Heather Mortiboys

Professor Heather Mortiboys is a leading academic at the University of Sheffield, affiliated with the School of Medicine and Population Health and the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). Her research focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Motor Neuron Disease.

Education:

• PhD in Cellular Neuroscience and Metabolism (summa cum laude) from the International Max Planck PhD Program, Dresden, Germany (2006)

Research Interests:
Mitochondrial function, DNA, morphology, and recycling in neurodegenerative diseases. Her lab explores links between mitochondrial abnormalities and cellular pathways in Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and ALS, with a focus on drug screening and therapeutic interventions.

Recent Research Trends:
Key publications address LRRK2 regulation under stress, mitophagy mechanisms, bioenergetic dysfunction in ALS, and therapeutic strategies like Keap1/Nrf2 pathway activation and hexokinase 1 modulation in Alzheimer’s models.

Scientific Awards:

• Parkinson’s UK Senior Research Fellow (2013–present)

Grants and Collaborations:
Funded by Parkinson’s UK Virtual Biotech, Cue Parkinson's, and Michael J Fox Foundation, with collaborations across Sheffield and international institutions. She supervises PhD students and teaches on MSc and undergraduate courses.