Tara Spires-Jones

Tara-headshotDRI

British neuroscientist

Tara Spires-Jones is a British neuroscientist known for her research on the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. She is a Professor of Neurodegeneration and Deputy Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.

Education

Spires-Jones completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. She then pursued a PhD in Neuroscience at Harvard University, where she conducted research on synaptic plasticity and the role of amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's disease.

Career

After completing her PhD, Spires-Jones continued her research at Harvard University as a postdoctoral fellow. She later became an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and a faculty member at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

In 2013, Spires-Jones moved to the University of Edinburgh where she took on the role of Professor of Neurodegeneration. She also serves as the Deputy Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and leads a research group focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.

Research

Spires-Jones' research primarily focuses on the synaptic changes that occur in neurodegenerative diseases. Her work has contributed to the understanding of how amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles affect synaptic function and lead to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. She has also investigated the role of microglia and other immune cells in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Awards and Honors

Spires-Jones has received several awards for her contributions to neuroscience, including the Rising Star Award from the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment and the Coulter Award from the British Neuroscience Association.

Professional Memberships

Spires-Jones is a member of several professional organizations, including the Society for Neuroscience, the British Neuroscience Association, and the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment.

Selected Publications

• Spires-Jones, T.L., et al. (Year). Title of the publication. Journal Name. Volume(Issue), pages.
• Spires-Jones, T.L., et al. (Year). Title of the publication. Journal Name. Volume(Issue), pages.

See also

• Neurodegeneration
• Alzheimer's disease
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Synaptic plasticity
• Amyloid-beta
• Microglia

External links

• [Link to personal or professional website]