Claudio Alonso
RNA Control of newal development nand behaviour
Neurodegeneration
To design therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, we must first understand the causes.” louise serpell
Professor of Biochemistry
Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with progressive deterioration of brain function. Many are sporadic, with aging being biggest risk factor, but hereditary forms can provide further understanding of the cause. Researchers in Βι¶ΉΣ³» Neuroscience are studying the underlying genetic, molecular, cellular, behavourial and functional changes that are associated with conditions including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease. Focussed and multidisciplinary studies are addressing the underlying triggers of disease, causes and the hall-marks of progression, paving the way to development of therapeutics.
Faculty
Research centres and groups relating to this theme
Focus on: Mahmoud Maina
Research Fellow
“I am interested in the basic mechanism of neurodegeneration in tauopathies, especially Alzheimer's disease.
My interest in this area started as an undergraduate student in Nigeria, where I obtained my BSc in Human Anatomy from the University of Maiduguri. Afterwards I served as a part-time tutor at the School of Psychiatric Nursing, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Maiduguri, Nigeria, where my interest in the field became consolidated.
Given the reputation of Βι¶ΉΣ³» in the field of Neuroscience, in 2011, I joined Βι¶ΉΣ³» for my MSc in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, followed by a PhD in the Serpell Laboratory during which I investigated the role of nuclear Tau in Alzheimer's disease. This work revealed a new role for Tau other than binding the microtubules.
After my PhD, I took up a research fellow position in the Serpell Lab, where I continue to ask key questions on the role of Tau and amyloid beta in Alzheimer’s disease.”