Name:
Dr Lakshini Mendis
Job Title:
Dementia Research Project Administrator
Place of work / study:
National Institute of Health Research / University College London
Area of Research:
Dementia
Tell us a little about yourself:
I graduated with a PhD in Anatomy from the University of Auckland in May 2017. For my PhD project, I applied imaging mass spectrometry to analyse changes in the distribution of lipids in the hippocampus in Alzheimer’s disease. Although I have now stepped away from lab work, I continue to be involved in the dementia field since I help coordinate national dementia initiatives in my current role as part of the Office of the National Director for Dementia Research.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I had lived exactly half my life in Sri Lanka and half my life in New Zealand, before I moved to the UK for my OE.
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
I have always been fascinated by how the human brain works and I think that our memories play a key role in forming our identities. Dementia robs us of that. I want to help extend our understanding of dementia, because I think it will help us better prepare for it, and eventually, combat it.