LAB MEMBERS
Greg Weir
Group Leader
I received my BA in Physiological Sciences (2007-2010) before completing a PhD supervised by Dr Zam Cader (2010-2015), both at the University of Oxford. I trained for 4 years as a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Prof David Bennett, before moving to Glasgow to establish a research team within the Spinal Cord Group. Outside of work, I often spend my time getting frustrated on the tennis court.
Andy Cooper
Postdoctoral Research Associate
I completed my PhD at the University of Nottingham supervised by Dr Gareth Hathway and Prof Vicky Chapman (2013-2017) and trained as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof Bradley Taylor at the University of Pittsburgh (2017-2020). My interests lie in identifying the mechanisms involved in the transition from acute to chronic pain, and my project here aims to dissect the relative contributions of discrete populations of primary afferents to the maintenance of ongoing neuropathic pain.
Outside of work I can usually be found hiking and spending time with my dog.
Ana Jurado
Research Assistant
I carried out my undergraduate BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Dundee (2020–2024), followed by an MSc in Brain Sciences at the University of Glasgow, where I completed my master’s thesis within this lab.
I am now working as a Research Assistant, supporting animal research investigating neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury. My work focuses on profiling dorsal horn somatotopy, examining injured sensory afferent contributions, and neuroimmune interactions.
Outside of work I enjoy playing volleyball, doing crafts and cooking.
Paula Ledesma Fernandez
PhD Student
I am a veterinary surgeon graduated from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2018). I gained clinical experience working as equine veterinary surgeon before completing a MScR in Integrative Neuroscience; I conducted proteomics and in silico analysis to understand pathophysiology of equine grass sickness (an equine neurodegenerative disease) under the supervision of Professor Thomas Wishart and Professor Bruce McGorum (2021-2022). I then worked as a Clinician at the Equine Practice of the University of Edinburgh and obtained a Certificate as Advanced Veterinary Practitioner. In September 2023 I moved to Glasgow to start my PhD.
My project focuses on transcriptomic analysis of canine sensory neurons localised in the dorsal root ganglia. This project focuses molecular characterisation of pain sensory neurons that could then be of interest for therapeutic purposes; my main interest is to strengthen and hone the translation between human and veterinary diseases.
Siobhan Adesida
PhD student
I completed my undergraduate BSc degree in Neuroscience at the University of Dundee (2020-2024). My project research focuses on developing a novel model of neuropathic pain interactions using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, with an emphasis on exploring how non-neuronal cells influence pain processing.
Outside of work, I enjoy pottery, swimming, baking, and sketching.
Laura Schino
PhD Student
I completed my BSc in Neuroscience at Cardiff University (2019–2022), where I developed a strong interest in pain research and neuroimmunology. After graduating, I worked for over two years in a translational neuroscience drug discovery centre, gaining hands-on experience in human cell models and preclinical research. I’m now starting my PhD focusing on modelling neuroimmune interactions in neuropathic pain using human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology. My project explores how sensory neurons and macrophages communicate, with the aim of identifying new ways to disrupt harmful pain signalling.
Outside the lab, I enjoy running, cycling, and getting lost in a good book.
Alyssa Flippen
PhD Student
I completed my BSc in both Neuroscience and Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota (2019-2023). After which I worked as a Research Assistant at Stanford University for Dr. David Yeomans and Dr. Thomas Anderson (2023-2025). Currently, I am a PhD student interested in and studying microfluidic platforms as a new technology to manipulate human-induced pluripotent stem cells to explore potential structural and genetic expression changes in macrophages based on isolated spacial interactions to sensory neurons. This will be investigated in both healthy and axonal-damaged cultures to further understand neuropathic pain in human populations.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, and baking as well as practicing and watching different styles of dance.
LAB ALUMNI
Paschalina Chrysostomidou
PhD Student (2020-2025)
Currently: postdoctoral research associate at the University of Oxford.
Magdalena Redondo-Canales
Postdoctoral Research Associate (2024-2025)
Project: Clarifying the contributions of intact and injured primary afferents in a neuropathic pain model.
Heather Titterton
Professional Training Year student (2022-2023)
Currently: final year undergraduate at Cardiff University.
Romane Lolignier
MRes Placement student (2023)
Currently: Master's student at Aix-Marseille University.