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Dr Shabah Shadli

Lecturer - School of Science and Technology

Building: McClymont Building, Room 357

Biography

My main field of expertise is mental health, specializing in mood disorders. I use a range of methods including EEG and source localization (sLORETA) together with pharmacological interventions. The laboratory in which I did my PhD developed the first biomarker for any anxiety disorder; and my PhD developed an improved form of this biomarker suitable for use in the clinic. I have continued to develop this; and am now also involved in finding a new treatment for treatment-resistant (TR) anxiety and depression – using off label drug Ketamine to treat TR anxious and depressed patients. I particularly want to find out how ketamine exerts its immediate anti-anxiety and antidepressants effects in TR patients. My current work involves a search for a response biomarker to understand the mechanism of action of ketamine using EEG, fMRI and blood samples. One problem with ketamine is its dissociative side effects, which limit its use in the clinical setting. My future aim is to find a similar potent drug without side effects, which would allow general clinical use. My research goal is to better understand the pathophysiology of anxiety and depressive disorders, their comorbidity, and their potential treatment.

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