Alicia Northall

How can neuroimaging provide biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases? My research investigates this question in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of Motor Neuron Disease (MND). ALS is characterised by a rapidly-progressing loss of motor control, typically resulting in death within two years.  

More specifically, I utilise recent advances in neuroimaging methods and analysis that offer unprecedented spatial (e.g., 7T-MRI) and temporal (e.g., MEG) resolution. I use these methods, including multimodal 3T-MRI, to characterise ALS in as much detail as possible. This often includes early stage ALS patients and asymptomatic gene carriers.

My wider interests include the effects of environmental factors, such as nutrition and physical activity, on the risk and onset site of ALS. 

I am part of the Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre within the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, where I am supervised by Prof. Martin Turner. In addition, I am part of the Oxford-GSK Institute for Molecular and Computational Medicine (IMCM) within the Nuffield Department of Medicine.