60 Seconds With... Nathaniel Gould

Nathaniel Gould is a Guarantors of Brain Non-Clinical Research Fellow looking at the physical manifestation of memory in the central nervous system. He is part of the Translational Neuroscience & Dementia Research group.

Tell us a little about yourself, and what attracted you to working at the University of Oxford?  

I am interested in the physical attributes of memory – the where, what and how that make up the internal representations of our lived experience. In particular, I am interested in how we are able to elevate memories of incidentally significant events, like first time experiences, so that they stand out from mundane events.

At Oxford, I am able to draw from a huge diversity of resources and expertise to help search for clues that can bring us closer to a satisfactory understanding of memory, and how our brain copes with age. In particular, I combine the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with patient and population data, and animal studies. 

What is your vision for the research you work with?

There is an inherent challenge in neurobiological research, given that the subject, the human brain, cannot be experimented with. This limitation has led to the use of models to approximate the human brain. We aim to overcome the limitations of indirect experimentations by using the latest advances in biology and technology. As part of my fellowship, I combine molecular and cellular biology of patient-donated iPSCs, artificial intelligence (AI) and bioinformatics. In this way, I aim to trace how the underlying, fundamental biology of the neural cells of a few patients can reveal more about the basic nature of- and issues that affect- memory in the broader population.

What is currently at the top of your To-Do List?

We found that the enzyme quinone reductase 2 (QR2) is a new, key element of long-term memory formation, and brain health. I aim to describe the function of QR2 within the different cell types of the human brain, and how it may be targeted to help prevent or delay dementia, using a small molecule inhibitor we developed.

How did you get to where you are today?

Curiosity, and wanting to do things that are meaningful in some way.

Who or what inspires you?

Nature/cosmos, and creative people who break new ground and positively enhance our state of mind, as well as random illuminating incidents.

If you were not in your job currently, what would you like to be doing?

Drumming.