Our research focuses on degenerative diseases of the brain, with a particular interest in diseases associated with the accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein into intracellular inclusions termed Lewy bodies, such as Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. In these diseases, we are especially interested in how metabolic changes in neural cells contribute to these conditions. In addition to Lewy body diseases, we also study metabolic diseases that have related pathological processes, particularly lysosomal storage disorders and mitochondrial diseases. The overall aim of our research is to understand disease processes to enable us to better treat these conditions. 

The central ethos of our work is "Pathology with a Purpose" as our overriding aim is to directly translate our mechanistic studies to tangible outcomes for patients, including disease-modifying therapies. Our work is not a simple academic venture in studying things that are interesting, it is deeply rooted in trying to help those affected by the diseases we study.

We utilise a range of methodological approaches, but our approach is centred on analysis of human post-mortem tissue using histological and molecular approaches. Although we have a strong focus on using human tissues, we acknowledge the inherent limitations in this approach, and thus we aim to supplement our human neuropathological work with human tissue-based model systems to generate mechanistic insights based on our neuropathological observations.

The sections to the left outline major projects on which the laboratory is presently focused.