Fellowship to study Alzheimer’s disease for Amy Lloyd

The research project will focus on microglia, immune cells of the brain that are important in protecting the brain from damage or infection. In early, pre-clinical phases of Alzheimer’s Disease, it is thought that microglia try and protect the brain by clearing away toxic protein build-up associated with the disease. However, over time, microglia stop protecting the brain. They then contribute to the damage by no longer clearing toxic proteins away and releasing inflammatory molecules that damage neurons. 

Amy, who is an Independent Investigator in the Division of Cell Signalling and Immunology in the School of Life Sciences said, “This research aims to understand why microglia change their functions in Alzheimer’s Disease, and hopefully understand the mechanisms involved in microglia turning from early neuroprotective cells to chronically inflamed and damaging cells.”

The research will use the mass spectrometry and proteomics expertise at the University of Dundee to understand how microglia contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease by tracking them from the early pre-symptomatic to chronic phases of disease.

Alongside this, Amy will collaborate with scientists at the Francis Crick institute who have novel mouse models that have human microglia throughout their brain. It is hoped these models will allow Amy to understand how human microglia responds to these protein aggregates changes as disease progresses. This will give major insights into how and why microglia change from beneficial to detrimental in Alzheimer’s Disease.

Amy studied neuroscience at the University of Nottingham and did her PhD at the University of Edinburgh. Her research paper on pro-inflammatory microglial necroptosis earned her the prestigious Jean Corsan Prize from Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

Amy will also be part of the RAD Fellowship Programme, an international development scheme for the most promising dementia researchers, exposing them to high-performance cultures found in Formula 1 and innovative technology companies. The aim is to maximize the academic and personal potential of each RAD Fellow, allowing them to fast-track dementia research, becoming leaders in their field.

Amy said “My Race Against Fellowship could enable drug treatments aimed at preventing microglia from becoming damaging. This would become a way to protect the brain from neurodegenerative disease progression.”

“I would like to thank Dr Fiona McLean for her encouragement and support during my application, as well as Dr Andy Howden and Professor Miratul Muqit for their advice and support throughout.”