51cg

Dr Fergal Waldron

Dr Fergal Waldron
Dr Fergal Waldron
Dr Fergal Waldron

BSc MSc MRes PhD (Cantab.)

Advanced Research Fellow

51cg
Office Address
5.15.5 Institute of Medical Sciences
Foresterhill Campus
Ashgrove Road West
AB25 2ZD

View on Map

School/Department
School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition




Biography

My research centres on the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases and the understanding of disease heterogeneity to inform precision-prevention and precision-medicine approaches aimed at improving clinical outcomes for patients and individuals at risk of neurodegenerative conditions. My research is particularly focused on the basic and comparative aetiology and pathobiology of ALS/MND, FTD, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

This work spans peripheral and systemic signatures of neurodegenerative disease, biomarker discovery and development (esp. aptamers), non-motor and systemic disease manifestations—including the role of the gut—co-pathologies and multiproteinopathies, the role of the immune system, and the synthesis of epidemiological and biological data to better understand disease heterogeneity.

I am also interested in the application of artificial intelligence and meta-analytical approaches to integrate complex biological, clinical, and population-level datasets, to support data-driven discovery, and translate complex research findings into clinically meaningful insights.

My research adopts an integrative, multidisciplinary approach informed by a broad range of research and training in classical and evolutionary genetics, genomics, data analytics and modelling, bioinformatics, molecular biology, experimental biology, neuroscience and immunity.

A central aim of my research is to translate discoveries into practical tools, resources and insights that can be used in clinical care and research, enabling preventive or disease-modifying therapies, improving clinical trial design, and ultimately improving outcomes for people with, or at risk of, neurodegenerative diseases.

 

Qualifications

  • BSc Zoology 
    2003 - National University of Ireland, Galway 
  • MRes Zoology 
    2006 - National University of Ireland, Galway 
  • MSc Evolutionary Genetics and Genome Analysis 
    2008 - University of Edinburgh 
  • PhD Evolutionary Genetics 
    2013 - University of Cambridge 

Internal Memberships

The Genetics Society

The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Latest Publications

  • Machine learning identifies routine blood tests as accurate predictive measures of pollution-dependent poor cognitive function

    Johnson, H., Longden, J., Cameron, G., Waiter, G. D., Waldron, F. M., Gregory, J. M., Spence, H.
    Scientific Reports
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Theragnostic potential of aptamers in neurodegenerative diseases: A protocol for a sytematic review and meta-analysis v1

    Jackson, A. T., Waldron, F. M., Tartaglia, G. G., Gregory, J.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • Protein misfolding enteropathy predicts and prognosticates neurodegenerative disease years before symptom onset

    Langerová, T., MacVicar, E., Press, R., Read, F. L., Piana, M., Murdoch, S., Innes, J., Wilson, J., Watson, A. J., Waldron, F. M., Ramsay, G., Gregory, J. M.
    Gastroenterology
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Metabolic signatures of ferritin and TDP-43 co-pathology provide a mechanistic basis for stratified therapeutic approaches in ALS

    Spence, H., Read, F., Waldron, F., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Organellomics: AI-driven deep organellar phenotyping reveals novel ALS mechanisms in human neurons

    Krispin, S., van Zuiden, W., Danino, Y. M., Rudberg, N., Molitor, L., Abarbanel, B., Aviram, G., Meimoun, T., Wolf, G., Bar, C., Siani, A., Meimoun, T., Coyne, A., Santiana, M., Weller, C. A., Cookson, M. R., Ward, M. E., Waldron, F., Gregory, J., Fisher, T., Nachshon, A., Stern-Ginossar, N., Yacovzada, N., Horstein, E.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers

View My Publications

Research

Funding and Grants

Statistical frameworks for the evaluation of undiagnosed gut proteinopathies as early indicators of neurological disease (PI): £19,930 | 2025 | Grant | NHS Grampian

A Laboratory Model for Antiviral Immunity in Molluscs (co-writer); £201,732 | 2018-06 to 2021-10 | Grant | The Leverhulme Trust (London, GB)

Establishment of a Laboratory Model for Antiviral Immunity in Molluscs (co-writer); £44,364 | 2017-04 to 2017-12 | Grant | Wellcome Trust ISSF (London, GB)

Antiviral immune expression in the mollusc Lymnaea stagnalis (co-writer); £1,791 | 2017-02 to 2017-06 | Grant | University of Edinburgh Moray Endowement Fund (Edinburgh, GB)

Next Generation Sequencing workshop hosted by the Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics Registration and Travel Award; €1,000 | 2011-05 to 2011-06 | AwardEuropean Science Foundation (Strasbourg, FR)

St. John’s College, Cambridge Learning and Research Fund; £1,000 | 2010-06 to 2010-07 | Award | St. John's College, University of Cambridge (Cambridge, GB)

Summer Institute in Statistics and Modelling in Infectious Diseases workshop hosted by The University of Washington Registration and Travel Award; $4,000 | 2010-06 to 2010-07 | Award | National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Maryland, US)

Marie Curie Early Stage Research Fellowship; £24,055 | 2007-09 to 2008-08 | Salary award | Marie Curie (London, GB)

Embark Initiative Thermadapt Programme Research Fellowship; €38,012 | 2003-09 to 2005-08 | Salary award | Irish Research Council (Dublin, IE)

