Ashleigh is a postdoctoral research associate in the Childhood Dementia Research Group, where her work focuses on understanding and treating rare, devastating childhood dementias. Having recently completed her PhD in lysosomal storage disorders, Ashleigh is driven by a passion for uncovering the cellular mechanisms behind neurodegeneration and translating that knowledge into future therapies for children and their families.

Read on to learn what sparked her love of research, what keeps her motivated in the lab, and how she unwinds outside of work.

What is your role and what does your work focus on?

I’m currently working as a postdoctoral research associate in the Childhood Dementia Research Group. My research focuses on exploring potential treatments for Sanfilippo syndrome and GM1 gangliosidosis, two devastating forms of childhood dementia that currently have no approved therapies. We are using mouse models of each disease to assess the safety and effectiveness of some promising drug candidates.

Where did you work before joining CMPH?

This is my first role following the completion of my PhD. Before that, I was based at the National Referral Laboratory at SA Pathology, which is the Australian diagnostic laboratory for rare metabolic diseases, including Sanfilippo syndrome and GM1 gangliosidosis.

What journey brought you to this point in your career?

I’ve always loved science, but I didn’t truly appreciate research until my Honours year at university. My Honours project sparked a passion for understanding neurodegeneration and the brain, particularly in the context of rare disorders that affect children. I was also incredibly lucky that every experiment seemed to work perfectly, which definitely gave me a false sense that science runs smoothly all the time.

What is something you love most about your work?

I really enjoy the puzzle aspect of research, understanding how biological pathways work and why they matter in the cell and the body. The most exciting part for me is data analysis and interpretation, especially when you discover something new. Chasing that moment of insight is probably what keeps many of us going.

How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?

I tend to keep things pretty simple. When I have spare time, I enjoy relaxing at home. On weekends, my partner and I might go for a hike, head to the gym, or play some tennis. That said, when it’s 40-plus degrees outside, you’ll definitely find me on the couch watching Netflix.