A neurosciences doctor based at the Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) Unit has won the National Anatomical Society’s Postgraduate Neuroanatomy Competition 2017.

Ronak Ved, a Neurosciences Doctor at Cardiff and Vale Neurosciences Directorate in the University Hospital of Wales, was awarded first prize after competing in the UK-wide event hosted at The University Hospital of Southampton.

The competition saw doctors representing neuroscience departments from across the country compete across three examinations. Participants took on a neuroimaging assessment, a challenge involving dissected brain specimens and a clinical-based written exam.

Top accolade

As the only entrant representing a Welsh Hospital, Ronak did the region proud and claimed the top accolade after securing the highest score in every component of the contest.

“It is a real privilege to be recognised for this national honour,” said Ronak, whose role is funded by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

“In my job, it is essential to integrate neuroscience knowledge with effective clinical care to deliver high quality treatment and instil confidence in our patients.

“This competition put all of these skills to the test, and I’m delighted to help place a spotlight on the BRAIN Unit as a centre of excellence in neurosurgery and neuro-therapeutic development, both on a local and national level.”

Well-respected

Jessica Castle, Director of Operations for the Specialist Services Clinical Board said: “We were really pleased to learn that Ronak won this national event and we would all like to congratulate him on this fantastic achievement.

“He is a well-respected and valued member of the Neurosciences team who has worked for the department for some time and has recently taken up the post of Neurology Teaching Fellow with us.”

For more information about the NRU and the (BRAIN) Unit, based at Cardiff University, please visit: https://brainwalesprd.wpengine.com/neuroscience-research-unit/

An incredible new film shows the human brain in unrivalled detail, thanks to a partnership between Cardiff University and Siemens Healthineers.

BBC Medical Correspondent Fergus Walsh’s brain was scanned at Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) using Europe’s most powerful MRI scanner – the Magnetom Skyra Connectom 3T.

Cinematic rendering

Siemens Healthineers used the scan data to produce amazing images of Fergus’s brain by adapting a technique used in the film industry known as cinematic rendering. These images provide a stunning new view of the pathways taken by the white matter, revealing the complex set of connections that underpin brain function.

Another volunteer to be scanned was Sian Rowlands who has multiple sclerosis. Conventional scans clearly show lesions – areas of damage – in the brain of MS patients. But the advanced scan, showing axonal density, can help explain how the lesions affect motor and cognitive pathways – which can trigger Sian’s movement problems and extreme fatigue.

Professor Derek Jones, Director of CUBRIC, said:

“The incredible detail shown in these scans highlight the possibilities available to the talented CUBRIC team which now has access to the most advanced equipment of its type in the world.

“The microstructural scanner will be used for research that will potentially have a profound positive impact on the lives of people around the world…”

“At CUBRIC we are looking to provide unprecedented insights into the causes of neurological and psychiatric conditions such as dementia, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis, as well as understanding the workings of the normal, healthy brain.” Professor Derek Jones, Director of CUBRIC

CUBRIC brings together expertise that has established Cardiff University as one of the UK’s top three universities in the UK for Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, alongside Oxford and Cambridge universities.

The best neuroimaging equipment in the world

The £44 million Centre, designed by global architecture and technology practice IBI Group, and built by construction firm BAM, is four times larger than the University’s previous brain research imaging facilities. It houses the best neuroimaging equipment in the world to help unravel the mysteries of the human brain.

The new facility has been part-funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Wellcome Trust, the Welsh Government and the Wolfson Foundation.

Together, these investments are supporting innovation in world-class brain imaging research, including the creation of highly-skilled research jobs in Wales.

Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) is one of just four projects shortlisted for this year’s National Eisteddfod Gold Medal for Architecture.

The Gold Medal for Architecture recognises the importance of architecture in the nation’s culture and celebrates the highest standards of architectural design in the country.

The shortlist of four building projects, located across Wales, was unveiled at a reception hosted by the National Eisteddfod of Wales and supported by the Design Commission for Wales and Royal Society of Architects.

After further deliberation over the coming month, just one of the shortlisted buildings may be awarded the Gold Medal for Architecture on 5 August 2017 at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Anglesey.

