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The Australian National University
The John Curtin School of Medical Research
ANU College of Medicine, Biology & Environment

Dr Frank Edwards - Biosketch

 



Dr Frank Edwards

Sub Group Leader & Research Fellow


Email:Frank.Edwards@anu.edu.au

 



Current Appointments

2003 - present: National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Research Officer and Sub Group Leader, Autonomic Neuroeffector Transmission Laboratory, Division of Neuroscience, John Curtin School of Medical Research

Academic Qualifications

PhD, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
awarded March 1977

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering,
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
awarded April 1972

_____________________

Current Appointments
Academic Qualifications
Research Interests
Previous Appointments
Awards
Invited Presentations
Publications

Research Interests

  • Analysis and mathematical modelling of electrical activity and intracellular calcium concentration in tissue containing gastric or intestinal smooth muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal during normal activity and following nerve stimulation
  • Design and construction of equipment and software used in experiments in which the simultaneous measurement of intracellular calcium concentration, force production and electrical activity are made

Previous Appointments

1989-2003

National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Research Officer,
Melbourne University Zoology Department

1986-1989 National Health and Medical Research Council Research Officer,
Melbourne University Zoology Department
1983-86 Professional Officer,
John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
1980-82 Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Oxford University Physiology Laboratory, Oxford, England
1979-80 Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Northwestern University Medical & Dental School, Chicago, USA
1978-79 Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Melbourne University Physiology Department
1972-76

Ph.D., Monash University Electrical Engineering Department

Awards

1981-1982 Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship
1980-1981 Nuffield Foundation Commonwealth Travelling Fellowship
1979-1980 Northwestern University Behavioural Neurosciences Fellowship

Invited Presentations

    1996 60th birthday meeting for Professor Denis Noble Banff, Canada

    2002 Inaugural meeting of Pacific Rim Society for Interstitial Cell Research, Lorne, Australia

    Publications

    Edwards, F.R. & Hirst, G.D.S. (2004) An electrical description of the generation of slow waves in the antrum of the Guinea-pig. J. Physiol. Dec 21 [Epub ahead of print]

    Hirst, G. D. S. and Edwards, F. R. (2004) Role of Interstitial cells of Cajal in the control of gastric motility. Journal of Pharmacological Science 96, 1-10.

    Hirst G.D., Bywater R.A., Teramoto N.,and Edwards F.R. (2004) An analysis of inhibitory junction potentials in the guinea-pig proximal colon. J Physiol. 558, 841-855

    Cousins H.M., Edwards F.R., Hickey H., Hill C.E. and Hirst G.D.S. (2003) Electrical coupling between the myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal and adjacent muscle layers in the guinea-pig gastric antrum. J Physiol. 550, 829-44

    Edwards F.R. and Hirst G.D.S. (2003) Mathematical description of regenerative potentials recorded from circular smooth muscle of guinea pig antrum. Am J Physiol. 285, G661-70

    Kito Y., Suzuki H. and Edwards F.R. (2003) Properties of unitary potentials recorded from myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal distributed in the guinea-pig gastric antrum. J Smooth Muscle Res. 38, 165-79

    Hirst G.D.S., Dickens E.J. and Edwards F.R. (2002) Pacemaker shift in the gastric antrum of guinea-pigs produced by excitatory vagal stimulation involves intramuscular interstitial cells. J Physiol. 541, 917-28

    Hirst G.D.S., Bramich N.J., Teramoto N., Suzuki H. and Edwards F.R. (2002) Regenerative component of slow waves in the guinea-pig gastric antrum involves a delayed increase in [Ca2+]i and Cl- channels. J Physiol. 540, 907-19

    Bramich, N.J., Cousins, H.M., Edwards, F.R. and Hirst. G.D.S. (2001). Parallel metabotropic pathways in the heart of the toad, Bufo marinus. Am J Physiol. 281, H1771-7

    Yamamoto Y., Klemm M.F., Edwards F.R. and Suzuki H. (2001) Intercellular electrical communication among smooth muscle and endothelial cells in guinea-pig mesenteric arterioles. J Physiol. 535, 181-95

