The Spence Lab

Holly’s research focuses on the role of heavy metal dysregulation and oxidative stress in the physical biology of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. She utilises machine learning techniques to integrate brain imaging, immunohistochemistry and multi-omics datasets, with the aim of improving precision medicine strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Holly studied Biomedicine at Lancaster University before completing her PhD in Medical Sciences at University of Aberdeen investigating the role of brain iron in age-related cognitive decline and exploring the relationships between brain iron and blood markers for iron and inflammation. Holly was a post-doc in the Gregory lab from March 2023 to January 2026, where she continued her research into heavy metal dysregulation and began focusing on precision medicine in ALS. Holly presented her research as the winner of the Stefania Spanò Young Investigator Lecture Award in Sept 2024. Holly was awarded a Motor Neurone Disease Association Non-Clinical Fellowship in 2026.

Iain is a seasoned research technician who holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences (Immunology) from the University of Edinburgh. After starting his career at the University of Oxford, he transitioned to the University of Aberdeen, where he developed a broad technical repertoire across multiple biomedical disciplines. His institutional experience spans several groups, including the Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, and the Flow Cytometry Core Facility.

With a strong 12-year foundation in molecular biology, immunohistochemistry, digital pathology, and laboratory management, Iain is thrilled to join the Spence Lab. He looks forward to leveraging his comprehensive technical expertise to accelerate the team’s investigation into neurodegenerative diseases and drive the identification of novel biomarkers and precision medicine strategies.

Angus is a Motor Neurone Disease Association funded MBPhD student at the University of Aberdeen whose project focuses on multi-proteinopathies in neurodegenerative disease. His work uses immunohistochemistry, digital pathology and machine learning to characterise protein specific signatures across neurodegenerative diseases, evaluating potential biomarkers for disease diagnosis or stratification.

Angus is a current medical student at the University of Aberdeen who came out of his cohort to intercalate in a PhD. He has formerly received funding from the University’s ASRS scheme and INSPIRE’s Flora Gow Murray Summer Scholarship where he investigated the co-localisation of FUS and TDP-43 using RNA Aptamer staining.