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Dr Paula Beltran Lobo
Name:
Dr Paula Beltran Lobo
Job Title:
Alzheimer’s Society Research Fellow
Place of work / study:
The University of Edinburgh
Area of Research:
My research focuses on understanding the interactions between astrocytes and the vasculature in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
How is your work funded:
My research was first funded by ARUK through an Early Career Bridge Fund and is currently funded an Alzheimer’s Society Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Tell us a little about yourself:
Originally from Barcelona (Spain), I studied a BSc in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Barcelona. Driven by a deep interest in how the brain works, I moved to London in 2017 to complete an MSc in Translational Neuroscience at Imperial College London. I was then determined to focus my career on dementia research. I was awarded a PhD from King’s College London (KCL) in 2022, where I investigated how brain cells – astrocyte and microglial – contribute to inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease.
During my postdoctoral research at KCL, I built on this work by exploring how astrocyte interact with neurons in tauopathies and the role of extracellular chaperones mediating this cell-to-cell communication.
In 2025, I joined the Diaz Castro and Bowles labs at the University of Edinburgh – UK DRI, funded by an Alzheimer’s Society Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, to study astrocyte-vasculature interactions in tauopathies.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I have a soft spot for anything and everything cat-related.
Why did you choose to work in dementia:
It was a combination of factors that led me to this field. On one hand, I’ve always been fascinated by how the brain works—its complexity and how it shapes who we are. During a high school awareness session on dementia, I was struck by how profoundly this disease can take away a person’s essence. In 2017, a close relative was diagnosed with dementia. Experiencing firsthand how difficult it is for families—not only to get a diagnosis but also to navigate the emotional and practical challenges that follow—had an impact on me.
Altogether, I think it was the merging of scientific curiosity and personal experience that truly solidified my determination to contribute to dementia research through my work in the lab.
What single piece of of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Surround yourself with mentors who challenge your thinking, celebrate your wins, and help you grow—science is a team effort, and you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
I am currently reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Favourite film of all time?
It is difficult to say, but perhaps the french film “Intouchables”
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
I love unwinding by listening to music, traveling to new spots, and just getting creative with some painting.
Can we find you on social media?
Follow @PaulaBeltranLo1
@pbeltran-lobo.bsky.social
Alzheimer's Society
