Professor Anne Rosser
PhD, FRCP

Teams and roles for Anne Rosser

Professor of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences
School of Medicine

Research overview

Advances in our understanding of mechanisms of cell death, plasticity and regeneration in the central nervous system offer new opportunities for remediation and repair in several of the most distressing neurodegenerative diseases of adulthood, in particular Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. In the Brain Repair Group, we are seeking to develop new strategies for therapy based on a multidisciplinary approach in several converging problems.

Date
Type

2008

Busse, M. et al., 2008. Use of hand-held dynamometry in the evaluation of lower limb muscle strength in people with Huntington's disease. Journal of Neurology 255 (10), pp.1534-1540. (10.1007/s00415-008-0964-x)
Lane, E. L. et al. 2008. Potential cellular and regenerative approaches for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment 4 (5), pp.835-845. (10.2147/NDT.S2013)
Busse, M. et al. 2008. Physical therapy intervention for people with Huntington disease. Physical Therapy 88 (7), pp.820-31. (10.2522/ptj.20070346)
Madete, J. K. et al., 2008. Quantifying voluntary imitation of facial expressions. Presented at: Proceedings of the International Society of Biomechanics, 3D Motion Analysis Meeting (3DMA2008) Santpoort-Amsterdam, Netherlands
Madete, J. K. et al., 2008. 3D motion capture of Parkinson's and Huntington's disease rat models. Presented at: Proceedings of the International Society of Biomechanics, 3D Motion Analysis Meeting (3DMA2008) Santpoort-Amsterdam, Netherlands
Meaney, A. et al., 2008. Response to a structured exercise programme for Huntington's Disease [Abstract]. Journal of Sport Science 26 (S2), pp.125-126. (10.1080/02640410802306202)
Wardle, M. et al., 2008. Dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy in South Wales. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 79 (7), pp.804-807. (10.1136/jnnp.2007.128074)
Zietlow, R. et al. 2008. Human stem cells for CNS repair. Cell and Tissue Research 331 (1), pp.301-322. (10.1007/s00441-007-0488-1)

2007

Dunnett, S. B. and Rosser, A. E. 2007. Cell transplantation for Huntington's disease: Should we continue?. Brain Research Bulletin 72 (2-3), pp.132-147. (10.1016/j.brainresbull.2006.10.019)
Kelly, C. et al. 2007. Striatal graft projections are influencd by donor cell type and not the immunogenic background. Brain 130 , pp.1317-1329. (10.1093/brain/awm053)
Busse, M. and Rosser, A. E. 2007. Can directed activity improve mobility in Huntington's disease?. Brain Research Bulletin 72 (2-3), pp.172-174. (10.1016/j.brainresbull.2006.10.021)
Dunnett, S. B. and Rosser, A. E. 2007. Neural transplantation in Parkinson's Disease. In: Halberstadt, C. and Emerich, D. eds. Cellular Transplantation: From Laboratory to Clinic. Amsterdam ; Boston: Elsevier Academic Press. , pp.439-454. (10.1016/B978-012369415-7/50026-0)
Dunnett, S. B. and Rosser, A. E. 2007. Stem cell transplantation for Huntington's disease. Experimental Neurology 203 (2), pp.279-292. (10.1016/j.expneurol.2006.11.007)
Joannides, A. J. et al., 2007. Environmental signals regulate lineage choice and temporal maturation of neural stem cells from human embryonic stem cells. Brain 130 (5), pp.1263-1275. (10.1093/brain/awm070)
Kelly, C. et al. 2007. Striatal graft projections are influenced by donor cell type and not the immunogenic background. Brain 130 (5), pp.1317-1329. (10.1093/brain/awm053)
Rosser, A. E. and Dunnett, S. B. 2007. Neural transplantation in Huntington's disease. In: Halberstadt, C. and Emerich, D. eds. Cellular Transplantation: From Laboratory to Clinic. Amsterdam; Boston: Elsevier Academic Press. , pp.417-437. (10.1016/B978-012369415-7/50025-9)
Rosser, A. E. , Zietlow, R. and Dunnett, S. B. 2007. Stem cell transplantation for neurodegenerative diseases. Current Opinion in Neurology 20 (6), pp.688-692. (10.1097/WCO.0b013e3282f132fc)
Varani, K. et al., 2007. Biological abnormalities of peripheral A2A receptors in a large representation of polyglutamine disorders and Huntington's disease stages. Neurobiology of Disease 27 (1), pp.36-43. (10.1016/j.nbd.2007.03.011)

