I completed my undergraduate (Bsc), Masters (MSc) and PhD here at the University of Edinburgh.  Following my PhD I worked at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute  in Ottawa Canada for 4 years.  I returned to Edinburgh in May 2014 in a research and teaching post and formed my own research group.  My research is focused on identifying new ways to protect and support motor neurons in motor neuron diseases.

BSc in Biological Science with hons in Physiology (2004)

MSc in Life Sciece (2006)

PhD in Integrative Physiology (2010)

We are interested in motor neurons, particularly during post-natal development and during degeneration and disease.  We aim to discern the process and mechanism of peripheral synaptic and axonal degeneration, and how these are impacted by developmental mechanisms. We are also interested in identifying strategies to promote synaptic and axonal regeneration.

We have a particular focus on the childhood motor neuron disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Despite the advent of gene-targeted treatments for SMA, many individuals still live with chronic weakness and fatigue. We are using mouse models to understand the anatomical and physiological basis for these on-going problems. We also aim to identify and test a range of strategies to further protect motor axons and synapses and to promote regeneration and repair.

We are interested in motor axons and synapses during development, injury and disease.  We use a combination of morphological, cellular and molecular approaches to identify mechanisms involved in synaptic degeneration and regeneration. We using a combination of injury and disease model to test putative strategies to protect synapses and encourage their regeneration. We have a particular focus on the childhood motor neuron disease and understanding the persistent problems at the neuromuscular junction.  

• Profiling post-treatment pathology at the distal axon and NMJ in mouse models of SMA
• Identifying novel mechanisms regulating synaptic and axonal regeneration.
• Assessing the impact of post-natal development on peripheral axonal and synaptic vulnerability
• Testing strategies to protect axons and synapses and encourage their repair.

Inga Partlova

Ernie Ho

Charles Nyasa

Postdoctoral Fellows:

Laura Comley

Alannah Mole

I am the program director for Honours in Anatomy and Development. I sit on the exam board for the Masters in Integrative Neuroscience.  I contribute to the teaching of anatomy and cell biology on a range courses including biomedical sciences II, Anatomy and Development IV and MSc in Integrative Neuroscience. I regularly accept project students from Honours in Biomedical Sciences and related disciplines, MSc in Integrative Neuroscience, MSc in Human Anatomy and MSc in Biomedical Sciences.