BBC One - Lifeline, Bipolar UK Leah Charles-King presents an appeal on behalf of Bipolar UK.

We are working with BipolarUK on a survey about medication (soon to be released). The same charity are asking for your support here. <10mins. Well worth a watch.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Effect of naltrexone pretreatment on ketamine-induced glutamatergic activity and symptoms of depression: a randomized crossover study - Nature Medicine The opioid system modulates ketamine’s effects in major depressive disorder, with naltrexone reducing acute glutamatergic activity and acute antidepressant effects.

The full study is published today here: www.nature.com/articles/s41... :
Summary here:
www.kcl.ac.uk/news/ketamin...
and here: www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/j...
Led by the excellent @lukejelenski.bsky.social 3/3

This mechanism could explain why the opiate antagonist reduces ketamine’s glutamate surge. The subsequent reduction in the antidepressant response suggests this glutamate mechanism is necessary. 2/3

New research in those with depression shows the opioid system is involved in ketamine's antidepressant response. The doses of ketamine used to treat depression are unlikely to interact directly with opioid receptors, but are co-expressed with NMDA receptors on GABAergic interneurons. 1/3

Dr Luke Jelen, lead author of the study and a Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry at IoPPN King’s College London, said: “Ketamine often makes the news for negative reasons. However, at a low dose, ketamine shows enormous potential to offer relief from the symptoms of depression.” “Understanding whether the opioid system is involved ketamine’s antidepressant effects is a really important question, given how much we still don't know about how ketamine works. “Our study shows that the opioid system is involved and offers insight into how it contributes to ketamine’s effects.”

Research which is investigating why ketamine could be a good treatment for some people with depression, has discovered that the drug’s antidepressant effects involve the brain’s opioid system.

The study was supported by @nihr.bsky.social and the MRC.

www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2025/j...

*without CB2 ligands!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no... Just, NO!

Now @mattwall.bsky.social shares his insights into what neuroimaging has taught us about psychedelic mechanisms. #BAP2025

How can you get at the cannabis CB2 receptor function with CB2 ligands. Dr. Ekaterina Shatalina has used the connectivity approach REACT to address this #BAP2025

Challenges in drug development is a theme and this year's #BAP2025 and Prof. Neil Harrison talks about de-risking in development of a novel compound.

Final day of #BAP2025 kicks off with Dr. Diana Cash taking us through translational pharmacological imaging. Multimodal, multi-drug and multi-studies!

Barod ketamine conference begins in Swansea #barod25

The unspoken shall be spoken! Looking forward to it. @kingsioppn.bsky.social

Hitchhiker’s Guide to Academia: Navigating the Unspoken Norms of Academia This full-day workshop will examine challenges in academia and develop a practical toolkit for dealing with them.

Academia is full of challenges (authorship? peer review?) that can be as frustrating as they are rewarding. Join our free workshop on 7 June to examine challenges and how to handle them. #AcademicSky

Register now:

The #ioppnresearchfestival @kingsioppn.bsky.social has started. First time I'm not chairing for years. Loving it!

King's researchers received British Neuroscience Association Green Neuroscience Prize The prize recognised their contribution to construct the first solar-powered MRI facility in the world.

King's researchers awarded @britishneuro.bsky.social's Green Neuroscience Prize, for their contributions to build the world's first solar-powered MRI facility in Zimbabwe.

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/kings-r...

Kenilworth medical cannabis campaigner Hannah Deacon dies Hannah Deacon fought for permission to treat her son Alfie's epilepsy with cannabis.

We have to thank Hannah Deacon, but it seems there is still a long way to go to get cannabis treatments more affordable and avaiable www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

All NIDA F31 diversity scholars officially losing their funding...

I barely have words.

Expected at this point but so so disappointing and unfair. We are effectively punishing some of America's best science students for telling the government they are from an underrepresented community.

Edmund Sonuga-Barke: RE-STAR - multidisciplinary adventure in participatory translational science | The Mental Elf Regulating Emotions – Strengthening Adolescent Resilience

How can we better support neurodivergent young people at risk of depression?
Prof Edmund Sonuga-Barke shares the vision behind RE-STAR, an innovative, multidisciplinary project — from emotional regulation to school-based interventions.

#AcademicSky #MedSky

🎧 Tune in shows.acast.com/mental-elf/e...

We may finally know why teenage girls are more depressed than boys It’s all to do with tryptophan, a nutrient found in turkey.

BBC Science Focus covers new research @kingsioppn.bsky.social supported by our BRC, which shows that a biological brain mechanism called the ‘kynurenine pathway’ is imbalanced in adolescents with depression, particularly in teenage girls: www.sciencefocus.com/news/teenage...

Trump asks Supreme Court to block order requiring US to bring back man mistakenly deported to El Salvador | CNN Politics President Donald Trump’s administration urged the Supreme Court on Monday to block a lower court order requiring officials to bring a man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador back to Maryland.

In bad news, however, the U.S. government is not complying with the judge's order and is trying to get the supreme court to block it...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/07/p...

Donate to Aid for Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia's Family, organized by National Day Laborer Organizing Network ----En Español Abajo---- Kilmar is a loving father, husba… National Day Laborer Organizing Network needs your support for Aid for Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia's Family

Please consider amplifying this message, as the lack of due process in this case could set a brutal precedent. You can also help out Kilmar's family via this GoFundMe. #bringkilmarhome 7/7
www.gofundme.com/f/legal-aid-...

OK here it is, the moment you have all been waiting for! Our advert for 5 posts here at Glasgow: Cognitive neuroscience/psychology. Closing date May 12 - please spread the word
www.nature.com/naturecareer...

They were arrested during routine ICE check-ins. Then they disappeared. Deportation proceedings are often shrouded in secrecy. But lawyers say the lack of information about the Venezuelan migrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act is nearly unprecedented.

My partner Lucia was quoted in The Washington Post regarding one of her clients who was disappeared despite having no criminal history and being granted humanitarian protection.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

View of the whole room - over 100 people watching a panel

Two people, one looking at course brochure

Prof Mitul Mehta speaking into microphone

Panel discussion, people smiling

It was fantastic to welcome so many people to our Experimental Medicine and Novel Therapeutics course last week!

💬"We thank the speakers, panel members and delegates for making this such an enjoyable and informative event.” - Professor @mitulamehta.bsky.social, Theme Lead, NIHR Maudsley BRC

This was a fab meeting. Superb content and chat. Honest, open and meaningful. @liviasimela.bsky.social had the best cartoons though! @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social

Highlights from our 2 day workshop...aka a recipe for meeting success!
1. Great crowd. 2. Useful content (slides photos, hmm...). 3. Inclusive lectern: adjustable height (not just for tall men). 4. Amazing, open panel discussions. @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social

A brain image with the title of the course and highlights listed

This is today! We are oversubscribed so will start planning the next one soon!
@aliceegerton.bsky.social @nihrmaudsleybrc.bsky.social

Jesus Christ, this is apocalyptic...

Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at King's College London Recruiting now: Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board

🚨 HIRING 🚨 a Postdoctoral Associate in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience @kingsioppn.bsky.social

My group's research aims to understand how social and physical environments impact brain and behaviour development.

Application window closes in three days!

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLX655/p...