I am a molecular neurobiologist interested in understanding ­the mechanisms that underlie aging and neurodegeneration. My work uses the power of Drosophila melanogaster genetics coupled with an array of molecular, cellular, behavioural, imaging and bioinformatics approaches to better understand the molecular processes that define normal aging and identify how these processes are altered in pathological aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Molecular Biology | Animal models | Neurodegeneration |Aging | Alzheimer's Disease

We are interested in understanding selective vulnerability of neurons to pathogenic proteins such as the tangle-forming protein, tau, in Alzheimer's Disease.  This involves characterising neuronal vulnerability to tau variants and identifying genes that may mediate vulnerability or resistance to tau. 

2025

• E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuAre we missing a trick by not exploiting fruit flies in inflammation-led drug discovery for neurodegeneration?
  Price, R., Ramirez-Moreno, M., Cooper, A., Singh, R., Khaw, Y. M., Mhaka, A. M., Sivanantharajah, L. & Mudher, A., 15 Mai 2025, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl adolygu › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffuExamining the vulnerability of adult neuron subtypes to tau-mediated toxicity in Drosophila
  Sivanantharajah, L., Mudher, A. & Shepherd, D., 5 Ebr 2025, (E-gyhoeddi cyn argraffu) Yn: Translational Psychiatry. 15, 127.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2023

• CyhoeddwydTau-mediated axonal degeneration is prevented by activation of the WldS pathway
  Stubbs, K., Batchelor, B., Sivanantharajah, L., Sealey, M., Ramirez-Moreno, M., Ruiz, E., Richardson, B., Perry, V. H., Newman, T. A. & Mudher, A., Ebr 2023, Yn: Brain Communications. 5, 2, fcad052.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2022

• CyhoeddwydCurcumin as a Holistic Treatment for Tau Pathology
  Sivanantharajah, L. & Mudher, A., 19 Mai 2022, Yn: Frontiers in Pharmacology. 13, 903119.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2019

• CyhoeddwydAn evaluation of Drosophila as a model system for studying tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease
  Sivanantharajah, L., Mudher, A. & Shepherd, D., 1 Mai 2019, Yn: Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 319, May, t. 77-88 12 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2015

• CyhoeddwydCurrent techniques for high-resolution mapping of behavioral circuits in Drosophila
  Sivanantharajah, L. & Zhang, B., Medi 2015, Yn: Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology. 201, 9, t. 895-909 15 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl adolygu › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid
• CyhoeddwydDifferential pleiotropy and HOX functional organization
  Sivanantharajah, L. & Percival-Smith, A., 1 Chwef 2015, Yn: Development Biology. 398, 1, t. 1-10 10 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl adolygu › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2014

• CyhoeddwydAcquisition of a Leucine Zipper Motif as a Mechanism of Antimorphy for an Allele of the Drosophila Hox Gene Sex Combs Reduced
  Sivanantharajah, L. & Percival-Smith, A., 1 Mai 2014, Yn: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 4, 5, t. 829-838
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2013

• CyhoeddwydDevelopmental competence and the induction of ectopic proboscises in Drosophila melanogaster
  Percival-Smith, A., Sivanantharajah, L., Pelling, J. J. H. & Teft, W. A., Tach 2013, Yn: Development genes and evolution. 223, 6, t. 375-387 13 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2009

• CyhoeddwydAnalysis of the sequence and phenotype of Drosophila Sex combs reduced alleles reveals potential functions of conserved protein motifs of the Sex combs reduced protein
  Sivanantharajah, L. & Percival-Smith, A., 1 Mai 2009, Yn: Genetics. 182, 1, t. 191-203 13 t.
  Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

2024

• Using the fruit fly for research @ Darganfod Discover 2024 (Wrexham's Science Festival)

  Outreach event at which we will showcase the use of the fruit fly for research at the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) booth at the Wrexam Science Festival.

  4 Awst 2024

  Gweithgaredd: Mathau o waith ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd a gwaith maes - Erthygl neu gyfranogiad yn y cyfryngau (Cyfrannwr)
• Southwest Fly Meeting at Bristol University

  Talk entitled "Understanding the nature of selective neuronal vulnerability to tau-mediated toxicity"

  26 Meh 2024

  Cysylltau:

  • https://www.bristol.ac.uk/phys-pharm-neuro/events/fly-meetings/
  Gweithgaredd: Cyflwyniad llafar (Siaradwr)
• Alzheimer's Research UK Research Conference

  The UK’s largest dementia research conference taking place at the ACC in Liverpool Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference provides a fantastic chance to gain insights from colleagues working across basic, translational and clinical dementia research.

  20 Maw 2024 – 21 Maw 2024

  Cysylltau:

  • https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/for-researchers/research-conference/
  Gweithgaredd: Cymryd rhan mewn cynhadledd Academaidd (Siaradwr)

• Identifying molecular mechanisms in differential vulnerability of neurons to tau-mediated toxicity

  01/06/2022 – 30/06/2026 (Wrthi'n gweithredu)

• HEFCW HEIR COVID extension to Charities bid (R35C40, F006505)

  01/04/2021 – 31/10/2021 (Wedi gorffen)

• Understanding the basis for selective vulnerability of differentneuronal populations

  12/01/2017 – 31/07/2023 (Wedi gorffen)