Dementia Researcher Blogs

Meet Dr Emmanuelle Vire, University College London

Last week we attended the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Dr Emmanuelle Vire, Associate Professor in the University College London Institute of Prion Diseases. Emmanuelle explores if epigenetics is a hallmark of protein-based inheritance in neurodegeneration. Our research specifically investigates epigenetic mechanisms in human prion diseases. Emmanuelle and her colleagues employ a large array of technologies (transcriptomics, epigenomics, cell-based assays, animal models, patients samples) to determine if, where, when and how epigenetics contribute to disease susceptibility, onset, and progression. Using next-generation technologies we profile DNA, RNA, and histone modifications and identify disease-specific gene (coding and non-coding) signatures and pathways. Some their current projects also involve machine learning, nanopore sequencing, small molecule inhibitor and genome editing.Find out more about Emmanuelle and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-emmanuelle-vire-university-college-london/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Meet Dr Soraya Meftah, The University of Edinburgh

Last week we attended the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Dr Soraya Meftah, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh. Soraya works in Neurophysiology of dementia (synaptic, neuronal, network dysfunction).
Find out more about Soraya and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-soraya-meftah-the-university-of-edinburgh/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Meet Beth Eyre, University of Sheffield

Last week we attended the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Beth Eyre, PhD Student at University of Sheffield. Beth is researching Neurovascular and cognitive function in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. With a background in psychology, where she gained her degree from the University of Leeds. Inside and outside the lab, Beth loves sharing her science and we are delighted catch up with her and for her ongoing contributions as a regular blogger with Dementia Researcher, sharing her work and discussing her career. 
Find out more about Beth and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-beth-eyre/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - What is “brain health” and is it important?

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
With populations getting older, age-associated disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, are projected to place significant demands on global health systems over the coming years. There is therefore an increasing need to understand how to improve and preserve our brain health, but how can we do this when no consensus definition exists of what brain health actually is and what it looks like? In this blog Kamar discusses the challenge of trying to understand brain health, and why it is important.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-what-is-brain-health-and-is-it-important/
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Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali is a Research Associate at University of Glasgow, exploring how neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases that lead to dementia. Having first pursued a career as an NHS Psychologist, Kamar went back to University in Durham to look at rodent behavioural tasks to completed her PhD, and then worked as a regional Programme Manager for NC3Rs. Kamar brings a wealth of experience and writes on a range of topics from her time in the NHS, working for a Research Funder and from her work and life in the lab.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Nathan Stephens - Am I doing PPI or Was that PPI?

Nathan Stephens narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog Nathan discusses Patient and Public Involvement, unpacking what that actually means in respect of other similar concepts such as participation and engagement, how PPI can be done throughout the research process, and drawing on my experiences of intentionally and unintentionally doing involvement activities. If you are just starting out with you studies this could be helpful to support PPI elements in your research proposal and ethics, or if your research is underway like Nathan's, it may just be useful to validate your activities and situate them in the research process.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-am-i-doing-ppi-or-was-that-ppi/
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Nathan Stephens is a PhD Student and unpaid carer, working on his PhD at University of Worcester, studying the Worcestershire Meeting Centres Community Support Programme. Inspired by caring for both grandparents and personal experience of dementia, Nathan has gone from a BSc in Sports & Physical Education, an MSc in Public Health, and now working on his PhD.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Meet Dr Mizuki Morisaki, University of St Andrews

Last week we attended the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Dr Mizuki Morisaki, Research Fellow at University of St Andrews (starting at University of Bristol soon). Mizuki recently finished her PhD focused on how “stress” affects ageing in the brain particularly in the hippocampus using in vitro/in vivo models. Mizuki worked with neurons on the dish as well as birds flying in the aviary! Now her research is more focusing on the in vitro model using neurons as well as microglia, and soon she will be getting hands on with human brain tissue in Bristol.
Find out more about Mizuki and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-mizuki-morisaki-university-of-st-andrews/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Meet Elizabeth English, University of Cambridge

This week we've been attending the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Elizabeth 'Lizzie' English, PhD Student at University of Cambridge. Lizzie is utilising biophysical methods to characterise protein aggregates and their toxicity mechanisms in neurodegenerative disease. In her work she is currently utilising post-mortem brain samples, but is keen to investigate clinical samples, like blood and saliva. 
Find out more about Lizzie and her work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-elizabeth-english-university-of-cambridge/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Meet Dr Ian Harrison, University College London

This week we've been attending the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. We took time out from the programme to talk with early career dementia researchers to ask them about their work, the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, and to share a highlight from the conference.
In this short interview we talk with Dr Ian Harrison, Senior Research Fellow at University College London. Ian's work looks at the function of the glymphatic system in the brain, responsible for the clearance of protein solutes from the brain parenchyma. Ian and his lab are investigating the role of this system in neurodegenerative disease, to see if it is responsible for the accumulation of misfolded protein in disease like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and test whether we can alter its function as a therapy in these disorders.
Find out more about Ian and his work on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-ian-harrison-university-college-london/
If you would like to join us and add your profile and short interview to our researchers profile, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk 

Dr Clarissa Giebel - Running a Journal Club and how to be Reviewer 2 in a safe environment

Dr Clarissa Giebel narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Is your inbox getting regular email requests to peer review a paper in your field? Has it increased since the pandemic? It certainly has for Clarissa. Peer reviewing manuscripts is a key part of our work, and when reviews don't happen authors may wait around for longer to get their decision. But what about peer reviewing a paper when it’s already published? Also known as the good old Journal Club... In this blog Clarissa discusses her experiences of starting a journal club, what it involves and provides tips for anyone who may be attending their first, making the case that its great prep for going on to peer review pre-publication.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-running-a-journal-club-and-how-to-be-reviewer-2-in-a-safe-environment/
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Dr Clarissa Giebel is a Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and NIHR ARC North West Coast. Clarissa has been working in dementia care research for over 10 years focusing her research on helping people with dementia to live at home independently and well for longer, addressing inequalities that people with dementia and carers can face. Outside of her day work, Clarissa has also organised a local dementia network - the Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Forum, and has recently started her own podcast called the Ageing Scientist.
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If you would like to write your own blog drop us a line, we're always on the look out for new contributors to write about their research, careers + more dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk