Neuropathology Research Laboratory
Dr Willie Stewart – BSc, MBChb, PhD, DipFMS, FRCPath
Dr Stewart is Consultant Neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, and holds honorary Associate Professor status at the University of Glasgow (Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology) and the University of Pennsylvania (Department of Neurosurgery).
Dr Stewart leads an internationally regarded research laboratory engaged in multiple programs investigating the pathologies of acute and long-term survival from traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Working with the unique and comprehensive Glasgow TBI Archive, Dr Stewart’s research describes the complex neuropathology of brain injury across a range of exposures and survivals, with particular reference to the link between TBI and neurodegenerative disease. Dr Stewart directs the FIELD study, which aims to describe lifelong health and dementia risk in former soccer, and is Co-PI on the multi-centre collaborative research program CONNECT-TBI.
Dr Craig McKittrick – BSc (Hons), PhD
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Craig graduated from the University of Strathclyde with a BSc (Hons) Immunology and Microbiology before undertaking his PhD studies at the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS). His PhD was focussed on understanding the contribution of mast cells to inflammation and blood brain barrier integrity in the post-stroke brain. Following this Craig spent almost five years as a post-doctoral researcher at Strathclyde, working between SIPBS and the Department of Biomedical Engineering. At SIPBS, Craig investigated the use of stem cells and biomaterials for post-stroke neurorepair. His work in biomedical engineering involved optimising coronary stent based drug delivery, as well as development of synthetic blood vessels using biomaterials. During his time with the Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group Craig will investigate amyloid beta processing following traumatic brain injury.
Claire Kennedy Dietrich – BSc (Hons), MSc
Research Technician
Claire graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Anatomy from the University of Dundee in 2013, and with an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde in 2015. During her degrees she undertook projects in evolutionary biology and within medical rehabilitation devices. After graduation she worked for the NHS as a Senior Rehabilitation Technician for three years, assisting patients across Scotland. She is now working as the laboratory technician for GBIRG, carrying out much of the technical work in the lab including processing tissue and organising the Glasgow Traumatic Brain Injury Archive.
Victoria Dimitrova – BSc (Hons)
Research Assistant
Victoria graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Anatomy from the University of Glasgow in 2017. During her degree she undertook projects in paediatric neuropathology at the Kaneff University Hospital, Bulgaria. After graduation she joined the department of Forensic Medicine and Science at the University of Glasgow. There she specialised in processing tissues for forensic analysis. Currently she is undergoing a project on neurogenesis or how the brain heals itself. This project aims to understand how the brain recovers after traumatic brain injury and how this process can be utilized to improve patients’ outcomes.
Hannah Morgan – BSc (Hons)
PhD Student
Hannah started her first year of her PhD at the University of Glasgow in October 2017. Previously, Hannah worked as the laboratory technician for the Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. For 3 year, her previous role encompassed much of the technical work that was carried out within the lab including tissue sectioning, immunohistochemistry as well as developing and maintaining the Glasgow Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Archive. Hannah graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2013 with a BSc (Hons) in Anatomy.
Emma Russell – BSc (Hons), MSc
PhD student
Emma started her PhD at the University of Glasgow in March 2018. Emma has graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience, and an MSc in Stratified Medicine. The focus of her PhD research is to understand the influence traumatic brain injury, encountered during contact sport participation, has on the development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia. As well as investigating the influence sport participation has on general lifelong health and wellbeing. Emma has previously conducted research at the University of Glasgow and University College London in the field of bipolar affective disorder.
Kamar Ameen-Ali – BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD
Research Associate
Kamar graduated from Durham University with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Psychology, before undertaking an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience and PhD in Behavioural Neuroscience and Neurobiology, both at Durham.
Rebecca Hogben – BA(Hons)
Administrative Assistant
Rebecca has worked in a variety of public-facing management roles throughout a colourful career, beginning in 2012 as a writer for film and theatre publications.
She then spent many years working for Oxfam in the city of its origin (Oxford) recruiting and training volunteers as part of several fundraising initiatives before relocating to London to lead public outreach strategies as a Community Manager for a board games publisher.
Rebecca has now joined GBIRG to help the smooth running of everyday operations for the researchers, and increasing public engagement to raise awareness of brain injury research.
Current Students (2018-2019)
PhD
E Russell (2018 – )
H Morgan (2017- )
BSc Neuroscience
BSc(MedSci)
Alumni
PhD
J Hay (2013-2018, part-time)
B Mouzin (2009-2013)
V Johnson (2008-2012)
MSc
V Campbell (2016)
L Brunton (2015)
BSc/BSc(MedSci)
L Chambers (2018)
N Garzon Loor (2018)
M Balmer (2018)
C McCann (2016)
G Crosbie (2016)
J Carroll (2016)
G Stark (2016)
R Waite (2015)
J Daley (2015)
A Unsworth (2015)
D Robinson (2015)
C Bryant-Craig (2015)
J McGovern (2014)
J Kang (2013)
S Ansell (2012)
F Begbie (2011)
R Scott Pye (2011)
D Smith (2010)
SY Foo (2010)