Fluid biomarkers of Inflammation in Frontotemporal Dementia
Summary
Neuroinflammation is an important driving mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases, and accelerated clinical progression in people with dementia. Our research programme uses advanced blood-based biomarkers, combined with neuroimaging and clinical data, to quantify and characterise neuroinflammation and pathological changes in people with frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. These tools can provide additive and complementary information on microglia-mediated inflammatory cascades.
Project aims
This project aims to characterise inflammation signatures in blood and CSF of people with frontotemporal dementia and related conditions. Specifically, the study will test:
- data-driven inflammation profiles that differentiate patients from controls and are associated with clinical severity
- their relationship with clinical phenotypes and diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds
- their predictive value for heterogeneity in clinical outcomes and disease progression
The project will leverage local datasets and multi-centre proteomics data to validate results across cohorts and platforms.
Contact details
Dr Maura Malpetti (mm2243@medschl.cam.ac.uk) – Neurology
Opportunities
This project is open to applicants who want to do a:
- PhD
- MPhil