Events Committee
We're growing!
Following a vote at the 2025 Annual General Meeting, the structure and composition of our governing committees and groups are changing.
We'll soon be recruiting new people into various leadership positions - check back soon for more information.
Narender Ramnani
Professor Narender Ramnani is a Professor of Neuroscience and Vice Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway.
Narender's research focuses on understanding brain systems and the mechanisms behind human behaviour, particularly the interactions between the frontal lobe and cerebellar plasticity. His work explores how these processes support cognitive and motor learning, using techniques such as functional MRI, eye tracking, and behavioral methods.In addition to research, Prof Ramnani is passionate about research policy and sits on the UK Gov Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and Advance HE’s Race Equality Charter Governance Committee.
Julie Williams
Prof Julie Williams is a world leader in the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and former Chief Scientific Advisor to the Welsh Government. She was the founding Centre Director for UK DRI at Cardiff from 2017-2024. With a background in Psychology, Julie obtained her PhD from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology. She joined University of Wales College of Medicine in 1991 as a Research Assistant, rising to Reader in Neuropsychological Genetics. As a co-lead in global initiatives her group has contributed to the discovery of over 40 susceptibility loci for AD. These findings implicate the role of immunity in disease development and specifically the contribution of microglia. Computational genetics of AD shows it to be a disease of multiple components which together, allow the prediction of those at high risk. Julie’s contribution to the field was recognised with a CBE in 2012. She is also an advocate for women in STEMM, commissioning a report that aimed to address the gender imbalance in science, published in 2016. Julie is also a member of the Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences and their champion in Wales.
Louise Tratt
Dayne Beccano-Kelly
Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly’s research focuses on synaptic changes that contribute to the earliest stages and progression of neurodegeneration. After completing a BSc and PhD (in Biochemistry and Electrophysiology in Alzheimer’s respectively) at the University of Leeds, he undertook postdoctoral work at the University of Dundee and the University of British Columbia, focusing on synaptic biology in Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s. He began a Parkinson’s UK Career Development Fellowship at the University of Oxford in 2015, incorporating stem cell technology into his work. In 2021, Dr Beccano-Kelly received the prestigious Future Leaders Fellowship from UK Research & Innovation, joining the UK DRI as a Group Leader.