Professor Richard Mead

BSc, MSc, PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

Professor of Translational Neuroscience

Richard Mead
Profile picture of Richard Mead
r.j.mead@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2256
+44 114 222 2278 (Administrator: Heather Cartledge)
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)

Full contact details

Professor Richard Mead
School of Medicine and Population Health
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
Profile

2026 – present: Professor of Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience

2018 – 2025: Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience

2017- 2025: Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Keapstone Therapeutics (UoS spin-out)

2019 – 2023: Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Lead, Faculty of Health

2013 – 2018: Kenneth Snowman-MND Association Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience

2010 – 2013: SITraN Senior Research fellow in Translational Neuroscience, TV, UK.

2005 – 2010: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, TV, UK.

2002 – 2004: Pharmacology Team leader, Celltech/UCB, Cambridge, UK.

2001 – 2002: Postdoctoral research assistant, Department of Biochemistry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.

1998 – 2001: PhD (Neuroimmunology), University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.

Research interests

My research is dedicated to Translational Neuroscience, with a primary focus on identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/MND) and other neurodegenerative disorders. My work bridges the gap between fundamental biology and clinical application, combining advanced preclinical modelling with innovative drug discovery strategies to develop new interventions.

My key areas of interest are in:

Drug Discovery and Development

The NRF2-ARE Pathway

A major focus of my lab is harnessing the NRF2 antioxidant pathway for neuroprotection. This includes the development of M102 (a dual NRF2/HSF-1 activator) which has obtained orphan drug designation and is now ready for Phase 1 clinical trials, and the co-founding of Keapstone Therapeutics to develop KEAP1 inhibitors.

AI-Augmented Discovery

I have collaborated extensively with industry partners like BenevolentAI to utilize artificial intelligence for identifying novel targets. This partnership has successfully nominated clinical candidates and identified repurposed drugs such as gefitinib and JAK inhibitors as potential ALS therapeutics. We are now working to incorporate AI driven drug discovery approaches (via collaboration with OpenFold) into our drug discovery

Gene and Stem Cell Therapies

Beyond small molecules, I am interested in cell and gene therapies, with recent projects evaluating ATXN2 gene therapy in vivo and the use of adipose-derived stem cells to protect motor neurons and reduce glial activation.

Innovative Biomarker Technology

In collaboration with Dr. James Alix, I have identified translational biomarkers such as CMAP which can be applied in both mouse models and humans and the use of Raman spectroscopy combined with electromyography (Optical EMG) as a sensitive, non-invasive tool for detecting muscle pathology and monitoring disease progression.

We have also developed mass spectrometry biomarkers of oxidative stress 

Native Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Working with the University of Birmingham, we are applying cutting-edge mass spectrometry imaging to visualize protein-metal complexes (such as SOD1) directly in tissue, revealing new insights into proteinopathies  in ALS.

