The UK DRI Cellular Processes of Ageing Thematic network is led by Prof Gabriel Balmus (UK DRI at Cambridge) Prof William McEwan (UK DRI at Cambridge), and Prof Edward Avezov (UK DRI at Cambridge). The Network is managed by Dr Helen Brooks (UK DRI Core Team) and has an Early Career Researcher (ECR) steering group to coordinate ECR activities.
From 2020-2024 the Theme was known as the ‘DNA Repair’ Thematic network. In 2024, the Theme was renamed to ‘Cellular Processes of Ageing’ and the topic of the Theme was expanded to include protein aggregation and proteostasis.
The strengths and expertise of this theme include:
- Expertise across a range of neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, motor neuron disease, and frontotemporal dementia
- Developing and using state-of-the-art techniques including super-resolution microscopy, biosensors and CRISPR screening
- Utilising innovative disease models such as stem cell-derived organoids and a range of animal models (mice, drosophila, zebrafish, naked mole rat).
- Computational biology and bioinformatics
- Gene therapy and small molecule development
- Translating our research into clinical trials