2006

Farrington, M. et al., 2006. Neural transplantation in Huntington's disease: the NEST-UK Donor Tissue Microbiological Screening Program and review of the literature. Cell Transplantation 15 (4), pp.279-294. (10.3727/000000006783981927)
Handley, O. J. et al., 2006. Pharmaceutical, cellular and genetic therapies for Huntington's disease. Clinical Science 110 (1), pp.73-88. (10.1042/CS20050148)
Hughes, A. et al. 2006. Do polyglutamine tracts in huntingtin influence glutamate signalling in bone? [Conference Abstract]. Calcified Tissue International 78 (S1), pp.S58-S58.
Rosser, A. E. and Allen, N. D. 2006. Help for huntington's: stem cells for neurodegenerative disease. The Biochemist 28 , pp.19-24.
Rosser, A. E. and Dunnett, S. B. 2006. Cell transplantation for Huntington's disease. The Lancet Neurology 5 (4), pp.284-285. (10.1016/S1474-4422(06)70385-4)

2005

Kelly, C. et al. 2005. EGF and FGF-2 responsiveness of rat and mouse neural precursors derived from the embryonic CNS. Brain Research Bulletin 68 (1-2), pp.83-94. (10.1016/j.brainresbull.2005.08.020)
Rosser, A. E. 2005. Brain repair: Moving along. Brain Research Bulletin 68 (1-2), pp.1-3. (10.1016/j.brainresbull.2005.09.006)
Zietlow, R. et al. 2005. The survival of neural precursor cell grafts is influenced by in vitro expansion. Journal of Anatomy 207 (3), pp.227-240. (10.1111/j.1469-7580.2005.00449.x)

2004

Dunnett, S. B. and Rosser, A. E. 2004. Cell therapy in Huntington's disease. NeuroRX 1 (4), pp.394-405. (10.1602/neurorx.1.4.394)

2003

Jain, M. et al., 2003. GABAergic immunoreactivity is predominant in neurons derived from expanded human neural precursor cells in vitro. Experimental Neurology 182 (1), pp.113-123. (10.1016/S0014-4886(03)00055-4)
Armstrong, R. J. E. et al., 2003. Transplantation of expanded neural precursor cells from the developing pig ventral mesencephalon in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Experimental Brain Research 151 (2), pp.204-217. (10.1007/s00221-003-1491-8)
Ho, A. K. et al., 2003. A case of unilateral neglect in Huntington's Disease. Neurocase 9 (3), pp.261-273. (10.1076/neur.9.3.261.15559)
Hurelbrink, C. B. et al., 2003. Long-term hibernation of human fetal striatal tissue does not adversely affect its differentiation in vitro or graft survival:implications for clinical trials in huntington's disease. Cell Transplantation 12 (7), pp.687-695. (10.3727/000000003108747307)
Jain, M. et al., 2003. Migration and differentiation of transplanted human neural precursor cells.. NeuroReport 14 (9), pp.1257-1262.
Kelly, C. M. et al., 2003. The Effects of Various Concentrations of FGF-2 on the Proliferation and Neuronal Yield of Murine Embryonic Neural Precursor Cells In Vitro. Cell Transplantation 12 (3), pp.215-223. (10.3727/000000003108746777)
Pavese, N. et al., 2003. Progressive striatal and cortical dopamine receptor dysfunction in Huntington's disease: a PET study. Brain 126 (5), pp.1127-1135. (10.1093/brain/awg119)
Rosser, A. E. et al. 2003. Staging and preparation of human fetal striatal tissue for neural transplantation in huntington's disease. Cell Transplantation 12 (7), pp.679-686. (10.3727/000000003108747299)
Rosser, A. E. and Dunnett, S. B. 2003. Neural transplantation in patients with Huntington's disease. CNS Drugs 17 (12), pp.853-867. (10.2165/00023210-200317120-00001)

