Shayne Omale (Edinburgh Doctoral College Research Scholar)

Thesis title: Targeting the Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, a Common Cause of Vascular Dementia

Biography

Background

I am a PhD student in Clinical Brain Sciences and an Edinburgh Doctoral College Research Scholar at The University of Edinburgh. I graduated with First-Class Honours in Pharmacology from Edinburgh in 2026, where I developed interests in vascular biology, neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease.

Before starting my PhD, I gained research experience across cardiovascular and neuroscience laboratories, investigating vascular dysfunction in atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory drug combinations in human glial models, and synaptic mechanisms of tau propagation in Alzheimer’s disease using human post-mortem tissue.

My PhD research investigates vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), with a particular focus on vasomotion and calcium signalling. I use advanced in vivo imaging alongside vascular physiology and human tissue analysis to understand early vascular dysfunction in CAA. More broadly, I am interested in vascular neuroscience and how cerebrovascular dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative disease.

Qualifications

  • PhD Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh — 2026–present
  • BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, First Class, The University of Edinburgh — 2022–2026

Responsibilities & affiliations

  • Member, British Pharmacological Society
  • Member, British Neuroscience Association
  • Member, International CAA Association
  • Member, Leducq Brain Clearance Network 
  • Member, Translational CAA Research Lab, The University of Edinburgh
  • Member, BHF-UK DRI Centre for Vascular Dementia Research, The University of Edinburgh
  • Collaborator, Microvascular@Manchester, The University of Manchester

Research summary

My research interests lie at the intersection of vascular neuroscience, pharmacology and neurodegeneration, with a particular interest in how cerebrovascular dysfunction contributes to neurological disease.

Current research interests

My current research focuses on vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), particularly changes in vasomotion and calcium signalling during disease. I am also interested in cerebral small vessel disease, neurovascular function and vascular-targeted therapeutics.

Past research interests

My previous research has spanned cardiovascular biology and neurodegeneration, including vascular dysfunction in atherosclerosis, neuroinflammation in human glial models, and synaptic mechanisms of tau propagation in Alzheimer’s disease.

Affiliated research centres

Current project grants

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship

Past project grants

British Pharmacological Society Vacation Studentship

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