Emily Carroll

My research focuses on developing therapeutic strategies to target lysosomal dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. I use induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived dopaminergic neurons from patients with genetic forms of Parkinson’s disease to investigate the causes and consequences of lysosomal dysfunction. In particular, I am exploring approaches to restore the activity of the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase), whose dysfunction has been strongly associated with Parkinson’s disease. Using both pharmacological and gene therapy approaches, my research aims to improve our understanding of disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic interventions to prevent neurodegeneration. 

Prior to joining the Wade-Martins group, I obtained my undergraduate degree from the University of Edinburgh, before moving to Oxford to complete my MSc and DPhil in Neuroscience. Under the supervision of Professor Kevin Talbot, my DPhil research focused on investigating the role of mutant TDP-43 in the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using a mouse stem cell-derived motor neuron model.