Eric Hewitt

Dr. Eric Hewitt is an Associate Professor in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology within the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds. His research focuses on the structural and functional aspects of amyloid fibrils and their role in neurodegenerative and systemic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA).

His areas of expertise include cell biology, immunology, lysosomal function, and nanoinjection technologies. He employs a multidisciplinary approach integrating structural biology with cellular and immunological assays to understand how amyloid aggregates interact with cells, induce inflammation, and disrupt cellular physiology.

Dr. Hewitt leads several major research projects, including the development of a nanoinjection platform for precise intracellular delivery of amyloid species, proteomic identification of cellular interaction partners of amyloid fibrils, and analysis of immune responses—particularly in microglia and macrophages—to amyloid-β and other fibrillar proteins. His work utilizes techniques such as live-cell confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, subcellular fractionation, and chemical cross-linking proteomics.

He maintains strong collaborative ties with leading researchers, including Professor Sheena Radford and Professor Andy Wilson at the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, and Dr. Paolo Actis from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his research.

Dr. Hewitt’s work aims to uncover the mechanisms of amyloid toxicity and immune activation, with potential implications for therapeutic strategies targeting protein misfolding diseases.