Dr. Gerard Clarke

Associate Investigator

Contact Details:

Gerard Clarke is a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science. His research interests include translational biomarkers of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, the impact of the gut microbiome on brain and behaviour across the life span and microbial regulation of tryptophan metabolism.

Gerard Clarke holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry, an MSc degree in Neuropharmacology (1999 and 2001; Both from NUI, Galway) and a PhD degree (2009) in Neurogastroenterology (Department of Psychiatry, UCC). Since 2012, he has held a faculty position as lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork. Research interests include translational biomarkers of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, the impact of the gut microbiome on brain and behaviour across the life span and neuroactive metabolites produced from tryptophan. His work with INFANT and the APC Microbiome Institute marries these themes together with a focus on maternal stress and mental health, and the implications for neurodevelopment. He was selected for a young investigator award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) in 2013 and from the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS) in 2011. He has recently served as a management committee member for Ireland for the EU Cost Action GENIEUR (Genes in irritable bowel syndrome). He is a co-author of over 90 peer-reviewed papers (h-index = 34), 5 book chapters and has recently edited a book titled ‘The Gut Microbiome and Behaviour’.

Career Profile:

  • July 2012-Present: Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, UCC, Cork.
  • January 2012-June 2012: Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics/School of Pharmacy, UCC
  • October 2011-December 2011: Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, UCC.
  • May 2009-October 2011: Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist, APC Microbiome Institute, UCC.

Selected Research Awards

  • 2016 APC Microbiome Institute Education and Public Engagement Person of the year
  • 2013 National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Young Investigator Research Award
  • American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS) Research Award 2011
  • Oral Presentation Award, United European Gastroenterology Week, Stockholm 2011
  • European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Travel Award, Istanbul, Turkey, 2009

Selected Professional Activities

  • Conference Ambassador, Failte Ireland, 2015
  • Local organiser, NeuroGASTRO 2017 to be held in UCC, August 2017
  • Member of management committee for EU COST action GENIEUR BM1106
  • Guest editor for 2016 special issue of Neuropharmacology on the kynurenine pathway
  • Co-editor, 2016 International Review of Neurobiology (Volume: The Gut Microbiome and Behaviour; Elsevier)
  • Editorial board member: Scientific Reports; Neuropharmacology