Dr Barry Bradford studied Neuroscience at The University of Edinburgh before joining the Institute for Animal Health Neuropathogenesis Unit (IAH-NPU) in 2000. Completing both MSc and PhD studentships during the course of his research into prion diseases (or transmissible spongiform encephalopthies). As a core research scientist at The Roslin Institute he manages the histology facility and has been responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate training since 2012. He was promoted to Lecturer in 2021. 

Prion diseases are prototypical protein-misfolding neurodegenerative disorders. Using this model we study how protein-misfolding within the brain results in activation of the supporting glia cells, impacts upon brain function and ultimately leads to loss of the connections (synapses) and death of brain cells (neurons). The goal of my research is to understand how this happens and how other infections and activation of the immune system may influence neurodegeneration. the ultimate goal of my research is to identify potential therapeutic treatments for these currently untreatable conditions.

Member of the University of Edinburgh Senatus Academicus 2024-2027

Associate member of the Food Standards Agency science advisory committee on animal feedstuffs 2025-2027

Biomedical Sciences Honours (Project Laboratory Supervisor)

BVM&S Veterinary Medicine (Year 1&2 Assessment)

Prions are a type of protein that can induce normal proteins in the brain to fold abnormally, leading to cellular death and the development of prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Prions are infectious proteins that are devoid of any genetic material, making them different from bacterial and viral infectious diseases. Prion diseases affect both humans and animals and can be zoonotic as shown by the transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) causing variant Creutzfeldt-Jakobs disease (vCJD) in humans.

Primarily using histopathology and related molecular biological techniques I aim to determine exactly how prions infect a host and eventually cause neurodegeneration. Due to their infectious nature, prions provide a tractable and well-characterized neurodegeneratve system within which we can interrogate the roles of various cell types, molecules and pathways involved in brain health and disease by for example the use of transgenic models. My ultimate goal is to cure prion disease and prevent neurodegeneration. Similarly we use prions alongside other infection models such as bacteria or parasites to determine the impact on host susceptibility or resistance to prion infection as well as impact on the disease course.

My major research findings have established and defined specific roles of various supporting cells within the brain called glia. I have identified unique signatures for each prion strain of agent and host response through upregulated expression of the adhesion molecule CD44 by astrocytes. I have also definitifely proven the neuroprotective nature of microglia by characterising the response of completely microglia-deficient animals to prion disease.

During my research I have also gained extensive experience of visualising and defining immune structures and responses in host animals and translating these techniques across a broad range of species including both commercial (cattle, sheep, poultry, pigs & salmon) and companion (dogs & cats) animals. 

PhD

France Chaiyasut 2025-

Sasha Pokrovskaya 2023-

Emma Green (Advisor) 2020-2024

Reiss Pal 2020-2023

MSc

Adriana Mohd Faisal (Bioinformatics)

Clara Gomez-Dunlop 2022 (Neuroscience)

Joe Reynolds 2020 (Neuroscience)

Christianus Wijaya 2019 (Erasmus / One Health)

Honours/Veterinary

Joanna Pikula (Biochemistry Hons)

Elektra Epanomeritaki (Medicine / Health Sciences Hons)

Mumina Zaheer (Neuroscience Hons)

Rebecca Tan (Medicine / Neuroscience Hons)

Anna Horlacher 2024 (Veterinary Student Research Component)

Lauryn Walmsley-Rowe 2023 (Medicine / Neuroscience Hons)

Emma Morrison 2022 (Veterinary Student Research Component)

Claire Banner 2022 (Infectious Diseases Hons)

Rebecca Bruce 2021 (Anatomay and Development Hons)

Danica Ariyadasa-Sáez 2019 (Immunology Hons)

Laura Tetlow 2016 (Veterinary Student Research Component)

Caroline Wood 2015 (Veterinary Student Research Component)

Lester Thoo 2014 (Immunology Hons)

Kah Yap 2013 (Immunology Hons)

Mark Laloo 2013

Matthew Helsby 2012