The Bowie Lab uses a combination of techniques to study ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) and more recently, GABA-A receptors. Both receptor families are widespread in the vertebrate brain and fulfill many important roles in healthy individuals as well as being implicated in disease states associated with postnatal development (e.g. Autism, Schizophrenia), cerebral insult (e.g. Stroke, Epilepsy) and aging disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsonism). We are looking at iGluRs and GABA-A receptors at two inter-related levels. In molecular terms, we are examining the events that occur when both receptor families are activated with the aim of developing novel therapeutic compounds. At the cellular level, we are studying the role that iGluRs and GABA-A receptors fulfill in shaping the behaviour of neuronal circuits and how these processes may be corrected in disease states.