Maria Dimitriadi

Dr. Maria Dimitriadi is a Reader in Molecular Genetics at the University of Hertfordshire, affiliated with the School of Life and Medical Sciences and the Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science. Her research focuses on neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. She holds a PhD in Cancer Genetics from the University of Cambridge and has conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and Brown University.

• Education:
• BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences, University of Brighton (1997–2001)
• MSc in Human Molecular Genetics, Imperial College London (2001–2002)
• PhD in Cancer Genetics, University of Cambridge (2003–2007)
• Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms underlying SMA, autophagy, mitochondrial biology, and drug repositioning for neurodegenerative diseases.
• Projects: Includes studies on SMA pathways, metabolic signatures in SMA, and gender equity in academic leadership.

Her work has contributed to high-impact journals such as PNAS and Journal of Neuroscience. She has received fellowships from the Medical Research Council and Cambridge European Trust, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).