BRAIN centre: Management
Dr Diana Cash
Centre Manager and Scientific Director
Originally trained in molecular biology and neuroscience, Diana’s research has been in elucidating the structure, function and disease of the CNS, by magnetic resonance imaging and methods such as behaviour, histology, PET and autoradiography. She has over 10 years’ experience of running collaborative projects in brain imaging and drug discovery. Now at the helm of the BRAIN Centre, she is keen to facilitate the development of imaging biomarkers of interest to neuroscientists from both academia and industry.
Dr Marija Petrinovic
Deputy Director
Dr Katarina Ilić
Project Manager and Head of Operations
Katarina has a background in medicine and molecular neuroscience and neurochemistry. Her previous work included analysis of lipid-protein interplay in neurodegeneration. She joined BRAIN Centre in 2021. as a senior researcher and took a role of Project and Operations Manager in 2022. She oversees all ex vivo experiments and analysis of the data. Her current interest is in combining multiple techniques for examining the CNS, including e.g. histology, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence with confocal microscopy, Western blot, HPLC and autoradiography.
Dr Eugene Kim
Head of MR Physics and Analysis
A biomedical engineer by training, Eugene started his research career in preclinical imaging of cancer, with a focus on validation and application of MRI biomarkers of tumour angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapies. He joined the BRAIN Centre in 2017, where he now oversees the acquisition and analysis of neuroimaging data. Whether in the field of oncology or neuroscience, Eugene’s passion is to develop robust and reproducible imaging biomarkers for characterisation and early detection of disease and treatment response.
BRAIN centre: STAFF SCIENTISTS
Dr Eilidh MacNicol
Senior Image Analyst
With a background in neuroscience, Eilidh designs and implements strategies to model how the brain can change over time; this can be between frames in a single image, between images from the same session, or longitudinally between sessions.
She is also enthusiastic about developing resources to support data quality and foster reproducibility in the preclinical neuroimaging community.
Currently Hiring!
Imaging Scientist
We are currently hiring a hands-on preclinical neuroimager to join our vibrant team! Contribute to optimizing biomarkers for brain disorders and treatments, with a particular focus on stroke, ischemia, and hypoxia. This is an attractive indefinite position. For more information, click here.
Charalampos (“Harris”) Papaonisiforou
Research Assistant
Haris is a part-time Research Assistant and PhD student. In his role as a Research Assistant, he manages The BRAIN Centre laboratory, oversees stock and ordering, and supports numerous projects involving histology and autoradiography.
As a PhD student, he is supervised by Diana Cash and Per Svenningson focusing on optimizing imaging biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease and its potential treatments.
Luiza Damoc
Research Assistant
Luiza is a Research Assistant at The BRAIN Centre, specializing in histological, autoradiographic, and biochemical techniques. She supports various projects with her technical skills and has recently qualified in PET image analysis. Luiza is excited to apply this new expertise to further enhance the research at The BRAIN Centre.
Affiliated researchers and students
Dr Neil Ingham
Neil is a Senior Researcher at the Wolfson Sensory, Pain, and Regeneration Centre (SPaRC) with extensive expertise in the electrophysiology and neurobiology of hearing, mentored by Prof Karen Steel. Recently, Neil has played a pivotal role in securing MRC funding for a state-of-the-art electrophysiology suite at The BRAIN Centre. As a result, he now serves as the Principal Consultant, advising staff, students, and collaborators interested in utilizing this advanced equipment.
Dr Anja Barić
An EU / HRZZ funded Research Fellow from Croatia, Anja joined The BRAIN Centre for a year-long tenure from spring 2024 to spring 2025. During her time here, she champions the research led by David Andersson and colleagues, which aims to unravel the central nervous system mechanisms underlying Fibromyalgia Syndrome using experimental models. Anja will employ a combination of in vivo autoradiography, MRI, and electrophysiology to advance this important research.
Dr Bartosz (“Bartek”) Pomierny
Bartek is the Head of the Imaging Laboratory at the Centre for the Development of Therapies for Civilization and Age-Related Diseases at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, Poland. His research focuses on pathomechanisms and novel therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke. In 2023, he commenced collaboration with The BRAIN Centre, specializing in innovative brain imaging and the implementation of optogenetic modulation methods (opto-fMRI). Together with The BRAIN Centre, he leads on two research grants, aiming to develop cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic methods for stroke.