    Hirst, G.D.S. and Edwards. F.R. (2001). Generation of slow waves in the antral region of guinea-pig stomach--a stochastic process. J Physiol. 535, 165-80

    Dickens E.J., Edwards F.R. and Hirst G.D.S. (2001) Selective knockout of intramuscular interstitial cells reveals their role in the generation of slow waves in mouse stomach. J Physiol. 531, 827-33

    Dickens, E.J., Edwards, F.R. and Hirst, G.D.S. (2000). Vagal inhibition in the antral region of guinea pig stomach. Am J. Physiol., 279, G388-99

    H. Hashitani & F.R. Edwards (1999). Spontaneous and neurally activated depolarization in smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig urethra. J. Physiol. 514, 459-470

    Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S. and Suzuki, H. (1999). Unitary nature of regenerative potentials recorded from circular smooth muscle of guinea-pig antrum. J. Physiol., 519, 235-250

    Hirst, G.D.S., Edwards, F.R., Gould, D.J., Sandow, S.L. and Hill, C.E.(1997). Electrical properties of irideal arterioles of the rat. Am. J. Physiol, 273, (Heart circ. Physiol.) H2465-H2472

    Hirst, G.D.S., Choate, J.K., Cousins, H.M., Edwards, F.R. and Klemm, M.F. (1996). Transmission by post-ganglionic axons of the autonomic nervous system: the importance of the specialized neuroeffector junction. Neurosci. I73, 7-23

    Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S., Klemm, M.J. and Steele, P.E. (1995). Three different types of ganglion cell in the cardiac plexus of the guinea-pig. J. Physiol., 486/2, 453-471

    Cousins, H.M., Edwards, F.R. and Hirst, G.D.S. (1995). Neuronally released and applied acetylcholine on the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum. Neuroscience, 65, 193-207

    Bramich, N.J., Brock, J., Edwards, F.R. and Hirst, G.D.S. (1994). Ionophoretically applied acetylcholine and vagal stimulation in the arrested sinus venosus of the toad. J. Physiol., 478. 2, 289-300

    Hill, C.E., Klemm, M.F., Edwards, F.R. and Hirst, G.D.S. (1993). Sympathetic transmission to the dilator muscle of the rat iris. J. Autonomic Nervous System 425, 107-123

    Choate, J.K, Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S. and O'Shea, J.E. (1993). Effects of sympathetic nerve stimulation on the sino-atrial node of the guinea-pig. J. Physiol., 471, 707-727

    Cousins, H.M., Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S. and Wendt, I.R. (1993). Cholinergic neuromuscular transmission in the longitudinal muscle of the guinea-pig ileum. J. Physiol., 471, 61-86

    Bramich, N.J., Brock, J., Edwards, F.R. and Hirst, G.D.S. (1993). Excitatory junction potentials recorded from the attested sinus venosus of the toad. J. Physiol., 461 403-430

    Edwards, F.R., Bramich, J.N. and Hirst, G.D.S. (1993). Analysis of the effects of vagal stimulation on the sinus venosus of the toad. Philosophical Trans. Royal Society of London, B. 341, 149-162

    Hirst, G.D.S., Edwards, F.R. and Silverberg, G.D. (1992). Control of arteriolar excitability by neural and metabolic factors. Japanese Journal of Pharmacolgy. 58, Suppl. II,174-178

    Hirst, G.D.S., Edwards, F.R., Bramich, N.J. and Klemm, M.F. (1992). Transmission at Autonomic Neuroeffector Junctions. Trends in Neurosciences, 15, 40-46

    Clarke, A., Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S. and Silverberg, G.D. (1991). Developmental changes in the resting membrane potential of rat cerebral arteries. Resistance Arteries, Structure and Function. Ed M.J. Mulvany, C. Aalkjaer, A.M. Heagerty, N.C.B. Nyborg and S.Strandgaard. Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam. pp 147-151

    Hill, C.E., Jones, R.S.G., Hirst, G.D.S. and Edwards, F.R. (1991). Development of a functional innervation of the iris dilator muscle by sympathetic nerve fibres in the rat. J. Autonomic Nevous System , 32, 21-30

