Dr Terry Quinn, SDRC Chair

Terry holds the post of Reader and Honorary Consultant Physician, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow. He combines his research with clinical work and teaching.

Terry has a broad research portfolio, including coordinating editor of Cochrane Dementia and leading the new national Brain Health ARC. He is passionate about evidence-based practice and raising standards in clinical research.

Henry Simmons, Alzheimer Scotland

Henry Simmons joined Alzheimer Scotland as Chief Executive in August 2008. He is a registered Social Worker, RMN and has an MBA. He has over 20 years experience in the health and social care sector and has spent the majority of his career in the voluntary sector, primarily involved in developing new community-based person-centred services.

Dr Jennifer Macfarlane, SDRC Executive Committee member

Jennifer is a Clinical Scientist based at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee and Director of SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence) a research pooling group which brings together clinical and academic expertise in imaging research throughout Scotland, encouraging a multidisciplinary, collaborative and supportive approach to tackling Health and Wellbeing.

Her interests include functional neuroimaging and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Dr Nathan Woodling, University of Glasgow

Dr Woodling started his research lab at the University of Glasgow in 2022 after PhD studies at Stanford University and an Alzheimer’s Society research fellowship at UCL. His research uses genetic tools and the short lifespan of fruit flies to understand brain ageing and how it contributes to dementia risk.

Dr Mario Parra Rodriguez, SDRC Executive Committee member

Mario graduated as a Medical Doctor in 1993 and as a Clinical Neurophysiologist in 1997. He worked at the Cuban Neuroscience Centre and at different University Hospitals in Cuba and in Colombia.

Mario was as an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh from 2015 until 2018. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Dr Eileen Harkess-Murphy, University of the West of Scotland

Eileen is a psychologist who has expertise working in practice and research within the area of health improvement, mental health, and wellbeing.  Eileen’s research interests are in the field of psychological trauma in dementia exploring how trauma-informed approaches can mitigate risk of re-traumatisation for carers and people with dementia. 

Professor Frank Gunn Moore, SDRC Executive Committee Member

Frank is Head of the School of Biology at University of St Andrews and Deputy Director of the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance.

He combines all three science disciplines in leading a research group that has made major discoveries in understanding the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, pioneering new models and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

 Dr Louise Ritchie, SDRC Executive Committee Member

Louise is a Reader in Dementia Research in the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at the University of the West of Scotland.

She is a psychologist with a focus on applied psychological research that aims to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and people who care for them.

Andrew Doyle MBE

Andrew is a self-advocate who has advocated for the rights of people with a learning disability for many years. He has been an adviser and researcher on two research projects at the University of Stirling to raise awareness and improve the lives of people with a learning disability living with dementia.  

Dr Paula Jacobs, University of Stirling

Paula is a Research Fellow at the University of Stirling. She is passionate about inclusive and participatory research practices and the ethics of involving people who are often deemed vulnerable or to lack capacity.

Elaine Deehan, National Dementia Carers Action Network

Elaine has been a member of NDCAN for 6 years and joined whilst caring for her mother who has Advanced Vascular Dementia. Having been a Registered Nurse for 45 years, Elaine still works in A&E and is a member of the Human Rights advisory group, Dementia in care homes group and the NHS Dementia in Hospitals collaborative.

Dr Stina Saunders, SDRC Executive Committee Member

Stina is a Research Scientist at Linus Health, a US-based company focused on improving brain health through the early detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative disorders.

Stina also holds a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at the University of Edinburgh. Stina’s educational background is in Clinical Brain Sciences (PhD) and Clinical Psychology (MSc and MSc by Research) and Psychology (BSc).

Professor Craig Ritchie, Scottish Brain Sciences

Dr Mick Craig, University of Glasgow

Mick Craig is a neurophysiologist working at the University of Glasgow using animal models of Lewy Body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. His group uses a variety of methods including electrophysiology (slice and in vivo), anatomy and behaviour

Dr Lawrence Hayes, University of the West of Scotland

Lawrence will be chairing our session featuring updates from our friends and partners across Scotland.

Dr Hayes’ recent research has focussed on people living with chronic conditions and how those conditions can be monitored and improved, often using a mobile health (mHealth) approach. Another area of Dr Hayes’ research is to develop exercise approaches to enhance health, primarily in older adults.

 Dr Tom Russ, SDRC Executive Committee Member

Tom trained in medicine and psychiatry in Edinburgh, the Highlands, and London and completed a PhD in dementia epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh.

He is a consultant psychiatrist in NHS Lothian, Network Champion of the NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, and Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh

Dr Emma Law

Emma Law manages the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network and is Co-chair of ENRICH(Enabling Research in Care Homes) Scotland. Her background is nursing in mental health, dementia, and NHS management. Her doctoral work was focussed on citizenship and inclusion in research for people with dementia in care homes

Dr Fiona Kerr, Edinburgh Napier University

Dr Fiona Kerr is a Lecturer in Molecular Pharmacology at Edinburgh Napier University. She has a background in pharmacology, neuroscience and functional genomics, gained during her training at the University of Glasgow, Kings College London and University College London. Her research investigates the molecular pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, with the aim of developing new disease-altering treatments for dementia, and she is passionate about raising awareness of brain health through her membership of the ARUK Scotland Network and the RSE-Young Academy of Scotland.

Fiona Corner, Alzheimer Scotland

Fiona’s role as Head of Development at Alzheimer Scotland involves working with families living with dementia in the co-design of new concepts that can translate into meaningful and scalable services.  This can cover a range of areas including research, digital innovations and Dementia Dogs.

Lynn Flannigan, Focus on Dementia

Lynn Flannigan is a Senior Improvement Advisor in the Focus on Dementia Team, within Healthcare Improvement Scotland, leading the community work streams of their work. Lynn is also a registered Allied Health Professional (physiotherapist) by background with 30 years of experience working in a wide range of care sectors and settings.

Leeanne McGurk, Unviersity of Dundee

Leeanne is a Principal Investigator in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee. Leeanne’s research combines Drosophila genetics, biochemistry, cell biology together with human neuropathology to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie motor neuron disease and related dementias.

Donald Lyall, University of Glasgow

Dr. Donald M. Lyall is a lecturer at the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow. He is an epidemiologist whose research focusses on neurodegenerative and neurocognitive health in population cohorts like UK Biobank, Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 and Generation Scotland. His website is here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/healthwellbeing/staff/donaldlyall/

Emma Russell, University of Glasgow

Shannon Gilchrist, University of Glasgow

Gordon Duncan, NHS Lothian

Gordon is a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh and holds an NHS Research Scotland Career Research Fellowship. He is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Edinburgh University.

His clinical and research interests are focused on Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders where he is committed to widening access to clinically meaningful research for people with Parkinson’s and similar conditions.

Gordon lives in Edinburgh with his wife, their daughter and dog.

Partners in research, NHS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network

Willy Gilder shares his experience of living with ‘atypical’ Alzheimer’s disease

Winnie Henry shares her experience as a carer supporting her husband Wullie, who had Vascular Dementia.

Martin Robertson shares his experience of living with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA).

David Ross shares his experience as a carer supporting his wife Anne, who had frontotemporal dementia.

Rosie Ashworth leads the NRS Neuroprogressive & Dementia Network’s ‘Patient & Public Involvement’ group and focuses on co-researching with people with lived experience.