Hanna Lemmik
Wellcome Trust funded PhD student with Diana Cash, Laura Westacott and Aleks Ivetic. Investigating the role of C3a receptor in the brain, behaviour and immunity.
Zhuoni Li
King’s China Scholarship funded PhD student with Marija Petrinovic, Declan Murphy and Diana Cash investigating the mechanisms of aggression in experimental models of autism..
Gemma Deegan
MRC DTP funded PhD student with Ivana Rosenzweig and Diana Cash investigating sleep, brain and behaviour changes in experimental models of Parkinson’s Disease.
Aleksandra Kaliszewska
King’s funded PhD student with Jemeen Sreedharan and Diana Cash investigating mechanisms and brain abnormalities related to mutations of TDP43 protein in relation to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Frontotemporal Dementia.
Dauda Abdullahi
Nigerian PTFD funded PhD student with Diana Cash and Richard Killick, using imaging and histology to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of novel drugs in experimental models of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Xuerui ("Rikky") Hu
King’s China Scholarship funded PhD student with Aleksandar Ivetic and Diana Cash investigating the therapeutic potential of inhibiting TNIK in experimental models of stroke and ischemia.
Esther Walters
Ellen Spackman
MRC DTP funded PhD student with Marija Petrinovic and Robert Hindges using zebrafish and rodent models to investigate neurobiology of autism-associated aggression.
Nouf Almutairi
Kuwait University funded PhD student with Marija Petrinovic, Bethany Oakley and Declan Murphy investigating development of empathy across neurotypical and neurodivergent populations.
Raminta Kniuraite
MM4L (Multiscale Models for Life) funded PhD student with Marija Petrinovic and Esperanza Perucha investigating the neuroimmune and immunometabolic underpinnings of autism in experimental models.
Helena Ferreira
Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translation Research (Portugal) funded PhD student with Marija Petrinovic, Miguel Castelo Branco and Joana Goncalves investigating sensory integration in autism in experimental models.
Martina Fort Sune
MRC DTP funded PhD student with Anthony Vernon and Diana Cash investigating brain and behaviour consequences of prenatal stress in experimental models.
Collaborators and ASSOCIATES
Prof Steve Williams
Head of the Neuroimaging Department and vastly experienced in all aspects of brain imaging, Steve has preclinical imaging close to his heart having set up the original University of London Biomedical MR Facility which spawned a myriad of high profile scientific papers and excellent MR scientists. He offers his advice and insight to the BRAIN Centre to help facilitate translational brain imaging ‘from bench to bedside’.
Dr Sridhar Natesan
As part of his role as the manager of the Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences Major Research Facility, Sridhar actively supports the BRAIN centre in its research activities. Having trained in pharmaceutical sciences Sridhar’s main research interests include antipsychotic drug action in animal models and translational work using PET imaging. Several receptor and molecular target systems involved in antipsychotic drug effects are the focus of his research.
Prof Federico Turkheimer
Professor of Neuroimaging Analysis and Statistics. Federico is highly experienced in PET and MRI methodology, particularly in statistical methods, brain networks and connectivity analyses as well as tracer kinetics modelling. He is very interested in brain energetics and his current preclinical research (at BRAIN Centre) focuses on cerebral metabolism and mitochondrial capacity in healthy and unhealthy ageing.
Dr Tobias Wood
MR physicist with expertise in preclinical imaging. Toby’s research focuses on new methods for quantitative imaging at close to 1,000 times the resolution available in a clinical scanning session.
These exquisite scans can provide real insight into changes at the cellular level, leading to better interpretation and diagnostic potential. These methods have been applied to image demyelination and neuro-inflammation in rodent models, and are now being used to investigate brain metabolism.
Dr David Lythgoe
MR physicist and highly experienced in all aspects of MR imaging, spectroscopy and analysis. David’s primary interests are chemical shift imaging (CSI), structural imaging and MR pulse sequence programming. For the BRAIN Centre, he provides essential help and advice on the use of MRS, QSM (quantitative susceptibility mapping) and other quantitative imaging / spectroscopy methods.
