Organiser – Adam Smith
I was born in the north, a long time ago. I wanted to write books, but ended up working in the NHS, and at the Department of Health. I am now Programme Director in the Office of the NIHR National Director for Dementia Research (which probably sounds more important than it is) at University College London. I have led a number of initiatives to improve dementia research (which happens to include the Dementia Researcher, Join Dementia Research and ENRICH), as well as pursuing my own research interests, and driven by a passion to better engage the public in research. In my spare time, I grow vegetables, build Lego and spend most of my time drinking too much coffee and trying to squeezing technology into my house.
Watch Adam on the Chatathon in 2022 - from start to finish here on YouTube
Watch Adam on the Chatathon in 2020 - from start to finish here on YouTube
Special Guest - Christ Roberts & Jayne Goodrick
Chris Roberts and Jayne Goodrick are from Wales. Chris was diagnosed with mixed dementia in early 2012 but has not let this diagnosis get in the way of leading a full life.
He and his amazing wife Jayne, spend most of their time promoting and providing education to others about dementia. Chris regularly give talks on what it’s like to live with dementia and how research plays an important role in unlocking new treatments and better care, supported by Jayne who provides unique insights as someone living with the disease in a different way. Together they believe in dementia rights, inclusion, co-production and the promotion of better services for everyone living with dementia.
Chris is an Ambassador for the UK Alzheimer’s Society, Join Dementia Research Champion, Affiliate member of Dementia Action Alliance UK, Honorary Lecturer, Bangor University, Wales and a Member of the NICE Dementia Clinical Guideline Review Committee.
Special Guest - Scott Mitchell
After graduating and taking on various TV and theatre roles, Scott met his future wife, actress Dame Barbara Windsor, who he shared his life with her for 27 years, before she passed away in 2020.
In 2014, Barbara was given the devastating news that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a day that would change both hers and Scott’s lives forever. Although initially kept private, Scott and Barbara went public with the news in 2018. Scott was offered support and advice, entering the 2019 London Marathon with a team of Barbara’s friends and ex-cast mates from Eastenders, known as Barbara’s Revolutionaries.
Alongside Alzheimer’s Research UK, Scott raised vital funds for Dementia Revolution. To date it is the record-breaking charity partner for the London Marathon, raising over £4 million. Scott also ran the 2021 marathon, again raising more money for ARUK, which he is now an ambassador for. Most recently Scott was massivley influential in persuading the goverment provide an extra £95m for dementia research, and start the 'Babs Army' campaign to urge more people to sign up for clinical trials in the UK via Join Dementia Research.
Special Guest - Jacqueline Cannon, CEO, The Lewy Body Society
I'm the CEO of The Lewy Body Society. As a small charity, everyone has more than one job, my role is varied and involves but not limited to: Book keeping; website updates; fulfilment of orders from the society’s online shop; social media updates; taking calls from carers; responding to emails; sending out information packs; managing research grant applications; arranging and taking part in zoom events. We're proud to have a dedicated community of fundraisers and researchers, and bringing them together to support people living with Lewy Bodies is very important.
Special Guest - Bridget Barker, CEO, Race Against Dementia
I run the charity started by Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart. On I day-to-day basis this includes ensuring there is appropriate governance, fundraising, marketing, arranging various events and using the charity’s money to support the RAD Fellows’ Development Programme as well as investing in innovative projects to accelerate research into dementia. My maternal grandmother had dementia, and I share in Sir Jackie's passion to find new ways to beat dementia, learning from other industries who are able to bring rapid innovation and new ideas.
Special Guest - Dr Sara Imarisio, Head of Strategic Initiatives, Alzheimer's Research UK
Sara is the Head of Strategic Initiatives at Alzheimer’s Research UK. She is responsible for overseeing initiatives such as the charity’s Drug Discovery Alliance, the UK Dementia Research Institute, and the Brains for Dementia Research. Prior to joining Alzheimer’s Research UK, she was a postdoc in Cambridge affiliated to Prof David Rubinsztein’s lab, screening for modifiers of neurodegenerative diseases caused by aggregate-prone proteins. She did her PhD in Italy, working on the characterisation of a protein involved in the latest stages of the cell cycle and necessary for the correct development of the brain.
Special Guest - Katherine Gray, Research Communications Manager, Alzheimer's Society
Working in the wonderful Research Communications team at Alzheimer’s Society sharing research updates to the Society’s donors and supporters, sharing research findings through the Society’s channels and in the media. Talking directly to the dementia research community about how the Society can support you.
