Applications are invited for a 1-year MSc research project investigating the role of gut sensory signalling in Alzheimer’s disease and its relationship with cognitive function. Research is aligned with UCC Futures Ageing and Brain Science and UCC Futures Food, Microbiome and Health and will take place in a collaborative environment across the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience and APC Microbiome Ireland. The student undertaking this interdisciplinary project will be supervised by Dr Stefanie Grabrucker (UCC) and co-supervised by Dr Andrew Sasmita (UCC) and Prof. Yvonne Nolan (UCC), bringing together complementary expertise in gut-brain neuroscience, amyloid pathology and cognitive function. A stipend and tuition fees 
are provided for the 1-year project. 

The project: Gastrointestinal Pathology and Cognitive Function in Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major cause of cognitive decline and is traditionally considered primarily a disorder of the brain. Additionally, women exhibit twice the risk of developing the disease compared to men especially at older ages. Such sex dimorphism in neuropathology and associated behaviour is also reflected in various AD models including 5xFAD mice, wherein females develop a higher amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque burden—the primary hallmark of AD—as early as 2 months old. Beyond classical neuropathology, gastrointestinal disturbances and alterations in the gut microbiome are increasingly reported in people with AD, and emerging evidence suggests that changes in gut-brain communication may be relevant to cognitive function. The gastrointestinal tract communicates continuously with the brain through the gutbrain axis, with the vagus nerve providing an important neural pathway for transmitting gut derived signals to the brain. Despite this, the extent to which AD-associated pathology affects the gastrointestinal tract and its communication with the brain remains poorly understood. This project will investigate whether gastrointestinal Aβ pathology emerges during AD progression, 
whether it is associated with alterations in gut-vagal sensory pathways, and whether these changes relate to cognitive performance. 
Using a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, the project will examine gastrointestinal pathology across different stages of disease progression and in male and female mice and determine its association with cognitive function. The project will use immunofluorescence, microscopy and quantitative image analysis to investigate gastrointestinal pathology and gut 
sensory pathways. The findings will help establish whether gastrointestinal pathology is a feature of Alzheimer’s disease and provide insight into its potential relationship with cognitive decline and gut-brain communication. 

Qualifications/Experience: Applicants should have an appropriate undergraduate degree in Neuroscience, Biomedical Science, Anatomy, Physiology or a related discipline. An interest in Alzheimer’s disease, neuroscience, gastrointestinal biology or gut-brain signalling would be advantageous. 

Previous experience in laboratory research, immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence, microscopy or quantitative image analysis would be desirable but is not essential, as training will be provided. The successful candidate should be highly motivated, organised and willing to learn new experimental approaches. Good communication skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively are essential.