A REDDITCH-born dementia researcher has been awarded a professorship at a prestigious UK university.

Tammaryn Lashley manages her research team at one of the country’s leading brain banks, collecting post-mortem brains donated by those who died with diseases that cause dementia.

She has now received a professorship from the University College London for her work and has called the honour a ‘huge privilege’.

She attended Church Hill Middle School and then Trinity High School formerly known as The Abbey High School.

She then moved to study biochemistry at Swansea University, before accepting a research technician position to gain laboratory experience.

Throughout her career Professor Lashley has detailed the hallmarks of diseases that cause dementia, identifying proteins that could be used as potential markers for individual diseases and using post-mortem brain tissue to evaluate chemicals used in diagnostic brain scans.

In 2019 she was appointed the Director of Research at Queen Square Brain Bank and her promotion to Professor is further recognition of her commitment to the dementia research field.

Professor Lashley said: “Being promoted to this position is a huge privilege.

“It would not have been possible without many people in my life including my husband, the kids and mum.

“I also have many people to thank at UCL and beyond for believing in me.”

“I’m indebted to those who have donated their brains for dementia research. My work involves using the body’s most precious organ to better understand what starts to go wrong in diseases like Alzheimer’s. I hope that my research will identify new ways to tackle the disease and find a cure.

“Alzheimer’s Research UK has supported me throughout my career and are a major funder of my current work. I have also been lucky enough to be involved in their work in a number of ways outside of the lab: hosting lab tours for supporters, speaking at public events, appearing in the media and championing dementia research.”

Dr Rosa Sancho, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Our warm congratulations go to Professor Lashley for her contribution to dementia research throughout her career so far.

“We are delighted to be able to support a passionate dementia researcher like Professor Lashley as she works to gain a better understanding of the disease processes that cause dementia”