MEET THE RESEARCHERS
Here you will find a list of everyone Adam will be interviewing during the Dementia Research Charity Chatathon LIVE on the 2nd December 2022 from 9.00am to 9.30pm. Join us to hear all about their work, and in raising money for important research.
Busola Adekoya
PhD Candidate, University of Waterloo
Our research investigates dementia-related missing incidents, and the importance of preventive measures, such as dementia-friendly communities, alert systems, and risk profiles. We have a strong collaboration with stakeholders, such as persons living with dementia and older adults, caregivers, community organizations and technology developers. We are part of the Aging and Innovation Research Program.
Dr Kat Algar-Skaife
Postdoctoral Fellow in Dementia Care and Welfare Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Over the past twelve years, I have led and contributed to research around understanding and improving support; developing and evaluating psychosocial, physical activity, and creative interventions. I collaborate with organisations such as Age Cymru and local authorities to ensure that my research has a real-life impact outside of an academic setting. I currently lead the SENSE-Emotion project which aims to provide a deeper understanding of the experiences and emotional responses of people living with dementia engaging with SENSE-GARDEN, an immersive digital sensory room.
Professor Jane Alty
Associate Professor of Neurology & Consultant Neurologist, University of Tasmania & Royal Hobart Hospital, Australia
I am an academic Neurologist (clinician researcher) specialising in cognitive and movement disorders. I am Co Director of the ISLAND cognitive assessment and research clinic (Tasmania, Australia). My research involves developing digital biomarkers of Alzheimers, Parkinsons and other neurological disorders.
Dr Sophia Amenyah
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Bournemouth University
I am an early career research scientist and a Registered Nutritionist (UKVRN, AfN). I have a strong background in biochemical, epigenetics and the social and economic aspects of nutrition and healthy ageing. My research encompasses multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches to understanding the determinants of optimal nutrition and healthy ageing throughout the life course with specific focus on prevention of vascular diseases. My recent projects include the Healthy Brain Healthy Life project
Dr Mirna L. Arroyo-Miranda
Postdoc Fellow, University of Houston
My research explores Social connectedness and cognitive function among latinos, early diagnosis and ADRD inclusion science
Dr Nicholas Ashton
Assistant Professor of Neurochemistry, University Gothenburg & King's College London
I have over decade of experience in biofluid analysis and assay development for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorder which ranges from discovery mass spectrometry methods to ultra-sensitive immunoassays development. Recently, this has seen the success of assays specific for phosphorylated tau and neurofilament light, which being evaluated for clinical routine across Europe and inclusion criterion for clinical trials targeting dementia. I have published >100 original research articles in fluid biomarker for neurogenerative diseases.
Anna Sanchez Avila
PhD Student, University of Dundee
I work in the field of motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia, which have more in common than you might think. I use high-resolution microscopy techniques to look at how synapses - small, delicate structures that allow our brain cells to communicate with each other - change in disease. I want to also see if those changes happen all over the brain or in specific regions that correlate with the symptoms we see.
Olga Borejko
Project Manager, King's College London
I manage a portfolio of clinical studies and commercial trials for patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease, at Old Age Psychiatry, King’s College London. I’m responsible for setting up the studies, recruitment and completing clinical/cognitive assessments with patients. My main research interest lies within understanding better how clinical and biological markers affect the disease trajectory in DLB patients. Specifically, how biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology affect the rate of cognitive decline in DLB patients (ENLIST-UK & EPND study, my PhD). At KCL, we are also involved in clinical trials looking at disease modifying treatments, which aim to reduce amyloid beta plaques in patients with prodromal AD (Abate study).
Dr Katherine Carroll Britt
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania
I recently graduated with my PhD from The University of Texas. My work focuses on the utilisation of religion and spirituality for coping during stress and illness and how religious and spiritual practices impact mental and physical health, mainly in older adults including those with cognitive impairment, dementia, and their caregivers. My most recent work looks at associations of religious service attendance and frequency of private prayer with neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive function, and sleep disturbances in dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment. I aim to identify protective factors and create nonpharmacologic interventions to slow disease progression and to improve well-being and quality of life in dementia.
