Our Regenerative Neuroimmunology research group are interested in the role of the adaptive immune system and in particular T cells, in both myelin damage and regeneration in the central nervous system. Our goal is to make new biological discoveries to help develop new treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating conditions.
Our expertise:
T cell biology
In vitro cultures of immune cells and glial cells
Ex vivo CNS slice cultures
In vivo models of demyelination and remyelination
MS tissue neuropathology (Dame Ingrid Allen Tissue Bank)
Dr. Yvonne Dombrowski
Key words:
Inflammasome / Innate
Immune System / Myelin
Our research interest focuses on innate immune mechanisms in myelin damage and repair in MS. In particular, we are interested in understanding the role of inflammasomes and downstream signaling in myelin damage and regeneration in MS with the aim to identify key immune mechanisms that can be therapeutically targeted to promote remyelination.
Our expertise:
In vitro glial cell culture,
Ex vivo cerebellar slice culture
In vivo models of de- and remyelination
Dr. Alerie Guzman de la Fuente
Key words:
Ageing / Oligodendrocyte
lineage Cells / Myelin
My research focuses on how ageing affects glial cells, and in particular oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and how that may influence key processes such as inflammation and regeneration. I am interested in understanding how ageing alters the CNS cellular network and the response of oligodendrocyte lineage cells to myelin damage and repair in Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Expertise and techniques:
In vitro rodent glial cell culture of different ages
In vitro T cell culture
Ex vivo cerebellar slice culture
In vivo models of de- and remyelination
Molecular and Cellular Biology (CoIP, Duolink, Immunohistochemistry…)
Dr. Claire McCoy
Key words:
Macrophages / MicroRNA
/ Inflammation
Our expertise:
- MicroRNA biology
- Macrophage cell culture
- Brain organoid cultures
- In vivo models of inflammation
Our main research goal is to investigate the pathological processes occurring during multiple sclerosis (MS) with the aim of developing novel approaches to treating progressive MS. We have completed many post-mortem MS tissue, pre-clinical and ex vivo studies, investigating endoplasmic reticulum stress signalling and modelling various aspects of disease pathology. Our current major focus is the progressive phase of MS.
Our expertise:
Post-mortem MS tissue analysis
Brain cell lines
Murine mix glial cell culture models
Human iPSC-derived cell lines
Ex vivo brain slice culture models
Biomarker biology
Dr. Jill McMahon
Key words:
Myelin / ER stress /
Neuropathology / MS pathology
My research interests are focused on neuroscience and neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and mild-traumatic brain injury. My main aim is to elucidate how endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response influence glial cell differentiation and death, and therefore MS progression and demyelination.
Expertise & techniques:
Neurohistological techniques
Analysis of neuropathological changes in human and animal CNS tissue
Cell culture of mixed glial cells and murine and human cell lines
In vivo models of mild traumatic brain injury
Gene and cell therapy using viral and non-viral vectors
Biomarker biology
- MS tissue neuropathology (Dame Ingrid Allen Tissue Bank)