Sam Atkinson
PhD Researcher
Areas of Expertise
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Brain oestrogen signalling
- Amyloid and pTau
Other Positions
Alzheimer's Research UK – Early career researcher representative on the South Coast Network committee
Biography
Sam Atkinson is a PhD researcher across Brighton and Sussex Medical School and the Department of Life Sciences, University of Sussex. He has a background in Biochemistry, previously studying at the University of Bristol (Msci).
Research
Sam's research aims to explore the relationship between oestrogen signalling and Alzheimer's disease pathology both in humans with Dr Claire Lancaster (Brighton and Sussex Medical School) and in cellular models with Professor Louise Serpell (University of Sussex). He is interested in closing the gap between preclinical and clinical understanding of the impact of the menopause on early Alzheimer's disease pathology to help identify mid-life preventative strategies against it.
Sam uses biochemical methods to assess Alzheimer's disease pathology and the impact of oestrogen signalling in neuronal cell models. Using cognitive assessments and tracking Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in the plasma of a healthy mid-life population, he will also aim to assess the effect of early initiation HRT on later life cognition.