Professor Bettina Platt

PhD (Dr rer. nat.), Dipl. Biol., FRSB

Chair in Translational Neuroscience

Accepting PhDs

51cg

Email Address: b.platt@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number: +44 (0)1224 437402
Office Address: Room 6.28; School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition 51cg Institute of Medical Sciences Foresterhill ABERDEEN AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK
School/Department: School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Biography

Bettina Platt graduated with distinction from the University of Mainz, Germany and received her PhD from the University of Düsseldorf, Germany. After completing a prestigious personal European Fellowship at the University of Leeds, Prof Platt joined the 51cg in 1997, initially within the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Since 2009, Prof Platt holds the Chair in Translational Neuroscience within the School of Medical Sciences. She heads a multi-disciplinary research team that investigates aspects of brain function and malfunction from the single molecule to the systems level. Prof Platt has acted as Research Director for a number of large research initiatives, some of which were co-funded by the pharmaceutical industry and the Scottish government. Her national and international collaborations have brought together novel research strategies, technologies and disciplines such as imaging, drug discovery, electronics, and computer science. Prof Platt is a Fellow of the Society of Biology and a founding member of the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium (SDRC). Additionally, Prof Platt was a member of the SDRC executive board until 2016 and previously sat on the Alzheimer’s Society funding board. She currently is a member of the Scottish Alzheimer Research UK (ARUK) network board, and the ARUK Scientific Advisory Board.

External Memberships

Executive Board member, Scottish Dementia Research Consortium

North-East of Scotland Alzheimer Research UK (ARUK) network coordinator (preclinical)

Member of the ARUK Scientific Advisory Board

Alzheimer’s Society Grant Advisory Board.

Editorial Advisory Board, Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery

Latest Publications

Reproducible social phenotyping of 5xFAD mice in the Agora maze (Sociobox)
2026 - Published
Sanchez-Garcia, S., Platt, B., Riedel, G.
Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 513, 116327
Contributions to Journals: Articles
- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
Effect of the Icelandic Mutation APP^A673T in the Murine APP Gene on Phenotype of Line 66 Tau Mice
2025 - Published
Anschuetz, A., Robinson, L., Mondesir, M., Melis, V., Platt, B., Harrington, C. R., Riedel, G., Schwab, K.
Biomolecules, vol. 16, no. 1, 28
Contributions to Journals: Articles
- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
- [ONLINE]
Pharmacological PTP1B inhibition rescues motor learning, neuroinflammation, and hyperglycaemia in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease
2025 - Published
Franklin, Z., Hull, C., Delibegovic, M., Platt, B.
Experimental Neurology, vol. 385, 115115
Contributions to Journals: Articles
- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
- [ONLINE]
Effects of age and dietary methionine restriction on cognitive and behavioural phenotypes in the rTg4510 mouse model of frontotemporal dementia
2025 - Published
Souza Matos, M., Sil, A., Riedel, G., Platt, B., Delibegovic, M.
Neurobiology of Aging, vol. 146, pp. 24-37
Contributions to Journals: Articles
- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
PLB2Tau mice are impaired in novel and temporal object recognition and show corresponding traits in brain MRI
2025 - Published
Micheau, J., Catheline, G., Barse, E., Hiba, B., Marcilhac, A., Allard, M., Platt, B., Riedel, G.
Brain Research Bulletin, vol. 220, 111161
Contributions to Journals: Articles
- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]

View My Publications

Research

Research Overview

Research interests: Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, mechanisms of neuronal plasticity, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.

The amazing ability of the nervous system to learn and adapt to changing conditions forms the basis of our cognitive and intellectual abilities as humans, and how crucially we depend on this is demonstrated in patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).

We are currently combining various procedures, from standard histology and immunocytochemistry, to cell death essays and more functional techniques based on electrophysiological and imaging techniques, as well as behavioural studies. Latest developments include the use of EEG recordings, and PET/CT applications. Together, we cover aspects from the systems to the single cell level, and even to single receptors / channels, for disease target identification, drug development and testing within the sector of CNS diseases.

The main projects currently under investigation can be summarised as follows:

1) Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration: causes, biomarkers and treatments.

2) Mechanisms of neuronal plasticity.

3) Therapeutics in CNS disorders.

4) Translational technologies.

Research Areas

Accepting PhDs

I am currently accepting PhDs in Biomedical Sciences.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.

Email Me

Biomedical Sciences

Supervising
Accepting PhDs

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Research Specialisms

Biomedical Sciences
Neuroscience
Animal Physiology
Dementia Studies

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is , published under the licence.

Current Research

Alzheimer's disease, FTD, dementia, cognition, neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity, neuroprotection, neuronal plasticity, EEG, imaging, Ca signalling, plasticity.

