School/College

University of Edinburgh

Email

Rosalind.Heron@ed.ac.uk

Telephone

0131 242 9175

Twitter

@RosalindHeron

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Research vision

I combine my expertise in neuroscience with state-of-the-art imaging techniques to create a unique insight into what is happening in the brain and body in real time during neurodegeneration. Our lab has led the way in developing the technique of using time-lapse microscopy to live image the inflammatory response to damage in Drosophila and take advantage of the powerful genetic tractability of this animal to dissect the molecular mechanisms involved in the recruitment and activity of immune cells to damaged areas. This new state-of-the-art technique using the translucent Drosophila embryo, larvae, and pupae is offering exciting new insights into the molecular mechanisms of inflammation as, for the first time, recruitment and activity of immune cells can be visualised in real time in the living animal.

My vision is to assist in the development of effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases - aiding both the general health and growing economic burden associated with an aging population. My current research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – affecting roughly 20 million people worldwide. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease - or, indeed, any neurodegenerative disease. This is largely because previous studies, along with drug development strategies, have been restricted by the inability to visualise what is happening internally in real time during neurodegeneration in a living model. In my research, I can visualise the changing brain during neurodegeneration in the living animal, along with the response of immune cells to these changes. Thus, this research helps to overcome previous hurdles that have been experienced in drug discovery for Alzheimer’s disease and provides additional information that may prove vital for the development of successful neurodegenerative drugs.

Having focussed on therapies to alleviate the memory decline associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases during my doctoral studies, I have now adopted this model that is better suited to understanding what is happening at the core of these diseases throughout their progression. Like never before, my current Drosophila Alzheimer’s model allows me to visualise the brain before, at onset of amyloid secretion, and throughout the entirety of disease progression. The progression of the disease can be tracked right up until death – providing a unique insight in to our understanding of this terminal disease.

Expectations from collaboration

I seek a collaborator that shares my vision and interest in developing effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. 

To make the most of my model that uniquely allows me to track the progression of Alzheimer’s disease from onset to death, I aim to test compounds in this model and see what effects they have on degeneration. As such, I foresee potential collaborations with industries and researchers involved in developing compounds to target Alzheimer’s disease, whom I could join forces with to see what effects these compounds have in this model.

Additionally, collaborators may be interested in a joint endeavour to translate discoveries using my Drosophila model to ultimately understand what is happening in an Alzheimer’s patient.

Attracted collaborators may also be those interested in helping to fund a new wave of research in drug discovery to counter the growing problem that neurodegeneration is playing in an ever-aging population. Drug discovery using this technique could really benefit from extra manpower and resources allowing for greater throughput and more potential for developing successful treatments.

Having previously conducted research in the UK, Ireland and USA, I am comfortable and happy to travel abroad to work with suitable collaborators.

Key Skills

  • Microscopy,
  • Neuroscience,
  • Inflammation,
  • Ageing

 

First published: 7 May 2019

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