Biomedical science

Ageing is a normal, physiological process of decline of body functions, including cognition, motor activity and sensory perception. This process can lead to the development of disorders, associated with age, such as stroke, dementias of various ethology, and neurodegenerative disorders. With increasing longevity of the population, the occurrence of these conditions also rises, linking together processes underlying normal human longevity with reasons making humans increasingly vulnerable to pathologies in old age.

Basic neurobiological and biomedical research at Plymouth University aims to understand the mechanisms of cellular dysfunction associated with diseases of aging, encompassing major pathophysiological process. Strong expertise in modelling of protein aggregation in vivo and in vitro is complemented by neurobiology research in autophagy and mitochondrial dynamics, white matter response to injury and supported by the bioinformatics research in genomics and genetics of dementia. The active work is going on in development and application of multimodal human neuroimaging, with a particular focus on the modulation of neuronal network activity in health and disease states.

Obtained data can be further validated and eventually translated into the clinic with the expertise in large-scale clinical trials via our UK CRN registered clinical trials unit strengthened by access to patients' data via NHS network of our partner NHS trusts in Devon and Cornwall. In addition, we have access to the repositories of patients' autopsies with the help of neuropathology services of Plymouth Hospitals NHS trust (Hilton). Clinical work is further strengthened by a unique expertise in developing electronic cognitive assessment platforms and clinical trials outcome measurement scientific techniques.

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