Biomarkers, therapeutics and prevention

This theme is focused on clinical translation, undertaken in collaboration with Health and Care Research Wales.

We are concerned with generating new biomarkers to enhance stratification of dementias, developing effective targeted therapeutics and evaluating the impact of prevention approaches designed to reduce dementia risk.

Our approach builds on our expertise in maintaining, recovering and repairing neuronal function in cognitive disorders through methods such as cell replacement therapy, rehabilitation and direct neural feedback.

Biomarkers

Our systems biology focus generates a wealth of new information and a diverse range of markers of dementia risk. A challenge for the dementia community is to understand how to use these markers effectively and in what combination. We are interested in whether combined biomarkers (where we bring together genetic, cognitive, brain and inflammatory markers) could enhance stratification approaches.

We are also studying the sequence of critical biological changes linked to disease trajectory, as this also influences when in the lifespan particular biomarkers might be usefully applied. This work is vital for clinical studies aiming to evaluate the success of new therapies and prevention strategies.

With access to a unique national population cohort study, HealthWise Wales, we can collect data on lifestyle, environmental exposures, health and social outcomes, as well as recruiting for research studies and testing prevention approaches. Aligned to this platform, we will obtain state of the art imaging data and bio-sampling to support a stratified medicine approach in dementia.

Therapeutics

A number of our researchers are part of the HCRW Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics Unit. This Unit integrates expertise in basic neuroscience, experimental medicine research, stem cell transplantation and brain imaging to develop therapies for neurological disorders, including dementia. A key aim of this group is to deliver first-in-man trials of cell transplantation in Huntington’s disease. As part of this program, researchers are developing new surgical techniques for transplantation and generating novel clinical biomarkers of cognitive, psychiatric and functional change.

We also investigate the use of physical exercise and cognitive training to improve brain health and cognitive performance. Our researchers are undertaking new research to understand the biological underpinning of improved function following exercise interventions and the best approaches to optimising brain health.

Prevention

If we can understand the earliest biological, brain and behavioural changes in different dementias, and how these change as we age, then we can work to prevent dementia.

Prevention approaches require partnership with population and public health researchers, as well as applied social scientists. We achieve this through our collaboration with the HCRW Centre for Aging and Dementia Research which focuses on biological, psycho-social and environmental, and social policy approaches to dementia. Similarly, our involvement in the National Centre for Population Health and Wellbeing Research helps us contribute to the evidence base for public health policies, services and interventions.

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