Donna M. Wilcock, PhD is the Sweeney-Nelms Professor in Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging and Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Wilcock was received her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology from Cardiff University. She obtained her Ph.D. at the University of South Florida, and completed postdoctoral training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Duke University. Dr. Wilcock’s research is focused on vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), a common cause of dementia and frequent co-morbidity with Alzheimer’s disease pathology. She is performing translational research on VCID, ranging from studying molecular mechanisms through identification of novel biomarkers in patients. She is primarily focused on inflammatory and angiogenic processes, as well as studying the influence VCID has on the progression and severity of Alzheimer’s disease. Her work is funded by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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First UK-wide study of brain complications in patients with COVID-19
Researchers from the University of Southampton are amongst a UK team of scientists to conduct the first nationwide surveillance study of the neurological complications of COVID-19.
A study of 153 patients treated in UK hospitals during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic describes a range of neurological and psychiatric complications that may be linked to the disease, including stroke and an altered mental state such as brain inflammation, psychosis and dementia-like symptoms.
New funding for study into Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists at the University of Southampton have received nearly £100,000 from Alzheimer’s Research UK to investigate how fluid and toxic waste (amyloid) is removed from the brain.
Fluid and toxic waste is often removed from the brain through the walls of the brain’s arteries, a process called Intramural Periarterial Drainage (IPAD). However, when IPAD fails the fluid and toxic waste remains in the brain deposition of Aβ in these channels.
Link between brain waste and Alzheimer’s
New research from the University of Southampton has shed new light on the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease.
One of the key features of Alzheimer’s is the build-up of toxic waste in the walls of arteries of the brain.
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from Medicine and Maths has demonstrated that the smooth muscle cells in cerebral arteries provide the motive force for the elimination of fluid and toxic waste (amyloid) from the brain. This force is called vasomotion. Vasomotion fails with increasing age and various metabolic risk factors leading to Alzheimer’s disease.
Wessex Brain Ageing and Dementia Research Meeting 4th Feb 2020
This event is designed to showcase dementia research in Wessex, celebrate the launch of iDeAC, link dementia researchers across Wessex and grow the network for clinical trials. There will be a particular focus on early career researchers and highlighting research opportunities at all points in the dementia and brain ageing pathway.
Intended outputs of this event will include collaboration of future research projects, grant applications and better translation of clinical research into clinical care. It will be delivered by IDeAC, NIHR and ARC Wessex.
Southampton researcher de-stigmatises dementia in powerful charity campaign
University of Southampton researcher, Dr Jay Amin, has taken the spotlight in a new charity film exploring Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
The film is part of Alzheimer’s Research UK and Ricoh’s joint campaign, Dementia Uncovered, which highlights the many physical diseases that cause dementia, as well as the scientists striving to bring about new dementia treatments.
Dr Amin’s research into DLB in Southampton focusses on inflammation, a process implicated in the progression of the disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease Scientists identify critical window for treatment
Researchers from the Southampton Neuroscience Group at the University of Southampton have made a significant development in understanding how Alzheimer’s disease spreads through the brain, discovering a significant period of time where medical intervention could halt its onset.
A hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of tau protein in neurons which causes loss of brain volume. This build up, is known as neurofibrillary tangles, and formed when a diseased version of tau folds itself incorrectly. Prior to this significant research, recently published in The Journal of Neuroscience, very little was known about the timescale of this process and how the misfolded tau proteins spread to other cells.
SET squared partnership
SETsquared is a unique enterprise partnership and a dynamic collaboration between the five leading research-led UK universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. Twice ranked as the Global No. 1 Business Incubator, they provide a wide range of highly acclaimed support programmes to help turn ideas into thriving businesses.
Whatever stage you’re at – whether you’re a student, academic researcher, start-up tech founder or running an innovative SME – there programmes are tailored to support your venture throughout its lifecycle.
CODIAK: Harnessing the power of exosomes
Codiak BioSciences is pioneering exosome research and development to create an entirely new class of medicines, exosome therapeutics. There proprietary technology platform for exosome engineering and manufacturing allows precise therapeutic targeting, enabling them to develop therapies that may address a diverse array of diseases that are currently difficult or impossible to treat using existing methodologies.
Microglia: Jekyll and Hyde in the brain
Delphine Boche, Professor of Neuroimmunopathology in the Faculty of Medicine, will deliver her Inaugural Lecture this month (October), in which she will talk about her research into brain inflammation and degeneration and her journey to academia. Here, she talks about her research interests and aspirations.
What is your current research focus?
The immune cells of the brain, microglia, in different neurological conditions
Advanced Imaging: The Biomedical Imaging Unit
The Biomedical Imaging Unit (BIU) provides state of the art facilities and research and diagnostic services (accredited under ISO 15189) in high quality and high resolution light, x-ray and electron microscopy, with a special emphasis on 3D imaging.
They are based at University Hospital Southampton and are joint funded by the University of Southampton (Faculty of Medicine) and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
Supporting carers of people living with Dementia
The term Mental Wealth is a combination of mental health and wellbeing. There are many sources of support to help people invest in their family’s financial wealth or property wealth; the mission at familymentalwealth.com is to help people invest in their family’s mental wealth. There goal is to help families build their mental health and wellbeing, reducing the need for clinical interventions.
David Hague Early Career Investigator of the Year Award
The David Hague Early Career Investigator of the Year Award, worth £25,000 in research expenses with a £1,500 personal prize, is presented each year by Alzheimer’s Research UK to the most outstanding early career researcher in the field of biomedical dementia research. The Award is judged by an external panel of prominent international researchers, who look for excellence in scientific research, a significant contribution to the field and quality of scientific writing in an essay.
Masafumi Ihara to give keynote lecture
Masafumi Ihara, MD, PhD, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center: Suita, Osaka will be giving the keynote lecture “Cilostazol treatment for Alzheimer’s disease”at the next iDeac meeting to be held on the 20th August at the Univesuty of Southampton. Other speakers include;
£9 million awarded for applied health research
Nine million pounds has been awarded for applied health research across Hampshire, Dorset, Isle of Wight and South Wiltshire as part of the Wessex ARC (Applied Research Collaboration). Southampton researchers Prof Helen Roberts, Prof Jackie Bridges and Dr Chris Kipps will lead the Ageing and Dementia theme, one of four within the ARC. The Wessex ARC will have a national role co-ordinating research in Ageing and Dementia across all the NIHR ARCs.
iDEAC members at Alzheimer’s Association meeting
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® is the largest and most influential international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science. Each year, AAIC® convenes the world’s leading basic science and clinical researchers, next-generation investigators, clinicians and the care research community to share research discoveries that’ll lead to methods of prevention and treatment and improvements in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.