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Dr Tom Piers

Dr Tom Piers

Research Fellow

 Living Systems Institute S02.07

 

Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD

 Office hours:

08:30 – 18:00

Overview

I am an in vitro cell culture biologist specialising in iPSC-derived models of brain cells to study Alzheimer’s disease (AD). My main area of research has focussed on understanding how AD-associated genetic risk factors affect microglial function. At the LSI I will be using iPSC-derived models of cortical neurons to study synaptogenesis in the context of AD. 

Qualifications

PhD (Fibrin and fibrinogen-induced signalling pathways in microglial: Implications for neurodegeneration), Institute of Neurology, University College London (2012) 

BSc (hons) Pharmacology (Indus), University of Leeds (2007) 

Career

Senior Research Associate, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL 
iPSC models of myeloid cells to investigate the role of AD-associated risk variants – focus on mitochondrial dysfunction and senescence (2020-2021) 
Research Associate, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL (2017-2020) 
Research Associate, Therapeutic Innovation Group, UCL 
Developed iPSC models to investigate the newly identified risk variants expressed in myeloid cells – in partnership with pharma (2014-2017) 
Research Associate, Translational Neuroscience Research Group, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol (2011-2014) 
Research Assistant, GlaxoSmithKline Neurology Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, Singapore (2007-2008) 

 

Research

Research interests

Alzheimer’s disease, iPSCs, microglia, synaptogenesis, Wnt signalling, cytonemes, filopodia, cell-cell communication  

Publications

Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year

Publications by category


Journal articles

Piers TM, Cosker K, Mallach A, Johnson GT, Guerreiro R, Hardy J, Pocock JM (In Press). A locked immunometabolic switch underlies TREM2 R47H loss of function in human iPSC--derived microglia.  Abstract.
Mallach A, Gobom J, Arber C, Piers TM, Hardy J, Wray S, Zetterberg H, Pocock J (In Press). Differential stimulation of pluripotent stem cell-derived human microglia leads to exosomal proteomic changes affecting neurons.  Abstract.
Cosker K, Mallach A, Limaye J, Piers TM, Staddon J, Neame SJ, Hardy J, Pocock JM (In Press). Microglial signalling pathway deficits associated with the R47H TREM2 variant linked to AD indicate inability to activate inflammasome.  Abstract.
Magusali N, Graham AC, Piers TM, Panichnantakul P, Yaman U, Shoai M, Reynolds RH, Botia JA, Brookes KJ, Guetta-Baranes T, et al (2021). A genetic link between risk for Alzheimer's disease and severe COVID-19 outcomes via the <i>OAS1</i> gene. Brain, 144(12), 3727-3741. Abstract.
Nazish I, Arber C, Piers TM, Warner TT, Hardy JA, Lewis PA, Pocock JM, Bandopadhyay R (2021). Abrogation of LRRK2 dependent Rab10 phosphorylation with TLR4 activation and alterations in evoked cytokine release in immune cells. Neurochemistry International, 147, 105070-105070.
Mallach A, Gobom J, Arber C, Piers TM, Hardy J, Wray S, Zetterberg H, Pocock J (2021). Differential Stimulation of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Human Microglia Leads to Exosomal Proteomic Changes Affecting Neurons. Cells, 10(11), 2866-2866. Abstract.
Pocock JM, Piers TM (2018). Modelling microglial function with induced pluripotent stem cells: an update. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(8), 445-452.
Yi JH, Kim DH, Piers TM, Kim SC, Whitcomb DJ, Regan P, Cho K (2018). Postsynaptic p47phox regulates long-term depression in the hippocampus. Cell Discovery, 4(1). Abstract.
Jebelli JD, Piers TM (2015). Amyloid-β oligomers unveil a novel primate model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9
Whitcomb DJ, Hogg EL, Regan P, Piers T, Narayan P, Whitehead G, Winters BL, Kim D-H, Kim E, St George-Hyslop P, et al (2015). Intracellular oligomeric amyloid-beta rapidly regulates GluA1 subunit of AMPA receptor in the hippocampus. Scientific Reports, 5(1). Abstract.
Sadeghian M, Mullali G, Pocock JM, Piers T, Roach A, Smith KJ (2015). Neuroprotection by safinamide in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of Parkinson's disease. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 42(5), 423-435.
Jebelli J, Piers T, Pocock J (2015). Selective Depletion of Microglia from Cerebellar Granule Cell Cultures Using L-leucine Methyl Ester. Journal of Visualized Experiments(101).
Regan P, Piers T, Yi J-H, Kim D-H, Huh S, Park SJ, Ryu JH, Whitcomb DJ, Cho K (2015). Tau Phosphorylation at Serine 396 Residue is Required for Hippocampal LTD. The Journal of Neuroscience, 35(12), 4804-4812. Abstract.
Kimura T, Whitcomb DJ, Jo J, Regan P, Piers T, Heo S, Brown C, Hashikawa T, Murayama M, Seok H, et al (2014). Microtubule-associated protein tau is essential for long-term depression in the hippocampus. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1633), 20130144-20130144. Abstract.
Whitehead G, Jo J, Hogg EL, Piers T, Kim D-H, Seaton G, Seok H, Bru-Mercier G, Son GH, Regan P, et al (2013). Acute stress causes rapid synaptic insertion of Ca2+ -permeable AMPA receptors to facilitate long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Brain, 136(Pt 12), 3753-3765. Abstract.  Author URL.
Morsali D, Bechtold D, Lee W, Chauhdry S, Palchaudhuri U, Hassoon P, Snell DM, Malpass K, Piers T, Pocock J, et al (2013). Safinamide and flecainide protect axons and reduce microglial activation in models of multiple sclerosis. Brain, 136(4), 1067-1082.
Piers TM, Kim DH, Kim BC, Regan P, Whitcomb DJ, Cho K (2012). Translational Concepts of mGluR5 in Synaptic Diseases of the Brain. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 3
Piers TM, Heales SJ, Pocock JM (2011). Positive allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 down-regulates fibrinogen-activated microglia providing neuronal protection. Neuroscience Letters, 505(2), 140-145.
Hirano K, Piers TM, Searle KL, Miller ND, Rutter AR, Chapman PF (2009). Procognitive 5-HT6 antagonists in the rat forced swimming test: Potential therapeutic utility in mood disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease. Life Sciences, 84(15-16), 558-562.

