Shawn Whitehead

Dr. Shawn Whitehead is a Professor and Director of the Western Institute for Neuroscience at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. He holds a Ph.D. and B.Sc. (Honours) from The University of Western Ontario. His research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, stroke pathophysiology, and vascular cognitive impairment, with an emphasis on lipid biochemistry and neuroinflammation mechanisms. Key methodologies include rodent models of co-morbid conditions and MALDI-MS imaging for lipid analysis.

Research interests include understanding the interplay between Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disorders, lipid raft dynamics in neurons, and the role of gangliosides in neurodegeneration. He explores how vascular risk factors like hypertension and diabetes exacerbate cognitive decline and amyloid-beta pathology. His work integrates molecular, behavioral, and imaging approaches to address translational challenges in neurodegenerative diseases.

Publications highlight breakthroughs in lipid biomarker discovery, stroke-induced cardiac dysfunction, and the development of novel animal models. Collaborative projects include investigations into neurovascular unit dysregulation and the brain-heart connection. Current efforts aim to identify therapeutic targets for co-morbid conditions through lipidomic profiling and extracellular vesicle analysis.