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Claudia Metzler-Baddeley

Dr Claudia Metzler-Baddeley

Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience & Applied Brain Imaging, NIHR/HCRW Advanced Research Fellow, Lead for Cognitive Neuroscience

School of Psychology

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

Research summary

My research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms of ageing and neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, Huntington's disease) and on translating findings on neuroplasticity, learning, and memory into complex interventions to help prevent and manage cognitive aging and dementia. My research group uses advanced quantitative multi-parametric MRI techniques to probe brain tissue microstructure with the aim to identify early biomarkers and surrogate imaging marker for clinical trials.

My research group is exploring music-based interventions, which involve the acquisition of complex sensory-motor skills as training approach for cognitive and motor functions in aging and neurodegeneration. We have co-designed a tablet-based rhythmic movement training application (HD-DRUM) to stimulate cognitive and motor functions in people with movement disorders due to Huntington's disease (HD) or Parkinson's disease (DRUM project) as well as a remote piano training (PIANO-Cog) for older adults. Both are currently being assessed in feasibility trials including clinical and MRI assessments.

To study brain phenotypes of aging and dementia risk in asymptomatic adults, I have led the Cardiff Ageing and Risk of Dementia Study (CARDS) that has discovered novel interactions between APOE4 carrier status and obesity on white and grey matter limbic regions suggestive of tissue damage due to inflammation and cardiovascular symptoms. 

 

 

Publication

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2005

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1996

Articles

Conferences

Websites

Research

Research topics and related papers

HD-DRUM: cognitive and motor training, brain plasticity, Huntington's disease

CARDS: Healthy and pathological ageing/ risk factors of dementia

Neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, Huntington's disease)

Neuroglia models of ageing and neurodegeneration

Anatomy of limbic white matter pathways

Funding

Metzler-Baddeley, C (PI) (2022-2026) Development and feasibility randomised controlled pilot study of HD-DRUM – a novel motor sequence training app for people with Huntington’s disease. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)/ Health Care and Research Wales (HCRW) Advanced Research Fellowship. £917,217.

Drew, C, Hamana, K, McLauchlan, D, Lewis, A, Pallmann, P, Jacob, N & Metzler-Baddeley, C (2024-2026). Evaluating the feasibility of a samba percussion inervention for people with Parkinson's disease (SParky Samba). Jacques & Gloria Gossweiler Foundation, £520,705.

Duckers, J et al (CoA) (2019) Cystic Fibrosis - Memory assessment and MRI screening. Health & Care Research Wales. £19,200.

Rosser, A, Busse, M & Metzler-Baddeley (2016) Exploring cognitive training as a non-pharmaceutical intervention for people with Huntington's disease. Jaque and Gloria Gossweiler Foundation. £94,714.

Metzler-Baddeley  C (PI) (2014) How do individual differences in midlife adiposity and APOE genotype as risk factors for dementia affect brain structure and cognition? A cross-sectional MRI study. Alzheimer’s Society and BRACE Fellowship. £305,161.

Metzler-Baddeley, C (PI), Jones, DK, Rosser AE. (2014) Effects of a novel intervention on white matter microstructure and cognition in Huntington’s disease. NISCHR and Welcome Trust ISSF project grant. £69,769.

Research group

CUBRIC
Cognitive Neuroscience
Imaging Science

Research collaborators

  • Professor Derek Jones (Cardiff)
  • Professor David Linden (Cardiff)
  • Professor Anne Rosser (Cardiff)
  • Professor John Aggleton (Cardiff)
  • Dr Seralynne Vann (Cardiff)
  • Professor Monica Busse (Cardiff)
  • Dr John Evans (Cardiff)
  • Dr Rebecca Sims (Cardiff)
  • Dr Emma Kidd (Cardiff)
  • Fabrizio Fasano (Siemens)
  • Dr Elizabeth Coulthard (Bristol)
  • Dr Roland J Baddeley (Bristol)
  • Professor Karen Caeyenberghs (Deakin University, Australia)
  • Professor Michael O'Sullivan (University of Queensland, Australia)
  • Professor Fernando Maestu (University of Madrid, Spain)
  • Dr Michael Funke (University of Texas, USA)
  • Professor Derek Hamilton (University of New Mexico, USA)

Media

  • What does CUBRIC mean to you? https://youtu.be/1OB2krtm434
  • Good evening Wales, BBC Radio Wales (11/12/2018)
  • ITV Wales (23/04/18).
  • BBC Wales  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-36286847,
  • Guardian  - https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/aug/04/brains-of-overweight-people-look-ten-years-older-than-those-of-lean-peers (4/08/16)
  • Panorama programme “Living with Dementia – Chris’ story broadcasted on BBC One (2/06/16).
  • Pint of Science Event Cardiff on brain plasticity (11/05/18)
  • BBC documentation on Terry Pratchett Living with Alzheimer’s, broadcast February 2009 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hhgsb
  • BBC Radio 4 Memory Experience.

Teaching

I lecture on the BSc Psychology Year 1 modules Introduction to Psychology (PS1016), the Year 3 module Memory Processes and Disorders (PS3208), and MSc Topics in Psychology (PST720).

Biography

Undergraduate education

Psychology at Bonn University, Germany

Postgraduate education

D.Phil work on frontal attention deficits at Sussex University

Employment

NIHR/HCRW Advanced Research Fellow (2022-2025)

Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience, Cardiff University (2020-present)

Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University (2016-2020)

Alzheimer’s Society and BRACE Research Fellow (2014-2018)

Research Associate, Cardiff University (2009-2014)

Neuropsychologist at the Research Institute for the Care of Older People (RICE) in Bath (2005-2009)

Lectureship in Psychology at Manchester University and postdoctoral work at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London

Honours and awards

Awards/External Committees

Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and Associate Fellow of British Psychological Society (AFBPsS).

Member of Scientific Advisory Board, BRACE Alzheimer's charity

Member of UKRI BBSRC Ageing Across the Lifecourse Working Group

Member of editorial board for Scientific Reports (NPG)

Professional memberships

Society for Neuroscience (SfN)

Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS)

Organisation of Human Brain Mapping (OHBM)

International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)

Supervisions

Post-doctoral research associate: Dr Pedro Luque-Laguna (funded by NIHR/HCRW Advanced Fellowship)

Current PhD students research brain plasticity in ageing: Lucy Layland (School of Psychology Open PhD studentship 2022-2025), Fionnuala Rogers (School of Psychology Open PhD studentship 2021-2024)

Psychology Assistants: Annabel Geddes and Beate Galoburda

Previous PhD students: Chiara Casella, Lauren Revie, Jilu Mole, Kat Christiansen

Contact Details

Email Metzler-BaddeleyC@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29208 70705
Campuses Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