Dr Keeley Brookes
Senior Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University
My research focuses on producing genetic data and analysis for the Brains for Dementia Research (BDR) Project to be used in conjunction with other data generated on this cohort to bridge the gap between genetic risk for dementia and phenotype. My current studies are to try and align current polygenic risk score models with biological outcomes, in order to refine the model to the most relevant genetic variants, therefore increasing the accuracy of the score to predict genetic risk and identify those genes that may be actionable targets for therapeutic intervention.
Dr Catherine Charlwood
IDEAL Research Translation and Impact Manager, University of Exeter
Drawing on an unusual background of three degrees in literature, I work for the IDEAL programme as Research Translation and Impact Manager. My role exists to help promote our findings to various different stakeholders from our key beneficiaries of people with dementia and carers, through to practitioners and policymakers. It's an enormous privilege to work closely on the PPIE elements of IDEAL and one of my proudest achievements is the Living with Dementia Toolkit.
Dr Lucy Chisman-Russell
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dementia Research Centre, University College London
I am a postdoctoral researcher funded by the Bluefield Project. I am the co-ordinator of the FTD Prevention Initiative, helping to link together the genetic FTD cohort studies from around the world, and liaising with pharmaceutical companies as new drug trials start for people with FTD. My research interests initially focused on social cognitive assessments in FTD using instructionless eye tracking tasks but have expanded in my postdoc role to the development of digital and remote markers in FTD.
Dr Marianne Coleman
Clinical Vision Research Fellow, University of Melbourne
Developing information about eye tests for people living with dementia and carers, and a training course for optometrists about dementia-friendly eyecare. These are based on qualitative research with people living with dementia, carers and optometrists
Dr Mark Dallas
Associate Professor in Cellular Neuroscience, University of Reading
Our research looks at non neuronal cells and the role they play in both initiating and progressing dementia. In particular we are looking at the role of microglia in regulating the inflammatory status of the drive and revealing the balance between good and bad inflammation. This is explored in the lab using a range of techniques looking at the changes in cellular function under disease relevant conditions.
Dr Eric Dyne
Clinical Specialist, Roche Diagnostics, USA
My research involved the use of nanoparticles to target beta-amyloid plaques but current interest and specialisation is biomarkers and diagnostics for Alzheimer's disease and ADRDs.
Dr Raysa El Zein
Lecturer of Nutrition / Dementia Research, University of Exeter
I am interested in healthy ageing and especially the effect of nutrition on age related cognitive decline. My research looks into the effect of dietary induced ketosis on cognition in older adults and adults with mild cognitive impairment to reduce dementia risk.
Dr Aitana Sogorb Esteve
Race Against Dementia / ARUK Research Fellow, University College London
My expertise is in fluid biomarkers and specifically I am looking for novel markers to assess synaptic dysfunction in genetic FTD. I have had promising results in Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and my aim now is to measure such synaptic markers in blood by extracting neuronal-derived extracellular vesicles from plasma samples in the GENFI cohort.
Beth Eyre
PhD Student / Health Science Research Fellow, University of Sheffield and University of Pittsburgh
My research focuses on something we call neurovascular function, which is the relationship between neurons and blood flow in the brain. During my PhD I have been looking at the effects of heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and both diseases together and the effect these disease have on neurovascular function.
Victoria Gabb
Research Associate in Sleep and Dementia Neuroscience, University of Bristol
I work at the Bristol Brain Centre in Southmead Hospital in sleep and dementia research, looking specifically at sleep and circadian rhythms in older adults during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body disease compared to older adults without cognitive impairment. A lot of the work we're doing at the moment is looking at how we can identify sleep and circadian changes in the home environment using technology such as actigraphy, EEG headbands, and mobile apps.
Dr Clarissa Giebel
Senior Research Fellow, University of Liverpool
My research focuses on enabling people living with dementia to live well and independently at home for as long as possible, whilst addressing inequalities in accessing the right care. For this, I am working with a number of national and international collaborators, in the Netherlands, Colombia, Chile, Australia, Uganda, Poland, and UAE and have published over 90 papers in the field.
Dr Amanda Heslegrave
Senior Research Fellow, UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London
I collaborate with clinical researchers to measure biomarkers of neurodegeneration in a variety of biofluids, most topical right now are blood biomarkers which we are able to measure with the use of super sensitive assay technology - overall I focus on Fluid Biomarkers, diagnostics, prognostics, response to therapeutics
Hannah Hussain
PhD Candidate and Pharmacist, University of Sheffield
My research is focused on how to best to measure health related quality of life in dementia populations for use in economic evaluations. I will be using statistical methods to understand if and how to combine outcome assessments made by the person living with dementia and a proxy (typically an informal caregiver).
