Our research aims to better understand the pathophysiology of dementia and translate basic laboratory findings into therapeutic interventions.

We are interested in the role of cerebrovascular injury and better understanding the pathophysiological processes that underpin pathological angiogenesis, blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakiness, and cerebral hypoperfusion in dementia. We are working towards developing novel CSF and blood biomarkers of BBB breakdown, identifying novel markers of pericytes, and mapping changes in the expression of genetic risk loci, identified by genome-wide association studies, within the cerebrovasculature in dementia.

We have a longstanding interest in the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in AD. Our work has helped characterise and better understand the genetic, biochemical and pathological role of brain RAS in dementia and underpinned a recent Phase II double blinded randomized clinical trial (RADAR) re-purposing losartan, a commonly prescribed RAS-targeting anti-hypertensive, for treatment of mild-moderate AD. Ongoing work with international collaborators is investigating whether changes in circulatory RAS is predictive of cognitive decline in at-risk ethnically diverse cohorts.

A new line of research is exploring the molecular basis of the inverse relationship between cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. In collaboration with the  the Cancer Endocrinology Group led by Dr Claire Perks at Bristol, we are s seeking to identify whether drugs designed for Alzheimer’s disease can be re-purposed as anti-cancer drugs (and vice versa).

We also study the complex relationships between cerebrovascular disease and neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia and are interested in better understanding the mechanisms by which depression increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Our lab is based at the Learning & Research building, Southmead Hospital, and we work closely with the South West Dementia brain bank and clinical colleagues at the ReMeMBr research group. We are a member of South West Alzheimer’s Research UK Network Centre, the Bristol Neuroscience Research Network, and work with collaborators as part of the Dementia Platform UK and UK Dementia Research Institute.