{"id":62,"date":"2020-09-07T14:18:42","date_gmt":"2020-09-07T14:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/?page_id=62"},"modified":"2026-10-14T18:36:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T18:36:18","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"RESEARCH"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

RESEARCH<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Core methods and practical aspects<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

My research\nasks how changes in neural function affect behaviour and reveal opportunities\nfor treatment. It connects basic neuroscience with disease modelling and drug\ndiscovery.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Disease models and drug discovery<\/o:p><\/h2>\n\n

We use\ngenetically defined zebrafish models to study the effects of disease-associated\ngenes. Automated behavioural analysis allows us to measure those effects and\ntest compounds that may modify them. Electrophysiology and molecular profiling\nhelp us understand the biological changes behind the behaviour.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

Our work\nincludes models relevant to ADHD and schizophrenia, alongside earlier studies\nof other neurological disorders. We compare responses with established\ntreatments and use complementary models and human evidence to assess which\nfindings warrant further investigation.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

Through 3Z\nPharmaceuticals, we use this approach to build clinically relevant, patentable\nassets with a practical development path.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

ADHD and calcium channel biology<\/o:p><\/h2>\n\n

Our ADHD\nresearch began with behavioural screening in an adgrl3.1 mutant zebrafish\nmodel. This work identified compounds that reduced hyperactivity, including\namlodipine. Subsequent studies combined evidence from zebrafish and rats with\nhuman genetic analyses and observational data.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

The findings\nsupport further investigation of amlodipine and L-type calcium channel biology\nin ADHD. They provide a basis for clinical testing; efficacy in people with\nADHD remains to be established.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

The development\nprogramme is now focused on S-amlodipine, also known as levamlodipine, and is\nbeing advanced through LTCC.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

Sleep and neural function<\/o:p><\/h2>\n\n

My early\nresearch examined the neural mechanisms of sleep and its development. This work\ncontinues to inform my interest in neuronal excitability and the relationship\nbetween brain activity and behaviour.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

Cetacean neuroanatomy<\/o:p><\/h2>\n\n

Alongside drug\ndiscovery, I continue collaborative studies of whale and dolphin brains. We\nexamine how their structure compares with that of other mammals, including the\nhippocampus and neural systems involved in sleep and arousal. This work\naddresses basic questions about brain organisation and evolution.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

Computational methods and experimental testing<\/o:p><\/h2>\n\n

I am interested\nin using computational methods to analyse behavioural and molecular data and\nimprove the choice of experiments. The approach I want to develop links\nprediction with testing: models nominate candidates, experiments test them, and\nresults improve subsequent predictions.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

Neurotechnology education<\/o:p><\/h2>\n\n

At Reykjav\u00edk\nUniversity, I connect research with teaching in neuroscience and\nneurotechnology. I also contribute to laboratory teaching through the\nNeurotechEU EMN master\u2019s pathway.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

Students and interns<\/o:p><\/h2>\n\n

Students and\ninterns regularly contribute to all our research programmes. Their projects\nspan disease modelling, behavioural measurement, electrophysiology, molecular\nand computational analysis, and comparative neuroanatomy.<\/o:p><\/p>\n\n

For research\ncollaborations, student projects or internship enquiries, contact\nkarlsson@ru.is.<\/o:p><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

RESEARCH Core methods and practical aspects My research asks how changes in neural function affect behaviour and reveal opportunities for treatment. It connects basic neuroscience with disease modelling and drug discovery. Disease models and drug discovery We use genetically defined zebrafish models to study the effects of disease-associated genes. Automated behavioural analysis allows us to … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “RESEARCH”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-62","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":512,"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/62\/revisions\/512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karlsstofa.ru.is\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}