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Researchers Who Study Lewy Body Diseases
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Check the list below for some of the main researchers in the field
Researchers
Ireland
Professor Andrew Harkin
Trinity College DublinResearch interests: Drug treatment strategies to decrease the α-synuclein burden, protect neurons and reduce α-synuclein-related neuroinflammation.
Website
Professor Michael Rowan
Trinity College DublinResearch interests: The effect of misfolded proteins on synaptic plasticity
Website
Dr. Eilís Dowd
National University of Ireland, GalwayResearch interests: The development of novel pharmaceuticals, cell, gene and biomaterial therapies for Parkinson’s disease.
Professor Bernadette McGuiness
Queens University, BelfastResearch interests: The role of nutrition and inflammation in neurodegeneration, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body dementia.
Dr. Rebecca Coll
Queens University, BelfastResearch interests: The role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in neuroinflammation during neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease.
Professor Jochen Prehn
Royal College of SurgeonsResearch interests: The effects of misfolded α-synuclein on neuronal signalling and cell functioning, particularly mitochondrial activity.
Researchers
The United Kingdom
Professor John O’Brien
University of CambridgeResearch interests: MRI, SPECT & PET imaging in depression and dementia, neurobiological changes in late-life disorders and cognitive impairment, improving the diagnosis and treatment of Lewy Body Dementia.
Website
Professor Ian McKeith
Newcastle UniversityResearch interests: Diagnostics and novel therapeutics for Lewy Body dementia.
Website
Professor Dag Aarsland
Kings College LondonResearch interests: Cognitive decline in patients with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body dementia.
Website
Professor Peter Jenner
Kings College LondonResearch interests: Models of Parkinson’s disease and development of novel therapeutics.
Website
Associate Professor Camille Carroll
University of PlymouthResearch interests: Neuroprotective therapies and the use of technology for early detection, personalised treatment and monitoring of Parkinson’s disease progression.
Website
Researchers
Europe
Professor Donato Di Monte
The German Centre for Neurodegenerative DiseasesResearch interests: The mechanisms in α-synuclein aggregation and new therapeutic approaches.
Website
Professor Gunnar Gouras
Lund UniversityResearch interests: The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the major genetic risk factor for the most common dementias (Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia) alters early synapse function.
Website
Professor Sara Snogerup-Linse
Lund UniversityResearch interests: The biology of α-synuclein.
Website
Researchers
Clinicians Who Specialise in Lewy Body Diseases in Ireland & the UK
Professor Iracema Leroi
Trinity College Dublin, Global Brain Health Institute, St. James’s HospitalMedical Speciality: Geriatric psychiatry
Clinical Work & Research Outputs: Currently works in the Memory Assessment Service at the Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing in St. James’s Hospital and has also been involved in clinical trials for dementia.
TCD
GBHI
Neurology Academy
Professor Seán Kennelly
Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity College DublinMedical Speciality: Geriatric and stroke medicine
Clinical Work & Research Outputs: Consultant physician in geriatric and stroke medicine Tallaght University Hospital, co-director of the Institute for Memory and Cognition and director of the Cognitive Clinical Trials Unit in Tallaght University Hospital.
TUH
Neurology Academy
Dr. Seán O’Dowd
Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity College DublinMedical Speciality: Neurology
Clinical Work & Research Outputs: Consultant neurologist at Tallaght University Hospital with interests in neurodegenerative disorders (early- and late-onset dementia, Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonian atypical disorders) and sleep disorders.
TUH
Neurology Academy
Dr. Joseph Kane
Queens University, BelfastMedical Speciality: Psychiatry
Clinical Work & Research Outputs: Specialist trainee in Psychiatry of Old Age and General Adult Psychiatry with a particular interest I the epidemiology of peripheral α-synuclein neuropathology.
Neurology Academy
Dr. Paul Donaghy
Newcastle UniversityMedical Speciality:Old Age Psychiatry
Clinical Work & Research Outputs: Research focuses on the use of imaging techniques to better understand the pathophysiology and improve the diagnosis of Dementia with Lewy Bodies.
NIHR
Neurology Academy
Researchers
Other Key Figures in Lewy Body Disease Network
Karen Meenan
Lewy Body IrelandBio: Karen is the co-founder of Lewy Body Ireland and an award-winning presenter of dementia-inclusive radio programmes at NearFM in Ireland and LLARC in the UK. She has also founded many dementia inclusive groups such as Forget-Me-Nots choir and the Making Hay Reminiscence theatre company. More recently, Karen has turned her hand to research with the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College Dublin. With a special interest in Lewy Body Disease, Karen works closely with the Lewy Body Society UK and hosts a monthly ‘Tea-time with Lewy’ support group for patients and their families.
Helen Bundy Medsger
Lewy Body Disease AdvocateBio: For 30 years, Helen acted as a caregiver for close family members suffering from Lewy Body Disease and she is a devoted advocate for patients with dementia and their inclusion in clinical and preclinical research. Based in the US, Helen works with many Lewy Body Disease organisations such as the Lewy Body Dementia Association and the Global Health Brain Institute to support patients and caregivers in their fight of their disease.
Rachel Thompson
Consultant Admiral Nurse for Lewy Body DementiaBio: Rachel is the Consultant Admiral Nurse for Lewy Body Dementia. Her work, which involves education, consultancy and clinical support to patients and their families across the UK, is funded by the Lewy Body Society.