Dr Claire Lancaster
Research Fellow, University of Sussex
I am an Alzheimer's Society Research Fellow investigating the relationship between cognition and brain activity in individuals predisposed to future Alzheimer's Disease. My research uses a combination of behavioural assessment, MRI neuroimaging, pharmacology and cohort analyses. In addition, I work on the Alzheimer's Society GameChanger study and Alzheimer's Research UK Early Detection of Neurodegenerative Disease project - both of which explore the value of remote, digital assessment for the detection of preclinical dementia
Professor Tammaryn Lashley
Professor of Neuroscience, University College London
My research is based around various neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease and Frontotemporal Dementia. We use post-mortem human brain tissue to investigate the underlying pathological mechanisms that cause or are involved in the disease pathogenesis.
Dr Cristina Legido-Quigley
Head of Systems Medicine, Kings College London & Steno Diabetes Center
We work with omics sciences, this is mapping thousands of molecules in the body with our technology and then with data science trying to see which are the most important and change in Alzheimer’s. The next step is replenishing these molecules if they are beneficial or monitoring them if they signal a problem or a inflammatory.
Dr Richard Lofthouse
Research Fellow, University of Aberdeen and TauRx
I am working on Biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. We are researching tau antibodies and their use in different combinations to determine the fragmentation profile of tau in health and disease.
Dr Maura Malpetti
Race Against Dementia / ARUK Fellow, University of Cambridge
My research focusses on inflammation in frontotemporal dementia and related disorders. I use innovative brain imaging techniques and blood tests to measure central and peripheral inflammation in people living with these conditions, relating these markers to clinical outcomes and other measures for disease progression (i.e. brain shrinkage, junk proteins etc).
Dr Riccardo Manca
Research Fellow, Brunel University London
My background is primarily in neuropsychology and neuroimaging analysis. My main research interests and topics I am currently working on are: 1) Structural and functional neuroimaging correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with Alzheimer's disease; 2) neurocognitive decline in older adults from under-represented groups, primarily sexual minorities (project funded by the Alzheimer's Association); 3) non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis and dementia; 4) alterations in the dopaminergic system in early AD.
Nadine Mirza
PhD Student / Postgraduate Researcher, University of Manchester
My research is based on the dementia diagnostic process for ethnic minorities. I have specifically focused on the cultural adaptation of cognitive tests and improving the memory clinic pathway for British South Asians. I've also explored ethnic minority inclusion in dementia research.
Joe Morgan
PhD Student, University of Salford
My research is based on investigating the relationship between autophagy and small extrscellular vesicle miRNA cargoes in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia.
Dr Danielle Newby
Postdoctoral Data Scientist, University of Oxford
Based within the Centre for Statistics in Medicine at Oxford. One of my areas of research is now generating evidence about the safety of medicines in people living with dementia and parkinson's disease across the UK and Europe using real world evidence (i.e. medical records). This evidence can be used to help improve decision making by clinicians about the drugs they prescribe and utimately improve the quality of life of these patients.
Dr Coco Newton
Research Fellow, University College London
I am a cognitive neuroscientist focused on finding ways to detect dementia earlier. In my PhD at the University of Cambridge, funded by the Alzheimer’s Society, I worked on challenging the assumption that memory decline is the first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease dementia - showing instead that navigation impairments may occur earlier. Currently I work as a research fellow within in the Alzheimer’s Research UK ‘Early Detection of Neurodegeneration’ (EDoN) initiative, identifying early-stage technologies that could provide personalised digital biomarkers of different dementia diseases.
Dr Steven Owen
Knowledge Exchange Officer, Exeter University
Our research aims to help older people living with dementia experience a better quality of life through increased contact with the natural environment. Working with people living with dementia, business, and third sector organisations we explore the barriers they face in accessing nature and innovative practices that will help businesses in the visitor economy reduce these barriers.
Zara Page
PhD Student, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales
I am a 3rd year PhD Candidate at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales Australia. My current work aims to explore and compare the cultural and language fairness of face to face and computerised cognitive assessments for older adults from diverse backgrounds. I am hoping to improve the tools available for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of dementia and boost inclusion of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in dementia research.
