Jenni Harvey

Jenni Harvey is a Professor (Teaching and Research) of Cellular Neuroscience at the University of Dundee. She holds leadership roles in neuroscience education, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students in Pharmacology/Neuroscience programs. Her research focuses on neuronal synaptic mechanisms, particularly the role of leptin in synaptic plasticity and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Education: BSc Honours in Pharmacology (University of Edinburgh, 1990), PhD in Neuroscience (University of Birmingham, 1993). Postdoctoral training at the Universities of Birmingham and Aberdeen before establishing her lab at Dundee in 2001.

Research Interests: Leptin’s effects on synaptic function, hormonal regulation of synaptic plasticity, Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms, and neuroprotective strategies. Utilizes electrophysiology, transgenic mouse models, and confocal microscopy.

Recent Work Trends: Over 77 publications, recent focus on leptin-based therapies for synaptic dysfunction, GPER1 signaling in AMPA receptors, and tau protein regulation. Key findings include leptin’s role in preventing amyloid-driven neuronal degeneration and cognitive enhancement.

Awards: Wellcome Trust Fellowships (1999, 2005). Active in public engagement, including Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer Network and Women in Science initiatives.

Grants/Projects: 15 active or completed projects, recent topics include leptin mimetics for neurodegenerative diseases and GPER1’s neuroprotective actions. Supervised 9 research projects including MSc/PhD students.

Labs/Teams: Leads a research group studying leptin’s molecular mechanisms in the brain, collaborating on UN SDG-related neuroscience research.