Projects available for research MPhil and PhD applications

Professor Franklin Aigbirhio - Molecular Imaging Chemistry Laboratory 

• Novel Radiotracers and Radiochemical Methods for the Biomedical Technique of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) 

Biography: Professor Franklin Aigbirhio

Dr Edward Avezov - UK Dementia Research Institute 

• Endoplasmic Reticulum Transport and Morphoregulation in Neuron (Patho) Physiology 

• Exploration of Cellular Ultrastructure in Ageing and Alzheimer's Disease 

• Gaining Control of Intracellular Stages for Amyloidogenesis via High-Resolution Optical Biosensing Approaches coupled to Nanobody-Based Protein Localisation Control 

• Monitoring Protein Aggregation and Aggregates’ Handling by Neurons  

Biography: Edward Avezov 

E-mail: ea347@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Website: UK Dementia Research Institute 

Professor Michael Coleman - Clinical Neurosciences 

• Probing the mechanism of programmed axon death using protein

• The Roles of Programmed Axon Death in Human Disease

Biography: Michael Coleman

Professor Rita Horvath - Neurology 

• Identifying Novel Genes and Developing Treatments for Children with Inherited Neuromuscular Diseases 

• Mitochondrial Diseases and Immunity 

• Trial Readiness in Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) 

• Unlocking mt-tRNA Synthetases: Impact on Neurodegeneration 

E-mail: rh732@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Website: The Horvath Lab | Rita Horvath

Dr Maura Malpetti - Neurology 

• Fluid biomarkers of Inflammation in Frontotemporal Dementia

• PET imaging for Inflammation in Frontotemporal Dementia and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Biography: Dr Maura Malpetti

Dr Luca Peruzzotti Jametti - Neurology 

• Developing advanced human stem cell models to recapitulate neuron-glia interactions in chronic CNS inflammation

• Investigating cellular metabolism and inter-organelle dynamics in glial cells

• Unravelling the metabolic basis of aberrant neuroimmune interactions in MS-Associated cognitive decline

Website: LPJLab

E-mail: p429@cam.ac.uk

Professor Stefano Pluchino - Neurology 

• A Cell Interactome Approach to Model, Characterise and understand Novel Mechanisms of Disease in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

• Epigenetic drivers of Glial Toxicity in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (P-MS)

• Metabolic Determinants of Astrocyte – Microglial Interactions in Smoldering Brain Disease

• The role of Retrograde Mitochondrial Signalling and Epigenetic Reprogramming in Glial Toxicity and Neuroinflammation in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Biography: Professor Stefano Pluchino

Dr Annelies Quaegebeur - Neuropathology 

• Molecular mechanisms of microglia-driven neurodegeneration in human tauopathies 

• Synapse loss in frontotemporal lobal degeneration: disease mechanisms and biomarker validation 

Website: Dr Annelies Quaegebeur | Cambridge Centre for Frontotemporal Dementia and Related Disorders

E-mail: aq244@cam.ac.uk

Professor Chris Rodgers -  WBIC 

• Ultra-High Field (7T and 11.7T) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Development 

Biography: Professor Chris Rodgers

Website: WBIC 

Professor Mina Ryten - UK Dementia Research 

• Investigating Novel Transcription of the X Chromosome and its role in Developmental Disorders of the Human Brain

• Investigating the role of cell-type specific errors in RNA processing in Parkinson’s Disease

• Investigating the use of AI-based Methods to Optimise the Development of RNA-Targeting Therapies

Biography: Professor Mina Ryten  

E-mail: mr2022@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Dr Selena Milicevic Sephton - WBIC 

• Development of PET Radiotracers for Neuroinflammation 

Biography: Dr Selena Milicevic Sephton

E-mail: sms96@medschl.cam.ac.uk

Website: WBIC 

Dr Peter Smielewski - Cambridge Neuroscience 

• Development of  a ‘Digital-Twin’ model for cerebrospinal fluid dynamics to use in real-time monitoring of patients after severe traumatic brain injury

• Continuous monitoring of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in traumatic brain injury patients

• Development of New, Robust, Approaches for Continuous Monitoring of Vascular and Brain Tissue Physical Properties in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

• Enhancing diagnostic capability of CSF dynamics in normal pressure hydrocephalus through advanced analysis of intracranial pressure waveforms and PC MRI Images

• Machine Learning Supported Application of Advanced Neuromonitoring for Individualised Guided Management of Acute Traumatic Brain Injury in Intensive Care

E-Mail: ps10011@cam.ac.uk

Website: Author: Peter Smielewski - Cambridge Neuroscience

Dr Jelle van den Ameele - Neurology and Mitochondrial Biology Unit 

• mRNA-LNP-based gene therapy for Mitochondrial DNA maintenance disorders

• Neural Stem Cell – Niche Interactions in Mitochondrial Disease

• Single-cell CRISPR Screening for Nuclear Modulators of Mitochondrial Dysfunction 

​​​​​Biography: Dr Jelle van den Ameele

Website: Neurology and Mitochondrial Biology Unit 

Professor Patrick Yu-Wai-Man - Neuro-Ophthalmology and Genetics 

• Inherited Eye Diseases and Mitochondrial Genetics 

• Neuro-Ophthalmology and Genetics 

Website: Professor Yu Wai Man - Cambridge Clinical Mitochondrial Research Group

E-mail: py237@cam.ac.uk

Need to know more? Get in touch   

Research PhD & MPhil Contact our team for further information.  Email: pgneurosci@medschl.cam.ac.uk 

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