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Impaired clearance of waste proteins from the brain implicated in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia

A team of researchers led by Prof Siddharthan Chandran, UK DRI at Edinburgh, has published a perspective review evaluating whether poor clearance of toxic proteins from the brain contributes to the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Focusing on the glymphatic system, the model proposed in the review could offer additional avenues to further explore features of the diseases, with the ultimate aim of uncovering novel therapeutics.

Three UK DRI researchers awarded prestigious Chan Zuckerberg Initiative award for collaboration

Dr Soyon Hong, Dr Tim Bartels and Prof Adrian Isaacs, all from UK DRI at UCL, have each been awarded a Collaborative Pairs Pilot Projects award by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as part of a world-wide call.

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Redeploying expertise: the story of two UK DRI secondments during Covid-19

As with research across the world, the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted work to combat some of the most pressing health challenges we face as a society, including dementia. At our Care Research and Technology Centre, efforts quickly shifted to tackling the urgent need for mass testing and finding inventive ways of supporting the dementia community that they work so closely with. In order to rise to the challenge effectively, the team quickly realised they would need to draw on skills and support from elsewhere in the UK DRI network. Here we hear from two UK DRI researchers who were seconded to the centre in order to help with these initiatives.

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BNA2021 Festival of Neuroscience to be held virtually in response to uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 situation

Having carefully evaluated the risks, feasibility, and needs of the neuroscience community with respect to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, the British Neuroscience Association Trustees, in agreement with UK DRI as Festival Partner, have today (12 August) taken the decision hold the April 2021 Festival as an online-only event. Additionally, the online Festival will now run between Monday 12 April and Thursday 15 April 2021, and BNA2023 will be held in Brighton.

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Fine-tuning cellular stress pathway prevents neurodegeneration without unwanted secondary effects

Researchers led by Prof Giovanna Mallucci from UK DRI at Cambridge, have shown that modulation of a pathway involved in the production of cellular proteins is a potentially safe and viable therapy for dementia. The proof-of-concept study, published today (11 August) in the journal Science Signaling, unlocks opportunities to develop drugs targeting this pathway, which is often disrupted in people with neurodegenerative diseases.

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Comment: Lancet report suggests 40% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by targeting 12 risk factors throughout life

Led by 28 dementia experts, the report builds on the nine risk factors identified in the 2017 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care. An up-to-date analysis of evidence on the prevention of dementia is presented, laying out a set of policies and lifestyle changes to achieve this.

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Collaboration involving Dr Tim Bartels, UK DRI at UCL, wins award to develop imaging tracer to visualise key protein in Parkinson’s disease

A team of researchers, including Dr Tim Bartels, UK DRI at UCL, have today (30 July 2020) received a ‘Ken Griffin Alpha-synuclein Imaging Competition’ award from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). The competition, which will award $10 million in total, is designed to encourage a scientific race in pursuit of an imaging tracer to visualise the key protein alpha-synuclein in the living brain of people with Parkinson’s disease.

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Stress, sleep and cellular vulnerability: round two of cross-centre postdoc awards announced

We are delighted to announce the latest recipients of our cross-centre postdoctoral awards – a scheme to stimulate exciting new academic relationships and projects that unlock our understanding of dementia. The projects awarded this round will investigate how our brain cells protect themselves, why certain cell populations are more vulnerable to disease than others and whether enhancing sleep could improve symptoms at the earliest stages of dementia.

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In conversation with Dr Amy Smith, UK DRI at Imperial

Dr Amy Smith is a Research Associate working on microglia heterogeneity in dementia and is part of the Multi-'Omics Atlas Project based at UK DRI at Imperial. In this Q&A, Dr Adesola Bello, a Research Assistant in the microbiome and brain health group, speaks to Amy about the role of microglia and inflammation in dementia, collaborative projects and her expectations for a return to the lab.

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Study suggests coordinated brain cell response to amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers led by Prof Bart De Strooper (UK DRI Director) and Dr Mark Fiers at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research in Leuven, Belgium, have used pioneering technologies to investigate what happens in brain cells in the direct vicinity of protein plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. Using a mouse model of the condition and human brain tissue, the team’s findings suggest that brain cells work together to first provide a protective response that becomes damaging in the later stages of the disease. The results may help to determine the optimal window of opportunity to therapeutically intervene during disease progression.

