Francesca Nicholls

I'm part of the Translational Neuroscience and Dementia Research Group, based in the Target Discovery Institute. My work is focused on the development on complex human cell models of Alzheimer's Disease, and the use of High Content Imaging to probe phenotypic changes and develop screening platforms. We are working on developing neural co-cultures from induced pluripotent stem cells to study the interaction of different cells types in response to amyloid toxicity.

Prior to joining the team, I completed a PhD in Neuroscience at King's College London and University of Pittsburgh focused on identifying transplanted neural stem cells in the context of regenerative medicine for stroke.

Key publications

A Highly Efficient Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Microglia Model Displays a Neuronal-Co-culture-Specific Expression Profile and Inflammatory Response.
Journal article

Haenseler W. et al, (2017), Stem Cell Reports, 8, 1727 - 1742
DNA-gadolinium-gold nanoparticles for in vivo T1 MR imaging of transplanted human neural stem cells.
Journal article

Nicholls FJ. et al, (2016), Biomaterials, 77, 291 - 306
A Comparison of Exogenous Labels for the Histological Identification of Transplanted Neural Stem Cells.
Journal article

Nicholls FJ. et al, (2017), Cell transplantation, 26, 625 - 645
Simultaneous MR imaging for tissue engineering in a rat model of stroke.
Journal article

Nicholls FJ. et al, (2015), Sci Rep, 5
Intracerebral Cell Implantation: Preparation and Characterization of Cell Suspensions.
Journal article

Rossetti T. et al, (2016), Cell Transplant, 25, 645 - 664