معرفی
Lovesha Sivanantharajah is a Research Fellow at the School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, where she conducts molecular neurobiology research focused on aging and neurodegeneration. She employs Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to investigate the mechanisms of selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies.
Her research interests lie at the intersection of molecular biology, neurodegeneration, aging, and animal models. She is particularly interested in how pathogenic proteins such as tau differentially affect neuron subtypes and how genetic and molecular pathways—like the WldS pathway—can confer neuroprotection. Her work integrates genetics, molecular and cellular biology, behavioral assays, imaging, and bioinformatics to uncover the molecular basis of normal and pathological aging.
The recent trends in her publications reflect a strong focus on Alzheimer's disease mechanisms, tau-mediated toxicity, neuroprotective strategies (e.g., curcumin, WldS activation), and the utility of fruit flies in drug discovery. Her studies span from fundamental developmental genetics to translational neurodegeneration research, demonstrating a cohesive trajectory from basic science to therapeutic applications.
Dr. Sivanantharajah has been recognized with competitive scientific awards, including:
- Alzheimer's Society Senior Fellowship
- Fellowship for identifying mechanisms in differential neuronal vulnerability to tau toxicity
She is actively involved in research funding and mentoring, currently leading the project "Identifying molecular mechanisms in differential vulnerability of neurons to tau-mediated toxicity" (2022–2026), and has previously led projects funded by HEFCW and charity bids. She collaborates with leading researchers such as Amrit Mudher and David Shepherd.
She is also engaged in academic dissemination and public outreach, having presented at conferences including the Alzheimer's Research UK Research Conference and the Southwest Fly Meeting, and participated in science festivals to promote the use of fruit flies in biomedical research.
