Inaugural lecture – Professor Nat Milton
This lecture outlines my contributions to amyloid-ß research,
a key player in Alzheimer’s disease.
My research began in parasite immunology before transitioning into Neuroendocrinology during my PhD, where I investigated brain-derived peptides for their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Further training in molecular and computational techniques enabled me to secure funding to focus on amyloid-ß.
Through bioinformatics and laboratory work, I identified a highly toxic phosphorylated form of amyloid-ß, plus its interactions with antioxidant and kinases enzymes. I also discovered a novel neuropeptide, kissorphin, which blocked amyloid-ß toxicity. Additionally, the body’s endocannabinoids were shown to have neuroprotective effects against amyloid-ß.
These discoveries support the idea that the body has built-in defenses against amyloid-ß toxicity, offering potential to exploit in Alzheimer’s disease.
