Dementia Researcher Blogs

Beth Eyre - The Perils of ’what next...?’

Beth Eyre, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
The last year of your PhD can be difficult, lots of writing, experiments and research to finish, the viva... and then the big challenge... what comes next? A PhD is a door to your future, but what future will you choose? Stay in Research? Academia? A clinical career? Industry? In this blog Beth Eyre discusses this tricky topic and shares thoughts on her future, and her plans. 
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-perils-of-what-next/
We're always on the look out for new contributors, if you would like to write and narrate your own blog - drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk
Don't forget to also listen to our fortnightly - published fortnightly, just look for Dementia Researcher in your podcast app.
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Author
Beth Eyre is a PhD Student at The University of Sheffield, researching Neurovascular and cognitive function in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. Beth has 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 to have her contributing as a regular blogger with Dementia Researcher, sharing her work and discussing her career. 
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This podcast is brought to you from University College London in association with the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Jodi Parslow - Research ’Flies’ When You’re Having Fun

Jodi Parslow, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Fruit flies are often thought of as an annoying pest but in this blog Jodi explains why they are one of science’s most useful model organisms and give you an insight into the kind of research these little beasties contribute to.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-research-flies-when-youre-having-fun/
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Jodi Parslow is a MRC-DTP Doctoral Researcher at King's College London researching Neuron-glia signalling and neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disease. Jodi started her career as a Nursing Assistant, that led her to Neuroscience at University of Sussex, then on to a Masters and into industry working for a wearables technology company. Finally Jodi brought her skills and passion together to work in dementia research, first as a Research Technician and now as a PhD Student. Jodi loves talking about her work and science, and also has her own podcast 'The Academinist'.
If you would like to write for us, or join out team of regular contributors, drop us a line - dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Anna Volkmer - The Interview

Dr Anna Volkmer, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In September Dr Anna Volkmer described the trials and tribulations of going for gold, in other words open access publication. Well, she promised to update us, and in this blog she does (spoiler alert - the paper is now in the public domain).
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-interview/
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Dr Anna Volkmer is a Speech and Language Therapist and researcher in Language and Cognition, Department of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London. Anna is researching Speech and language therapy interventions in language led dementia and was once voted scariest speech and language therapist (even her children agree).
If you would like to write for us, or join out team of regular contributors, drop us a line - dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Sam Moxon - Hospital in a Time of Covid (from my own experience)

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Sam has previously shared his challenges of living with ulcerative pancolitis, sadly this recently landed him in hospital as an inpatient, and in this blog he shares experiences from his stay - we are sure you join us in wishing him a speedy recovery.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-hospital-in-a-time-of-covid-from-my-own-experience/
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Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials scientist at the University of Manchester. His expertise falls on the interface between biology and engineering. His PhD focussed on regenerative medicine and he now works on trying to develop 3D bioprinting techniques with human stem cells, so that we better understand and treat degenerative diseases. Outside of the lab he hikes through the Lake District and is an expert on all things Disney.
Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Hannah Hussain - Beating the Winter Blues

Hannah Hussain narrates her blog written for NIHR Dementia Researcher.
You had big plans for 2022! Resolutions were written, productivity was projected, research was to be researched. But now January has flown right by, dry-Jan has gone down the drain and you haven’t quite managed to stick to all of those resolutions… Well, don’t despair! In this blog Hannah Hussain shares her tips for turning it at all around. The year is still very young and the goals that you have set are meant for you to achieve. Here are top 5 tips for boosting your productivity, which will in turn hopefully help you to get back on track and smash out those research goals.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-beating-the-winter-blues/
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Hannah Hussain is a PhD Student in Health Economics at The University of Sheffield. As a proud third generation  migrant and British-Asian, her career path has been linear and ever evolving, originally qualifying as a Pharmacist in Nottingham, then Health Economics in Birmingham. Her studies have opened a world into Psychology, Mental Health and other areas of health, and with that and personal influences she found her passion for dementia.
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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.
Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line.
http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Dr James Quinn - The Trials and Tribulations of Doing an Academic Postdoc Abroad

Dr James Quinn, narrates her blog written for the ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers, shared by Dementia Researcher.
In the first of our regular blogs from the ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers, Dr James Quinn reflects on his move from the UK to the USA and his time as a postdoc.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/istaart-blog-the-trials-and-tribulations-of-doing-an-academic-postdoc-abroad
We're always on the look out for new contributors, if you would like to write and narrate your own blog - drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk
Don't forget to also listen to our fortnightly - published fortnightly, just look for Dementia Researcher in your podcast app.
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Author
Dr James Quinn is a Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology and Programme Chair of the ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers. Working on trying to improve the understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to the different forms of dementia, researching the role of neuropeptides which are extremely important in neuronal signalling, contributing to synapse maintenance, energy balance and neurogenesis. For ISTAART he is responsible for organising events and support activities for early career researchers.

Nathan Stephens - Don’t Say the ’D’ Word

Nathan Stephens narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog Nathan explores a topic that he has been thinking a lot about, the narrative and public perception of dementia. Dementia awareness has excelled through the direction of successive national strategies which has undoubtable influenced public opinion, and political appetite for positive social change. However, Nathan argues there is much to be done to improve the dementia narrative which can sometimes be inadvertently misleading from those ‘inside’ the dementia arena.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-dont-say-the-d-word
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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.
 

Dr Yvonne Couch - The Blood Brain Barrier

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the specialised system of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) that shields the brain from toxic substances in the blood, supplies brain tissues with nutrients, and filters harmful compounds from the brain back to the bloodstream - mostly you want that barrier closed, but what about when you want therapies to pass through, because they NEED to be in the brain? Yvonne explains how the blood brain barrier works, starting with Paul Ehrlich in the late 1800s and some notes on why we should stop talking about Paul Ehrlich and the blood brain barrier - and why all of this is important in dementia and stroke.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-blood-brain-barrier
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Dr Yvonne Couch is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow at the University of Oxford. Yvonne studies the role of extracellular vesicles and their role in changing the function of the vasculature after stroke, aiming to discover why the prevalence of dementia after stroke is three times higher than the average. It is her passion for problem solving and love of science that drives her, in advancing our knowledge of disease. Yvonne has joined the team of staff bloggers at Dementia Researcher, and will be writing about her work and life as she takes a new road into independent research.
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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.

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - What neuropathology can tell us about the brain diseases which lead to dementia

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog Kamar describes what neuropathology can tell us about the brain diseases which lead to dementia, and what this means for dementia diagnosis in life.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-what-neuropathology-can-tell-us-about-the-brain-diseases-which-lead-to-dementia/
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
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Author
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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This podcast is brought to you from University College London in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.