Simone Lenci (Simo)

Thesis title: Analysing network formation during brain tumour initiation

Precision Medicine DTP

Year of study: 4

  • Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences

Contact details

PhD supervisor:

Address

Street

Chancellor's Building

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH16 4TJ

Biography

Qualifications

  • BSc. (Hons.) in Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University (2019)
  • AP Degree in Chemical and Biotechnical Sciences, Ehrvervsakademi Aarhus (2017)

Research summary

In my PhD research, I focus on the early cellular interactions and network changes that arise in glioma. Gliomas are complex and invasive, interacting with the surrounding neural and non-neural cells in ways that can progressively disrupt brain function. By studying these interactions at a preneoplastic stage—before the tumor forms—I aim to characterize the early network dynamics of glioma initiation.

My hypothesis is that preneoplastic glioma cells can alter brain circuitry in the surrounding neural and non-neural cells, potentially creating conditions favorable to tumor establishment. To investigate this, I utilize calcium imaging to capture neuronal activity and characterize functional network changes. I developed an R-based data analysis pipeline, now publicly available as a package, to process and analyze this calcium imaging data.

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