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Tara Spires-Jones

Prof Tara Spires-Jones

(FMedSci (she/her))

Group Leader

Deciphering why synapses and neurons degenerate and whether boosting resilience of synapses can protect the brain

Techniques

Advanced microscopy & imaging, Mouse in vivo imaging, Non-mammalian animal models, Stem cells / iPSCs

Biography

Prof Tara Spires-Jones’ FMedSci research focuses on the mechanisms and reversibility of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, other degenerative brain diseases, and ageing.  Her work has shown that soluble forms of pathological amyloid beta and tau contribute to synapse and neurodegeneration and that pathological forms of tau spread through the brain via synapses. 

In addition to research, Prof Spires-Jones is passionate about communicating scientific findings to the public and policy makers; increasing the rigour and reproducibility in translational neuroscience; promoting inclusivity and diversity in science; and supporting career development of neuroscientists. She is President of the British Neuroscience Association (2023-2025), Director of the University of Edinburgh Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, and was elected to the UK Academy of Medical Sciences in 2024.

News

Key publications

Brain Communications
Published
Predictive blood biomarkers and brain changes associated with age-related cognitive decline
Authors
Tyler S Saunders, Francesca E Pozzolo, Amanda Heslegrave, Declan King, Robert I. McGeachan, Maxwell P Spires-Jones, Sarah E Harris, Craig Ritchie, Graciela Muniz-Terrera, Ian J Deary, Simon R Cox, Henrik Zetterberg, Tara L. Spires-Jones
Predictive blood biomarkers and brain changes associated with age-related cognitive decline
Cell Reports Medicine
Published
Human astrocytes and microglia show augmented ingestion of synapses in Alzheimer's disease via MFG-E8
Authors
Makis Tzioras, Michael J.D. Daniels, Caitlin Davies, Paul Baxter, Declan King, Sean McKay, Balazs Varga, Karla Popovic, Madison Hernandez, Anna J. Stevenson, Jack Barrington, Elizabeth Drinkwater, Julia Borella, Rebecca K. Holloway, Jane Tulloch, Jonathan Moss, Clare Latta, Jothy Kandasamy, Drahoslav Sokol, Colin Smith, Veronique E. Miron, Ragnhildur Thóra Káradóttir, Giles E. Hardingham, Christopher M. Henstridge, Paul M. Brennan, Barry W. McColl, Tara L. Spires-Jones
Human astrocytes and microglia show augmented ingestion of synapses in Alzheimer's disease via MFG-E8

Spires-Jones Lab

Explore the work of the Spires-Jones Lab focused on deciphering why synapses and neurons degenerate and whether boosting resilience of synapses can protect the brain.

Human iPSC neurons from researcher Jamie Toombs