Dementia Researcher Blogs Dementia Researcher

Dr Clarissa Giebel narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.



Clarissa discusses her learning from serving on an NIHR funding committee, detailing the rigorous process of grant review and decision-making. She highlights the valuable lessons learned about crafting strong grant applications, the importance of presenting research clearly to a diverse committee, and the critical role of patient and public involvement. Clarissa also discusses the commitment required for this role and encourages early career researchers to get involved in grant reviewing and committee membership for professional growth and a deeper understanding of the funding landscape.
 
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Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-what-actually-happens-at-funding-committees/
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Dr Clarissa Giebel is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and NIHR ARC North West Coast. Clarissa has been working in dementia care research for over 10 years focusing her research on helping people with dementia to live at home independently and well for longer, addressing inequalities that people with dementia and carers can face. Outside of her day work, Clarissa has also organised a local dementia network - the Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Forum.
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If you would like to write your own blog drop us a line, we're always on the look out for new contributors to write about their research, careers + more dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk 
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Join Athena Bratopoulou as she interviews Dr Zsófia László about her research on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) / Motor Neuron Disease (MND)







Athena Bratopoulou, an undergraduate Neuroscience student at the University of Dundee, interviews Dr Zsófia László, an MNDA Junior Fellow. They discuss Dr László's journey into the field of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) research, her work on synaptic connections, and the crucial role of glial cells in neurodegeneration. The conversation highlights the challenges and triumphs of scientific research, the importance of a supportive research environment and the connecting with people living with the disease, and the hope for new treatments for MND. This blog provides a personal and professional glimpse into the lives of researchers dedicated to understanding and combating MND.




 



Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-quest-to-understand-motor-neuron-disease/
#MND #ALS
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Athena Bratopoulou is currently I am doing an internship in the Henstridge Lab at the School of Medicine, University of Dundee, which is centred around synaptoneurosomes in health and in ALS. Athena moved from Greece with her heart set on studying the brain, with a firm belief that it is the single most fascinating thing!
Dr Zsofia Laszlo from the School of Medicine, University of Dundee and Euan MacDonald Centre. Zsofia moved to Scotland in October 2020, after finishing her PhD at the Institute of Experimental Medicine in Budapest, Hungary. She joined the laboratory of Euan MacDonald Centre member Dr Chris Henstridge to investigate the mechanisms behind the loss of connection (synapses) between brain cells in MND.
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Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.




In this blog, Sam explores the potential link between diet and Motor Neuron Disease (MND). With only 10% of MND cases being genetically inherited, Sam investigates the role of environmental factors, particularly diet, in the development and management of MND. He examines various diets, including carnivore, ketogenic, paleo, Mediterranean, and vegan, evaluating their potential benefits and drawbacks. While some diets show promise in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, the evidence remains inconclusive. Sam emphasises the need for further research to understand the impact of diet on MND and to develop personalised nutritional strategies for people at risk and those living with the disease.
 




Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-diet-and-motor-neuron-disease-is-there-anything-here/
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Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. His expertise falls on the interface between biology and engineering. His PhD focussed on regenerative medicine and he now works on trying to develop 3D bioprinting techniques with human stem cells, so that we better understand and treat degenerative diseases. Outside of the lab he hikes through the Lake District and is an expert on all things Disney.
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Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with the NIHR, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Hannah Smith narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.








In her first blog for Dementia Researcher, Hannah provides a detailed account of her experience as the first Early Career Researcher (ECR) on MND Scotland’s Scientific Advisory Panel. She emphasises the immense value this role has brought to her career development and the benefits it offers to both the research community and those affected by motor neuron disease. Hannah discusses the challenges ECRs face in transitioning to independent research roles and highlights how observing the grant review process has enhanced her grant-writing skills. She advocates for other funding bodies to include ECRs in their panels, noting the unique perspectives and technical insights they bring to the table.





 



Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-grant-review-process-perspective-of-an-ecr/
#MND
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Dr Hannah Smith is a committed science communicator, ECR rep on MND Scotland’s grant reviewing Scientific Advisory Panel and Postdoctoral Research Fellow working on Motor Neuron Disease (MND) at The University of Edinburgh. Hannah's current work is bioinformatics-focused, generating and analysing the transcriptome and translatome in the motor neurons at pre- and early symptomatic stages. She hopes to  find new insights into the earliest cellular dysfunction of ALS/MND, focused around changes to the protein translation. 
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Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
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https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Dr Connor Richardson narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Connor narrates his journey in his blog "Academic Promotions: A Tale of Two Tries." He discusses the challenges and emotional rollercoaster of applying for an academic promotion, detailing his unsuccessful first attempt and the lessons he learned from it. Connor reflects on the daunting application process, the feelings of imposter syndrome, and the eventual disappointment. However, he also highlights the growth and new perspectives gained, including a more realistic view of his career and the importance of self-worth. His story is a candid and insightful read for anyone navigating the complexities of academic promotions.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-academic-promotions-a-tale-of-two-tries/
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Dr Connor Richardson is a Neuro-epidemiology Research Associate (soon to be NIHR Research Fellow) in the Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute. Connor is the research statistician for the Cognitive Function and Ageing studies (CFAS) multi-centre population cohort. His research interest lies in using advanced statistical modelling and machine learning to measure dementia risk. Connor blogs about his research, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and sometimes his Pomapoo’s.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
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Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.




In his guest blog, Ajantha, a PhD student at the University of Oxford, explores the transformative potential of AI in dementia research at the basic science level. He discusses how AI can enhance literature searches, improve conference collaborations, and analyse large datasets, thereby accelerating discoveries and innovations in the field. By utilising AI, researchers can navigate the overwhelming amount of scientific literature, find relevant collaborations, and efficiently analyse complex data, ultimately leading to more targeted and effective research outcomes. Ajantha also addresses the challenges and risks associated with AI, emphasising the need for responsible and ethical implementation to maximise its benefits in dementia research.
 




Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-transformative-potential-of-ai/
#AI #BasicScience #DementiaResearch
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Ajantha Abey is a PhD student in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal vulnerability: the phenomenon where some cells die but others remain resilient to neurodegenerative diseases.
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Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher