Dr Cheryl Hawkes

Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience

Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular, I focus on the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the deposition of toxic β-amyloid proteins in the walls of the blood vessels of the AD brain. I am interested in how risk factors for AD, such as ageing and obesity, affect the structure of the blood vessels and their ability to remove β-amyloid from the brain.

I am also interested in how the early life environment, including maternal and paternal obesity, impacts on the health and function of the offspring brain and if the early life environment predisposes individuals towards developing age-related diseases like AD.

Impact of paternal obesity on offspring brain structure and function; implications for Alzheimer's disease
01/01/2023 → 31/12/2026
Research

Characterisation of perivascular astrocyte heterogeneity in human brains
01/01/2022 → 31/12/2023
Research

Targeting perivascular innervation and vascular tone for improved clearance of ß-amyloid from the brain
01/10/2019 → 31/08/2020
Research

Defying Dementia Day
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar

MSc Research examiner
Examination

Of mice (and worms and flies) and men: research in the Ageing and Neurocience group
Invited talk

Internal PhD examiner
Examination

External PhD examiner
Examination

Internal PhD examiner
Examination

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (Journal)
Editorial activity

PhD viva external examiner
Examination

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Journal)
Editorial activity

PhD viva external examiner
Examination

  • Ageing and Neuroscience