Dr Leon Smyth is interested in the intricate 600 kilometres of blood vessels in the human brain. These blood vessels provide a huge area for interaction between the brain and the rest of the body. All blood vessels are lined by endothelial cells, while pericytes wrap around these vessels and support them. Both cells and pericytes are affected by the normal ageing process and Alzheimer’s disease, and contribute to the neuroinflammation that drives Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Smyth will be concentrating his talk on his current work that examines the interaction between blood vessels and our most abundant white blood cell, the neutrophil, and the implications this has for Alzheimer’s disease.

Science has always been a passion for Dr Leon Smyth and from a young age he always knew he wanted to pursue a career in science. While Leon was an Otago student, he completed two summer studentships in Professor Martin Kennedy’s lab at the University of Otago, Christchurch.

Leon credits these studentships for sparking his interest in the brain and providing direction to his future research. After deciding he wanted to study Alzheimer’s disease Leon moved to the University of Auckland to complete his Bachelor of Science (Honours), and his PhD in Pharmacology, under the supervision of Professor Mike Dragunow. Upon completion of his PhD, Leon was awarded a Neurological Foundation Phillip Wrightson Postdoctoral Fellowship for his research in Mark Hampton’s lab at the University of Otago, Christchurch.