Jennifer Lawson

My work as part of the Translational Neuroscience and Dementia Research Group is focused on managing a number of clinical trials and observational studies in Alzheimer's, MCI and healthy volunteers. The majority of my work involves coordinating the Deep & Frequent Phenotyping study; an MRC & NIHR funded study for intensive, repeated assessments in people with pre-clinical/pro-dromal Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to identify biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease that change over periods of weeks and months, rather than years. It is led by Professor Sir Simon Lovestone and Dr Vanessa Raymont, and involves industry collaboration and multiple study centres. The study uses an extensive range of brain and ophthalmic imaging and cognitive testing along with additional clinical testing and blood tests, at multiple frequent intervals over the course of twelve months. The goal is that these biomarkers could be used in a range of follow on trials.

Following an undergraduate degree in Psychology, I worked for five years at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust on a variety of clinical trials in mental health. I coordinated research studies investigating new pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, I covered the Research Governance Manager role for the Trust for a period of 10 months.