Techniques and Skills:

Models of dementia: transgenic, pharmacological & viral models in vivo and in vitro (beta amyloid, tau, PS1, BACE; single / double & triple combinations; siRNA).
Drug discovery
Translational Technologies
In vitro electrophysiological recording techniques in brain slices, neuronal cultures, and isolated neurones (patch-clamping and field recordings).
In vivo electrophysiological recordings (evoked potentials and EEG recordings (wireless).
In vivo imaging (PET/CT & MRI)
Behavioural assessments (Cognition & Phenotyper).
Immunocytochemical and histological techniques, ELISAs, Western Blots.
Confocal / fluorescent microscopy.
Time-lapse imaging
Cell culture, brain slice, cell lines
Assays for cell death / neuroprotection / viability

Collaborations

1) Within Aberdeen University:

Prof Gernot Riedel (animal models / behaviour); Prof Roger Pertwee (cannabinoids); Prof Matteo Zanda (novel PET ligands); Dr Rod Scott & Prof Marcel Jaspars (natural toxins and cell transfection); Dr Derryck Shewan (neurite outgrowth / time lapse); Prof Andy Welch (PET/CT); Dr Hugh Seton (MRI); Dr Thiel, Dr Schelter & Prof Grebogi (Computer Science & Modelling); Dr Delibegovic & Dr Mody (phosphatases; diabetes and AD)

2) External Collaborators:

Prof Peer Wulff (viral strategies); Prof Jim Austin (University of York): EEG and image analyses, data sharing; Prof. Thanos Salifoglou (University of Crete, Greece): Aluminium speciation and toxicity; Prof. J. Micheau (Univ. Bordeaux II): CREB and hippocampal function, cell transfection, siRNA; Dr. Grazina Niewadomska (Univ. Warsaw, Poland): Tau pathology; Dr K. Bruce (U Penn., USA) and Dr Neel (U Ontario): Phosphatase knock-out mice.

3) Industry-based collaborators

Dr Karsten Wicke (Abbott / AbbVie), B Cruts (BrainMarker, The Netherlands), Dr Hong Wan (Pfizer), J McAvoy (Cybula) and Prof Hugh Marston (Lilly).

Teaching

Courses

Teaching Responsibilities

Course co-ordinator for AN4002/AN4003 (Brain function & malfunction)

Publications

Update

51cg

Biography

External Memberships

Latest Publications

Reproducible social phenotyping of 5xFAD mice in the Agora maze (Sociobox)

Effect of the Icelandic Mutation APPA673T in the Murine APP Gene on Phenotype of Line 66 Tau Mice

Pharmacological PTP1B inhibition rescues motor learning, neuroinflammation, and hyperglycaemia in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Effects of age and dietary methionine restriction on cognitive and behavioural phenotypes in the rTg4510 mouse model of frontotemporal dementia

PLB2Tau mice are impaired in novel and temporal object recognition and show corresponding traits in brain MRI

Research Overview

Research Areas

Accepting PhDs

Biomedical Sciences

Research Specialisms

Current Research

Collaborations

Courses

Teaching Responsibilities

Reproducible social phenotyping of 5xFAD mice in the Agora maze (Sociobox)

Effect of the Icelandic Mutation APPA673T in the Murine APP Gene on Phenotype of Line 66 Tau Mice

Pharmacological PTP1B inhibition rescues motor learning, neuroinflammation, and hyperglycaemia in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Effects of age and dietary methionine restriction on cognitive and behavioural phenotypes in the rTg4510 mouse model of frontotemporal dementia

PLB2Tau mice are impaired in novel and temporal object recognition and show corresponding traits in brain MRI

Evaluation of variation in preclinical electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral power across multiple laboratories and experiments: An EQIPD study

Advanced qEEG analyses discriminate between dementia subtypes

Mouse Exploratory Behaviour in the Open Field with and without NAT-1 EEG Device: Effects of MK801 and Scopolamine

Comparison of automated video tracking systems in the open field test: ANY-Maze versus EthoVision XT

How stra(i)nge are your controls?: A comparative analysis of metabolic phenotypes in commonly used C57BL/6 substrains

BACE cleavage of APP does not drive the diabetic phenotype of PLB4 mice

Neurochemical, histological and behavioral profiling of the acute, sub-acute and chronic MPTP mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

High-fat diet exacerbates cognitive and metabolic abnormalities in neuronal BACE1 knock-in mice - partial prevention by Fenretinide

The impact of tethered recording techniques on activity and sleep patterns in rats

Sex Differences in Behavior and Molecular Pathology in the 5XFAD Model

Impaired Glymphatic Function and Pulsation Alterations in a Mouse Model of Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Apolipoprotein E Loss of Function: Influence on Murine Brain Markers of Physiology and Pathology Aging Brain

