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Dr Gemma Lace
Name:
Dr Gemma Lace
Job Title:
Associate Dean Academic (Student Experience) & Lead of the Molecular Biology Dementia Group at the University of Salford
Place of work / study:
University of Salford
Area of Research:
Our group focusses on the mechanisms underlying abnormal protein accumulation in neurodegeneratives diseases and the role of small extracellular vesicles in the spread of disease pathogenesis and the source of early disease biomarkers.
How is your work funded?
Our work is and has been funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a passionate researcher of neurodegeneration and have dedicated much of my career to raising dementia awareness and supporting the next generation of talented dementia researchers. I graduated from the University of Leeds with a BSc(Hons) in Neuroscience, the completed a PhD in Genomic Medicine. I then undertook Post-Docs and Fellowships focussed on Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease before taking on a Teaching Fellowship at the University of Salford. At Salford, I started my own lab group alongside teaching on a range of both undergraduate and postgraduate biomedicine programmes. I was promoted to lecturer, then senior lecturer, then to Associate Dean Academic (Student Experience) where I lead a portfolio of strategic projects aiming to enhance the student experience across the School of Science, Engineering and Environment and wider HE sector.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I’m also a life coach, martial artist, red cross volunteer, Yogii and mother of 3 fabulous children, as well as a daft, grumpy German Shepherd-Husky.
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
Like many families, mine has been impacted by dementia. People are my passion, and the scientific curiosity combined with the countless devastating stories of families impacted by dementia made me determined to be part of the solution.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Don’t compare yourself to others- find your own path that aligns with your own passions.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
An Unremarkable Body- Elisa Lodato. It is outstanding……a beautiful and haunting tale!
Can we find you on Twitter or Instagram?
