Our translational research spans from fundamental to clinically based laboratory research with an aim to understand and treat neurological conditions associated with headache, raised intracranial pressure and traumatic brain injury.
Our research aims to understand the pathophysiology of headache mechanisms in raised intracranial pressure from traumatic brain injury and conditions including idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Our preclinical portfolio of research utilises cutting edge science across in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models of raised pressure and headache with the aim of developing and translating treatments to the clinic.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a neurological condition marked by increased pressure within the skull, yet its exact cause remains unclear. Risk of vision loss is a concern due to pressure on the visual nerve, however headaches are experienced by up to 95% of patients and it is headache that most significantly impacts quality of life. The mechanisms underlying these headaches are still uncertain, which has resulted in a lack of targeted treatments. Headaches experienced by individuals with IIH often resemble migraines, and some small trials have shown effectiveness of migraine drugs in relieving these headaches. This led us to hypothesize that there might be a common cause behind headaches from high pressure in the brain and migraines. We are using models of raised pressure to explore features of headaches including pain behaviour, alteration in brain activity and blood flow to the brain.
Raised pressure is the brain is also common after a traumatic brain injury, and we are exploring the mechanisms and alterations to the brain which occur after a mild traumatic brain injury and developing prognostic models to determine which patients are more likely to develop long-term disabilities due to persistent headaches, memory disturbances and poor mental health.
Lead Researchers
Dr Olivia Grech
I am a post-doctoral research assistant in the Translational Brain Science group. In 2019, I joined Professor Sinclair’s group, where I completed a Brain Research UK PhD studentship focused on unravelling the mechanisms behind headaches associated with raised intracranial pressure, utilizing animal models. I also explored the impact of metabolism on these headaches, with a particular focus on Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH).
Continuing my research post-PhD, I am now investigating various aspects of headaches, using animal models to deepen our understanding and develop potential therapeutic solutions. This work is part of a larger, groundbreaking 5-year programme led by Professor Sinclair, funded by the Sir Jules Thorn Award for Biomedical Science. The programme focuses on evaluating the efficacy of a GLP-1 receptor agonist in treating Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Our in vivo mechanistic studies will aim to bring new hope and effective treatments to those affected by IIH.
Dr Chloe Thomas
Dr Chloe Thomas’ research interests are in brain and ocular injury and disease, the development of novel therapeutics and in the identification of biomarkers. She completed her PhD research on cell death mechanisms in the retina and optic nerve after blunt impact and explosive blast ocular trauma. She then performed a post-doctoral research project on developing topical therapies for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. Dr Thomas is currently a post-doctoral researcher on the mTBI-PREDICT project working on biofluids workstream, working on developing prognostic fluid biomarkers to predict outcomes after mild TBI.
Jess Hubbard
My primary area of research centres around mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), or concussion. The focus of my research is to analyse human biofluids such as blood and saliva to identity prognostic biomarkers able to predict clinical outcomes and recovery for concussion patients following injury. This work is being undertaken as part of the international longitudinal clinical study known as mTBI-Predict which aims to recruit military, sport and civilian patients across a number of timepoints post-injury.
Caroline Mugo
My research is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of migraine across various diseases in preclinical various animal models. By investigating the intricate biological processes and pathways associated with migraine, my work aims to uncover how these debilitating headaches are linked to other health disorders. Additionally, I am also investigating the efficacy of drugs already available on the market, assessing their efficacy and mechanisms in the context of migraine treatment to expand the options of effective treatments for migraine sufferers, ultimately improving their quality of life.