Project Code
NMH27Ex Dempster
Project Type
Wet lab
Research Theme
Neuroscience and Mental Health
Project Summary Download
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), including repetitive head impacts during contact sports, increases the risk of developing later-life neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the earliest molecular changes linking brain injury to neurodegeneration remain poorly understood. This interdisciplinary PhD will develop a next-generation, minimally invasive blood test (liquid biopsy) to investigate these processes. The student will combine cutting-edge genomics, long-read sequencing and extracellular vesicle biology to analyse cell-free DNA and neuron-derived extracellular vesicles from the same blood sample, uncovering early biomarkers and molecular mechanisms that could transform the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
Can the project be completed part time?
Yes
Lead Supervisor
Dr Emma Dempster
Lead Supervisor Email
University Affiliation
University of Exeter
