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Dr Sasha Philbert
Name:
Dr Sasha Philbert
Job Title:
Alzheimer’s Society Research Fellow
Place of work / study:
The University of Manchester
Area of Research:
Biomarkers in dementia
How is your work funded:
Through an Alzheimer’s Society Postdoctoral Fellowship
Tell us a little about yourself:
During my MSc in Neuroscience at King’s College London, I got hooked on biomarker research. I worked on a small project that involved studying blood-brain barrier plasma biomarkers in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease under Dr Nicholas Ashton and Dr Abdul Hye. This experience led me to pursue a PhD and a postdoc at the University of Manchester, where I explored molecular biomarkers in different age-related dementias using mass spectrometry-based techniques. Now, my current research focuses on using novel imaging and molecular markers to improve the diagnosis of individuals living with vascular dementia. When I’m not working, you can find me playing aggressively average padel, a new sport that combines squash and tennis.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I can ride a unicycle.
Why did you choose to work in dementia:
My passion for neuroscience led me to research dementia, but my main motivation for staying is because of my grandmother’s diagnosis of vascular dementia.
What single piece of of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Say YES more often early in your research career! This will open you up to more ideas and projects, and it’ll help you establish your research niche.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I just found out that it’s being adapted into a movie, so I’m reading it again for the 5th time. If you’re into sci-fi, I can’t recommend this book enough.
Favourite film of all time?
Coach Carter. The best sports movie of all time!
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Hiking, reading, and padel (or any sport that involves a racket).
I was very interested to read your research story in the email I received from ‘Our Future Health’ which I participated in.
I have had Type 1 diabetes since 1965, I am now 71 and my mother had a vascular dementia, so my own risk of dementia is high. I retired as a Mental Health Physiotherapist in 2010, but have had much experience working with dementia as well as being the Huntingtons Disease Specialist Physio (which I see you have also worked with) for our area. I am also involved with the PROTECT study.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for all you are doing as a researcher to improve diagnosis for dementia sufferers.
I would like to thank you for all your efforts and research into Altzeimers/Dementia.
This has affected my family from way back . We also have a history of severe migraines throughout the generations . I’ve always thought this could be a connection to Altzeimers/Dimentia in some way but have never been able to find any research that has been looking at this. Perhaps you may know of some?? I would like to get involved in this in some way, or any research at all.
As with the previous lady that left a comment I am also partaking in the PROTECT Study and am part of the Our Future Health research.
Good luck with your research and bless you for your care and curiosity about this awful disease. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you