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By joining the UK DRI you’ll belong to a team of fantastic researchers, technical specialists and professional support staff passionate about accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of interventions that will help diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent dementia, directly benefitting people affected by dementia, their carers, families and the community.

We’re looking for brilliant people with diverse perspectives. Together our unique contributions will transform the range and pace of research on dementia. You’ll be supported by the very best tools and resources and join a culture that encourages high risk/reward science and sharing of ideas.

We are a vibrant, ambitious and interactive community. We offer opportunities at all career levels for scientists and support staff in our seven centres across the UK, as well as in our London-based HQ team.

We’re always interested in hearing from people as passionate about our mission as we are. To find out more about working at the UK DRI or our current opportunities, please contact us at enquiries@ukdri.ac.uk.

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​UK DRI at The University of Edinburgh

From brain vasculature to microglia: elucidating the interactions within the brain and with the body which control the trajectory of neurodegenerative disorders.

  • Specialisms at Edinburgh
  • Cellular interplay maintaining brain homeostasis and its disruption in dementia
  • Mechanisms of synapse-, neuron- and circuit-level dysfunction leading to cognitive decline
  • Macroglial and microglial roles in neuroprotection and neurodegeneration
  • Biology of cerebrovascular, blood-brain-barrier and metabolic dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease
  • Read more about Edinburgh

    Studies are increasingly highlighting the important role of immune, vascular and metabolic factors in the development of neurodegenerative diseases but the interplay between these components in disease progression is poorly understood. The UK DRI at Edinburgh broadens out the traditional view of neurodegenerative disease as a disorder of misfolded proteins to encompass the multicellular environment surrounding degenerating neurons.

    The research team lead by Professor Giles Hardingham examines the complex interactions between cells of the brain, immune system and blood vessels that make up the ‘neurogliovascular unit’. They bring together strengths in metabolism, inflammation, blood vessel biology and stem cell medicine to explore how interactions at the neurogliovascular unit control the trajectory of neurodegenerative diseases leading to dementia.

    By describing interactions at the neurogliovascular unit that help to maintain cognitive function for several decades in a healthy, ageing brain, the team aim to identify biological regulators that can inform the development of new therapies.

    UK DRI at The University of Edinburgh is located on the BioQuarter, Edinburgh's new multidisciplinary research institute and teaching hospital with access to superb multimodal neuroimaging and clinical research facilities.

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  • Research Fellow, UK DRI at University of Edinburgh - Spires-Jones Lab

    The UK DRI is seeking a Research Fellow to join the Spires-Jones Lab in CMVM / BMS/ Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences in the University of Edinburgh. In this post you will study glial involvement in synaptic degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. The successful candidate will conduct original research, produce material for publication and dissemination, and work as a member of a research team including training students in research techniques. You will have a PhD or other higher level degree (MD/PhD, etc) earned or expected in a relevant discipline (neuroscience, biology, etc), expertise in relevant experimental approaches and models, analytical techniques and methods, with high resolution imaging and image analysis essential (2-photon, confocal, etc) and an ability to communicate complex information clearly, orally and in writing. Ref: 6659, Closing date: 29 March 2023

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RT @BritishNeuro: From academia to industry to clinical applications and beyond, coming to #BNA2023 will help you build bridges, make conne…
24 Mar 2023 13:19

"We discovered the surprising role of perivascular macrophages in synapse pathology" @soyonhonglab &… https://t.co/KgBb88Wi5N
24 Mar 2023 12:03