What we do

Find out more about the work we do at the Dementia Research Institute.

Prof Paul Morgan

Investigating how inflammatory pathways, identified by genetics, contribute to disease development in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders

His work has clarified the processes by which inflammation contributes to neurodegeneration and highlighted novel targets for drug therapies.

Currently, his group is exploring in preclinical models of dementias whether drugs that are known to modify these targets in other diseases can be delivered to the brain to prevent neurodegeneration. Their aim is to deliver these re-purposed therapies for use in the clinic in the next few years.

Prof Julie Williams

Conducting pioneering research into how our genes influence our risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Professor Julie Williams conducts pioneering research into how our genes influence our risk of Alzheimer’s disease and co-led international Genome Wide Association Studies, discovering over 100 risk genes. These findings also provide clues about how the disease develops, including the roles of inflammation and the immune system.

Prof Williams is also leading on a major new stem cell platform to model the combination of risk genes contributing to common forms of Alzheimer’s disease. This resource will be available to researchers around the world. In addition, Prof Williams leads the IPSC Platform to Model Alzheimer’s Disease Risk (IPMAR), which aims to become one of the largest cellular model resources. Prof Williams has been awarded a CBE for Alzheimer’s research and a British Neuroscience Association Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Neuroscience.

Prof Philip Taylor

Exploring the biological consequences of gene variants known to influence a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease

Professor Philip Taylor is exploring the biological consequences of gene variants known to influence a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, to dissect how immune cells called 'microglia' contribute to disease development. Microglia have important roles in keeping the brain healthy. Our evidence suggests that risk genes change the way these cells behave, contributing directly to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Prof Vincent Dion

Developing gene correction approaches for expanded repeat disorders

Professor Vincent Dion is aiming to develop effective new treatments for 'trinucleotide repeat disorders' – a group of inherited neurodegenerative conditions, including Huntington’s disease. He is adapting the use of sophisticated gene-editing technologies to correct the mutation that causes the disease.

Prof Caleb Webber

Developing state-of-the-art stem cell models and human cellular atlases of neurodegeneration

Professor Caleb Webber is developing state-of-the-art stem cell models and human cellular atlases of neurodegeneration using bioinformatics and Omics approaches that advance our understanding of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. By identifying new risk pathways and genes, he is opening up new therapeutic avenues for treatment.

Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly

Studying neuronal communication and the dysfunction in neurodegeneration

Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly studies the complex communication between brain cells using research models of Parkinson’s disease. His team is aiming to decipher the type of miscommunication that arises and what is driving it. He is doing this at the earliest stages of Parkinson’s disease and assessing how this changes over time – ultimately trying to find new ways of correcting it before there is a significant loss of cells in the brain and symptoms appear.

Prof Valentina Escott-Price

Developing statistical methods to identify individuals at high risk of neurodegenerative disease

Professor Valentina Escott-Price uses and develops statistical methods to identify individuals at high risk of neurodegenerative disease, utilising polygenic risk scores, biomarkers and environmental risk factors. She is focused on leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to enhance disease risk prediction and patient stratification in large population-level data. She also employs cutting-edge federated and swarm learning approaches for remote and secure data analyses.

Dr Tom Massey

Clinical Scientist focused on developing effective drugs for Huntington's disease

His team uses human genetics and stem cell models to identify novel targets that are then taken forward into drug screens.

Dr Natalie Connor-Robson

Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the most common form of Alzheimer’s Disease using stem cell models

Her work concentrates on genetic changes in the endocytic pathway. This is a pathway that is used by all of our cells to sort and recycle cellular components. It is particularly important to neurons and microglia, the cells of the brain impacted by the disease. Her work aims to identify how these genetic changes alter cell behaviour and function and ultimately uncover new targets for future therapies.

Dr Wioleta Zelek

Immunologist researching roles of the complement system in the brain

Dr Wioleta Zelek is an immunologist researching roles of the part of the immune system called complement system in the brain. She has developed a toolbox of novel complement inhibitors, including patent protected drug candidates, immune assays, cell-based assays other tool reagents enabling the study of complement in vitro and in animal models. She holds a prestigious Race Against Dementia fellowship.