A Birmingham-based professor and founder of Celentyx Ltd has been announced as the principal author of the most highly cited research paper in history from any research institution in Birmingham. The paper has now achieved over 2000 citations.
Professor Nicholas Barnes, the principal founder of the Birmingham-based pharmaceutical company Celentyx Ltd, is First Author of the research paper, which is the most highly cited from any academic or industrial research institution in Birmingham (which includes academic institutions such as the University of Birmingham, Aston University, Birmingham City University).
The research paper, entitled ‘A review of central 5-HT receptors and their function’ was published in the international journal Neuropharmacology. The paper is also the most highly cited research paper in the history of the journal. It describes the functions of the so-called ‘Happy Hormone’ neurotransmitter seratonin (or 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) in the brain and the mechanism of action of drugs such as: blockbuster antidepressants (e.g. Prozac); drugs that offer symptomatic relief to patients with schizophrenia; drugs used to treat migraine; and drugs that reduce the severe nausea and vomiting associated with aggressive anti-cancer treatment.
Professor Barnes said:
“It is very rewarding to see the value placed on this work by the research community. We have continued to build on the foundations constructed in the paper and our interest in neurotrauma over the last few years is now bearing fruit.”
Professor Ann Logan, Head of Neurobiology at the University of Birmingham, said:
“This is a fantastic achievement for Nick Barnes and emphasises his world-leading standing in the research community.
“Neuroscience research at Birmingham attracts prestigious multi-million pound grants due to the breadth and depth of neuroscience expertise, which has generated many exciting breakthroughs in potential treatments for clinical conditions of unmet need arising from neurotrauma and spinal cord injury.”
Professor Tony Bell, Consultant Neurosurgeon and Director of the National Institute for Health, Surgical Reconstriction and Microbiology Research Centre based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, added:
“We are proud and delighted for Professor Nick Barnes to achieve this outstanding milestone. Along with Ann Logan and myself, Nick is a founding member of the Translational Neurotrauma Reasearch Group here in Birmingham, which benefits hugely from his involvement, allowing use to identify and progress novel therapeutic strategies to benefit patients following neurotrauma.”
Professor John Gordon, Chief Scientific Officer at Celentyx Ltd, said:
“This is a momentous accomplishment emphasised further by the very high quality research outputs from the various research institutes in Birmingham.
“Celentyx’s research is at the cutting edge of new knowledge and it is a well-earned tribute to Nick that his world leading expertise is recognised in such a convincing way.”
Professor Asif Ahmed, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Health & Executive Dean, Aston Medical School, Aston University, commented:
“When I first joined the University of Birmingham in 1993, Nick Barnes was one of the first people to offer his laboratory facilities, know-how and resources.
“His in-depth understanding of angiotension-II pharmacology contributed considerably to our two JCI publications in the 90s. He also champions commercialisation of research activities and start-up businesses for academic colleagues, which is desperately needed to create a culture of discovery-based biomedical entreprises in Birmingham.”
Professor Bruno Frenguelli, Editor-in-Chief of Neuropharmacology, added:
“It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge Nick’s terrific achievement. The fact that this review is still being cited by experts in the field indicates the thorough and comprehensive treatment that Nick and his co-author Trevor Sharp gave to this important topic. Such high quality papers have contributed to Neuropharmacology becoming one of the top journals in the fields of neuroscience and pharmacology.
“Having known Nick since his appointment at Birmingham in the early 90s when I was a PhD student in the then-Department of Pharmacology, I am especially pleased at Nick’s achievement and, as Editor-in-Chief, I look forward to publishing an updated version of his review that will no doubt be as influential and heavily cited as the original.”