Dr Ivana Rosenzweig
Senior clinical scientist and consultant neuropsychiatrist, specializing in sleep and leading the KCL Sleep and Brain Plasticity Centre. Ivana is a recipient a Wellcome Trust award which she is using to unravel the mechanisms of sleep, neuroplasticity and inflammation. Toward this, she makes use of clinical and preclinical imaging experiments.
Dr Po Wah So
Reader in Biomedical Imaging and Spectroscopy. After initial training in Medicinal Chemistry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Po-Wah has over 25 years of experience of applying NMR, MRS and MRI to biomedicine. Her current research is focused on determining the central (neural) consequences of peripheral dysfunction, especially the influence of metabolism and a range of metals, particularly iron. This work continues her research in the role of metals in normal ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease, and builds upon her established research into metabolic disorders including obesity, diabetes and fatty liver. She is also championing the use of MRS and metallomics (biological tissue elemental mapping and bulk analysis).
Prof Mattia Veronese
Senior molecular imaging scientist with expertise in quantification and kinetic modelling of PET signal. At the Department of Neuroimaging, Mattia has championed the use of many different PET tracers, including fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG; for brain metabolism), translocator protein (TSPO; for neuroinflammation) and Leucine (cerebral protein synthesis) with which he collaborates with the BRAIN Centre.
Prof Anthony Vernon
Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology. Anthony’s group is studying (1) How alterations in brain structure and function observed in patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders align with appropriate rodent models and (2) The effects of psychotropic drugs on the nervous, immune and endocrine systems. His group combines in vivo and ex vivo MRI, with post-mortem cellular and molecular analyses. His group also has significant expertise in the use of human stem cell models to study cortical neurodevelopment in vitro. Anthony is championing the use of preclinical neuroimaging in his department and at the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, as a means to address the lack of continuity between the levels of analysis used in animal models and clinical research into brain disorders.
Dr George Chennell and the Wohl Cellular Imaging Centre, WCIC
With years of experience in microscopy and the related methods, George manages the new Wohl Cellular Imaging Centre, located in the building next door. WCIC houses several state-of-art microscopes for all aspects of screening and microscopy work on cells, tissues and live animals. By collaborating with both BRAIN Centre and WCIC, researchers have an unprecedented opportunity to study the CNS macroscopically as well as microscopically, within the same (or closely related) samples and subjects. WCIC is also under an academic leadership by Prof Deepak Srivastava who runs a research group focusing on molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic communication.
Dr Flavio Dell’ Acqua
Flavio is a Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroimaging with a background in MR physics, image analysis and biomedical engineering. His research interests focus on the development and application of advanced MR diffusion imaging methods including Spherical Deconvolution Tractography, high resolution in-vivo and ex-vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging and new biophysical models of diffusion. Within the preclinical imaging team his interests are currently focused on the development and optimization of cutting edge MR microscopy methods to unravel the micro- and mesoscale organization of brain structures in typical and atypical neurodevelopment both in post-mortem human brains and animal models.
Dr Davide DiCenso
An alumnus of Brain, KCL, Davide is now at the University of Chieti-Pescara developing new markers of short-term brain plasticity and metabolic changes in the human brain.
Davide had worked alongside Eugene & Eilidh to develop and streamline our structural and functional MRI pipelines. He continues to collaborate and actively engages on all our Slack channels.
Dr Bernard Siow
Head of MRI at the Crick Institute and an active collaborator with The Brain Centre, Bernard played a crucial role in securing joint funding for a cryo-probe, a cryogenically cooled RF receiver with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). He plans to utilize this advanced technology to improve the detection of tissue microstructure and neurochemical-specific signatures associated with health and disease.
Dr Michel Mesquita
An alumnus of the Neuroimaging Department at KCL, Michel now leads L&M Data Science, a company specializing in clinical and preclinical data analysis and extended consultancy services. Michel has co-developed numerous preclinical imaging analysis pipelines in collaboration with The BRAIN Centre scientists. Through L&M Data Science, he continues to provide bespoke analytical outsourcing services to The BRAIN Centre, enhancing their research capabilities.