![Robert Davis BSc, MSc](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/7539?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
The earliest markers of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) appear decades before clinical symptoms develop. There are fundamental differences at the cellular and structural levels in all brains and distinguishing these changes in middle-aged people could hold the key to preventative medicine. I am currently working on the PRIMAL study (Prospective Investigation if Mechanical Markers for Alzheimer's Disease Risk), which aims to investigate subtle microstructural changes in the brain in a healthy midlife population. To do so, we employ advanced quantiative MRI techniques such as MR Elastography (MRE), mutli-shell diffusoin imaging, and diffusion MR spectroscopy. Using these methods, i will investigate how an increased genetic risk for AD impacts brain health, particularly within the hippocampus and medial parietal cortex, and examine how these measures relate to highly sensitive tests of cognition and blood biomarkers of AD pathology.
Publication
2025
- Hiscox, L. V. et al. 2025. MR elastography reveals lower hippocampal stiffness in middle-aged APOE ε4 carriers without cognitive impairment. Presented at: International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Hawaii, USA., 10-15 May 2025.
Conferences
- Hiscox, L. V. et al. 2025. MR elastography reveals lower hippocampal stiffness in middle-aged APOE ε4 carriers without cognitive impairment. Presented at: International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Hawaii, USA., 10-15 May 2025.
Biography
During my undergraduate and postgraduate studies, I focused on the application of super-resolution microscopy, specifically using Array Tomography. In collaboration with the Henstridge Lab, I employed Array Tomography alongside various staining techniques on post-mortem tissue to quantify key aspects of neurodegenerative diseases. My research primarily investigated: 1) Astrocyte-mediated synapse loss in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and 2) Amyloid-beta plaque-mediated synapse loss in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. This work allowed me to explore the cellular mechanisms underlying synaptic dysfunction in neurodegeneration, with a particular emphasis on how glial cells and protein aggregates contribute to disease progression. I also gained expertise in tissue preparation, image analysis, and data quantification techniques, contributing to a deeper understanding of neurodegenerative pathophysiology.
Honours and awards
- MSc in Applied Neuroscience From the University of Dundee (2023-2024)
- BSc in Neuroscience From the University of Dundee (2019-2023)
- HNC in Applied Sciences from Dundee and Angus College (2019-2020)
Professional memberships
- Associate Member of the Royal Society of Biology (AMRSB)
Supervisors
Contact Details
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Research themes
Specialisms
- MRI
- MR Elastography
- Alzheimer's disease
- Dementia
- Brain health