Translational Neurodegeneration Group

The goal of our group is to discover and translate new drugs and biomarkers for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically dementia. We conduct research across the translational spectrum, including cell culture, animal physiology, fluid and imaging biomarkers, and clinical trials, to better understand disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets.

Our areas of focus include cell death mechanisms, vascular control, and brain metabolism, with techniques including bioinformatics and statistics, in vitro and in vivo physiology, and cellular and molecular biology.

About our research

The our group specialises in bi-directional research translation. This involves both translation of laboratory research into new treatments and biomarkers, and reverse translation of clinical research uncovering associations for mechanistic discovery science. Our research program has led to new clinical trials and studies, and informed new directions for discovery research.

The approach to research is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary and is underpinned by external partnerships with major clinical studies throughout the world extend.

Our group’s work focuses on 3 key areas:

  1. Cell death mechanisms
  2. Vascular physiology/pharmacology
  3. Brain metabolism

Research interests

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Ferroptosis
  • Biomarkers
  • Brain metabolism
  • Vascular physiology

Techniques

  • Cell culture
  • Myograph
  • In vivo hemodynamics
  • Mouse behaviour
  • ICP-MS
  • Clinical biofluids (SIMOA)
  • Bioinformatics and statistics

 

 

Team members

Research and technical staff

  • Emilio Werden
  • Celeste Mawal
  • Scarlett Parker
  • Linda Cornthwaite

PhD students

  • Mohamed Jakaria
  • Andrew Gleason

Master students

  • Laeeq Hamid
  • Eva Geerts

Publications

  • Alves, F., Kallinowski, P. and Ayton, S. (2023). Accelerated Brain Volume Loss Caused by Anti–β-Amyloid Drugs: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Neurology, p.10.1212/WNL.0000000000207156. doi:https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000207156.
  • Ayton, S., Shorena Janelidze, Kalinowski, P., Palmqvist, S., Belaidi, A.A., Stomrud, E., Roberts, A., Roberts, B., Hansson, O. and Ashley Ian Bush (2022). CSF ferritin in the clinicopathological progression of Alzheimer’s disease and associations with APOE and inflammation biomarkers. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, p.jnnp-330052. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2022-330052
  • Belaidi, A.A., Shashank Masaldan, Southon, A., Kalinowski, P., Acevedo, K.M., Ambili Thoppuvalappil Appukuttan, Portbury, S.D., Lei, P., Agarwal, P., Leurgans, S., Schneider, J.A., Conrad, M., Bush, A.I. and Ayton, S. (2022). Apolipoprotein E potently inhibits ferroptosis by blocking ferritinophagy. Molecular Psychiatry. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01568-w.
  • Betrie, A.H., Brock, J.A., Harraz, O.F., Bush, A.I., He, G.-W., Nelson, M.T., Angus, J.A., Wright, C.E. and Ayton, S. (2021). Zinc drives vasorelaxation by acting in sensory nerves, endothelium and smooth muscle. Nature Communications, [online] 12(1), p.3296. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23198-6
  • Ayton, S., Portbury, S., Kalinowski, P., Agarwal, P., Diouf, I., Schneider, J.A., Morris, M.C. and Bush, A.I. (2021). Regional brain iron associated with deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease: A large cohort study and theoretical significance. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 17(7), pp.1244–1256. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12282.

Contact us

Associate Professor Scott Ayton

Group Head
[email protected]