• Derivation and characterisation of new human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines
  Project Leader(s): Dr M Stojkovic (in collaboration with Dr. M. Lako, Prof. T. Strachan and Prof. A. Murdoch, Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life).
• Derivation of nuclear transfer stem cells (NTSC) from NT human embryos
  Project Leader(s): Dr M. Stojkovic (in collaboration with Prof. A. Murdoch, Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life).
• Determination of early markers of pluripotency/differentiation in early human embryos and hESC
  Project Leader(s): Dr M. Stojkovic (in collaboration with Dr. M. Lako and Prof. A. Murdoch, Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life).
• Epigenetic of early human embryos and human embryonic stem cells
  Project Leader(s): Dr M Stojkovic (in collaboration with Drs. W. Dean and F. Santos, Babraham Institute, Cambridge and Prof. A. Murdoch, Newcastle Fertility Centre)
• Improvement of in vitro culture conditions for growth of undifferentiated and differentiated human embryonic stem cells
  Project Leader(s): Dr M Stojkovic (in collaboration with Dr. Lako)
• Isolation and characterisation of novel human embryonic stem cell lines
  Project Leader(s): Dr M Stojkovic, Dr M Lako and Professor Tom Strachan (in collaboration with Dr A Murdoch at the Newcastle Fertility Centre)
• Somatic cell nuclear replacement as a source of human embryonic stem cells
  Project Leader(s): Dr M Stojkovic (in collaboration with Prof. A Murdoch at the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life)
• The role of hyaluronic acid in early embryo development and hESC biology
  Project Leader(s): Dr M. Stojkovic (in collaboration with Prof. A. Murdoch, Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life).

Prof. Raj Kalaria

Roles and Responsibilities
Professor of Cerebrovascular Pathology (Neuropathology)
Lead PI, MRC Vascular Factors in Dementia programme; Director, Cerebrovascular Laboraoty, Institute for Ageing and Health

Qualifications
PhD, FRCPath

Previous Positions
Associate Professor of Neurology, Neurosciences and Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA

Memberships
Royal College of Pathologists (Fellow), British Neuroscience Association (Hon Sec), International Brain Research Organisation (Executive Committee), Society for Neuroscience (ordinary member), International Society for Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders (Chair, nominating committee)

Research Interests
Neuropathology of Dementia and Cerebroavascular disease, Vascular Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Stroke

Current Work
Neuropathology of Cerebrovascular Disease; CADASIL

Esteem Indicators
Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Alzheimer's Research Trust (UK)
Member, Scientific Advisory Board- Medical Research Council, London

Mr. Arthur Oakley

Researcher
Institute for Ageing and Health
Newcastle General Hospital
Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 6BE

Selected Publications

• A. J. Thomas;R. Perry;R. N. Kalaria;A. Oakley;W. McMeekin;J. T. O'Brien Neuropathological evidence for ischemia in the white matter of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in late-life depression. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2003, 18(1), 7-13.
• S. Davis;A. Thomas;R. Perry;A. Oakley;R. N. Kalaria;J. T. O'Brien Glial fibrillary acidic protein in late life major depressive disorder: an immunocytochemical study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 2002, 73(5), 556-60.
• Neill, D., Hughes, D., Leake, A., Morris, C.M., Jones, D., Oakley, A., Edwardson, J.A., Estibeiro, P. Neuritogenic-neurotoxic effects of membrane-associated forms of amyloid precursor protein. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2001, 12, 40-51.
• Thomas AJ, Ferrier IN, Kalaria RN, Woodward SA, Ballard C, Oakley A, Perry RH and O'Brien JT Elevation in late life depression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. American Journal of Psychiatry 2000, 157, 1682-1684.
• Thomas AJ, Ferrier IN, Kalaria, RN, Woodward AA, Ballard C, Oakley A, Perry RH and O’Brien JT Elevation in late-life depression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. American Journal of Psychiatry 2000, 157, 1682-1684.
• A. J. Thomas;I. N. Ferrier;R. N. Kalaria;S. A. Woodward;C. Ballard;A. Oakley;R. H. Perry;J. T. O'Brien Elevation in late-life depression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. American Journal of Psychiatry 2000, 157(10), 1682-4.

• R.N. Kalaria, W.C. Low, A.E. Oakley, J.Y. Slade, P.G. Ince, C.M. Morris and T. Mizuno. CADASIL and Genetics of Cerebral Ischaemia. J Neurol Trans. 2002; 63; 75-90.
• J.M. Heckmann, W.C. Low, C. de Villiers, S. Rutherfoord, C.M. Morris, R. Ramesar and R.N. Kalaria. Novel Presenilin I Mutation with Profound Neurofibrillary Pathology in An Indigenous South African Family with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain 2003; 127; 133-142.
• R.N. Kalaria, F. Wegner, N.J. Cookson, W.C. Low, M. Ndung’u, J.M. Mwenda, A. Tamaoka, H. Mori, and W. Hartig. Predominance of Aß42 in Cortical Amyloid Deposits and Microvascular Pathology in Ageing Baboons. Neurobiol. Aging. (Submitted).
• W.C. Low, Y. Santa, K. Takahashi, T. Tabira, and R.N. Kalaria. Notch3 Mutants Linked to CADASIL Does Not Impair Interaction with Ligands or Intracellular Processing of Receptor. Molecular Brain Res. (Submitted).
• W.C. Low, A. Borjesson, K. Takahashi, T. Tabira, T. Mizuno, C.M. Morris, A.M. Gibson, D. St Clair, D. Stevens, T. Moss, O. Andersen, J. Wahlstrom, Y. Olsson, H. Kalimo, M. Viitanen, and R.N. Kalaria. Hereditary Multi-Infarct Dementia of the Swedish Type and Chronic Familial Vascular Encephalopathy of the British Type. (In preparation).
• W.C. Low, K. Takahashi, A.E. Oakley, J.Y. Slade, T. Tabira, and R.N. Kalaria. Inflammatory Responses in CADASIL. (In preparation).