Kathryn graduated from Aberdeen University with a BSc in Genetics and her first job was working for the Medical Research Council studying pattern formation in hind limbs. She moved on to a stem cell lab and has never looked back. She has mainly worked with stem cell differentiation protocols, histology, molecular biology and microscopy. She has continued to work as a Research Technician preferring to be playing in labs rather than stuck in an office writing grants and papers. She loves holidays in the sunshine mainly Madeira, swimming in the sea and snorkelling. She also enjoys cooking and tries to run twice a week to keep fit all year round weather permitting. In the lab, Kathryn is establishing and supporting iPSC and organoid differentiation protocols and QC across multiple projects.

Lois graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences with honours in Anatomy and Development. She remained in Edinburgh to undertake an Masters by Research in Neuroscience in the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, investigating the spread of pathological tau in tauopathies. She joined the Bowles lab as a Research Assistant in 2023 and started her PhD in 2024. She enjoys music and crochet, and has recently started climbing. Lois has been working on our Rainwater funded project to investigate neuron-glia interactions in primary tauopathies and is now investigating disrupted ELAVL4 subcellular localisation.

Dianne obtained her PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton under the supervision of Dr Katrin Deinhardt. Using cultured neurons, microscopy, luminescence assays and electrophysiological techniques, she investigated the molecular mechanisms of tau propagation in tauopathies. She joined the Bowles lab to investigate the role of a novel astrocytic LRRC37A2 gene in Parkinson's disease using iPSCs. She enjoys playing sports all-year-round (e.g., netball, volleyball and ultimate frisbee), hiking and wild swimming. Besides her love for sport and outdoor activities, she has a passion for dancing and in arts and crafts, recently discovering a new found love for landscape painting.

Alex graduated from the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt with a BSc in Biotechnology and from the Technical University Darmstadt with a MSc in Biomolecular Engineering. He obtained his PhD in Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration at the University of Liverpool which included him undertaking his final year of research at the Perron Institute in Perth, Australia. During this time, he investigated the role of transposable elements in neurodegenerative diseases using a combination of wet lab and bioinformatic approaches. Alex joined the Bowles lab to investigate astrocyte dysfunction in primary supranuclear palsy and other tauopathies using iPSCs and human brain tissues. Outside of lab, Alex enjoys outdoor activities (e.g., football, running, hiking and skiing), travelling, as well as enjoying some time indoors, whether it’s catching the latest movie at the cinema, bowling or trying out new restaurants.