Zainab Akhter

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Genetics
• Does inflammation induce DNA damage in neurons?

Inflammation is a major contributor to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, there are above average levels of DNA damage in Alzheimer’s patients. The purpose of my project was to investigate whether these two factors are related. To do this, I modelled human neurons by differentiating a neuroblastoma cell line. A bacterial virulence factor, lipopolysaccharide, was used to induce inflammation.

Project Supervisor: Dr Gabriele Saretzki, Institute for Cell & Molecular Biosciences

Funding source: BBSRC