Dr James A. Roberts BSc, MRes, PhD

Dr James A. Roberts

Department of Biomedical Sciences
Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Contact details

Address
Robert Aitken Institute for Clinical Research
Department of Biomedical Sciences
College of Medicine and Health
University of Birmingham
B15 2TT

Dr James Roberts is a post-doctoral research fellow working as a translational neuroscientist within the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His work incorporates brain and ocular health, integrating therapeutic strategies alongside novel drug delivery technologies for better patient outcomes.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 2024
  • MRes in Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 2020
  • BSc in Pharmacology, 2019

Biography

Dr James Roberts has a background in cellular and molecular physiology, acquiring a PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2024 exploring how the cytoprotective transcription factor NRF2 can mitigate the cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapeutics. In his role as a post-doctoral research fellow, Dr Roberts investigates novel therapeutics and drug delivery strategies for neurodegenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma in a variety of preclinical models. This research supports the neuroscience and ophthalmology team led by Professor Lisa Hill and Dr Hannah Botfield.

Dr Roberts is also integrated within a portfolio of traumatic brain injury (TBI) clinical studies including mTBI-Predict, a major international project funded by The U.S. Department of Defense, specifically within the biofluids workstream.

Dr Roberts is passionate about translating research into tangible impact for patients through a variety of pathways including collaboration and commercialisation. Moreover, he is dedicated to advancing the next generation of researchers by providing supervision (including BSc and MSci projects), laboratory training and comprehensive support for their personal and professional development.

Research

Research interests

  • Developing preclinical models of neurodegenerative and ophthalmological disorders (including glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration)
  • Investigating pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to neurodegenerative diseases including oxidative stress, extracellular matrix dynamics, and inflammation
  • Developing and re-purposing therapies for age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma
  • Advancing therapeutic delivery strategies for disorders of the eye and brain
  • Identifying biomarkers for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases including traumatic brain injury