Dr Ilary Allodi joins EMBO Young Investigator Programme

We’d like to congratulate Dr Ilary Allodi on her successful nomination to join the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Young Investigators Programme.

EMBO is an organisation of more than 2,100 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. One of the major goals of the organisation is to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work.  

EMBO welcomes the new young investigators, a group of exceptional scientists who represent innovation and excellence in their fields. The multidisciplinary EMBO Young Investigator Network that they will join generates many opportunities for forming connections. We are delighted to support this next generation of scientific leaders and the collaborations they will form. Fiona Watt, EMBO Director. 

The Young Investigators Programme is highly competitive, and Ilary received 1 of only 27 places awarded in this intake. We asked Ilary, who is based at the University of St Andrews, to tell us about her ALS/MND research and what benefits there are to being part of the Young Investigators Programme. 

My research focuses on finding new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). These diseases are caused by genetic mutations in cells, but interestingly, not all cells are affected the same way, but we don’t fully understand why. Most research has focused on the cells that degenerate, but my work suggests that by studying the circuits in the brain that control these cells, we can discover new ways to treat these diseases. 

In my lab, we use cutting-edge techniques to explore how different types of brain cells connect and interact in mouse models of ALS and FTD. By combining this with AI-based behaviour analysis, we can analyse disease and link them to changes in brain activity. This combined technique has already identified interneuron populations within the spinal cord contributing to motor neuron degeneration in ALS.  

To find out what’s happening at the molecular level, we also use a technique called transcriptomics, which allows us to analyse the genetic activity of brain cells in detail. Additionally, we use computational models to simulate how brain circuits behave in both healthy and diseased states, which helps guide our in vivo studies (in a living organism), and refine our understanding of how brain networks change in neurodegenerative diseases. 

I’ve been selected for the prestigious EMBO Young Investigator Programme, a competitive programme that supports outstanding young scientists in Europe and beyond. Being part of this network will provide me and my lab with great opportunities for scientific collaboration, access to cutting-edge resources like genomics platforms and advanced microscopy, and the chance to grow both professionally and scientifically. 

We’ve already made significant progress in ALS research, particularly in understanding how certain spinal cord neurons lose their connection to motor neurons early on in ALS. We also demonstrated, at preclinical level, that stabilisation of such connections has a beneficial effect on motor neuron survival. Our next step is to bring this therapy closer to clinical trials, in hopes of offering real treatments for ALS patients. 

Related links

Dr Ilary Allodi's profile

ALS-FTD pathophysiology: treating the circuit behind the disease: Dr Allodi's research overview for academics

EMBO Young Investigator Programme [external website]