Ellice Parkinson
PhD Researcher, University of East Anglia
My research is concerned with drinking and low-intake dehydration amongst older people, particularly those living with dementia in care homes. Prior to undertaking the PhD, I worked as a Research Fellow specifically on Huntington’s Disease Research.
Dr Hector Perez
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Waterloo
Our research investigates dementia-related missing incidents, and the importance of preventive measures, such as dementia-friendly communities, alert systems, and risk profiles. We have a strong collaboration with stakeholders, such as persons living with dementia and older adults, caregivers, community organizations and technology developers. We are part of the Aging and Innovation Research Program.
Dr Stephan Price
Research Fellow / Knowledge Exchange Officer, University of Exeter
Working on the ENLIVEN project to find on ways to improve opportunities for people living with cognitive impairment to get outdoors into nature. Collaborating with a range of business and organisations in the outdoor visitor economy to develop new innovations that will be co-produced with people with cognitive impairment. I am focusing on issues of organisation and economy.
Dr Petra Proitsi
ARUK Senior Post-doctoral Research Fellow, King's College London
Leveraging genetic and multi omics (particularly metabolomics) information to enhance early dementia prediction and to find prevention and intervention targets.
Dr Catherine Quinn
Associate Professor, Centre of Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bradford
My research focuses improving the quality of life of those affected by dementia. First, through gaining a better understanding of the experiences of those affected by dementia and the factors that affect their quality of life. Second, by developing interventions to improve the quality of life of those affected by dementia. I teach modules on post-diagnostic support in dementia and am also a Fellow of the Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Care Research and a member of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber
Dr Terry Quinn
Reader & Consultant in Older Adult Medicine, University of Glasgow
My team has a research focus on dementia assessment and the cognitive consequences of cardiovascular diseases. I also hold leadership roles in groups such as Cochrane Dementia and Scottish Dementia Research Consortium. I was vice chair on the recent SIGN guidelines on dementia and can speak to how we translate research data into guideline recommendations.
Zeynep Şahin
PhD Student, King's College London
Exploring the eye as the window to the brain, with imaging and machine learning: Can Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retinal structure and vasculature be used to diagnose and subtype prodromal neurodegenerative disease and visual neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Professor Louise Serpell
Professor of Biochemistry, University of Sussex
I lead a team of researchers, investigating the causes of dementia, we are interested in causes of AD and what the involvement of amyloidbeta and tau is at a molecular level.
Dr Tim Shakespeare
Research Acceleration Lead, Zinc
I lead the programme of support for the Healthy Ageing Catalyst Awards - helping academic researchers develop new products and services that improve later life. Prior to joining Zinc the focus of my work was using Diffusion Tensor Imaging to investigate changes in the brain's white matter that are associated with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease, including Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA). I created and directed the online course 'The Many Faces of Dementia' which aimed to give a unique insight into dementia through the stories, symptoms and science behind four less common diagnoses.
Nikita Sharma
Postgraduate student (Pursuing MD), Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, India
Currently pursuing her MD Naturopathy & working on reviews & exploring the “Effect of Meditation on amygdala in healthy & among Alzheimer’s disease patients”.
Dr Victoria Shepherd
Senior Research Fellow, Cardiff University
I lead an interdisciplinary programme of research exploring the ethical and methodological issues around research involving adults with impaired capacity to consent, including people living with dementia. This includes the recent development of the NIHR INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework to help researchers to design trials that are more inclusive of people who may experience challenges around consent. Alongside this, I have a broad portfolio of methodological research including care home studies such as COS COVID PCARE which established the core outcomes to be measured in trials evaluating interventions to prevent COVID-19 in care homes.
Dr Maryam Shoai
Senior Research Fellow in Statistical Genetics, University College London
I work in the Faculty of Brain Sciences on genetic data to identify predictive models for both risk of disease and progression of disease! This work has previously included exploring Nanotechnology, Materials Chemistry and Statistical Genetics. I have an interest in Big Data, Genetics, and Statistical methods for identification of risk and progression variables in neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr Dia Soilemezi
Senior Research Fellow, University of Portsmouth
My research explores Home care/ oral care: Improving oral care for people who live with dementia and get support from care workers. Family carers and cohabiting: Home environment and how it changes for family carers (need for escape space, use of AT, strategies for safety, dementia-friendly homes).
