BNA Training Academy – Dementia Masterclass

Join the BNA Dementia Masterclass for an in-depth exploration of the latest advancements in dementia research. This session brings together a renowned panel of leading experts to share cutting-edge insights and diverse perspectives. Engage in interactive discussion with speakers at the forefront of dementia research.

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Speakers

Professor Tara Spires-Jones, University of Edinburgh, UKDRI

Prof Tara Spires-Jones, DPhil(Oxon), FMedSci runs a research group studying brain changes in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.  Her laboratory studies the synaptic connections between neurons, which in a healthy brain allow learning and memory. The goal of the group is to understand the mechanisms of synapse degeneration and resilience in order to develop treatments that will promote recovery of brain function.  Dr Spires-Jones received her DPhil from the University of Oxford and was an Assistant Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before returning to the UK to join the University of Edinburgh in 2013.

In addition to her research, Prof Spires-Jones is passionate about communicating scientific findings to the public and policy makers; increasing the rigour and reproducibility in translational neuroscience; promoting inclusivity and diversity in science; and supporting the career development of neuroscientists.  She is a founding member of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence, which works to promote the future of European Neuroscience. She served as a member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council from 2016-2019 advising the Scottish Government on science policy, and in 2024 was elected a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. Tara served as President of the British Neuroscience Association from 2023-2025.

Professor Jonathan Schott, University College London

Jonathan Schott is a Professor of Neurology at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, and an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at UCLH. His clinical practice and research are centred on the dementias with a focus on early accurate diagnosis, and detection of pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. He leads, amongst others a major longitudinal study exploring cognitive ageing and brain health in the MRC British 1946 birth cohort, and a study examining the utility of blood based biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease in NHS memory clinics. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education academy, MRC Investigator and an NIHR Senior Investigator. He has published more that 390 papers and co-edited the Oxford Textbook of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia. He is the recipient of the de Leon prize in neuroimaging and Bill Thies award for distinguished service from the US Alzheimer’s Association. He has a number of national and international leadership positions including chair emeritus of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, chair of the Association of British Neurology Clinical Advisory Group, member of the European Academy of Neurology Dementia Panel, and Chief Medical Officer for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Professor Carol Brayne CBE, University of Cambridge

Professor Carol Brayne CBE is a Professor of Public Health Medicine and Co-Director of Cambridge Public Health Interdisciplinary Centre at the University of Cambridge. She is a medically qualified epidemiologist and public health academic. Her main research has been longitudinal studies of older people following changes over time with a public health perspective and focus on the brain. She is the lead principal investigator in the MRC CFA Studies and other population-based studies and has played a lead role in teaching and training in epidemiology and public health at Cambridge University. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and an NIHR Senior Investigator Emeritus.

Professor Henrik Zetterberg,University of Gothenburg, University College London, UKDRI 

Professor Henrik Zetterberg, MD, PhD, is a world-renowned expert in neurochemistry and fluid biomarkers for brain diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. He is a Professor at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and University College London (UCL), UK, and a senior consultant in clinical chemistry at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. He leads the UK DRI Fluid Biomarker Laboratory at UCL and is also a key member of the Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

With a background in molecular biology and medicine, Professor Zetterberg has published over 2,000 scientific articles and received numerous awards for his groundbreaking research. His work focuses on the development of biomarkers to diagnose and understand neurodegenerative diseases.

Professor Paresh Malhotra, Imperial College London

Professor Paresh Malhotra is Head of the Division of Neurology at Imperial College London and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He specializes in cognitive disorders caused by neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and neurodegeneration. After completing his undergraduate training at Oxford, he undertook a PhD and clinical fellowship in cognitive neurology, followed by specialist training and a clinical lectureship in London.

Professor Malhotra leads several research studies focused on the cognitive impacts of neurological conditions and the development of novel treatments. He is the lead investigator for an NIHR-funded Alzheimer’s disease trial and an Associate Member of the UK Dementia Research Institute. He also holds leadership roles in national dementia initiatives, including as Deputy Chair of the Alzheimer’s Society Research Strategy Council.

Professor Katie Lunnon, University of Exeter

Professor Katie is a leading expert in dementia genomics at the University of Exeter Medical School, where she has focused her research on the role of epigenetics, particularly DNA methylation, in dementia. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry & Pharmacology from the University of Southampton and a PhD in Neuroscience.

Her research investigates genomic mechanisms in dementia, including biomarkers for early Alzheimer’s disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Professor Katie has secured £3.5 million in grant funding and received several prestigious awards, including the 2017 Alzheimer’s Research UK Young Investigator of the Year and the 2019 Cavanagh Prize. She is currently chair of the Alzheimer’s Research UK scientific advisory board.

Programme