Basic & Clinical Neuroscience

Overview
Number of academic staff: approx 36
Number of research students: approx 55
Number of postdoctoral scientists: approx 45
Our research explores the cellular and molecular basis of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Batten Disease, motor neuron disease, schizophrenia, depression and autism spectrum disorder. Within this brief, we focus on using stem cells and patent specific induced pluripotent stem cells and use these as models to unravel transcriptional, epigenetic and signalling regulatory mechanisms responsible for formation and maintenance of neurons and astrocytes and also as transplantation tools to restore function lost in neurodegeneration and stroke. We use fly and rodent models to investigate the molecular basis of learning and memory.
In addition, human brain tissue, cell and animal models are used to identify genes, proteins and signalling pathways implicated in the development of motor neuron disease, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, with a view to developing novel disease-modifying therapies for the treatment of these diseases.
Research programmes within the Department include:
Motor Neurone disease and related disorders. The Department hosts the King’s MND Care and Research Centre, one of the leading centres for MND research and the development of new treatments in the world.
Dementia research. The Department has an excellent record in understanding the genetic basis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, using cell and molecular biology approaches to understand the biological basis of dementia and translating these basic science findings through to clinical trials for dementia patients.
Movement disorders (particularly atypical Parkinsonian syndromes such as PSP and MSA)