Isabel will act as lead student volunteer at the conference

Isabel to take student lead at international Alzheimer’s conference

An Exeter PhD student has been selected as a lead student at the upcoming Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC).

Isabel Castanho, a PhD student with the Complex Disease Epigenetics Group at the University of Exeter, was selected from students across the world for the position.

Isabel will be acting as a lead volunteer for International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART), which is part of Alzheimer’s Association. Only one student is selected for the position, chosen from the previous year’s student volunteers. AAIC will run in Chicago, Illinois from 22^nd to 26^th July.

Isabel said: “Last year I had the privilege of participating at the AAIC 2017 in London from a different perspective – as an ISTAART student volunteer, which turned out to be one of the best experiences I had so far during my PhD. I am super excited that I was selected to go to the AAIC as a student volunteer once again, this time in Chicago!"

The role will involve moderating key sessions and workshops, as well as helping to manage the other student volunteers. Travel, accommodation and registration costs will be covered by Alzheimer’s Association.

Professor Jonathan Mill, Isabel’s supervisor, said: “This is a great achievement by Isabel and recognises her exceptional work as a PhD student researching the genomic changes in dementia. It gives her the opportunity to present her work and meet some of the leading dementia researchers from across the world. We’re really proud of Isabel’s award and hope she has a great time in Chicago.”

Date: 26 March 2018