Research output per year
Research output per year
DR
Accepting PhD Students
2019- Present Programme Leader (Fellow)/UE08, University of Edinburgh, UK Dementia Research Institute.
2017-2019 Assistant Project Scientist IV at University of California, Los Angeles (Advisor: Prof. Baljit Khakh).
2014-2017 Postdoc at University of California, Los Angeles (Advisor: Prof. Baljit Khakh).
2013-2014 Postdoc at Northwestern University, Chicago (Advisor: Prof. Peter Penzes).
2006-2012 Ph.D. in Biology, University of Seville, Spain (Advisors: Prof. Dr. Jose Lopez Barneo, Dr. Jose I. Piruat Palomo).
2007-2008 M.S. in Biomedicine, University of Seville, Spain.
2001-2006 B.S. in Biology, University of Seville, Spain.
The brain is an organ of unparalleled sophistication and a fine control of its microenvironment is essential to maintain proper function. Key to this challenge is a specialised blood vessel structure called the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Crucially the BBB controls the movement of substances between the brain and the rest of the body including restriction of dangerous toxins and pathogens.
Dysfunction of the BBB is one of the earliest events in neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia, hence it is important for scientists to work out why this might be happening and how we can stop it. The BBB is a complex structure made up of many different types of cells. We believe greater understanding of them will be fundamental in deciphering what goes wrong in disease.
We investigate interactions between some of the cells found in the BBB, including astrocytes and brain endothelial cells. Astrocytes are part of the BBB whilst being in intimate contact with neurons to modulate their function and provide support. Brain endothelial cells are important structural cells lining the inside of brain blood vessels and constitute the first fence of the barrier. By studying the relationship between these cells in a healthy and disease context, we aim to identify key targets for therapeutics.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Spires-Jones, T., Diaz-Castro, B. & Durrant, C.
1/03/24 → 31/08/27
Project: Research
Hardingham, G., Bowles, K., Bowles, K., Chandran, S., Chandran, S., Diaz-Castro, B., Diaz-Castro, B., Gan, J., Gan, J., Hunt, D., Hunt, D., McColl, B., McColl, B., Montagne, A., Montagne, A., Opazo, P., Priller, J., Priller, J., Spires-Jones, T., Spires-Jones, T., Wardlaw, J. & Wardlaw, J.
UK Dementia Research Institute Ltd
1/07/22 → 31/03/28
Project: Research
Williams, A. & Diaz-Castro, B.
1/07/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Research