BNA Council
The Council is the main governing body of the BNA and includes the Trustees/Directors of the Association.
Council members meet at least four times per year. They are charged with defining and managing the strategic plan, setting policy and making operational decisions on behalf of the membership.
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.
Tara Spires-Jones
Professor Tara Spires-Jones, DPhil(Oxon), FMedSci is Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on mechanisms of synapse degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. She discovered that soluble forms of the pathological proteins amyloid beta and tau contribute to synapse degeneration. Further, her group demonstrated that pathological forms of tau spread through the brain via synaptic connections.
In addition to research, Prof Spires-Jones is passionate about communicating scientific findings to the public; increasing the rigour and reproducibility in translational neuroscience; promoting inclusivity and diversity in science; and supporting career development of neuroscientists.
Trevor Bushell
Trevor Bushell studied Pharmacology at the University of Glasgow, which got him interested in neuroscience and how brain function can be modulated by GPCRs. This interest continued in his PhD at the University of Bristol looking at the effects of novel metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists and antagonists on neuronal function.
Then, having obtained a Wellcome Trust International Travelling Fellowship, Trevor worked at the University of Chicago for 3 years and returned to work at Imperial College London in January 2000. He gained his first academic position at the University of Strathclyde in 2002, with his current research interests based on astrocytes, neuroinflammation and their role in CNS disorders. Trevor has been involved in BNA governance on and off for over 10 years.
Sarah King
Sarah is a molecular neuroscientist in the Biological and Clinical Neuroscience group in the School of Psychology and a member of Sussex Neuroscience. She obtained her BSc in Biology at the University of Bristol, followed by an MSc in Molecular Genetics and a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. Sarah then went to Yale University where she worked as a postdoctoral associate in the Molecular Psychiatry Department for 7 years, before returning to a lecturership at Sussex. She was promoted to Reader in 2014.
Talitha Kerrigan
Dr. Talitha Kerrigan is a Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.
Dr. Kerrigan is dedicated to advancing the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases, contributing to potential therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's.
Talitha's research focuses on the dynamic role of astrocyte-secreted apolipoprotein E4 in Alzheimer's disease, using induced pluripotent stem cells from donor patients. She is also investigating the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease, particularly the mechanisms of amyloid beta clearance.
Dr Matthew Brown
Dr Matthew Brown is a research-strategy leader working at the intersection of digital technology and global mental health. He is currently Head of Digital Technology, Mental Health & Life Sciences at Wellcome, where he leads strategic portfolios that accelerate the development, evaluation and responsible adoption of data-driven tools for mental health and the broader life sciences
Trained as a neuroscientist, Matthew holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and has conducted research across cellular, circuit and cognitive neuroscience, with previous academic posts at Imperial College London and the University of Geneva. He brings this deep scientific grounding to his current work shaping large-scale research investments and collaborative programmes.
At Wellcome, Matthew manages portfolios spanning digital mental-health technologies, foundational neuroscience infrastructure, data access, software, and skills development. His work includes co-designing new models for international neuroscientific collaboration, supporting regulatory guidance for digital mental-health tools, and establishing capacity-building initiatives such as the first African Bioinformatics Institute.
Matthew has extensive experience working across academia, philanthropy, industry and regulation, and currently serves on several advisory and steering boards, including for the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative and the MHRA. He is passionate about strengthening the neuroscience ecosystem through collaboration, open science and inclusive research cultures.
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.
Sara Purdy
Sara Purdy is an interim Chief Executive, most recently working for the British Institute of Radiology - the oldest radiological society in the world. The BIR supports those working in radiation oncology and the underlying sciences through education in many forms, including events, webinars and research published in its journals.
With a career starting in scholarly publishing and spanning 30 years, Sara has helped numerous societies and membership organisations navigate the complexities of scholarly publishing, to fulfil their charitable objects while delivering important revenue streams. While working at Elsevier, Sara managed their prestigious behavioural neuroscience books and journal portfolio, attending SfN and IBNS conferences and events.
Sara has significant senior leadership experience from across the charity and private sectors, including roles at Sage, the British Society for Immunology and the National Gallery Company.
Bethany Facer
Bethany Facer is currently completing her PhD at the University of Liverpool, where she’s exploring structural brain changes in people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, using neuroimaging. Alongside her research, she’s passionate about making neuroscience accessible and creating better opportunities for students and early-career researchers to get involved, be heard, and feel supported.
She has developed and delivered public engagement initiatives for ECRs, such as science-comedy nights, and regularly contributes to science podcasts and outreach events. As Early Career & Student Trustee, Beth is keen to strengthen opportunities for ECRs across the UK, helping to make neuroscience more inclusive, visible, and connected.
Sandrine Willaime-Morawek
Dr Sandrine Willaime-Morawek is Associate Professor in Stem Cells and Neurobiology at the University of Southampton, where she leads research into how brain development and function are influenced by external factors such as maternal diet, and how stem cells can be used to model neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Her work bridges basic science with clinical and industry applications, and she plays a key role in postgraduate education as Director of the Graduate School in the Faculty of Medicine.
As Education and Professional Development Trustee for the BNA, Dr Willaime-Morawek brings her extensive experience in neuroscience research and training to support the development of educational initiatives and career pathways for neuroscientists at all stages.