Overview

The major aim of my research is to identify changes in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder that may elucidate the etiology of these disorders and provide clues to novel treatments. Current projects focus on white matter pathology and inflammation. In addition, we study the effects of antipsychotic medications on the brain.

Publications

Cytomegalovirus antibodies are associated with mood disorders, suicide, markers of neuroinflammation, and microglia activation in postmortem brain samples
Molecular Psychiatry
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02162-4
2023

Severe symptoms predict salivary interleukin-6, interleukin-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor-a levels in children and youth with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Westwell-Roper, C. and Best, J.R. and Naqqash, Z. and Au, A. and Lin, B. and Lu, C. and Shao, L. and Beasley, C.L. and Stewart, S.E.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110743
2022

Diffusion kurtosis imaging of white matter in bipolar disorder
Vina M Goghari and Mavis Kusi and Mohammed K Shakeel and Clare Beasley and Szabolcs David and Alexander Leemans and Alberto De Luca and Louise Emsell
DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.01.21250951
02/2021

Diminished levels of the chemokine fractalkine in post-mortem prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia but not bipolar disorder
World Journal of Biological Psychiatry
Hill, S.L. and Shao, L. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2020.1755451
2021

Prefrontal fatty acid composition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Association with reelin expression
Schizophrenia Research
Beasley, C.L. and Honer, W.G. and Ramos-Miguel, A. and Vila-Rodriguez, F. and Barr, A.M.
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.05.033
2020

Decreased medial entorhinal cortical thickness in olanzapine exposed female rats is not ameliorated by exercise
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Woodward, M.L. and Ker, A.H. and Barr, A.M. and Beasley, C.L. and Hercher, C. and Boyda, H.N. and Procyshyn, R.M. and Honer, W.G. and Lang, D.J.
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2019.172834
2020

The SNAP25 Interactome in Ventromedial Caudate in Schizophrenia Includes the Mitochondrial Protein ARF1
Neuroscience
Ramos-Miguel, A. and Barakauskas, V. and Alamri, J. and Miyauchi, M. and Barr, A.M. and Beasley, C.L. and Rosoklija, G. and Mann, J.J. and Dwork, A.J. and Moradian, A. and Morin, G.B. and Honer, W.G.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.12.045
2019

Reduced SNAP25 Protein Fragmentation Contributes to SNARE Complex Dysregulation in Schizophrenia Postmortem Brain
Neuroscience
Ramos-Miguel, A. and Gicas, K. and Alamri, J. and Beasley, C.L. and Dwork, A.J. and Mann, J.J. and Rosoklija, G. and Cai, F. and Song, W. and Barr, A.M. and Honer, W.G.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.12.015
2019

Neuroadaptations to antipsychotic drugs: Insights from pre-clinical and human post-mortem studies
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Amato, D. and Beasley, C.L. and Hahn, M.K. and Vernon, A.C.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.004
2017

Evidence for altered cell membrane lipid composition in postmortem prefrontal white matter in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Ghosh, S. and Dyer, R.A. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.08.009
2017

Deficits in axon-associated proteins in prefrontal white matter in bipolar disorder but not schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorders
Shao, L. and Golbaz, K. and Honer, W.G. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12395
2016

Quantitative mass spectrometry reveals changes in SNAP-25 isoforms in schizophrenia
Schizophrenia Research
Barakauskas, V.E. and Moradian, A. and Barr, A.M. and Beasley, C.L. and Rosoklija, G. and Mann, J.J. and Ilievski, B. and Stankov, A. and Dwork, A.J. and Falkai, P. and Morin, G.B. and Honer, W.G.
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.03.002
2016

Exercise prevents downregulation of hippocampal presynaptic proteins following olanzapine-elicited metabolic dysregulation in rats: Distinct roles of inhibitory and excitatory terminals
Neuroscience
Ramos-Miguel, A. and Honer, W.G. and Boyda, H.N. and Sawada, K. and Beasley, C.L. and Procyshyn, R.M. and Barr, A.M.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.022
2015

Loss of Munc18-1 long splice variant in GABAergic terminals is associated with cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia in a community sample
Molecular Neurodegeneration
Ramos-Miguel, A. and Hercher, C. and Beasley, C.L. and Barr, A.M. and Bayer, T.A. and Falkai, P. and Leurgans, S.E. and Schneider, J.A. and Bennett, D.A. and Honer, W.G.
DOI: 10.1186/s13024-015-0061-4
2015

Effects of haloperidol and clozapine administration on oxidative stress in rat brain, liver and serum
Neuroscience Letters
Andreazza, A.C. and Barakauskas, V.E. and Fazeli, S. and Feresten, A. and Shao, L. and Wei, V. and Wu, C.H. and Barr, A.M. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.02.028
2015

