His research focuses on the regulation of tau phosphorylation, the search for genetic and other biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and, building on these, on drug discovery and experimental medicine. Underpinning all these studies is the use of informatics - clinical informatics, bioinformatics and the challenges of extracting value from very large variable datasets.
Professor Lovestone leads the “Mapping Proteomics to Parkinson's disease (MAP2PD-UK)" project aimed at identifying a blood-based protein signature in the early stages of Parkinson's for future drug development trials.
He is the theme lead for informatics and digital health at the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, a new partnership between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University which aims to bring the best science to the complex problems of mental health and dementia. He is also a practising old age psychiatrist specialising in dementia detection, diagnosis and management.
Dr Lovestone said: “I am thrilled and delighted to be honoured in this way.”
“ The past 25 years working in dementia research has been, and continues to be, the most fulfilling and rewarding experience and it has been the greatest of pleasures to work with superb scientists and students in my group and through collaboration; I am humbled by the excellence of their work and their dedication.”
“We are making progress towards therapies and tests for Alzheimer’s disease and this award only spurs me on to redouble our efforts and defeat this disease that causes so much unhappiness to so many people. I remain convinced that we will succeed; and such success cannot come soon enough.”