2002

Rosser, A. E. et al. 2002. Unilateral transplantation of human primary fetal tissue in four patients with Huntington's disease: NEST-UK safety report ISRCTN no 36485475. Journal of neurology neurosurgery and psychiatry 73 (6), pp.678-685. (10.1136/jnnp.73.6.678)
Rosser, A. E. et al. 2002. Unilateral transplantation of human primary fetal tissue in four patients with Huntington's disease: NEST-UK safety report (ISRCTN no 36485475). Journal of neurology neurosurgery and psychiatry 73 (6), pp.678-685. (10.1136/JNNP.73.6.678)
Hurelbrink, C. B. et al., 2002. Extensive migration of neural cells from primary striatal xenografts. Experimental Neurology 175 (2), pp.426-427.
Jain, M. et al., 2002. Widespread migration of human expanded neural precursors in the 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease.. Experimental Neurology 175 (2), pp.431-432.
Kelly, C. M. , Zietlow, R. and Rosser, A. 2002. Stem cell proliferation and differentiation.. Experimental Neurology 175 (2), pp.432-432.
Armstrong, R. J. E. et al., 2002. The potential for circuit reconstruction by expanded neural precursor cells explored through porcine xenografts in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Experimental neurology 175 (1), pp.98-111. (10.1006/exnr.2002.7889)
Hurelbrink, C. B. et al., 2002. Neural cells from primary human striatal xenografts migrate extensively in the adult rat CNS. European Journal of Neuroscience 15 (7), pp.1255-1266. (10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.01959.x)
Berrios, G. E. et al., 2002. Psychiatric symptoms in neurologically asymptomatic Huntington's disease gene carriers: a comparison with gene negative at risk subjects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 105 (3), pp.224-230. (10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.0o456.x)
Rosser, A. and Dunnett, S. 2002. New drugs for Huntington's disease. NeuroReport 13 (2), pp.A21-A22.
Ho, A. K. et al., 2002. Verbal fluency in Huntington's disease: a longitudinal analysis of phonemic and semantic clustering and switching. Neuropsychologia 40 (8), pp.1277-1284. (10.1016/S0028-3932(01)00217-2)

2001

Armstrong, R. J. et al., 2001. Porcine neural xenografts in the immunocompetent rat: immune response following grafting of expanded neural precursor cells. Neuroscience 106 (1), pp.201-216. (10.1016/S0306-4522(01)00273-1)
Hurelbrink, C. B. et al., 2001. Death of dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in nigral grafts: reevaluating the role of caspase activation. Exp Neurol 171 (1), pp.46-58. 11520120.
Berrios, G. E. et al., 2001. Psychiatric symptoms and CAG repeats in neurologically asymptomatic Huntington's disease gene carriers. Psychiatry Research 102 (3), pp.217-215.
Jain, M. et al., 2001. Cellular and molecular aspects of striatal development. Brain Research Bulletin 55 (4), pp.553-540.
Barker, R. A. and Rosser, A. E. 2001. Neural transplantation therapies for Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Drug Discovery Today 6 (11), pp.575-582. (10.1073/pnas.0904239106)
Pavese, N. et al., 2001. Huntington's disease progression measured with serial [11C]-raclopride PET and the UHDRS. Neurology 56 (8), pp.A385-A385.
Armstrong, R. J. et al., 2001. Neural stem cell technology as a novel treatment for Parkinson's disease. Methods in molecular medicine 62 , pp.289-307. (10.1385/1-59259-142-6:289)
Lawrence, A. D. , Rosser, A. E. and Sahakian, B. J. 2001. Cognition. In: Fawcett, J. W. , Rosser, A. E. and Dunnett, S. B. eds. Brain Damage, Brain Repair. Oxford: Oxford University Press. , pp.243-254. (10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198523376.003.0018)

2000

Rosser, A. E. 2000. Stem cell research--will further work be permitted?. NeuroReport 11 (18), pp.A15.
Hurelbrink, C. B. et al., 2000. Hibernated human fetal striatal tissue: successful transplantation in a rat model of Huntington's disease. Cell Transplantation 9 (6), pp.743-749.
Rosser, A. E. , Tyers, P. and Dunnett, S. B. 2000. The morphological development of neurons derived from EGF- and FGF-2-driven human CNS precursors depends on their site of integration in the neonatal rat brain. European Journal of Neuroscience 12 (7), pp.2405-2413. (10.1046/j.1460-9568.2000.00135.x)
Armstrong, R. J. et al., 2000. Survival, neuronal differentiation, and fiber outgrowth of propagated human neural precursor grafts in an animal model of Huntington's disease. Cell Transplantation 9 (1), pp.55-64.
Rosser, A. E. , Ostendeld, T. and Svendsen, C. N. 2000. Invited commentary: treatment of diseases of the central nervous system using encapsulated cells, by A. F. Hottinger and P. Aebischer (Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery vol. 25).. Advances and technical standards in neurosurgery 26 , pp.125-128.
Watkins, L. H. A. et al., 2000. Impaired planning but intact decision making in early Huntington's disease: implications for specific fronto-striatal pathology. Neuropsychologia 38 (8), pp.1112-1125. (10.1016/S0028-3932(00)00028-2)