    Hirst, G.D.S., Edwards, F.R., Bramich, N.J. and Klemm, M.F. (1991). Neural Control of Cardiac Pacemaker Potentials. News in Physiological Sciences. 6, 185-190

    Bramich, N.J, Edwards, F.R. and Hirst, G.D.S. (1990). Sympathetic nerve stimulation and applied transmitters on the sinus venosus of the toad. J. Physiol., 429, 349-375

    Bywater, R.A.R., Campbell, G.D., Edwards, F.R., and Hirst, G.D.S.(1990). The effects of vagal stimulation and applied acetylcholine on the arrested sinus venosus of the toad. J. Physiol., 425, 1-27

    Edwards, F.R., Harrison, P.J., Jack, J.J.B. and Kullmann, D.M. (1989). Reduction by baclofen of monosynaptic EPSPs in lumbosacral motoneurones of the anaesthetized cat. J. Physiol., 416, 539-556

    Campbell, G.D., Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S. and O'Shea, J.E. (1989). Effects of vagal stimulati, on and applied acetylcholine on pacemaker potentials in the guinea-pig heart. J. Physiol., 415, 57-68

    Bywater, R.A.R., Campbell, G.D., Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S. and O'Shea, J. (1989). The effects of vagal stimulation and applied acetylcholine on the sinus venosus of the toad. J. Physiol., 415, 35-56

    Hirst, G.D.S. and Edwards, F.R. (1989). Sympathetic neuroeffector transmission in arteries and arterioles. Physiol. Rev. 69, 546-604

    Edwards, F.R., Hards, D., Hirst, G.D.S. and Silverberg, G.D. (1988). The localization of gamma-adrenoceptors and P2 purine receptors on rat cerebral arterioles. Brit. J. Pharmac. 96, 785-788

    Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S. and Siverberg, G.D. (1988). Inward rectification in rat cerebral arterioles; involvement of potassium ions in auto regulation. J. Physiol., 404, 455-466

    Edwards, F.R. and Hirst, G.D.S. (1988). Inward rectification in submucosal arterioles of guinea pig ileum. J. Physiol., 404, 437-454

    Walmsley, B., Edwards, F.R. & Tracey D.J. (1988). Nonuniform release probabilities underlie quantal synaptic transmission at a mammalian excitatory central synapse. J. Neurophys., 60, 889-908

    Walmsley, B., Edwards, F.R. & Tracey D.J. (1987). The probabilistic nature of synaptic transmission at a mammalian excitatory central synapse. J. Neurosci., 7, 1037-1046

    Cleland, C.L., Rymer, W.Z. & Edwards, F.R. (1982). Force sensitive interneurons in the spinal cord of the cat. Science, 217, 652-655

    Rymer, W.Z., Post, E.M. & Edwards, F.R. (1981). Functional roles of fusimotor and skeletofusimotor neurons studied in the decerebrate cat. In: Muscle Receptors and Movement Control, edited by A. Taylor and A. Prochazka, London, Macmillan

    Edwards, F.R., Redman, S.J. & Walmsley, B. (1976). The effect of polarizing currents on unitary 1a excitatory post-synaptic potentials evoked in spinal motoneurones. J. Physiol., 259, 705-723

    Edwards, F.R., Redman, S.J. & Walmsley, B. (1976). Non-quantal fluctuations and transmission failures in charge transfer at 1a synapses on spinal motoneurones. J. Physiol., 259, 689-704

    Edwards, F.R., Redman, S.J. & Walmsley, B. (1976). Non-quantal fluctuations and transmission failures in charge transfer at 1a synapses on spinal motoneurones. J. Physiol., 259, 689-704

    Edwards, F.R., Redman, S.J. & Walmsley, B. (1976). Statistical fluctuations in charge transfer at 1a synapses on spinal motoneurones. J. Physiol., 259, 665-688

    Edwards, F.R., Hirst, G.D.S., & Silinsky, E.M. (1976). Interaction between inhibitory and excitatory synaptic potentials at a peripheral neurone. J. Physiol., 259, 647-663