Role
Dr Edward Beamer is a researcher and lecturer. He teaches as part of the NTU pharmacology team, including on both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. His research is focused on neurological insults, such as seizures and hypoxia, the mechanisms through which these insults lead to long term neurological dysfunction, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Career overview
Having completed an undergraduate degree in Zoology at John Moore’s University, Liverpool, Dr Beamer switched to focus on the brain. He carried out his PhD at the University of Liverpool, investigating the role of nitric oxide from different cellular sources to seizure propagation. Following completion of is doctoral work, Dr Beamer moved to Budapest, where his research focused on the role of purinergic signaling in neurodevelopmental disorders at the Institute of Experimental Medicine. Dr Beamer then moved to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, where he received a Marie Curie Fellowship to investigate the contribution of the purinergic signaling system to seizures and epilepsy, with a particular focus on the P2X7 receptor. Dr Beamer joined NTU in the spring of 2021, where he continues to focus on mechanisms associated with the brain's response to insult.
Research areas
Dr Beamer’s research focus is on neurological insults, such as seizures, and how these insults lead to neurological damage. This involves a focus on the contribution of glial cells, neuroinflammation and signalling molecules such as ATP and nitric oxide, including both pathogenic and protective mechanisms. Dr Beamer’s research is not only focused on basic science, but also on the discovery of biomarkers, diagnostic tools, and therapeutics. This work involves a number of different research approaches, including the use of in vitro seizure models and models of perinatal asphyxia.