Publications by year


In Press

Piers TM, Cosker K, Mallach A, Johnson GT, Guerreiro R, Hardy J, Pocock JM (In Press). A locked immunometabolic switch underlies TREM2 R47H loss of function in human iPSC--derived microglia.  Abstract.
Mallach A, Gobom J, Arber C, Piers TM, Hardy J, Wray S, Zetterberg H, Pocock J (In Press). Differential stimulation of pluripotent stem cell-derived human microglia leads to exosomal proteomic changes affecting neurons.  Abstract.
Cosker K, Mallach A, Limaye J, Piers TM, Staddon J, Neame SJ, Hardy J, Pocock JM (In Press). Microglial signalling pathway deficits associated with the R47H TREM2 variant linked to AD indicate inability to activate inflammasome.  Abstract.

2021

Magusali N, Graham AC, Piers TM, Panichnantakul P, Yaman U, Shoai M, Reynolds RH, Botia JA, Brookes KJ, Guetta-Baranes T, et al (2021). A genetic link between risk for Alzheimer's disease and severe COVID-19 outcomes via the <i>OAS1</i> gene. Brain, 144(12), 3727-3741. Abstract.
Nazish I, Arber C, Piers TM, Warner TT, Hardy JA, Lewis PA, Pocock JM, Bandopadhyay R (2021). Abrogation of LRRK2 dependent Rab10 phosphorylation with TLR4 activation and alterations in evoked cytokine release in immune cells. Neurochemistry International, 147, 105070-105070.
Mallach A, Gobom J, Arber C, Piers TM, Hardy J, Wray S, Zetterberg H, Pocock J (2021). Differential Stimulation of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Human Microglia Leads to Exosomal Proteomic Changes Affecting Neurons. Cells, 10(11), 2866-2866. Abstract.

2018

Pocock JM, Piers TM (2018). Modelling microglial function with induced pluripotent stem cells: an update. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(8), 445-452.
Yi JH, Kim DH, Piers TM, Kim SC, Whitcomb DJ, Regan P, Cho K (2018). Postsynaptic p47phox regulates long-term depression in the hippocampus. Cell Discovery, 4(1). Abstract.

2015

Jebelli JD, Piers TM (2015). Amyloid-β oligomers unveil a novel primate model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 9
Whitcomb DJ, Hogg EL, Regan P, Piers T, Narayan P, Whitehead G, Winters BL, Kim D-H, Kim E, St George-Hyslop P, et al (2015). Intracellular oligomeric amyloid-beta rapidly regulates GluA1 subunit of AMPA receptor in the hippocampus. Scientific Reports, 5(1). Abstract.
Sadeghian M, Mullali G, Pocock JM, Piers T, Roach A, Smith KJ (2015). Neuroprotection by safinamide in the 6-hydroxydopamine model of Parkinson's disease. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, 42(5), 423-435.
Jebelli J, Piers T, Pocock J (2015). Selective Depletion of Microglia from Cerebellar Granule Cell Cultures Using L-leucine Methyl Ester. Journal of Visualized Experiments(101).
Regan P, Piers T, Yi J-H, Kim D-H, Huh S, Park SJ, Ryu JH, Whitcomb DJ, Cho K (2015). Tau Phosphorylation at Serine 396 Residue is Required for Hippocampal LTD. The Journal of Neuroscience, 35(12), 4804-4812. Abstract.

2014

Kimura T, Whitcomb DJ, Jo J, Regan P, Piers T, Heo S, Brown C, Hashikawa T, Murayama M, Seok H, et al (2014). Microtubule-associated protein tau is essential for long-term depression in the hippocampus. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1633), 20130144-20130144. Abstract.

2013

Whitehead G, Jo J, Hogg EL, Piers T, Kim D-H, Seaton G, Seok H, Bru-Mercier G, Son GH, Regan P, et al (2013). Acute stress causes rapid synaptic insertion of Ca2+ -permeable AMPA receptors to facilitate long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Brain, 136(Pt 12), 3753-3765. Abstract.  Author URL.
Morsali D, Bechtold D, Lee W, Chauhdry S, Palchaudhuri U, Hassoon P, Snell DM, Malpass K, Piers T, Pocock J, et al (2013). Safinamide and flecainide protect axons and reduce microglial activation in models of multiple sclerosis. Brain, 136(4), 1067-1082.

2012

Piers TM, Kim DH, Kim BC, Regan P, Whitcomb DJ, Cho K (2012). Translational Concepts of mGluR5 in Synaptic Diseases of the Brain. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 3

2011

Piers TM, Heales SJ, Pocock JM (2011). Positive allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 down-regulates fibrinogen-activated microglia providing neuronal protection. Neuroscience Letters, 505(2), 140-145.

2009

Hirano K, Piers TM, Searle KL, Miller ND, Rutter AR, Chapman PF (2009). Procognitive 5-HT6 antagonists in the rat forced swimming test: Potential therapeutic utility in mood disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease. Life Sciences, 84(15-16), 558-562.

Tom_Piers Details from cache as at 2023-09-24 22:45:06

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