Technologists

See the technology we have available at the UK DRI Imperial

We are fortunate to have such a fantastic range of technicians working at the UK DRI on various research projects. Here you can view our current staff and their specialities and read our longer conversations about what it means to work as a technologist during this exciting time at the UK DRI.

A conversation with Uren Lab Manager Megan Winterbotham

A conversation with Lab Manager Megan Winterbotham about her role at the UK DRI and managing the exciting new facilities we have at the Sir Michael Uren Hub on the White City Campus.

Read interview

Interviewed by UK DRI Project Officer Hannah Gowland
January 2023

Dr Emily Adair

Senior Research Technician

Lab: Paul Matthews

I specialise in transcriptomic technologies including: single nuclei RNA-sequencing (10x) and Digital spatial profiling (GeoMx)

Dorcas Cheung

Research Technician

Lab: Paul Matthews

I specialise in histology based methods such as immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Imaging Mass Cytometry.

Levia Yee

Research Technician

Lab: Paul Matthews

I'm working on optimising novel spatial transcriptomic technique coppaFISH in human brain tissue to identify cell types compromised in neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr Nazanin Doostdar

Laboratory Manager

Lab: Sam Barnes

I lend my expertise in the development and optimisation of key in-vivo experimental techniques (surgical and imaging) and provide expert guidance on experimental design. I am also responsible for: equipment set-up and maintenance, management of experimental schedules across the lab, data storage, training students and staff on experimental techniques and data analysis, and liaising with support staff.

Sandra Diaz Clavero

Research Technician

Lab: Marco Brancaccio

I work with stem cells, specifically with neurons and astrocytes derived from hiPSC looking for a link between circadian rhythms and Alzheimer's Disease.

Katarina Gregorovicsova

Research Technician

Lab: Alexi Nott

My role involves characterizing risk variants in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease with a focus on epigenetic mechanisms.

How temperature and circadian rhythms intersect to regulate a protein shown to protect against neurodegeneration

A new study led by Dr Marco Brancaccio (UK DRI at Imperial) and Dr Marieke Hoekstra (former UK DRI at Imperial, now VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research) offers a deeper insight into how a neuroprotective pathway is regulated both by temperature and the body clock. This research, published in the journal PNAS, could open up new therapeutic avenues for neurodegenerative disease. Read more on the UK DRI website

Introducing Cynthia Sandor: Pioneering earlier detection of Parkinson’s

Dr Cynthia Sandor, former Emerging Leader at the UK DRI at Cardiff, joins the UK DRI at Imperial as a Group Leader, where she will be tackling early diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

With a background in genetics, Dr Sandor uses computational methods to bring greater understanding to the underlying molecular mechanisms of Parkinson’s. Read more about Cynthia's work on the UK DRI website.

Ageing brain fails to control neuronal activity with consequences for cognition

Age-linked cognitive decline findings from our UK DRI Centre

Ageing brain fails to control neuronal activity with consequences for cognition, according to a study led by Dr Sam Barnes and Dr Carola Radulescu. Read more on the UK DRI website.

Ancient DNA reveals reason for high MS and Alzheimer’s rates in Europe

Groundbreaking study of ancient genes provides brand new biological understanding of debilitating disorders

Researchers have created the world’s largest ancient human gene bank by analysing the bones and teeth of almost 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia up to 34,000 years ago. By sequencing ancient human DNA and comparing it to modern-day samples, the international team of experts mapped the historical spread of genes – and diseases – over time as populations migrated.

Read more on the University of Cambridge website.

Health Minister visits White City to see pioneering dementia research

The Minister for Health and Secondary Care Andrew Stephenson MP visited the UK Dementia Research Institute at White City.

The new Minister for Health and Secondary Care Andrew Stephenson MP visited Imperial's White City Campus yesterday to see the work of the UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre based at the Sir Michael Uren Hub. The Minister was hosted by Professor Deborah Ashby, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Professor Siddharthan Chandran, Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute. Read more on the Imperial news website.

New non-invasive form of deep brain stimulation could provide alternative treatment for brain diseases

Cutting-edge work led by Imperial PI Dr Nir Grossman makes national press

Scientists from the UK Dementia Research Institute centre at Imperial College London featured on ITV News and in national newspapers. Read more on the Imperial website and the UK DRI website.

Imperial named UK’s best university

Imperial College London is ranked top of a new league table of UK universities.

Imperial has also been named University of the Year in the league table, published by the Daily Mail, and is praised for its "sustained excellence in all areas” alongside its commitment to social inclusion, including generous bursary support.

Read full article.

The UK Dementia Research Institute is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.