CUBRIC, designed by the global IBI Group, has already won a clutch of awards including Project of the Year and Design through Innovation at the 2017 RICS Awards and a major science buildings award at the 2017 S-Lab Awards.

CUBRIC is home to powerful MRI scanning facilities, brain stimulation equipment, sleep laboratories, modern offices and break-out spaces.

The £44m facility was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2016.

Cardiff University’s Fluoxetine, Learning and Memory in Epilepsy (FLAME) team invites people with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) to take part in a research study.

The trial explores a potential treatment to improve learning and memory difficulties in people affected by TLE, a common problem for individuals living with this condition.

There are currently no treatments available to combat learning and memory issues in TLE. We know that new brain cells are constantly being formed (neurogenesis) in the brain’s hippocampus, which is important for learning and memory. We also know that there is less neurogenesis in people with severe TLE, which may help to explain some of the difficulties patients report.

Research aims

Previous research has shown that a widely used medicine called fluoxetine can restore the production of new cells in the brain. It can also restore the ability to learn a difficult learning task in an animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy that shows the same patterns of learning and memory problems seen in people with TLE.

FLAME is examining whether fluoxetine can improve learning and memory in a similar way in patients with TLE.

Between now and February 2018, the FLAME team aims to recruit up to 20 patients with TLE to participate in this trial. Interested volunteers will be invited to attend the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) for an initial eligibility assessment, which will involve a blood test, questionnaires and an MRI scan. Suitable participants will then be invited to complete a series of learning and memory tasks at Cardiff University both before and after a two-month course of fluoxetine treatment.

Three talented rising stars of microstructural MRI have each secured highly prestigious fellowships to study at the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC).

Maxime Chamberland (Sherbrooke University, Quebec), Erika Raven (Georgetown University, Washington DC), and Chantal Tax (Utrecht Medical Centre, Utrecht) will start their fellowships this year in the newly built, state-of-the-art centre.

Prof Derek Jones, mentor to all three Fellows, said:

“I am absolutely thrilled by the success and high calibre of these three Fellows, and in particular, that they have chosen to hold their Fellowships in CUBRIC at this important stage in their career development…”

“I am excited by the research proposals from each of the Fellows, and really look forward to working with each of them here in an increasingly international CUBRIC!” Professor Derek Jones, Director of CUBRIC

World-leading expertise

Dr Chamberland secured a Fellowship from the Natural Sciences Engineering and Research Science Council (NSERC) of Canada to develop fast, interactive tools for exploring brain fibres and brain connectivity, and was ranked first out of his application round. He said:

“As a computer scientist, I am interested in developing cutting-edge methods that will ultimately improve neurosurgical outcome. Although there are many centres in the world, I carefully selected CUBRIC as the host institution for my proposed research project…”

“Given its world-leading expertise, combined with world-leading equipment, CUBRIC is the perfect environment to develop my career and work with the best possible neuroimaging data to explore the limits of what might be possible in the human brain.”
Dr Maxime Chamberland, Sherbrooke University, Quebec

First Connectom MRI scanner in Europe

Dr Tax secured a Rubicon Fellowship from The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), again ranking first in her round, for her proposal to exploit ultra-strong gradients in multi-modal MRI for assessment of white matter microstructure. She said:

“I have a passion for unravelling the brain’s structure. The unique equipment and multidisciplinary academic environment at CUBRIC is ideal for building upon the experience and tools from my PhD in diffusion MRI…”

“CUBRIC also hosts the first Connectom MRI scanner in Europe. Motivated by the potential of this system, the expertise of my supervisor Professor Derek Jones, and the similarities between my interests and the research lines at CUBRIC, I selected CUBRIC to hold my Fellowship.” Dr Chantal Tax, Utrecht Medical Centre, Utrecht

US-UK research collaboration

Dr Raven won the only Marshall Sherfield international Fellowship from the US to look at the iron content of brain tissue, and how this relates to cognition. She said:

“The CUBRIC facilities are incredible, and I am excited to learn from the large assembly of experts that make up the group…”

“The mission of my fellowship is to promote US-UK research collaboration. CUBRIC has been very active in hosting international meetings, notable speakers, and local community events like the brain games. I think this will be an excellent place for both academic growth, and meeting new colleagues.” Dr Erika Raven, Georgetown University, Washington DC

Located on Cardiff University’s Innovation Campus, the Brain Research Imaging Centre houses a combination of neuroimaging equipment unique within Europe, allowing the University to further its world-leading research and reputation as one of the UK’s top three Universities for Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience.