The BACE1 inhibitor LY2886721 improves diabetic phenotypes of BACE1 knock-in mice

Effects of dietary restriction on metabolic and cognitive health

Cu, Fe, and Zn isotope ratios in murine Alzheimer's disease models suggest specific signatures of amyloidogenesis and tauopathy

NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition with MCC950 improves insulin sensitivity and inflammation in a mouse model of frontotemporal dementia

Sequential habituation to space, object and stranger is differentially modulated by glutamatergic, cholinergic and dopaminergic transmission

Brain region–specific lipid alterations in the PLB4 hBACE1 knock-in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Synaptic Loss, ER Stress and Neuro-inflammation Emerge Late in the Lateral Temporal Cortex and Associate with Progressive Tau Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease

UK consensus on pre-clinical vascular cognitive impairment functional outcomes assessment: questionnaire and workshop proceedings

Decay in Retinoic Acid Signaling in Varied Models of Alzheimer’s Disease and In-Vitro Test of Novel Retinoic Acid Receptor Ligands (RAR-Ms) to Regulate Protective Genes

Delirium screening in the intensive care unit using emerging QEEG techniques: A pilot study

Knock-in of Mutated hTAU Causes Insulin Resistance, Inflammation and Proteostasis Disturbance in a Mouse Model of Frontotemporal Dementia

Miniature Untethered EEG Recorder Improves Advanced Neuroscience Methodologies

Effects of Liraglutide and Fenretinide treatments on the diabetic phenotype of neuronal human BACE1 knock-in mice

Methods and Models in Alzheimer's Disease

Of mice and motion: Behavioural-EEG phenotyping of Alzheimer’s disease mouse models

Distinctive temporal profiles of detergent-soluble and -insoluble tau and Aβ species in human Alzheimer’s disease

Histological and Behavioral Phenotypes of a Novel Mutated APP Knock-In Mouse

Detection of time-, frequency- and direction-resolved communication within brain networks

Alzheimer's disease pathology and the unfolded protein response: Prospective pathways and therapeutic targets

Soluble pre-fibrillar tau and β-amyloid species emerge in early human Alzheimer’s disease and track disease progression and cognitive decline

Mutant Tau knock-in mice display frontotemporal dementia relevant behaviour and histopathology

Neuronal human BACE1 knock-in induces systemic diabetes in mice

Time-variant estimation of connectivity and Kalman's filter

Investigation of a Type 2 diabetes-like phenotype in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Polymeric alkylpyridinium salts permit intracellular delivery of human Tau in rat hippocampal neurons: requirement of Tau phosphorylation for functional deficits

Progressive age-related changes in sleep and EEG profiles in the PLB1(Triple) mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

On the identification of sleep stages in mouse electroencephalography time-series

Modulation of food consumption and sleep-wake cycle in mice by the neutral CB1 antagonist ABD459

Assessing the strength of directed influences among neural signals: An approach to noisy data

Knock-in of Human BACE1 Cleaves Murine APP and Reiterates Alzheimer-like PhenoTypes

The contribution of APP, tau and presenilin to cognitive phenotypes in PLB mouse lines

The contribution of APP, tau and presenilin to cognitive phenotypes in PLB mouse lines

The transgenic PLB lines: Behavioural and histopathological alterations induced by knock-in of APP, tau and PS1

The transgenic PLB lines: Behavioural and histopathological alterations induced by knock-in of APP, tau and PS1

Overarching framework for data-based modelling

Time-Variant Estimation of Connectivity and Kalman Filter

Mapping Changes in Mouse Brain Metabolism with PET/CT

Age-dependent changes in hippocampal synaptic transmission and plasticity in the PLB1(Triple) Alzheimer mouse

Spatial learning impairments in PLB1Triple knock-in Alzheimer mice are task-specific and age-dependent

[18F]-Barbiturates as PET-tracers for Alzheimer's disease

High fat diet-induced deterioration of cognitive deficits in hBACE1 knock-in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, reversal by anti-obesity, anti-diabetes compound MN101

18f-labelled barbiturate compounds for use as positron emission imaging agents

BACE1: The missing link between Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and obesity?

Store-operated Ca(2+) entry in hippocampal neurons: regulation by protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B

18F-barbiturates are PET tracers with diagnostic potential in Alzheimer's disease

Effect of the Icelandic Mutation APP^A673T in the Murine APP Gene on Phenotype of Line 66 Tau Mice

Effect of the Icelandic Mutation APP^A673T in the Murine APP Gene on Phenotype of Line 66 Tau Mice

¹⁸F-barbiturates are PET tracers with diagnostic potential in Alzheimer's disease

EEG, activity, and sleep architecture in a transgenic AβPP_SWE/PSEN1_A246EAlzheimer's disease mouse

Cannabidiol targets mitochondria to regulate intracellular Ca²⁺ levels