Nathan Stephens
PhD Student & Unpaid Care Worker, University of Worcester
I work on understanding social and economic value of scaling up community based dementia support - in a failed market place. Passionate about health equity and under and unpaid care as a justice/rights issue. I am also an unpaid care worker and working with institutions locally such as CCGs, LAs, Public Health on the Worcestershire Meeting Centres Programme.
Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez
Principal Research Fellow, University College London
In my research I investigate the phenotypic variability of Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. I also work on the development of neuropsychological rehabilitation and therapeutic interventions to improve patient-centred outcomes in this population. I have extensive experience in non-pharmacological RCT, co-production and development and evaluation of digital therapeutic tools. My current work focuses on the use of precision neuropsychology to optimise rehabilitation treatments for people with young onset dementia.
Professor Claire Surr
Professor of Dementia Studies, Director of the Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University
I am Director of the Centre for Dementia Research, a cross-University research Centre dedicated to supporting multi-disciplinary applied dementia research. I have led a wide range of dementia research programmes funded by major funders including the National Institute for Health Research and the Alzheimer's Society. I work in dementia care and services research. Most recently my focus has been on dementia and comorbidity, care homes and workforce education and training.
Dr Megan Torvell
Research Associate , Cardiff University
My research uses human postmortem tissue and genetically modified mouse models to understand the role of complement, an important branch of the innate immune system, in Alzheimer's disease.
Kate Turley
Computer Scientist & PhD researcher in digital health for dementia, Ulster University
I am undertaking my PhD at Ulster University, focused on improving the wellbeing for people living with dementia, and reducing pressure on care staff. My research explores the use of therapeutic lighting technology for care homes and tracking resident activity to support care staff in their daily routines.
Dr Anna Volkmer
Senior Research Fellow, University College London / University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
I am interested a speech and language therapist who has specialised in working with people with dementia and their families. My research focuses on developing speech and language interventions for people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and other dementias (inc Alzheimer's disease). I am passionate about conversation and supporting people and their families to be able interact "better". This also includes exploring how we measure what is important to people living with PPA and dementia and their families.
Dr Lauren Walker
ARUK Research Fellow, Newcastle University
My main research interests lie in investigating the effects of multiple pathological lesions on clinical phenotype in neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body disease). Using a quantitative clinico-patholigical approach I aim to tease is distinct clinico-pathologcal phenotypes which may ultimately lead to tailored treatment options for patients. To complete this work, I use donated human brain tissue from Newcastle Brain Tissue Resource and the Brains for Dementia Research initiative.
Dr Jodi Watt
Post-doctoral Research Assistant, University of Glasgow
I work on a metric called the Brain Health Index, which aims to quantify brain health using various types of structural MRI. Combining different types of MRI allows us to assess different features of neurodegeneration and vascular change, features which tend to co-exist in older populations and certain conditions such as dementia or stroke. Outside of my day-to-day role, I am heavily involved in EDI initiatives within the world of MRI.
Professor Cindy Weinstein
Eli and Edythe Professor of English, Caltech
I am an English professor at the California Institute of Technology and an Atlantic Fellow, who studied neurology at the Global Brain Health Institute at UCSF. While there, Dr. Bruce Miller and I wrote a book, Finding the Right Words: A Story of Literature, Grief, and the Brain, which was published last year by Johns Hopkins University. It is about my father's early onset Alzheimer's, and is told from my perspective as a daughter/English professor and Dr. Miller's as a son/neurologist.
Rebecca Williams
PhD Student, MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit at University of Cambridge
I study apathy in conditions associated with frontotemporal degeneration, using a combination of Magnetoencephalography (MEG) imaging, Bayesian frameworks (The Bayesian framework uses metered data to infer the most likely distribution of the modeling parameters) and computational modelling.
Dr Laura Winchester
ARUK Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University
I am interested in the application of large-scale multi-omics data to better understand disease variants and therapeutics. This involves using genomic and proteomic data analysis from Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and healthy population cohorts to develop new biomarkers and understand dementia mechanisms by applying integrative and machine learning methodologies. I use all these informatics approaches in my main research focus: the study of the relationship between iron homeostasis and dementia.
Dr Esme Wood
Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, University of Gloucestershire
My research explores the lived experience of people with early stage dementia who use GPS navigation technologies to enable them to engage in meaningful outdoor occupation. The findings explored both the technologies used and the experience of users, identifying that such technologies can support quality of life through engagement in occupations that define identity, connections to nature and the outdoors and promoion of independence.