I aim to understand the molecular pathology which underpins a range of neurodegenerative dementias. This principally involves the delineation of various cellular stress responses, the stimuli which activates them, how they interact with hallmark pathology and when in terms of disease progression, such responses become activated.

I employ a variety of investigatory methods, including immuno-based assays and proteomics which I apply to post-mortem human tissue, but also cellular disease models. 

The aim of my work is to highlight pathological changes in stress pathways which are therapeutically exploitable and ultimately can be translated into improved clinical interventions. Whilst I foremost investigate Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, I am keenly aware that on a mechanistic level there are many points of commonality across the neurodegenerative spectrum.

Accordingly, I feel that working to share the knowledge base acquired across the many associated diseases may help to establish an understanding of the detrimental pathways engaged within the aging brain.

Currently I am investagating the role DNA damage may play in neurodegenerative diseases as well as continuing to determine how common protiens assoicated with neurodegeneration  (alpha-synuclein, Tau and Beta-amyloid) may interact to synergistically trigger cellular stress.