When DNA Breaks and Mitochondria Fail: Investigating Drivers of Huntington’s Disease

Project Code

MRCNMH26Ca Smith

Project Type

Wet lab

Research Theme

Neuroscience and Mental Health

Project Summary Download

Summary

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal inherited brain disorder with no effective treatment. It causes specific neurons in the brain to degenerate, leading to involuntary movements, cognitive decline and sleep disturbances. This PhD project aims to uncover how these neurons die by combining advanced tools in Drosophila genetics, human iPSC-derived neurons and metabolomics. The student will also screen potential therapeutic compounds in HD models. This is a unique opportunity to work across model systems and technologies to understand disease mechanisms and explore new treatment strategies.

Lead Supervisor

Dr Gaynor Smith

Lead Supervisor Email

smithga@cf.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Cardiff