Disease Mechanisms

My lab employs a diverse range of in vitro and in vivo models (SOD1, C9orf72, TDP-43) to dissect critical disease mechanisms. Recent work in collaboration with Dr Matt Livesey has identified a promising strategy to rebalance neuronal network properties in ALS.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Keerie AF, Martins RR, Allen CF, Bowden K, Al Mashhadi S, Marlow T, Myszczynska M, Thakur N, Beal SN, Shaw A , Suresh S et al (2025) . Molecular Neurodegeneration, 20.
  • Pham TK, Verber N, Turner MR, Malaspina A, Collins MO, Mead RJ & Shaw PJ (2025) . Translational Neurodegeneration, 14(1).
  • Badger SE, Coldicott I, Kyrgiou-Balli E, Higginbottom A, Moutin C, Mohd Imran K, Day JC, Cooper-Knock J, Mead RJ & Alix JJP (2025) . Disease Models & Mechanisms, 18(2).
  • McKinnon S, Qiang Z, Keerie A, Wells T, Shaw PJ, Alix JJP & Mead RJ (2025) . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 26(3-4), 322-330.
  • Alix JJP, Plesia M, Stockholm D, Shaw PJ, Mead RJ & Day JCC (2024) . Analytical Chemistry, 96(40), 15991-15997.
  • Hale OJ, Wells TR, Mead RJ & Cooper HJ (2024) . Nature Communications, 15.
  • Alix JJP, Plesia M, Dudgeon AP, Kendall CA, Hewamadduma C, Hadjivassiliou M, Gorman GS, Taylor RW, McDermott CJ, Shaw PJ , Mead RJ et al (2024) . The Analyst, 149(9), 2738-2746.
  • Richardson PJ, Smith DP, de Giorgio A, Snetkov X, Almond-Thynne J, Cronin S, Mead RJ, McDermott CJ & Shaw PJ (2023) . Translational Neurodegeneration, 12(1).
  • Alix JJP, Plesia M, Shaw PJ, Mead RJ & Day JCC (2023) . Muscle & Nerve, 68(4), 464-470.
  • Allen SP, Al Sultan A, Kabucho Kibirige E, Tonkiss E, Hamer KJ, Castelli LM, Lin Y-H, Roscoe S, Stefanidis N, Mead RJ , Highley JR et al (2023) . Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15.
  • Castelli LM, Lin Y-H, Sanchez-Martinez A, Gül A, Imran KM, Higginbottom A, Márkus NM, Upadhyay SK, Martins AW, Cooper-Knock J , Montmasson C et al (2023) . Science Translational Medicine, 15(685).
  • Alix JJP, Plesia M, Schooling CN, Dudgeon AP, Kendall CA, Kadirkamanathan V, McDermott CJ, Gorman GS, Taylor RW, Mead RJ , Shaw PJ et al (2023) . Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 54(3), 258-268.
  • Mead RJ, Shan N, Reiser HJ, Marshall F & Shaw PJ (2023) . Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 22(3), 185-212.
  • Cooper‐Knock J, Julian TH, Feneberg E, Highley JR, Sidra M, Turner MR, Talbot K, Ansorge O, Allen SP, Moll T , Shelkovnikova T et al (2023) . Brain Pathology, 33(1).
  • Alix JJP, Plesia M, Hool SA, Coldicott I, Kendall CA, Shaw PJ, Mead RJ & Day JC (2022) . Muscle and Nerve, 66(3), 362-369.
  • Kirby AJ, Palmer T, Mead RJ, Ichiyama RM & Chakrabarty S (2022) . Antioxidants, 11(5).
  • Anton A, Mead RJ, Shaw PJ, Edden RAE, Bigley J, Jenkins TM, Wild JM, Hoggard N & Wilkinson ID (2022) . Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 55(2), 435-442.
  • Roesl C, Evans ER, Dissanayake KN, Boczonadi V, Jones RA, Jordan GR, Ledahawsky L, Allen GCC, Scott M, Thomson A , Wishart TM et al (2021) . Biomolecules, 11(10).
  • Jiménez-Villegas J, Ferraiuolo L, Mead RJ, Shaw PJ, Cuadrado A & Rojo AI (2021) . Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 173, 125-141.
  • Keerie A, Brown-Wright H, Kirkland I, Grierson A, Alix JJP, Holscher C & Mead RJ (2021) . Scientific Reports, 11.
  • Watkins JA, Alix JJP, Shaw PJ & Mead RJ (2021) . Scientific Reports, 11(1).
  • Ciervo Y, Gatto N, Allen C, Grierson A, Ferraiuolo L, Mead RJ & Shaw PJ (2021) . Molecular Therapy — Methods & Clinical Development, 21, 413-433.
  • Pham TK, Buczek WA, Mead RJ, Shaw PJ & Collins MO (2021) . Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 14.
  • Watkins J, Ghosh A, Keerie AFA, Alix JJP, Mead RJ & Sreedharan J (2021) . Sci Rep, 11(1), 11058.
  • Plesia M, Stevens OA, Lloyd GR, Kendall CA, Coldicott I, Kennerley AJ, Miller G, Shaw PJ, Mead RJ, Day JCC & Alix JJP (2021) . ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 12(10), 1768-1776.
  • Watkins J, Ghosh A, Keerie AFA, Alix JJP, Mead RJ & Sreedharan J (2020) . Scientific Reports, 10(1).
  • Myszczynska MA, Ojamies PN, Lacoste AMB, Neil D, Saffari A, Mead R, Hautbergue GM, Holbrook JD & Ferraiuolo L (2020) . Nature Reviews Neurology, 16, 440-456.
  • White MA, Lin Z, Kim E, Henstridge CM, Pena Altamira E, Hunt CK, Burchill E, Callaghan I, Loreto A, Brown-Wright H , Mead R et al (2019) . Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 7(-), ---.
  • White MA, Kim E, Duffy A, Adalbert R, Phillips BU, Peters OM, Stephenson J, Yang S, Massenzio F, Lin Z , Andrews S et al (2018) . Nature Neuroscience, 21(8), 1138-1138.
  • Ciervo Y, Ning K, Ning K, Jun X, Shaw PJ & Mead RJ (2017) . Molecular neurodegeneration, 12(1), 85.
  • Bennett EJ, Mead RJ, Azzouz M, Shaw PJ & Grierson AJ (2014) . PloS one, 9(9), e107918.
  • Mead RJ, Higginbottom A, Allen SP, Kirby J, Bennett E, Barber SC, Heath PR, Coluccia A, Patel N, Gardner I , Brancale A et al (2013) . Free Radic Biol Med, 61, 438-452.
  • Mead RJ, Bennett EJ, Kennerley AJ, Sharp P, Sunyach C, Kasher P, Berwick J, Pettmann B, Battaglia G, Azzouz M , Grierson A et al (2011) . PLOS ONE, 6(8).
  • Valori CF, Ning K, Wyles M, Mead RJ, Grierson AJ, Shaw PJ & Azzouz M (2010) . Sci Transl Med, 2(35), 35ra42.
  • Ludolph AC, Bendotti C, Blaugrund E, Chio A, Greensmith L, Loeffler JP, Mead R, Niessen HG, Petri S, Pradat PF , Robberecht W et al (2010) . AMYOTROPH LATERAL SC, 11(1-2), 38-45.
  • Barber SC, Higginbottom A, Mead RJ, Barber S & Shaw PJ (2009) . Free Radic Biol Med, 46(8), 1127-1138.
  • Wood-Allum CA, Barber SC, Kirby J, Heath P, Holden H, Mead R, Higginbottom A, Allen S, Beaujeux T, Alexson SE , Ince PG et al (2006) . Brain, 129(Pt 7), 1693-1709.
  • Barber SC, Mead RJ & Shaw PJ (2006) . Biochim Biophys Acta, 1762(11-12), 1051-1067.
  • Mead RJ, Neal JW, Griffiths MR, Linington C, Botto M, Lassmann H & Morgan BP (2004) . Lab Invest, 84(1), 21-28.
  • Mead RJ, Neal JW, Griffiths MR, Linington C, Botto M, Lassmann H & Morgan BP (2004) . Laboratory Investigation, 84(1), 21-28.
  • Hanna SM, Spiller OB, Linton SM, Mead RJ & Morgan BP (2002) Rat T cells express neither CD55 nor CD59 and are dependent on Crry for protection from homologous complement.. Eur J Immunol, 32(2), 502-509.
  • Mead RJ, Singhrao SK, Neal JW, Lassmann H & Morgan BP (2002) . J Immunol, 168(1), 458-465.
  • Mead RJ, Singhrao S, Neal JW & Paul Morgan B (2000) . Immunopharmacology, 49(1-2), 7-7.
  • Mead R, Hinchliffe SJ & Morgan BP (1999) . Immunology, 98(1), 137-143.
  • Mead RJ, Hinchliffe SJ & Morgan BP (1998) . Molecular Immunology, 35(6-7), 377-377.
  • Mead R, Jack D, Pembrey M, Tyfield L & Turner M (1997) . LANCET, 349(9066), 1669-1670.
  • Mortimer AJ, Sander CF, Parmar AR, Williams AJ, Azzouz M, Hautbergue GM, Shaw PJ, Ferraiuolo L & Mead RJ () . Scientific Reports.
  • Gaffey F, McCoull D, Vaitone E, Hedges E, Lovejoy C, Yao Z, Wright PD, Mead RJ & Stebbeds W () . Scientific Reports, 15(1).
  • White MA, Kim E, Duffy A, Adalbert R, Phillips BU, Peters OM, Stephenson J, Yang S, Massenzio F, Lin Z , Andrews S et al () . Nature Neuroscience, 21, 552-563.

