Professor Bettina Platt

Biography

Bettina Platt graduated with distinction from the University of Mainz, Germany and received her PhD from the University of Düsseldorf, Germany. After completing a prestigious personal European Fellowship at the University of Leeds, Prof Platt joined the University of Aberdeen in 1997, initially within the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Since 2009, Prof Platt holds the Chair in Translational Neuroscience within the School of Medical Sciences. She heads a multi-disciplinary research team that investigates aspects of brain function and malfunction from the single molecule to the systems level. Prof Platt has acted as Research Director for a number of large research initiatives, some of which were co-funded by the pharmaceutical industry and the Scottish government. Her national and international collaborations have brought together novel research strategies, technologies and disciplines such as imaging, drug discovery, electronics, and computer science. Prof Platt is a Fellow of the Society of Biology and a founding member of the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium (SDRC). Additionally, Prof Platt was a member of the SDRC executive board until 2016 and previously sat on the Alzheimer’s Society funding board. She currently is a member of the Scottish Alzheimer Research UK (ARUK) network board, and the ARUK Scientific Advisory Board.

External Memberships

Executive Board member, Scottish Dementia Research Consortium

North-East of Scotland Alzheimer Research UK (ARUK) network coordinator (preclinical)

Member of the ARUK Scientific Advisory Board

Alzheimer’s Society Grant Advisory Board.

Editorial Advisory Board, Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery

Research Overview

Research interests: Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.

The amazing ability of the nervous system to learn and adapt to changing conditions forms the basis of our cognitive and intellectual abilities as humans, and how crucially we depend on this is demonstrated in patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).

We are currently combining various procedures, from standard histology and immunocytochemistry, to cell death essays and more functional techniques based on electrophysiological and imaging techniques, as well as behavioural studies. Latest developments include the use of EEG recordings, and PET/CT applications. Together, we cover aspects from the systems to the single cell level, and even to single receptors / channels, for disease target identification, drug development and testing within the sector of CNS diseases.

The main projects currently under investigation can be summarised as follows:

1)      Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration: causes, biomarkers and treatments.

2)      Mechanisms of neuronal plasticity.

3)      Therapeutics in CNS disorders.

4)      Translational technologies.

Current Research

Alzheimer's disease, FTD, dementia, cognition, neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity, neuroprotection, neuronal plasticity, EEG, imaging, Ca signalling, plasticity.

Techniques and Skills:

• Models of dementia: transgenic, pharmacological & viral models in vivo and in vitro (beta amyloid, tau, PS1, BACE; single / double & triple combinations; siRNA).
• Drug discovery
• Translational Technologies
• In vitro electrophysiological recording techniques in brain slices, neuronal cultures, and isolated neurones (patch-clamping and field recordings).
• In vivo electrophysiological recordings (evoked potentials and EEG recordings (wireless).
• In vivo imaging (PET/CT & MRI)
• Behavioural assessments (Cognition & Phenotyper).
• Immunocytochemical and histological techniques, ELISAs, Western Blots.
• Confocal  / fluorescent microscopy.
• Time-lapse imaging
• Cell culture, brain slice, cell lines
• Assays for cell death / neuroprotection  / viability

Collaborations

1)      Within Aberdeen University:

Prof Gernot Riedel (animal models / behaviour); Prof Roger Pertwee (cannabinoids); Prof Matteo Zanda (novel PET ligands); Dr Rod Scott  & Prof Marcel Jaspars (natural toxins and cell transfection); Dr Derryck Shewan (neurite outgrowth / time lapse); Prof Andy Welch (PET/CT); Dr Hugh Seton (MRI); Dr Thiel, Dr Schelter & Prof Grebogi (Computer Science & Modelling); Dr Delibegovic & Dr Mody (phosphatases; diabetes and AD)

2)      External Collaborators:

Prof Peer Wulff (viral strategies); Prof Jim Austin (University of York): EEG and image analyses, data sharing; Prof. Thanos Salifoglou (University of Crete, Greece): Aluminium speciation and toxicity; Prof. J. Micheau (Univ. Bordeaux II): CREB and hippocampal function, cell transfection, siRNA; Dr. Grazina Niewadomska (Univ. Warsaw, Poland): Tau pathology; Dr K. Bruce (U Penn., USA) and Dr Neel (U Ontario): Phosphatase knock-out mice.

3)      Industry-based collaborators

Dr Karsten Wicke (Abbott / AbbVie), B Cruts (BrainMarker, The Netherlands), Dr Hong Wan (Pfizer), J McAvoy (Cybula) and Prof Hugh Marston (Lilly).

Teaching Responsibilities

Course co-ordinator for AN4002/AN4003 (Brain function & malfunction)