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UK DRI supports call for agreement on UK participation in Horizon Europe and other EU funding schemes post-Brexit

The UK DRI has, along with 99 organisations and researchers from across the EU and the UK, signed a statement that sets out how negotiators could secure an agreement on UK participation in EU funding programmes such as Horizon Europe after the UK leaves the European Union.

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New partnership with the DEMON network will drive forward experimental dementia research

We are excited to announce an ambitious new partnership with the Deep Dementia Phenotyping (DEMON) Network. The aim of this new collaboration is to rapidly speed up the transformation of data into clinical and biologically relevant knowledge in neurodegeneration research, to strengthen links with clinical researchers and industry, and to drive forward experimental dementia research using data science and artificial intelligence.

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Virtual vivas: the future for PhD defence?

A viva voce is the final milestone of the PhD experience. After years of work and an often gruelling period of data analysis and writing, a PhD candidate attends an oral assessment to defend their thesis before a panel of experts in the field. For many, the viva can already be a nerve-wracking experience, but how have the additional lockdown restrictions affected this process? To find out more about the experience of the virtual thesis defence, we spoke to recent PhD graduates Dr Darija Soltic, Dr Jonas Mechtersheimer and Dr Daniel Jutzi based at UK DRI at King’s. Here they share their reflections on the process and tips for conducting a successful viva in the virtual space.

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Study outlines new rapid drug-testing platform for Alzheimer’s disease and identifies protective function of BACE2 gene

A study co-authored by UK DRI researchers has today (10 July) outlined a new cell-based system for studying Alzheimer’s disease, which could accelerate drug testing. The technology was also used to identify that the gene BACE2 may be involved in suppressing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, opening avenues for new therapeutics.

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Long-term effects of Covid-19 may include delirium, rare brain inflammation and stroke

A new UCL and UCLH-led study, supported in part by UK DRI, has found that neurological complications of Covid-19 can include delirium, brain inflammation, stroke and nerve damage. The findings suggest that in some cases these symptoms can even occur in the absence of the severe respiratory symptoms characteristic of Covid-19.

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In conversation with Dr Johanna Jackson, UK DRI at Imperial

Dr Johanna Jackson is a senior scientific project manager for the Multi-'omics Atlas project based at UK DRI at Imperial and the Athena Swan lead for the department of Brain Sciences. In this Q&A, Ketevan Alania, a first year PhD student at the Interventional Systems Neuroscience Lab speaks to Johanna about her career journey so far, the aims of the Multi-'omics brain atlas project and her role in promoting gender equality in science.

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Comment: Government lays out UK ‘Research & Development Roadmap’

The Government has today (1 July) set out its ‘Research and Development Roadmap’ to ‘cement the UK as the world’s leading research and science superpower’. At the forefront of the long-term plans is the commitment to creating ground-breaking research, attracting global talent, and cutting unnecessary red tape to ensure the UK is the best place in the world for scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live, work and innovate. UK DRI Director Prof Bart De Strooper comments in response to the announcement.

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In conversation with Dr Nathan Skene, UK DRI at Imperial

Dr Nathan Skene is a Group Leader at UK DRI at Imperial and Lecturer in the Department of Brain Sciences. Nathan’s work focuses on deciphering the human genetics underlying neurobiology- including that of cognitive traits, brain function, and neurodegenerative disease. In this Q&A, Charlotte Luff, a MRC-funded PhD student at UK DRI at Imperial, talks to Nathan about his interest in computational neuroscience, identifying the cell types that cause brain diseases and the fundamental role of genetics in uncovering the causes of dementia.

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UK DRI statement on Black Lives Matter

The shocking events of the past few weeks have drawn into sharp focus the need for global reflection and meaningful change. We strongly condemn all acts of racism, and the mobilisation of so many against it has provided a wake-up call to assess our own actions and drive change for a better institute. Racism takes many forms and we all have a duty to act where we can.

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‘Collaborations are like experiments; it takes a few false starts before you set up a good one’

Anyone studying dementia knows that unravelling the intricacies behind it will be a long and complicated process, spanning multiple fields and disciplines. That’s why those who want to take their research a step further look naturally to the expertise of others to help. But how do we find suitable candidates to complement our own work? What drives a successful partnership? We spoke to three UK DRI Group Leaders about their experiences of collaboration.