Conference proceedings

  • Ciervo Y, Coldicott I, Myszczynska M, Stopford M, Allen C, Grierson A, Xu J, Ferraiuolo L, Ning K, Shaw PJ & Mead RJ (2019) Adipose derived stem cells for cell therapy of motor neuron disease (MND). HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A16-A16)

Preprints

  • Keerie AF, Martins RR, Allen CF, Mashhadi SA, Bowden K, Marlow T, Myszczynska M, Thakur N, Beal SN, Shaw A , Suresh S et al (2025) , Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  • Mole AJ, Sander CF, Parmar AR, Williams AJ, Azzouz M, Hautbergue GM, Shaw PJ, Ferraiuolo L & Mead RJ (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Myszczynska MA, Stopford MJ, Márkus NM, Nyberg SEL, Stone NL, Granger SM, Shaw AC, Martins RR, Allen CF, Keerie AFA , Wells TR et al (2025) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Keerie AF, Martins RR, Allen CF, Bowden K, Al Mashhadi S, Marlow T, Myszczynska M, Thakur N, Beal SN, Shaw A , Suresh S et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • McKinnon S, Qiang Z, Keerie A, Wells T, Shaw PJ, Alix JJP & Mead RJ (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

Post-Doctoral Research Associates

  • Dr Amelia Byers
  • Dr Doaa Taha

Research Technicians

  • Amandeep Kaur
  • Chiara Sander

Current PhD Students

  • Finbar Gaffey (Royal Commission of 1851 Scholarship)
  • Viktoria Brachmaier (Royal Commission of 1851 Scholarship)