Increased SNARE Protein-Protein Interactions in Orbitofrontal and Anterior Cingulate Cortices in Schizophrenia
Biological Psychiatry
Ramos-Miguel, A. and Beasley, C.L. and Dwork, A.J. and Mann, J.J. and Rosoklija, G. and Barr, A.M. and Honer, W.G.
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.12.012
2015

Evidence for morphological alterations in prefrontal white matter glia in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Hercher, C. and Chopra, V. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1503/jpn.130277
2014

Proteomic and metabolomic evidence for glial alterations in schizophrenia
Proteomics and Metabolomics in Psychiatry
Beasley, C.L. and Barakauskas, V.E.
DOI: 10.1159/000358027
2014

Increased hippocampal neurogenesis and p21 expression in depression: Dependent on antidepressants, sex, age, and antipsychotic exposure
Neuropsychopharmacology
Epp, J.R. and Beasley, C.L. and Galea, L.A.
DOI: 10.1038/npp.2013.132
2013

Increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in prefrontal cortex in psychotic illness
Schizophrenia Research
Feresten, A.H. and Barakauskas, V. and Ypsilanti, A. and Barr, A.M. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.07.024
2013

Glucocorticoids increase protein carbonylation and mitochondrial dysfunction
Hormone and Metabolic Research
Tang, V.M. and Young, A.H. and Tan, H. and Beasley, C. and Wang, J.-F.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1345119
2013

Effects of chronic exercise and treatment with the antipsychotic drug olanzapine on hippocampal volume in adult female rats
Neuroscience
Barr, A.M. and Wu, C.H. and Wong, C. and Hercher, C. and Töpfer, E. and Boyda, H.N. and Procyshyn, R.M. and Honer, W.G. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.010
2013

ApoE and cholesterol in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Comparison of grey and white matter and relation with APOE genotype
Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Vila-Rodriguez, F. and Honer, W.G. and Innis, S.M. and Wellington, C.L. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1503/jpn.090116
2011

Decreased mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 2, a mitochondrial proton transporter, in post-mortem prefrontal cortex from patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Neuroscience Letters
Gigante, A.D. and Andreazza, A.C. and Lafer, B. and Yatham, L.N. and Beasley, C.L. and Young, L.T.
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2011.09.064
2011

A Novel mechanism and treatment target for presynaptic abnormalities in specific striatal regions in schizophrenia
Neuropsychopharmacology
Barakauskas, V.E. and Beasley, C.L. and Barr, A.M. and Ypsilanti, A.R. and Li, H.-Y. and Thornton, A.E. and Wong, H. and Rosokilja, G. and Mann, J.J. and Mancevski, B. and Jakovski, Z. and Davceva, N. and Ilievski, B. and Dwork, A.J. and Falkai, P. and Honer, W.G.
DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.228
2010

Effects of sub-chronic clozapine and haloperidol administration on brain lipid levels
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Barakauskas, V.E. and Ypsilanti, A.R. and Barr, A.M. and Innis, S.M. and Honer, W.G. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.03.010
2010

Metabolic abnormalities in fronto-striatal-thalamic white matter tracts in schizophrenia
Schizophrenia Research
Beasley, C.L. and Dwork, A.J. and Rosoklija, G. and Mann, J.J. and Mancevski, B. and Jakovski, Z. and Davceva, N. and Tait, A.R. and Straus, S.K. and Honer, W.G.
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.01.017
2009

Two-dimensional assessment of cytoarchitecture in the superior temporal white matter in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia Research
Beasley, C.L. and Honavar, M. and Everall, I.P. and Cotter, D.
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.09.028
2009

Prominent synaptic and metabolic abnormalities revealed by proteomic analysis of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Molecular Psychiatry
Pennington, K. and Beasley, C.L. and Dicker, P. and Fagan, A. and English, J. and Pariante, C.M. and Wait, R. and Dunn, M.J. and Cotter, D.R.
DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4002098
2008

Calprotectin in microglia from frontal cortex is up-regulated in schizophrenia: Evidence for an inflammatory process?
European Journal of Neuroscience
Foster, R. and Kandanearatchi, A. and Beasley, C. and Williams, B. and Khan, N. and Fagerhol, M.K. and Everall, I.P.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05219.x
2006

Proteomic analysis of the anterior cingulate cortex in the major psychiatric disorders: Evidence for disease-associated changes
Proteomics
Beasley, C.L. and Pennington, K. and Behan, A. and Wait, R. and Dunn, M.J. and Cotter, D.
DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200500069
2006

Erratum (Retracted article): Expression of Oct-6, a POU III domain transcription factor, in schizophrenia (American Journal of Psychiatry (2002) 159 (1174-1182))
American Journal of Psychiatry
Beasley, C. and Meijer, D. and Kerwin, R. and Cotter, D. and Everall, I.A.N. and Price, J.
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.163.8.1454
2006

