Alison D Mcneilly

Biography

Dr McNeilly completed her undergraduate degree (BSC Hons) in Physiology at the University of St Andrews in 2001 before moving to Edinburgh to take up a position on a Wellcome funded 4 year PhD programme. In the first year of this programme, Alison was awarded an MSc(Distinction) before undertaking her PhD in the Department of Endocrinology under the supervision of Dr Ruth Andrew and Professor Brian Walker. Her PhD investigated the role of bile acids in glucocorticoid metabolism and demonstrated a pivotal role for 5b-reductase in both cholesterol and steroid metabolism. In 2006, Dr McNeilly moved to Dundee for a Postdoctoral position with Professor Roland Wolf and Dr Gillian Smith where she worked on the novel P450 enzyme CYP2S1 where she demonstrated UV light as a novel inducer of CYP2S1 and the role of CYP2S1 in retinoic acid metabolism. Dr McNeilly joined the Division of Neuroscience in 2008 to work with Dr Calum Sutherland, Professor David Balfour and Dr Caroline Stewart on an Alzheimer’s Research funded project where she investigated the link between insulin resistance and cognitive dysfunction. Since 2012, Alison has worked with Professor Rory McCrimmmon where she has focused upon the impact of recurrent hypoglycaemia on cognitive function. 

Research Interest

Metabolic dysfunction and in particular Diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2) can have a profound impact upon multiple systems within the body. My postdoctoral research has focused upon the impact of metabolic dysfunction on cognitive function using an in vivo approach with the aim of identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention. My research with Dr Calum Sutherland demonstrated the loss of behavioural flexibility (the inability to change learned behaviours) following consumption of a high fat diet. These findings suggest that cognitive therapy in conjunction with healthy diet plan may be required to achieve weight loss. My current research with Professor Rory McCrimmon involves identifying potential mechanisms through which recurrent hypoglycaemia impacts upon glucose sensing and cognition. We have demonstrated that glycaemic variability in Type I diabetes (T1D) and in particular the hyperglycaemic rebound which can occur following hypoglycaemia induces oxidative stress and damage within brain regions involved in learning and memory. My focus for the next  3 years is to investigate the potential role of the antioxidant gene Nrf2 in hypoglycaemia in a Diabetes UK funded project. Diabetes also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, primarily mediated through micro- and macrovascular dysfunction. In a study performed in collaboration with Dr Faisel Khan (University of Dundee) and Prof Maria Gomez (Lund University, Sweden) we have demonstrated a potential therapeutic role of NFAT inhibition in hyperglycemia induced endothelial dysfunction. We also collaborate with a number of groups within the University including Prof Mike Ashford, Dr Graham Rena, Dr Will Fuller, Dr Calum Sutherland and Dr Li Kang.