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Dr Lindsey Sinclair
Name:
Dr Lindsey Sinclair
Job title:
Associate Professor
Place of work / study:
University of Southampton
Area of Research:
Ageing and mental health
How is your work funded:
Like many researchers I’ve had a patchwork of funding over the years, including from the Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, BRACE Alzheimer’s Research, the David Telling Charitable Trust, Dementia Platforms UK, the James Tudor Foundation and the British Neuropathological Society. I am also immensely grateful to the NHS for funding my salary whilst I was in training.
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a clinical academic in old age psychiatry. After my medical training at the Royal Free Hospital, which included a BSc in Molecular Medicine, I began my clinical training, largely based in Bristol. I was fortunate to work with Professor David Nutt in the Bristol Psychopharmacology Unit during my core training in psychiatry.
During my advanced psychiatry training, I moved to work with Professor Ian Day, studying genetic influences on cognition. This work formed the basis of my Wellcome Trust funded research training fellowship. After completing my PhD, I combined finishing my clinical training in both general adult and old age psychiatry with postdoctoral research. In 2019, I was awarded a junior fellowship from the Alzheimer’s Society, which allowed me to focus on the complex relationship between depression and dementia.
In 2025, I moved to the University of Southampton to take up an associate professor post in older age psychiatry. Alongside my research, I also work as a consultant in old age psychiatry.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I love cooking, especially baking. My children see this as a challenge and up the ante each year with the birthday cake requests. Previous requests have included tractors, a Henry Hoover cake (?!?), a magician’s hat and a 3D Hogwarts castle complete with lake and mountains. Who knew that peak flow measurement tubes wrapped in icing would make perfect turrets? Hopefully this year they will ask for something a bit less ambitious!
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
All of my grandparents had different kinds of dementia, so I have personal experience of how devastating it can be for patients and those around them. I have never forgotten my grandmother snarling at me like an animal when I went to visit her in her care home and her cup of tea didn’t come fast enough. As a 14-year-old it was just too much to cope with, but as an adult I really want to make a difference for other families affected by dementia.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
If at first you don’t succeed try, try again, but think about getting some advice on why it didn’t work the first time.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
I absolutely love sci-fi and particularly anything by Peter F Hamilton or Connie Willis. I’ve just finished reading “The Power” by Naomi Alderman, which was a really thoughtful book about gender politics with a sci-fi twist.
Favourite film of all time?
The Lord of the Rings series
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
I’m pretty sporty and enjoy running and figure skating. When my children let me have the time I love rowing too in my single scull along a stunning piece of river near my home.
Dr Lindsey Sinclair