Evidence for altered neuronal organisation within the planum temporale in major psychiatric disorders
Schizophrenia Research
Beasley, C.L. and Chana, G. and Honavar, M. and Landau, S. and Everall, I.P. and Cotter, D.
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2004.08.011
2005

Reductions in cholesterol and synaptic markers in association cortex in mood disorders
Bipolar Disorders
Beasley, C.L. and Honer, W.G. and von Bergmann, K. and Falkai, P. and Lütjohann, D. and Bayer, T.A.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2005.00239.x
2005

Optimization of the first dimension for separation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of basic proteins from human brain tissue
Proteomics
Pennington, K. and McGregor, E. and Beasley, C.L. and Everall, I. and Cotter, D. and Dunn, M.J.
DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200300624
2004

Two-dimensional assessment of cytoarchitecture in the anterior cingulate cortex in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia: Evidence for decreased neuronal somal size and increased neuronal density
Biological Psychiatry
Chana, G. and Landau, S. and Beasley, C. and Everall, I.P. and Cotter, D.
DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00114-8
2003

Density and distribution of white matter neurons in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder: No evidence for abnormalities of neuronal migration
Molecular Psychiatry
Beasley, C.L. and Cotter, D.R. and Everall, I.P.
DOI: 10.1038/sj.mp.4001038
2002

The density and spatial distribution of GABAergic neurons, labelled using calcium binding proteins, in the anterior cingulate cortex in major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia
Biological Psychiatry
Cotter, D. and Landau, S. and Beasley, C. and Stevenson, R. and Chana, G. and MacMillan, L. and Everall, I.
DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(01)01243-4
2002

Selective deficits in prefrontal cortical GABAergic neurons in schizophrenia defined by the presence of calcium-binding proteins
Biological Psychiatry
Beasley, C.L. and Zhang, Z.J. and Patten, I. and Reynolds, G.P.
DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(02)01360-4
2002

Reduced neuronal size and glial cell density in area 9 of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in subjects with major depressive disorder
Cerebral Cortex
Cotter, D. and Mackay, D. and Chana, G. and Beasley, C. and Landau, S. and Everall, I.P.
2002

An investigation of the Wnt-signalling pathway in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder
Schizophrenia Research
Beasley, C. and Cotter, D. and Everall, I.
DOI: 10.1016/S0920-9964(01)00376-0
2002

Expression of Oct-6, a POU III domain transcription factor, in schizophrenia
American Journal of Psychiatry
Ilia, M. and Beasley, C. and Meijer, D. and Kerwin, R. and Cotter, D. and Everall, I. and Price, J.
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.7.1174
2002

Understanding the neurotransmitter pathology of schizophrenia: Selective deficits of subtypes of cortical GABAergic neurons
Journal of Neural Transmission
Reynolds, G.P. and Beasley, C.L. and Zhang, Z.J.
DOI: 10.1007/s007020200072
2002

GABAergic neuronal subtypes in the human frontal cortex - Development and deficits in schizophrenia
Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy
Reynolds, G.P. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1016/S0891-0618(01)00113-2
2001

Glycogen synthase kinase-3ß immunoreactivity is reduced in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia
Neuroscience Letters
Beasley, C. and Cotter, D. and Khan, N. and Pollard, C. and Sheppard, P. and Varndell, I. and Lovestone, S. and Anderton, B. and Everall, I.
DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(01)01688-3
2001

Neurochemical correlates of cortical GABAergic deficits in schizophrenia: Selective losses of calcium binding protein immunoreactivity
Brain Research Bulletin
Reynolds, G.P. and Zhang, Z.J. and Beasley, C.L.
DOI: 10.1016/S0361-9230(01)00526-3
2001

Neurochemical studies of AIDS and schizophrenia in post-mortem brain tissue
Journal of Neural Transmission
Reynolds, G.P. and Sardar, A.M. and Beasley, C.L. and Aparicio-Legarza, M.I.
1997

Parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons are reduced in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics
Schizophrenia Research
Beasley, C.L. and Reynolds, G.P.
DOI: 10.1016/S0920-9964(96)00122-3
1997

Brain development: the clinical perspective
Disorders of Brain and Mind
DOI: 10.1017/cbo9780511550072.005

Research
Research Group Members

Ninon Freidel, Masters Student
James Heap, Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Forensic Liaison
Vera Hui, Directed Studies
Sangeetha Kasturi, Graduate Research Assistant
Anika Lee, Volunteer Research Assistant
Betty Lin, Summer Student
Cynthia Loyo, Research Assistant
Li Shao, Research Asst/Tech 3
Cameron Tsu, Research Assistant
Rosalie Zhou, Summer Student