Science Team
Kashif Mahfooz
Therapeutic lead Scientist
Kashif received his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Navarra, Spain. His thesis was focussed on short term synaptic plasticity (STP) and epilepsy. In 2016, he joined Department of Pharmacology at the University of Oxford as a Postdoctoral research fellow. He has more than 14 years of experience in Neuroscience research with expertise in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders, cortical circuit formation and neurodegeneration. He joined Neuro-Bio as Senior Scientist and he is using optical and electrophysiological techniques to screen and identify lead compounds with potential for Alzheimer’s therapy.
Sibah Hassan
Target Validation lead Scientist
Sibah graduated with a PhD in Life Science from the University of Lausanne, where he validated a new wake-promoting compound (FDA & EMA approved) using a pharmacogenomics approach. He has over 10 years of postdoctoral experience in Neuroscience research (Surrey and Oxford Universities) ranging from biomarker development (for Sleep and Circadian rhythms) to studying the effects of light in brain and behaviour. After finishing his postdoctoral research at the Department of Pharmacology (University of Oxford), working on septo-hippocampal oscillations, he joined Neuro-Bio as Senior Neuroscientist. Sibah is now working on both biomarkers and therapeutic approaches to tackle neurodegeneration, using in vitro model of AD to screen novel compounds at the cellular level, and understand their mode of action.
Marta Perez Gonzalez
Diagnostics lead Scientist
Marta received a BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Oviedo in 2014. After that, she got a MSc in Biomedical Research and a PhD in Neuroscience and Cognition at the University of Navarra. During her time in Navarra, Marta identified and validated a novel therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and tested the efficacy of different small molecules for AD treatment. She then moved to University College London to work as postdoctoral research fellow, first in the department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy and lately in the department of Neuromuscular Disorders where she worked on Down syndrome. Marta’s expertise includes cellular, molecular and behavioural biology. She joined Neuro-Bio as Senior Scientist.
Lana Stewart
Lab Technician
Lana recently graduated from the University of Exeter in Neuroscience where she experienced a working lab environment during her final year project, researching natural products as activators of AMPK in GT1-7 cells. She is excited to be back at Neuro-Bio after completing a summer internship in 2021 before her degree, and looks forward to helping contribute to the future of neurodegenerative disease diagnoses and treatment.
George Carter
Student Scientist
George has recently joined us as a junior scientist, in the midst of his final year of a biological sciences integrated masters at the University of Liverpool. George has varied lab experience in his young career, doing projects in virology, cancer genetics and bacterial environments (UCSF and Liverpool universities). George is now excited to venture into the neuroscience world, particularly with an opportunity to play his part in helping fight such a devastating condition.
Georgina Bonny
Student Scientist
Georgina is a second year Neuroscience student at the University of Leeds undertaking an industrial placement year with us as a junior scientist. Georgina has had a particularly strong interest in neurodegenerative diseases since studying the variation in memory and cognition within PDE4B-Y358C mice by analysing the co-localisation of PNNs and PV+ interneurons in the Hippocampus. Georgina is thrilled to be joining the Neuro-Bio team, with the aim to help understand the complex nature and develop a preventative treatment for Alzheimer’s.
Catalina Vigil Cardenal
Student Scientist
Catalina, a Neuroscience student from Madrid, is currently pursuing her degree at Warwick University. With hands-on experience in electrophysiology and advanced lab techniques, she is passionate about applying her skills to Alzheimer’s drug development. Catalina is enthusiastic about joining the biotech field and contributing to the future of neurodegenerative disease treatment and diagnosis.