Projects per year
Personal profile
Key Research Interests
I am a biomedical research scientist with a background in Molecular Biology and Nutrition. I have expertise in a wide range of molecular and analytical techniques, and experience in both preclinical and clinical research settings.
Research interests
Optimising diet for health and wellbeing across the lifespan: My research broadly explores how dietary patterns, nutrient composition, and metabolic responses impact both physical and cognitive health. I am particularly interested in the interplay between individual factors such as sex, age, and hormonal status and diet, and how these interactions influence health outcomes across the lifespan
Sex differences in the context of brian health: A key area of my research focuses on the intersection of nutrition, brain health, and disease, with particular emphasis on how sex differences, often overlooked in biomedical research, modulate these relationships. Currently, my work investigates the impact of sex and menopause on cognitive decline and susceptibility to dementia. This research aims to inform the development of targeted strategies for the early detection and prevention of dementia in at-risk populations.
Awards:
- RANK new lecturer prize (2024)
- Nutrition society paper of the month (2024)
- Quality Juice Award - Best young researcher (2021)
Teaching Interests
I am lecturer and module organiser for the Applied Physiology, Biochemistry and nutrition module of the masters dietetics programme.
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Metabolomic signatures in menopause mediated Alzheimer’s development
1/07/24 → 30/06/25
Project: Research
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Menopausal transition and APOE4 mediated Alzheimer’s vulnerability
1/06/25 → 31/05/27
Project: Research
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Sex, Menopause and spontaneous Alzheimer’s disease
Pontifex, M. G., Muller, M. & Vauzour, D.
1/10/22 → 30/09/24
Project: Research
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The gut microbiota in menopause: Is there a role for prebiotic and probiotic solutions?
Liaquat, M., Minihane, A. M., Vauzour, D. & Pontifex, M. G., 7 May 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Post Reproductive Health.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
(Poly)phenol-rich grape and blueberry extract prevents LPS-induced disruption of the blood-brain barrier through the modulation of the gut microbiota-derived uremic toxins
Connell, E., Le Gall, G., McArthur, S., Lang, L., Breeze, B., Pontifex, M. G., Sami, S., Pourtau, L., Gaudout, D., Müller, M. & Vauzour, D., Nov 2024, In: Neurochemistry International. 180, 105878.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
(Poly)phenols and brain health – beyond their antioxidant capacity
Hunt, T., Pontifex, M. G. & Vauzour, D., Dec 2024, In: FEBS Letters. 598, 24, p. 2949-2962 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile25 Downloads (Pure) -
A novel Mediterranean diet-inspired supplement ameliorates cognitive, microbial, and metabolic deficits in a mouse model of low-grade inflammation
Pontifex, M. G., Connell, E., Le Gall, G., Lang, L., Pourtau, L., Gaudout, D., Angeloni, C., Zallocco, L., Ronci, M., Giusti, L., Müller, M. & Vauzour, D., Jun 2024, In: Gut Microbes. 16, 1, 2363011.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile13 Downloads (Pure) -
Cerebrovascular damage caused by the gut microbe/host co-metabolite p-cresol sulfate is prevented by blockade of the EGF receptor
Shah, S. N., Knausenberger, T. B-A., Pontifex, M. G., Connell, E., Le Gall, G., Hardy, T. A. J., Randall, D. W., McCafferty, K., Yaqoob, M. M., Solito, E., Müller, M., Stachulski, A. V., Glen, R. C., Vauzour, D., Hoyles, L. & McArthur, S., 31 Dec 2024, In: Gut Microbes. 16, 1, 2431651.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile13 Downloads (Pure)