Irundika Dias, BSc (Hons) MSc PhD
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JAD profile
Associate Editor
Term Expiration:
12/31/2025
Affiliation(s):
Aston University
ORCID URL:
Areas of Interest:
Alzheimer's & oxidative Stress, lipids, oxysterols, mass spectrometry
Biography & Research:
I graduated in 2003 with a BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology followed by Masters in Medical Genetics with Immunology in 2004. I took up a PhD project in Professor Helen Griffiths laboratory studying hyperactivity of neutrophils observed in inflammatory periodontitis. I continued my post-doctoral research in Professor Griffiths lab (2009-2014) that involved isolation and characterisation of modified lipids in low density lipoproteins (LDL) in plasma from cardiovascular patients and Dementia patients. Using biochemical assays, colorimetry and mass spectrometry techniques, I have shown that LDL isolated from patients with hypercholesterolemia has higher level of lipid and protein oxidation and these lipid affect neuronal cell viability and processing of amyloid beta protein in a neuronal cell line via a redox driven mechanism. These investigations resulted number of publications. In 2014, I was awarded prestigious Kidney Research UK (KRUK) Research Fellowship within the Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing at Aston University. During this time, I investigated lipid oxidative products and lipid mediators in chronic kidney disease comorbid with chronic inflammatory periodontitis. I developed high sensitive lipid biomarker detection by mass spectrometry. I use flow cytometry to investigate the effects of lipids on immune cell markers. I have used different model systems to study inflammation, including cell culture, ex vivo studies and animal models through collaborations. I was appointed as a lecturer in April 2018 in Aston Medical School. I have interdisciplinary collaborations with both scientists and clinicians and particularly interested in defining lipidomic profiles of biological fluids and understanding the underlying mechanisms and prevention strategies of disease development and progression.