1999

Andrews, T. C. et al., 1999. Huntington's disease progression. PET and clinical observations. Brain 122 (12), pp.2353-2363. (10.1093/brain/122.12.2353)
Rosser, A. E. 1999. Cell transplantation for neurological disorders. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 67 (6), pp.833C. (10.1136/jnnp.67.6.833c)

1998

Svendsen, C. N. et al., 1998. A new method for the rapid and long term growth of human neural precursor cells. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 85 (2), pp.141-152. (10.1016/S0165-0270(98)00126-5)
Rosenblatt, A. et al., 1998. Patients with features similar to Huntington's disease, without CAG expansion in huntingtin. Neurology 51 (1), pp.215-220. (10.1212/WNL.51.1.215)
Lawrence, A. D. et al. 1998. Evidence for specific cognitive deficits in preclinical Huntington's disease. Brain 121 (7), pp.1329-1341. (10.1093/brain/121.7.1329)

1997

Svendsen, C. N. et al., 1997. Long-term survival of human central nervous system progenitor cells transplanted into a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Experimental Neurology 148 (1), pp.135-146. (10.1006/exnr.1997.6634)
Watts, C. , Dunnett, S. B. and Rosser, A. E. 1997. Effect of embryonic donor age and dissection on the DARPP-32 content of cell suspensions used for intrastriatal transplantation. Experimental Neurology 148 (1), pp.271-280. (10.1006/exnr.1997.6646)
Svendsen, C. N. et al., 1997. Restricted growth potential of rat neural precursors as compared to mouse. Brain research. Developmental brain research 99 (2), pp.253-258. (10.1016/S0165-3806(97)00002-3)
Rosser, A. E. et al. 1997. Co-expression of MAP-2 and GFAP in cells developing from rat EGF responsive precursor cells. Brain research. Developmental brain research 98 (2), pp.291-295. (10.1016/S0165-3806(96)00189-7)

1996

Svendsen, C. et al., 1996. Survival and differentiation of rat and human epidermal growth factor-responsive precursor cells following grafting into the lesioned adult central nervous system. Experimental Neurology 137 (2), pp.376-388. (10.1006/exnr.1996.0039)
Dunnett, S. B. et al., 1996. Sources of cells for transplantation and gene therapy in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Neurochemistry 66 (2), pp.S52-S52.
Lawrence, A. D. et al. 1996. Executive and mnemonic functions in early Huntington's disease. Brain 119 (5), pp.1633-1645. (10.1093/brain/119.5.1633)

1995

Svendsen, C. N. and Rosser, A. E. 1995. Neurones from stem cells?. Trends in Neurosciences 18 (11), pp.465-467. (10.1016/0166-2236(95)90045-4)

1994

Rosser, A. E. and Hodges, J. R. 1994. Initial letter and semantic category fluency in Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 57 (11), pp.1389-1394. (10.1136/jnnp.57.11.1389)
Rosser, A. E. and Hodges, J. R. 1994. The Dementia Rating Scale in Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Journal of Neurology 241 (9), pp.531-536. (10.1007/BF00873515)

1991

Dickinson, R. and Rosser, A. E. 1991. Low back pain associated with streptokinase. British Medical Journal (BMJ) 302 (6768), pp.111-112.

1989

Kaba, H. , Rosser, A. E. and Keverne, B. 1989. Neural basis of olfactory memory in the context of pregnancy block. Neuroscience 32 (3), pp.657-662. (10.1016/0306-4522(89)90287-X)
Rosser, A. E. , Remfry, C. J. and Keverne, E. B. 1989. Restricted exposure of mice to primer pheromones coincident with prolactin surges blocks pregnancy by changing hypothalamic dopamine release. Reproduction 87 (2), pp.553-559. (10.1530/jrf.0.0870553)

1988

Kaba, H. , Rosser, A. E. and Keverne, E. 1988. Hormonal enhancement of neurogenesis and its relationship to the duration of olfactory memory. Neuroscience 24 (1), pp.93-98. (10.1016/0306-4522(88)90314-4)

1986

Rosser, A. E. , Hokfelt, T. and Goldstein, M. 1986. LHRH and catecholamine neuronal systems in the olfactory bulb of the mouse. The Journal of Comparative Neurology 250 (3), pp.352-363. (10.1002/cne.902500308)

