Research theme: Neurodegeneration

About our research

Our research looks to uncover important mechanisms underpinning impairment across a range of clinical conditions, opening up unique opportunities for intervention.

We target many clinical conditions including:

• obesity
• diabetes
• cerebral palsy
• stroke
• osteoarthritis
• Parkinson’s
• dystonia
• myositis
• muscular dystrophy
• developmental coordination disorder

Established links with clinical partners in NHS organisations across the North West and wider UK, as well as international collaborators, help to facilitate our research.

Key achievements include:

• identifying the neural control mechanisms involved in the maintenance of postural balance
• elucidating the perceptual processes behind learning to use a prosthetic hand
• uncovering the mechanisms of gait impairment leading to instability and falls in diabetic neuropathy
• characterising the pathways and mechanisms associated with weakness in Myositis, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy

Our techniques include cell culture and molecular biology, biomechanics and gait analysis, as well as assessment of cognitive-motor function, eye-gaze and the influence of psychological factors.

We use our own novel in vitro culture models of skeletal muscle to model the effects of disease states such as diabetes and as a platform for drug discovery. We have led the development of non-invasive imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, to quantify important muscle characteristics.

Additionally, we have an international reputation in understanding motor performance and whole-body movement. We are particularly unique in integrating visual gaze measurements and in understanding how brain activity guides movement.

And we work closely with colleagues from other research themes: Sports Medicine and Elite Performance and Musculoskeletal Function in Health and Ageing.