Prof Gareth Miles

Wed, Jan 15th 2025 at 12:40 pm - 2:00 pm

Professor of Neuroscience "Revealing new therapeutic targets for Motor Neuron Disease using human stem cell-based technology.

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The speaker was Gareth Miles, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews, on the subject of his current work with international collaborators
'Revealing new therapeutic targets for Motor Neurone Disease using human stem cell-based technology’. Professor Miles first spoke about how he became interested in following a scientific career following his participation in an annual scientific event for schoolchildren facilitated by Rotary in his home country of New Zealand. He provided an initial explanation of the function and operation of stem cells and neuron’s within the human body which have relevance to the ageing brain (thus relevant to many of the Club members!) and brain disease’s ranging from Dementia to Motor Neurone Disease. He explained with clear diagrams how interactions with minute electrical and chemical signals can be evaluated by researchers to look into potential failings in individual cases. This may provide clues as to how such diseases can develop and hopefully provide possible routes to minimise or overcome the effects of any identified failings. Research is being undertaken internationally with close collaboration with many affiliated disciplines within participating university research establishments. This is expensive work to undertake and organisations such as the Doddie Weir Foundation have provided funding to facilitate the essential research work required to try to understand the critical issues involved. In the longer term the hope is this may lead to effective solutions to control or overcome these diseases. Michael Carslaw gave the vote of thanks.