Retired Civil Servant Pam Thomas, 74 and from Cardiff, was married with two children before she became aware that the hereditary and currently incurable neurodegenerative condition, Huntington’s disease, ran in her family.

After watching her aunt and mother develop symptoms of the disorder, Pam has now decided to mark Huntington’s Disease (HD) Awareness Week (15-21 May) by speaking out about her own fears of inheriting and passing on this deadly condition.

“My mother’s elder sister Sylvia was diagnosed with Huntington’s chorea – as it was then called – when she was in her 50s,” Pam recalled.

“Although the family were aware my aunt had some mental disorder, we didn’t know the cause at the time. My mother Grace, who was three years Sylvia’s junior, also showed signs of odd behaviour but not as obvious as my aunt.”

Hereditary disorder

A decade after Sylvia’s diagnosis, a Cardiff University team led by Professor Harper tracked down other members of Pam’s family. The team was in the process of setting up a database to monitor the hereditary nature of HD – a forerunner of the University’s ‘Enroll’ project.

“I remember being invited to a meeting at my father’s house with a doctor, nurse and social worker,” said Pam. “The information given to us that day was shattering and left us bewildered, confused and upset.

The disease is caused by a single defected gene that attacks the brain’s central nervous system and results in the person struggling with everyday tasks they once took for granted such as basic movement, thinking and feeling.

“Although the team was very supportive, it was difficult to take it all in at once. The next day my father and I visited central library to gain as much information as we could about the little known disorder HD.”

Each child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene; it doesn’t skip a generation, so if a child tests positive they will, at some stage, develop the disease. It’s like tossing a genetic coin.

‘Dark cloud of worry’

“My father bore the brunt of looking after my mother at home until it became too much for him,” said Pam. “She died when she was 70 years old in Nazareth House nursing home. I had been working full time and bringing up my own two children during this time.

“For a number of these years I was an active member of the Huntington’s Disease Association, though this lapsed after my mother’s death.”

Upon discovering the concerning genetic implications of Huntington’s disease, Pam made the decision to be sterilised to ensure she would not pass on the gene.

“Knowing a hereditary incurable illness may exist in our genes definitely casts a shadow of uncertainty over our lives,” said Pam. “Life decisions that should be exciting such as having future children suddenly become an issue of careful consideration.

“Every family is different, but a positive HD diagnosis when you already have children can lead to a lifetime of real worry.

“I decided not to take the HD test, meaning I’m still most likely classed as ‘at risk’, but as more time passes the dark cloud of worry lessens.”

‘Misdiagnosis is a challenge with HD’

BRAIN Unit research

Last year, Pam became part of an Enroll study led by Cardiff University’s BRAIN Involve committee, which brings together patients, carers and academics to shape cutting-edge research into neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

“The best part of this journey is now knowing the gene should die out in our family,” said Pam.

Dr Hannah Furby’s work focuses on Huntington’s disease, a highly heritable neurodegenerative disease, for which there is currently no cure.

It is characterised by cognitive decline, loss of motor control and psychiatric symptoms, and it affects around 7,000 people in Wales and England.

“My research aims to identify therapeutic interventions that may prevent or reduce the suffering of people diagnosed with Huntington’s disease (HD)” said Hannah, who uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to discover relevant biomarkers of the disease, such as changes in white matter microstrucutre and cerebral blood flow.

“I use these methods to see whether therapeutic interventions, like brain-training, or lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, give rise to subtle changes in the brain that may lead to an improvement in some of the symptoms of the condition.”

“Currently, I’m investigating whether completing a home-based computerising brain training programme can bring about disease-related improvements in cognition, and whether this is suggestive of improved biological function.”

“There is currently no cure for HD. Whilst some promising drug trials are underway, these still need to undergo further clinical trials in humans. In the meantime, it’s important to continue looking for ways to improve the prognosis or delay the progression of the disease, so I am interested in whether home-based interventions like physical activity and brain-training may help.”