1985

Rosser, A. E. and Keverne, E. 1985. The importance of central noradrenergic neurones in the formation of an olfactory memory in the prevention of pregnancy block. Neuroscience 15 (4), pp.1141-1147. (10.1016/0306-4522(85)90258-1)

1984

Rosser, A. E. and Hokfelt, T. 1984. Luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in the mouse olfactory-bulb including some comparisons with distribution of tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). Journal of Anatomy 139 (DEC), pp.732-732.
Rosser, A. E. and Keverne, E. 1984. Noradrenergic mechanisms in the olfactory block to pregnancy. Journal of Anatomy 139 (DEC), pp.720-720.

Models of disease

We require valid models of disease in order to evaluate novel treatments. We compare neurochemical, excitotoxic, metabolic and transgenic strategies, both in vitro and in vivo, for their accuracy in reproducing the specific patterns of neuropathology and mechanisms of cell death observed in human disease, and for their reliability in providing stable models within which to compare different treatments strategies.

Neural transplantation

Improving the yield of surviving cells has turned out to be a key factor in viability of neural transplantation in Parkinson's disease, and this is likely to be of equal importance when applied to other neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease or multiple sclerosis. We are working to refine the methods for neural transplantation into the nervous system to yield optimal survival and growth of the implanted cells. Critical factors involve identification, dissection and handling of embryonic donor cells, and the surgical implantation protocols that maximise accuracy of placement and minimise trauma both to the host and to the implants.

Alternative cells for therapy

The successful clinical trials of transplantation have to date all used embryonic donor tissues. However, whereas surgeries based on using human embryonic tissues can provide a 'proof of principle' the long term development and wider availability of neural transplantation is critically dependent on the identification of more readily available alternative sources of cells. We are actively exploring expanded populations of human stem cells, xenografts, and genetically manipulated cells and cell lines for their ability to provide safer and more readily available alternative to primary embryonic neurones for transplantation.

Neuroprotection

A complementary approach to cell transplantation (which involves replacing cells once already lost) is to protect damaged or traumatised neurones of the host brain from the assault of injury or disease. A wide number of compounds have been identified which have the potential to block processes of cell death and to promote regrowth of damaged cells, including growth factors, antiapoptotic agents, antioxidants and transcription factors. However a common problem for their use is that they don't get into the brain when injected or ingested peripherally. We are developing ways to deliver neuroprotective agents into precise sites in the brain both by engineering cells for transplantation ('ex vivo gene therapy') and by using viral vectors for direct intracerebral delivery ('in vivo gene therapy').

Neurological assessment

The viability of each strategy needs to be evaluated in functional models of the disease. This requires development of behavioural and other functional models of assessment that are both sensitive to the neuroanatomical systems under investigation and relevant to the specific diseases targeted. A key component of our programme is to refine methods of functional analysis according to these dual goals, with a particular focus on objective operant tests of motor and cognitive function.

Grants

MRC (ND Allen, AE Rosser & SB Dunnett
Development of a platform to generate clinical grade neural progenitors for transplantation in Huntington's disease
Newly awarded

UKSCF/MRC Project grant (SB Dunnett & AE Rosser)
Validity, specificity and yields of clinical grade primary and expanded human fetal cells for neural transplantation
£811,379
Feb 2008 – Feb 2011

MRC 5 year project grant (SB Dunnett & AE Rosser)
Development and validation of functional cell therapies for Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases
£1,600,653
Feb 2006 - 2011

Framework 6 EU (Coordinator Dr Marc Peschanski (France), UK partners ND Allen, AE Rosser and AL Jones, Cardiff University)
Stem cells for therapeutics and exploration of mechanisms in Huntington's disease
Nov 2006 – Nov 09

Aland Culture Foundation
Grant to support Huntington's disease research in Cardiff.
£23,935
October 2004 – October 2009

Collaborations

International

Dr Marc Peschanski, INSERM, Creteil, France
Members of NECTAR

Contact Details

[email protected]
+44 29208 76654
Sir Martin Evans Building, Room 3.02, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX

Gene therapy appears to slow Huntington’s disease progression

26 September 2025

Landmark research in Huntington’s disease

09 January 2018

External profiles

ORCID

Professor Anne Rosser PhD, FRCP

Teams and roles for Anne Rosser

Professor of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences

Overview

Research overview

Publication

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