Dr Sophie Casey received a BSc Hons degree in Neuroscience from University College Cork in 2016. Following this, she pursued a PhD in the area of paediatric neuroimmunology, during which time she examined the temporal alterations in inflammation-driven molecular markers in clinical and preclinical cases of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with and without inflammatory sensitisation, as well as autism spectrum disorders. She was awarded a PhD in Medicine from University College Cork in 2021. Dr Casey's current research focuses on the investigation of novel psychedelic inspired neuroprotective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases with an inflammatory milieu, and the specific mechanisms by which these compounds act within the nervous system.

My research interests lie within the area of psychedelic compounds, particularly for the treatment of diseases and disorders with an inflammatory milieu, such as neurodegenerative diseases. My current research focuses on the potential neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory action of psychedelic ayahuasca-derived harmala alkaloids in cellular models of Parkinson's Disease.

Current: FM1010/MH1010 Foundations of Medicine I - Introductory Human Biology FM1040/MH1040 Foundations of Medicine IV - Gastrointestinal, Nutritional & Metabolic Biology FM2101/MH2101 Foundations of Medicine - Neuroscience GM2001 Fundamentals of Medicine IV MH1050 Introduction to Translational Research MH2020 Research Methods in Medical Sciences PL2033 The Nervous System *Module coordinator PL3020 Neurophysiology *Module coordinator PL3024 Digestive Physiology *Module coordinator I also contribute to MH3010 Structured Literature Project in Medical & Health Sciences, MH4010 Research Project in Medical & Health Sciences, PL3025 Literature Review, Experimental Design & Data Analysis, & PL4020 Research Project in Physiology as a supervisor. To date, I have supervised ten BSc Medical & Health Science & BSc Physiology final year research projects on the topic of psychedelic-derived compounds for neuroprotection in neurodegeneration. Previous: AN2004 Human Histology AN3013 Neurobiology of Disease AN4016 Neurodevelopmental Biology Approaches to Brain Repair GM1003 Fundamentals of Medicine III MH3050 Advances in Translational Medicine PL3001 Pathophysiology PL4015 Microbiome & Physiology