MRI under-utilised in Huntington’s disease research

Compared to other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease, there is currently very little MRI research taking place within the field of Huntington’s Disease.

Although it’s prevalence is a lot less (just 1 in 10,000 people), understanding how the toxic effects of the mutant huntingtin gene leads to neurodegeneration can help us to understand the process of neurodegeneration in other diseases.

“Huntington’s disease is unique since we have identified the gene that causes it. This is a dominant gene, which means that if a parent has the disease, their children will have a 50% chance of getting HD themselves.” Hannah explains.

Because it is possible to undergo predictive DNA testing, this gives researchers the rare opportunity to assess people earlier in life, prior to symptom onset, when these therapeutics have the greatest chance of improving prognosis. Tracking the same patients over time using techniques such as MRI, can be used to identify subtle alterations in the brain that might take place, even before any behavioural symptoms are observed.

A pioneering researcher at Cardiff University hopes to break down the stigma surrounding Huntington’s disease during this year’s HD awareness week campaign.

Dr Emma Yhnell, a Research Fellow at the University’s Neurosciences and Mental Health Research Institute (NMHRI), is encouraging academics and the community to highlight the importance of research in battling this currently incurable condition.

Unlike any other neurodegenerative disorder, Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a single faulty gene which attacks the central nervous system and can ultimately affect a person’s ability to move, think, speak, feel and eat independently.

A hereditary condition, each child of a parent with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene; it doesn’t skip a generation, so if a child tests positive they will, at some stage, develop the disease. It’s like tossing a genetic coin.

The annual campaign is organised by the national charity, Huntington’s Disease Association, which supports individuals affected by HD and their families.

Too often genetics overlooked

“It is the hereditary nature of HD that makes it so concerning for so many families,” said Dr Yhnell.

“Around 28,480 people live with a high genetic risk of inheriting HD in England and Wales. Yet, too often the genetic implications of this condition are overlooked and HD is frequently mistaken for other movement-related disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

“It is not just the physical effects that can be so damaging to a person’s life – HD can leave people feeling isolated, lonely and in need of extra care, which in turn puts additional strain on families. We hope this month’s awareness campaign will help break down the stigma and misconceptions surrounding Huntington’s disease and raise awareness of the condition.”

The nature of this disorder means it damages nerve cells in the brain, with injury getting progressively worse over time and impacting everything from a person’s movement and cognition (perception, awareness, thinking, judgement) to behaviour.

Translating research from paper to patients

Having completed her PhD in Huntington’s disease research in December 2015, Dr Yhnell secured a competitive Health and Care Research Wales fellowship to translate her pre-clinical findings to patients who are affected by HD.

“Working closely with patients is a key part of my role and I love feeling that I can make a real difference in people’s lives,” Dr Yhnell continued.

“The aim of my research is to find new therapies and interventions to help people who are living with this debilitating brain disorder.

“The single gene defect in Huntington’s means that we know exactly where the defect occurs and can target the gene when researching different therapies, whether it be brain training games, genetics work or exercise strategies.

“One of the therapies I’m researching is the use of computer games for improving thinking skills in patients who are affected by HD. Although brain games have been used in other brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease in the past, this is a first for studies in people with HD and my pre-clinical research shows good potential for taking this further.

“There is no better feeling than finally getting the results of an experiment that you have been working on for two years. More importantly, I believe this research is of utmost importance to improving the lives of thousands of families across the country.”

Protecting future generations

The awareness campaign is organised by the national charity, Huntington’s Disease Association, which is urging the nation to upload social media photos of their houses ‘lit up’ with candles and lanterns to put a spotlight on the need for HD research.

Dr Yhnell, who features on a list of Welsh women at the forefront of scientific innovation, added: “People affected by HD often say to me that getting involved in our research gives them a sense of investing in the protection of future generations.

“Not just for the wider community, but for their future families who may carry the gene. The work can be altruistic both for the participant and myself as a researcher.

“Whether you have personal experience of HD or are simply interested in raising awareness of this little known condition, we urge everyone to visit the Cardiff University website to learn more about our potentially life-changing research.”

