and Development, Vol.45 (No.2). pp. 66-75. doi:10.1002/dvg.20265 ISSN 1526-954X.

Muraro, Nara I. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2006) Down-regulation of torp4a, encoding the Drosophila homologue of TorsinA, results in increased neuronal degeneration. JOURNAL OF NEUROBIOLOGY, 66 (12). pp. 1338-1353. doi:10.1002/neu.20313 ISSN 0022-3034.

De, Antara, Baines, Richard A. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2006) Pumilio: Role in regulation of neuronal excitability in Drosophila. In: UNSPECIFIED. Published in: JOURNAL OF NEUROGENETICS, 20 (3-4). pp. 109-110. ISSN 0167-7063.

Muraro, Nara I., Weston, Andrew, De, Antara, Moffat, Kevin G. and Baines, Richard A. (2006) Role of Pumilio, nanos, and brain tumor in the regulation of the sodium channel encoded by paralytic. In: UNSPECIFIED. Published in: JOURNAL OF NEUROGENETICS, 20 (3-4). pp. 183-184. ISSN 0167-7063.

Wright, Duncan E., Moffat, Kevin G. and Baines, Richard A. (2006) The impact of alternative splicing on the properties of the paralytic voltage-gated sodium channel. In: UNSPECIFIED. Published in: JOURNAL OF NEUROGENETICS, 20 (3-4). pp. 261-262. ISSN 0167-7063.

Mee, Christopher J., Pym, Edward C. G., Moffat, Kevin G. and Baines, Richard A. (2004) Regulation of neuronal excitability through pumilio-dependent control of a sodium channel gene. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol.24 (No.40). pp. 8695-8703. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2282-04.2004 ISSN 0270-6474.

Carhan, Ahmet, Reeve, Simon, Dee, Chris T., Baines, Richard A. and Moffat, Kevin G. (2004) Mutation in slowmo causes defects in Drosophila larval locomotor behaviour. INVERTEBRATE NEUROSCIENCE, 5 (2). pp. 65-75. doi:10.1007/s10158-003-0028-y ISSN 1354-2516.

Marrus, Scott B., Portman, Scott L., Allen, Marcus James, Moffat, Kevin G. and DiAntonio, Aaron (2004) Differential localization of glutamate receptor subunits at the drosophila neuromuscular junction. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol.24 (No.6). pp. 1406-1415. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1575-03.2004 ISSN 0270-6474.

Allen, Marcus James, Shan, Xiaoliang, Caruccio, Phyllis, Froggett, Stephan J., Moffat, Kevin G. and Murphey, R. K. (1999) Targeted expression of truncated glued disrupts giant fiber synapse formation in Drosophila. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol.19 (No.21). pp. 9374-9384. ISSN 0270-6474.

Phelan, Pauline, Nakagawa, Madoka, Wilkin, Marian B., Moffat, Kevin G., O'Kane, Cahir J. and Bacon, J. P. (Jonathan P.) (1996) Mutations in shaking-B prevent electrical synapse formation in the Drosophila giant fiber system. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol.16 (No.3). pp. 1101-1113. ISSN 0270-6474.

Research Projects

Title	Funder	Award start	Award end
Alzheimers Research UK Summer Studentship - Sophie Crighton	Aston University	01 Jul 2013	09 Aug 2013
Drosophila melanogaster as a model for Alzheimers Disease	MRC	01 Feb 2010	31 Jan 2013
Investigating the Role of Drosophilia Ubiquitin Ligases in Alternative Splicing	Royal Society	01 Oct 2010	30 Sep 2012
Alzheimers Research Trust 2007 Studentship for Ceri Louise Lynn-Adams	Alzheimers Research UK	01 Oct 2007	30 Sep 2010
Cellular Intoxication by Ricin	Department of Health	01 Jan 2005	31 Dec 2007
The role of Torp4a in protection from Oxideative Neurodegeneration	Nuffield Foundation	18 Jul 2005	09 Sep 2005

Teaching / Student Supervision