Dr Rohan de Silva

Dr Rohan de Silva is working in the Institute of Neurology's Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies. He is currently investigating PSP and similar conditions.

Dr de Silva’s research focuses on the levels of tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid. It has been shown that tau protein plays a role in the development of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and PSP, which are thus called tauopathies.

Cerebrospinal fluid circulates around the brain and spinal cord. Often, when the brain has been damaged due to stroke, infection or cell loss, components of the damaged cells leaks out into the cerebrospinal fluid.

By measuring changes in levels of tau in the cerebrospinal fluid, the researchers will be able to understand how tau is related to the development of neurodegenerative conditions. Clinicians would then be able to make more accurate diagnoses of tauopathies, which will help when choosing treatments and care options.

The ability to measure changes in the tau protein could also assist in identifying individuals who are more at risk of developing a tauopathy like PSP in their later life. This will be important when testing novel preventive and therapeutic approaches to bring tau protein back to normal, healthy levels.