We focus on the pathology, prevention and repair strategies for damaged neural tissue. Neurodegeneration can be initiated at all stages of life including before and around the time of birth, in midlife and in old age. Neurodegeneration can be triggered by a sudden event (e.g. a stroke) or occur over a long period of time (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, age-related macular degeneration)
High risk pregnancy and adverse effects during brain development can result in brain damage, differing in type and degree, which can affect neurological function in the long-term. Current projects involve longitudinal neurodevelopmental follow-up in extremely preterm children and in children with unilateral cerebral palsy as well as the study of the mechanisms involved in the distribution and anatomical connectivity of newly born neurons by exploring the importance of stem cells (brain and eye) and their environment.
Acute neurodegeneration, due for example to head injury or stroke, results in a significant loss of neural tissue which together with subsequent complications, may lead to severe disability. Many patients survive the initial injury but in the ensuing hours or days, a complex interplay of intracranial and systemic responses develops, often leading to secondary damage. Our current research involves investigation of the underlying pathophysiology of neuronal death in both laboratory and clinical settings. The prevention of this secondary damage is the principal goal of medical management. Our studies involve the development of biomarkers, the identification of genetic risk factors to identify patients who may respond to targeted pharmacological therapy and of potential pharmacological targets in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage
Chronic neurodegeneration is defined by a progressive alteration or loss of neuronal structure and function with damage accumulating over a prolonged period of time. This type of neuronal damage typically occurs in age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or macular degeneration and sometimes earlier in life for example associated with epilepsy. Neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly common, as a consequence of increasing life expectancy, and a current lack of effective treatments. Our clinical research programme is aimed at a greater understanding of the biological basis and treatment of neurodegenerative disease with a number of interrelated projects including drug trials, immunotherapy, tissue engineering and neuroimaging. The clinical studies interact with laboratory based research which aims to increase our knowledge of the pathogenesis of common chronic neurodegenerative diseases through projects which investigate the influence of the main risk factors (e.g. ageing, genotype and neuroinflammation) and the repair potential of stem cells using animal models and human tissue.
Traumatic brain injury and stem cells
Aminul Ahmed
Neuroinflammation and dementia
Delphine Boche
Ageing and dementia
Roxana Carare
Subarachnoid haemorrhage, inflammation
Ian Galea
Clinical trials and inflammation in dementia
Clive Holmes
Degenerative ophthalmic diseases and stem cells
Andrew Lotery
Brain injury and nanotechnology
Tracey Newman
Acute brain injury and dementia
James Nicoll
Neuroinflammation and preconditioning in acute neurodegeneration
Ashley Pringle
Brain development and follow up
Brigitte Vollmer
Epilepsy and stem cells
Sandrine Willaime-Morawek