Former Staff and PhD students

  • Dr Alannah Mole (Pre-Fellow, MNDA)
  • Dr Marilina Douloudi (Field Application Scientist, MaxWell Biosystems)
  • Dr Scott McKinnon (Post Doctoral Research Associate, TV)
  • Dr Sophie Badger (Post Doctoral Research Associate, TV)
  • Dr Amy Keerie (Post Doctoral Research Associate, TV)
  • Dr Martyna Matuszyk (Programme Manager, NIHR)
  • Dr Ruth Thomas (Post Doctoral Research Associate, TV)
  • Dr Nazia Maroof (Biomarker Experimental Medicine Scientist, Roche)
  • Dr Matthew Stopford (Senior Medical Writer, Helios Medical Communications)
  • Dr Nora Markus (Lead Scientist, Nxera Pharma)
  • Dr Nicole Stone (Lead Scientist External Drug Discovery, Medicines Discovery Catapult)
  • Dr Trong Khoa Pham (Senior Technical Specialist, TV)
  • Dr Matthew Sellwood (Director at IQVIA)
  • Dr Jodie Watkins (Senior Scientist, MSD)
  • Dr Heledd Brown-Wright (Clinical Research Coordinator, University of Queensland)
  • Dr Yuri Ciervo (Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Università degli Studi di Padova
  • Dr Maria Plesia (Teacher Training, Sheffield Hallam University)
  • Ms Amisha Parmar (PhD scholarship, University of Turin)
  • Ms Shivani Suresh (DPhil scholarship, University of Oxford )
Grants
  • Medical Research Council
  • Parkinson’s UK
  • Fight MND
  • ALS Association (US)
  • Motor Neuron Disease Association, UK
  • TV IP development and commercialisation fund
  • Various Industry funded projects
Teaching activities

I teach and co-lead a module on the MSc course in Translational Neuroscience and lead a module on the Masters course in Advanced Therapies running in SITraN. My teaching focusses on preclinical study design, analysis of motor function, statistics and drug discovery.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Alzheimer’s Research UK: Chair, Drug Discovery Alliance Advisory Group (2025–present); Member (2020–2025).
  • My Name’5 Doddie Foundation: Inaugural Chair, Research Review Committee (March 2023–December 2025).
  • MND Drug Discovery & Development Roadmap: Expert Steering Group Member (2023). Co-authored international guidelines in partnership with the MND Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, and Medicines Discovery Catapult.
  • Medical Research Council (MRC): Panel Chair, Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) / Confidence in Concept Scheme (July 2019–2023).
  • MND Association: Member, Biomedical Research Advisory Panel (BRAP) (April 2015–October 2019).
  • Member of the British Pharmacological Society (2014–present) and British Neuroscience Association (2024–present).
  • Peer Review: Grant reviewer for the MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, UKRI, LifeArc, MND Association, Parkinson’s UK, Fight MND, AriSLA, and the European Science Foundation.
Current projects and collaborators
  • AI-Driven Target Discovery and drug discovery: Machine learning for identification of novel targets and preclinical development in ALS.
    • Collaborators: John Cooper-Knock, OpenFold.
  • M102 Clinical Development: Progression of M102 (NRF2/HSF1 activator) for ALS.
    • Collaborators: Aclipse Therapeutics, Prof. Pamela Shaw
  • Cortical Hyperexcitability & Presynaptic Dysfunction: Investigating synaptic failure and network properties in ALS/FTD.
    • Collaborators: Dr. Matthew Livesey, Dr. Kurt De Vos
  • On-target Repositioning Candidates: Jakinibs as potential repurposing candidates for MND.
    • Collaborators: LifeArc, Prof. Pamela Shaw, Prof. Chris McDermott.
  • iPSC Screening Platforms: Development of iPSC-derived motor neuron screening and iPSC derived MN-Astrocyte co-cultures.
    • Collaborators: LifeArc, Dr. Will, Stebbeds, Dr Sarah Jolly.
  • Novel Disease Readouts (Optical EMG): Development of Raman spectroscopy combined with electromyography for detecting muscle pathology.
    • Collaborators: Dr. James Alix
  • Native Mass Spectrometry Imaging: Visualizing protein-metal complexes (e.g., SOD1) directly in preclinical and post-mortem ALS tissue.
    • Collaborators: Dr. Helen Cooper and Dr. Oliver Hale (University of Birmingham), Dr. Robin Highley.
  • Metabolic Defects: Investigating NRF2 pathway signalling and metabolic dysregulation in ALS.
    • Collaborators: Dr. Scott Allen.

Links

Administrator: Heather Cartledge contact