Cardiff University’s MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics runs a Wales Huntington’s disease Involving People Group, which consists of people affected by the disorder, their families and carers. The group works to improve research, communication and training, and is supported by Involving People, an organisation committed to encouraging patients’ active involvement in health and social care research in Wales.

• For more information into Cardiff University’s NMHRI work into cognitive training in Huntington’s disease, please contact nmhricomms@cardiff.ac.uk or tweet the centre @neurosciencecu.

Cardiff University is pleased to announce plans to conduct a stem cell transplantation procedure that could benefit people affected by Huntington’s disease (HD) in Wales.

The Brain Repair and Intracranial Neurotherapeutics (BRAIN) Unit kicked off Huntington’s Disease Awareness Week (15-21 May) by unveiling its intention to perform the first of its pioneering procedures by the end of this year.

The aim of the surgery is to use advanced technologies to deliver stem cells into patients who are living with HD – a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that attacks the central nervous system – in the hope of slowing the development of symptoms.

Unlike any other neurodegenerative disorder, Huntington’s disease is caused by a single faulty gene, which is currently incurable and affects everything from a person’s movement to their feelings and thought processes.

Professor of Functional Neurosurgery at the (BRAIN) Unit William Gray was awarded a Life Sciences Bridging Fund to conduct the new procedure, which will assess the effectiveness of a novel delivery system in stem cell transplantation, in three patients with Huntington’s disease by March 2018. The delivery system will be based on the drug delivery technology developed by Renishaw plc.

This will be the second time the University has collaborated with world-leading engineering and scientific technology company Renishaw, whose neuromate^® technology also enabled Professor Gray to perform the first ever robot-assisted epilepsy neurosurgery in Wales earlier this year.

This latest advancement is hoped to be a next step for the University’s path towards becoming a centre of excellence for developing and delivering novel therapies for brain repair in neurodegenerative diseases.

“The procedure marks a next stage in our battle to combat the debilitating effects of this currently incurable disorder,” said Professor Gray.

“Whilst the measurability of the surgery’s success may not be clear-cut for more than a year post-transplantation, we are hopeful the procedure could significantly contribute to the long-term development of therapies for thousands of people living with Huntington’s disease.” Professor William Gray Professor of Functional Neurosurgery, Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute

Health and Care Research Wales Director, Jon Bisson, said:

“I am delighted to see BRAIN playing such a vital role in driving novel therapies into clinical practice. The unit is one of many internationally recognised research centres and units in Wales, making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people of Wales.”

Paul Skinner, General Manager of Neurological Products at Renishaw, added:

“We are pleased that Renishaw’s expertise in engineering is continuing to support pioneering research at the University Hospital of Wales. It is exciting to be part of a collaboration that sees precision engineering and innovative surgical practice working in synergy to improve patient outcomes.”

Today marks the start of Huntington’s Disease Awareness Week, a campaign to increase the profile of a much misunderstood condition.

Throughout the week we are planning to publish a series of case studies highlighting the variety of Huntington’s disease research taking place at the University, the scientists carrying out the research, and the impact the disease can have on peoples’ lives.

Huntington’s disease

A hereditary disorder, Huntington’s disease is a little known neurodegenerative condition caused by a single faulty gene that attacks the brain’s central nervous system, with damage impacting a person’s ability to speak, walk, and feel.

According to Huntington’s Disease Association, a national charity that supports people affected by HD, around 28,480 people live with a high genetic risk of inheriting Huntington’s disease in England and Wales.

A child whose parent has HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene that causes this currently incurable disorder. It doesn’t skip a generation, and a child who tests HD positive will, at some point, develop symptoms of the disease.

Raising the profile of Huntington’s research

This week we will be exploring the MRI research being conducted by Dr Hannah Furby, the cognitive work being led by Dr Emma Yhnell and the stem cell research undertaken by Jasmine Donaldson, a PhD student supervised by Professor Lesley Jones.

We will also be using Twitter to highlight our research, the facts about Huntington’s disease and some of the support available to families with the condition. You can either follow our campaign on @neurosciencecu or keep up with the wider campaign using #HDawarenessweek.