Current Research Project:

Hierarchical Spatial-Temporal Modelling of Microglia Patterns: Towards Non-Invasive Diagnostics for Neonatal Hypoxia and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Microglia, a type of immune cell in the central nervous system (CNS), play a key role in removing pathogens, dead cells, and protein aggregates. They are also crucial for neuroprotection, reducing excitotoxic injury and regulating synaptic plasticity. In healthy conditions, microglia in the brain and eye exhibit a regular distribution. However, upon activation, they change behaviour, migrating and forming clusters around sites of inflammation or injury. Differences in the spatial distribution and morphology of microglia have been observed during development, potentially explaining gender-based susceptibility to neonatal hypoxia, which affects around 0.3% of births in the UK. 

This study aims to develop novel spatio-temporal models from Light Sheet micrographs of brain and eye tissue. Gaining a statistically robust understanding of microglial behaviour at the population level could deepen our knowledge of their natural roles in tissues and support the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools. Such tools could rapidly identify CNS disorders like neonatal hypoxia, addressing an unmet clinical need.  

Biography:

I graduated with a BA in Mathematics from the University of Oxford in summer 2023, and I began my PhD in October 2025.

Research Interests:

•    Spatial Statistics
•    Spatial Point Processes
•    Image segmentation
•    Fluorescence Microscopy

Supervisors:

Dr. Hannah Mitchell, Dr. Benjamin Davis (STFC) and Dr. Mariya Hristova (UCL)