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Mariah Lelos

Dr Mariah Lelos

Senior Lecturer

School of Biosciences

Email
LelosMJ@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 75541
Campuses
Sir Martin Evans Building, Room Cardiff School of Biosciences, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

My lab focuses on understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. We are interested in understanding the manifestation of motor and non-motor (cognitive, neuropsychiatric) dysfunctions in degenerative diseases using lesion, viral vector and genetically modified rodent models. We are also investigating the ability of novel cell (hESC- and hiPSC-derived) and gene therapies to alleviate these impairments and optimising these treatments for clinical application.

I am the Associate Theme Lead for Mind, Brain and Neurosciences.

I am Biosi Rep and Deputy Chair of the Animal Welfare and Research Panel (AWARP).

I also sit on the GMBA committee. 

Publication

2022

2021

2020

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Articles

Book sections

Thesis

Research

My lab focuses on understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. We are interested in understanding the manifestation of motor and non-motor (cognitive, neuropsychiatric) dysfunctions in degenerative diseases using lesion, viral vector and genetically modified rodent models. We are also investigating the ability of novel cell (hESC- and hiPSC-derived) and gene therapies to alleviate these impairments and optimising these treatments for clinical application.

Some current research questions that are being addressed include: 

Can hPSC-derived dopamine grafts alleviate non-motor dysfunctions in Parkinson's disease?

Does neuroinflammation play a role in hPSC-derived dopmine graft-induced dyskinesias?

What is the impact of dopamine production from AAV vectors on striatal-dependent cognitive function?

Can we modulate gene expression to improve neurite outgrowth and synapse formation from hPSC-derived dopamine grafts?

Can hPSC-derived medium spiny neuron transplants form synaptic connections and alleviate non-motor dysfunctions in models of Huntingtons' disease?

Teaching

I am currently the Assessment Lead on 3rd year module Neurobiology of Brain Disorders. I teach on the Cellular and Molecular Biology module at Master's level. I run practicals to teach histological and immunohistochemical assays and microscopy skills using rodent brain tissues.

I am a personal tutor for Neuroscience and Biomedical undergraduate students.

See a recent talk on my field: 

  • Lelos, M.J. (2022, January 31). Cell replacement therapy for neurodegenerative diseases [Video file]. In The Biomedical & Life Sciences Collection, Henry Stewart Talks. Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://hstalks.com/bs/4882/.

Biography

My PhD (2005-2010, Prof M Good) investigated neural network dysfunction using mathematical modelling in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, with a particular focus on amyloid-induced dysfunction in the amydala and hippocampal formation.

My post-doctoral research (2010-2015, Prof S Dunnett) aimed to understand basal ganglia dysfunction in Parkinson's and Huntington's disease and to explore the use of human fetal and novel stem cell derived therapies to alleviate the behavioural impairments.

I was awarded a Senior Research Fellowship from Parkinson's UK (2015-2018) to investigate the ability of human stem cell derived cell therapy products to ameliorate cognitive impairments in rodent models of Parkinson's disease.

I have recently commenced a Senior Lectureship in the neuroscience department and my lab is exploring several new avenues. We are seeking to establish novel cell therapies to treat Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, using novel DREADDs manipulations, undertaking PET/MR imaging and using rabies tracing technologies. We are also studying the impact of novel gene therapies on cellular function and on cognitive dysfunction.

Supervisions

I am keen to welcome new PhD students to the team with a particular interest in:

Parkinson's disease

Huntington's disease

Cognitive or neuropsychiatric dysfunctions

Cell therapies

Gene therapies

Current supervision

Charlie Bridge

Miss Charlie Bridge

Research student

Feras Sharouf

Dr Feras Sharouf

Research student

Rachel Sellick

Miss Rachel Sellick

Research student

Kanoon Prapaiwongs

Miss Kanoon Prapaiwongs

Research Assistant

Kubra Aksu

Miss Kubra Aksu

Research student

Jiayu Hao

Mr Jiayu Hao

Research student

Specialisms

  • Parkinson's disease
  • Huntington's disease
  • Cell therapies
  • Gene therapies
  • Cognition