Mark Bellingham

Electrophysiology of synaptic transmission, ion currents and central pattern generation in CNS neurones. Current research focuses on the electrophysiology of central nervous system neurones using various in vitro slice and in vivo preparations, patch clamp techniques, imaging, molecular biology and computer modelling. Electrophysiology of synaptic transmission, ion currents and central pattern generation in CNS neurones. Current research focuses on the electrophysiology of central nervous system neurones using various in vitro slice and in vivo preparations, patch clamp techniques, imaging, molecular biology and computer modelling. Projects include: Neurobiology of motor control; Motor neuron disease; Synaptic transmission in the cochlear nucleus; Potassium currents in the brainstem and cerebellum; Rhythmic control of breathing movements. Synaptic transmission in the cochlear nucleus: Electrophysiology of postsynaptic AMPA and NMDA receptors and their developmental regulation; Single cell RT-PCR with Drs. Joanne Lewohl and Peter Dodd (Biochemistry, UQ) to determine AMPA and NMDA receptor subunits; Developmental changes in and mechanisms of short term synaptic plasticity; Calcium imaging in single presynaptic terminals. Potassium currents in the brainstem and cerebellum: Muscarinic receptor regulation of potassium channels in hypoglossal motor neurones - neuropharmacology and second messenger systems; Role of potassium channels in causing cerebellar ataxia in ATM protein knock-out mice (with Dr. Martin Lavin, QIMR); Role of potassium channels in regulating transmitter release from presynaptic terminals contacting hypoglossal motor neurones. Rhythmic control of breathing movements: Muscarinic responses of hypoglossal motor neurones and rhythm-generating network for breathing movements - may be involved in sleep apnoea and SIDS; Role of ATP receptors in rhythmic breathing movements in normal and transgenic knockout mice (with Dr. Peter Noakes); Studies of ion currents controlling rhythm generation and computer models of single neurones and rhythmic networks

[2026] Size-dependent alterations in phrenic motor neuron perineuronal nets following cervical spinal hemisection. Cheung, Sang Won, Fogarty, Matthew J., Zhan, Wen-Zhi, Bellingham, Mark C., Noakes, Peter G. and Sieck, Gary C. (2026). Size-dependent alterations in phrenic motor neuron perineuronal nets following cervical spinal hemisection. Journal of Neurophysiology, 136 (1) jn.00033.2026, 180-190. doi: 10.1152/jn.00033.2026 [2025] Selective modulation of voltage-gated sodium channels as a therapeutic strategy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Muller, Jessica A.I., Kanjhan, Refik, Tran, Van, Kotapati, Charan, Thakre, Prajwal P., Bellingham, Mark C., Giacomotto, Jean and Cardoso, Fernanda C. (2025). Selective modulation of voltage-gated sodium channels as a therapeutic strategy for amyotro