Learn about the responsibilities of a member in a Scientific Advisory Board as well as the newest research on ALS from specialist Prof Kevin Talbot.
Prof Kevin Talbot
kevin.talbot@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
Prof Kevin Talbot is the head of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford. He studies amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that results in loss of motor neuron cell bodies in the motor cortex, brain stem and spinal cord. This is often accompanied by astrogliosis and microglial reaction (inflammation).
The goal of his research is to identify targets for therapy for ALS by studying both motor neurons and non-neuronal cells in the disease. He uses motor neurons from induced pluripotent cells from patients to understand why some mutations (e.g., TDP-43 or C9orf72) cause motor neuron degeneration. He also investigates the role of non-neuronal cells like microglia in ALS pathogenesis, to find new biomarkers for the disease.
In addition to his work as a researcher, Prof Talbot also works in organisations responsible for funding neuroscientific research like the Scientific Advisory Board of SMA Europe and Brain research UK.