Atticus Hainsworth

Professor Atticus Hainsworth is a distinguished translational neuroscientist at City St George's, University of London, where he serves as Professor of Cerebrovascular Disease and Principal Investigator in Stroke & Dementia Research within the Neuroscience & Cell Biology Research Institute. His extensive academic career spans over three decades with appointments at prestigious institutions including Harvard Medical School, University of Cambridge, and St George's London.

Professor Hainsworth earned his BA Hons in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge in 1985, followed by a PhD in Physiology & Biophysics from Rush Medical Center, Chicago in 1989. His academic journey includes significant appointments as Senior Lecturer in Cerebrovascular Disease at St George's London (2006-2016), Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology at De Montfort University (1998-2006), and Lecturer in Physiology at the University of Greenwich (1994-98), among others.

Professor Hainsworth's research primarily focuses on cerebrovascular disease, with special emphasis on cerebral small vessel disease as the main cause of vascular dementia. His work spans multiple interconnected domains including stroke pathology, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, vascular contributions to cognitive impairment, and the neuropathology of white matter lesions. His research integrates molecular, cellular, and clinical approaches to understand the mechanisms linking vascular disease to cognitive decline.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory of high-impact research in cerebrovascular disease and dementia. Recent work has increasingly focused on translational applications, particularly exploring repurposed drugs like tadalafil for vascular cognitive impairment, developing animal models for vascular dementia, and investigating the role of cellular senescence in age-related cerebrovascular pathology. His research bridges basic science with clinical applications, aiming to develop novel therapeutic approaches for vascular cognitive disorders.

• Wellcome Trust Travelling Fellowship (1991-1992)
• Wellcome Trust Career Development Award (1995-1997)

Professor Hainsworth has secured significant research funding from major organizations including the British Heart Foundation, Medical Research Council, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, and Alzheimer's Research UK. His current projects include developing transgenic pig models for vascular disease, investigating pathomolecular mechanisms of intracerebral hemorrhage, and repurposing PDE5 inhibitors for vascular cognitive impairment. He serves as Principal Investigator on multiple grants totaling millions of pounds in research funding.

As leader of the Stroke & Dementia Research team within the Neuroscience & Cell Biology Research Institute, Professor Hainsworth collaborates with multidisciplinary teams including neuropathologists, neurologists, imaging specialists, and basic scientists. His research group utilizes advanced techniques including super-resolution microscopy, arterial spin labeling MRI, and translational animal models to investigate cerebrovascular mechanisms underlying cognitive decline.