Matilda Burridge

Project Title: Investigating the role of inducible proteasome subunits in neuronal models of tauopathies
Supervisors: Dr Yu Ye, Dr Johanna Jackson, Professor Amin Hajitou
Location: Level 7, Sir Michael Uren Hub, White City Campus, 86 Wood Lane, W12 0BZ

About Me

I am a PhD student in the Ye lab in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, investigating the role of specific proteasomal degradation systems in the pathogenesis of tauopathies, like Alzheimer’s disease. In 2022, I graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from Imperial, where I became interested in the molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease. As part of my degree, I spent a Year Abroad in the Jockers lab at the Institut Cochin (Paris), where I was able to investigate the importance of tau to metabolic receptor dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease, alongside a parallel COVID19-focused project. In 2021, I undertook a summer UROP placement in the Ye lab, and was subsequently awarded a President’s scholarship to undertake my PhD at Imperial.

Qualifications

2018–2022: BSc Biochemistry with French for Science, Imperial College London

Research Interests

Aggregate accumulation and pro-inflammatory signalling are key hallmarks of neurodegenerative disorders. Both can be regulated by proteasomes, large multi-subunit complexes responsible for degrading unnecessary or misfolded proteins to maintain protein homeostasis. I am interested in whether immune-activated subunits of the proteasome may be protective or detrimental to progression of neurodegenerative disorders. My project will investigate how these subunits contribute to aggregate accumulation and pro-inflammatory signalling in tauopathies, like Alzheimer’s disease. To achieve this, I am using using super resolution imaging and biochemical techniques on cellular neuronal models, generated from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, in combination with post-mortem brain tissue.

Selected Publications

Cecon E., Burridge M., Cao L., Carter L., Ravichandran R., Dam J., Jockers R. SARS-COV-2 spike binding to ACE2 in living cells monitored by TR-FRET. Cell Chem Biol. 2022; 29(1):74-83. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.06.008. PMID: 34246414

Workshops

EMBL Advanced Fluorescence Imaging Techniques Course (Boehringer Ingelheim Grant)

Professional memberships

Biochemical Society
Quantitative Biological Imaging Society

Outreach

Great Exhibition Road Festival
Making It Brain volunteer

Contact Details

Email: matilda.burridge18@imperial.ac.uk
LinkedIn: matilda-burridge-a518b41b4

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.