Centre Lead: Ruth Dobson
Deputy Lead: Alastair Noyce
Centre Manager: Helen Sonderegger-Coxon
Centre Administrator: Katarzyna Drobiazg (Maternity Cover)
Executive Assistant to Centre Leads: Olu Osoba
The Centre for Preventive Neurology, CPN, brings together an expert team to carry out revolutionary new research into dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease. Their work includes investigating causal pathways, genetic and environmental factors; creation of novel clinical cohorts and development of new tests; and exploring whether simple interventions can prevent or delay the onset of these disorders.
The Preventive Neurology Unit, PNU, the predecessor of the CPN, was formed in 2017 following investment from Barts Charity and has grown rapidly within the Wolfson Institute of Population Health. Curtesy of the rapid growth in staff and grant funding, the PNU was transformed into its own Centre in 2023. Substantial funding has been awarded from the NIHR, MRC, UK MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, NMSS, Cure Parkinson’s, BMA Foundation and the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Initiative. Established collaborations include GP2, PPMI, IPDGC, 23andMe UCL, and Imperial College.
Main disease areas of interest are dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Areas of study include traditional epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, clinical cohort creation, under-represented populations, real world and health records data, patient and public involvement, and imaging and laboratory biomarkers.
Academics:
Prof. Ruth Dobson – Centre Lead
Prof. Alastair Noyce – Deputy Centre Lead
Prof. Charles Marshall
Prof. Seif Shaheen
Jonathan Bestwick
Dr Petroula Proitsi
Dr Cristina Simonet
Dr Laura Smith
Dr Mohammad Talaei
Dr Alison Thomson
Our Team:
Spencer Finch
Faiza Gul Durrani
Ben Jacobs
Natalia Chemas
Thamanna Begum
Ruby Lathey
Rita Benabderrazik
Olu Osoba
Brook Huxford
Ellen Camboe
Katarzyna Drobiazg
Nicola Vickaryous
Sharifa Battashi
Sumit Dey
Rhiannon Laban
Yaser Mokhayeri
Our PhD Students:
Rifah Anjum
Harneek Chohan
Imogen Collier
Francesca Rios
Emily Tregaskis-Daniels