Publications

Page 1 of 1 Results 1 to 49 of 49

  • Machine learning identifies routine blood tests as accurate predictive measures of pollution-dependent poor cognitive function

    Johnson, H., Longden, J., Cameron, G., Waiter, G. D., Waldron, F. M., Gregory, J. M., Spence, H.
    Scientific Reports
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Theragnostic potential of aptamers in neurodegenerative diseases: A protocol for a sytematic review and meta-analysis v1

    Jackson, A. T., Waldron, F. M., Tartaglia, G. G., Gregory, J.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • Protein misfolding enteropathy predicts and prognosticates neurodegenerative disease years before symptom onset

    Langerová, T., MacVicar, E., Press, R., Read, F. L., Piana, M., Murdoch, S., Innes, J., Wilson, J., Watson, A. J., Waldron, F. M., Ramsay, G., Gregory, J. M.
    Gastroenterology
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Metabolic signatures of ferritin and TDP-43 co-pathology provide a mechanistic basis for stratified therapeutic approaches in ALS

    Spence, H., Read, F., Waldron, F., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Organellomics: AI-driven deep organellar phenotyping reveals novel ALS mechanisms in human neurons

    Krispin, S., van Zuiden, W., Danino, Y. M., Rudberg, N., Molitor, L., Abarbanel, B., Aviram, G., Meimoun, T., Wolf, G., Bar, C., Siani, A., Meimoun, T., Coyne, A., Santiana, M., Weller, C. A., Cookson, M. R., Ward, M. E., Waldron, F., Gregory, J., Fisher, T., Nachshon, A., Stern-Ginossar, N., Yacovzada, N., Horstein, E.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Genotype-specific interferon signatures in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis relate to disease severity

    Carletta, O., Perfetto, C., Rifai, O. M., Manganelli, F., Waldron, F., Maniatis, T., Gregory, J., Gerbino, V.
    Brain, vol. 149, no. 2, pp. 489-501
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Amygdala TDP-43 pathology is associated with behavioural dysfunction and ferritin accumulation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

    Rifai, O. M., Waldron, F., O'shaughnessy, J., Read, F., Gilodi, M., Pastore, A., Shneider, N., Tartaglia, G. G., Zacco, E., Spence, H., Gregory, J.
    Brain Communications, vol. 8, no. 2, fcag104
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Quantitative Profiling of Nanoscopic Protein Aggregates Reveals Specific Fingerprint of TDP-43-Positive Assemblies in Motor Neuron Disease

    Cox, D., Burke, M., Milani, S., White, M. A., Waldron, F. M., Böken, D., Lobanova, E., Sreedharan, J., Gregory, J. M., Klenerman, D.
    Advanced Science, vol. 12, no. 44, e05484
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Protein misfolding in the gastrointestinal tract predicts and prognosticates neurodegenerative disease years before symptom onset

    Langerova, T., MacVicar, E., Press, R., Read, F., Piana, M., Murdoch, S., Innes, J., Wilson, J., Watson, A. J. M., Waldron, F. M., Ramsay, G., Gregory, J. M.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Brain Iron as a Surrogate Biomarker of Pathological TDP-43 Identifies Brain Region-Specific Signatures in Ageing, Alzheimer’s Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    Waldron, F., Spence, H., Taso, O. S., Read, F., Sinha, I. R., Irwin, K. E., Wong, P. C., Ling, J. P., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Skin TDP-43 pathology as a candidate biomarker for predicting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis decades prior to motor symptom onset

    Waldron, F., Langerova, T., Rahmanova, A., Read, F., Spence, H., Roberts, K., MacLeod, A., Pattle, S. B., Hanna, K., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • FUS mislocalization rewires a cortical gene network to drive cognitive and behavioral impairment in ALS

    Cassel, R., Lorenc, F., Bombardier, A., De Tapia, C., Dieterle, S., Gouveia Roque, C., Jackson, C. A., Stuart-Lopez, G., Rouaux, C., Guillot, S. J., Birling, M., Kessler, P., Grassano, M., Traynor, B., Chio, A., Roy, R., Shorter, J., Waldron, F., Gregory, J., Phatnani, H., Dupuis, L., Megat, S.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Computationally Designed RNA Aptamers Enable Selective Detection of FUS Pathology in ALS

    Zacco, E., Armaos, A., Waldron, F., Rupert, J., Schneider, N., Gregory, J., Tartaglia, G. G.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Fingerprinting disease-derived protein aggregates reveals unique signature of Motor Neuron Disease

    Cox, D., Burke, M., Milani, S., White, M. A., Waldron, F., Böken, D., Lobanova, E., Sreedharan, J., Gregory, J., Klenerman, D.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Improving ALS detection and cognitive impairment stratification with attention-enhanced deep learning models

    Xia, Y., Gregory, J. M., Waldron, F. M., Spence, H., Vallejo, M.
    Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, 7045
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Machine learning identifies routine blood tests as accurate predictive measures of pollution-dependent poor cognitive function

    Johnson, H., Longden, J., Cameron, G., Waiter, G. D., Waldron, F. M., Gregory, J. M., Spence, H.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Clinicopathological analysis of NEK1 variants in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

    Rifai, O. M., Waldron, F., Sleibi, D., O'shaughnessy, J., Leighton, D. J., Gregory, J.
    Brain Pathology, vol. 35, no. 1, e13287
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Integrating Transfer Learning and Attention Mechanisms for Accurate ALS Diagnosis and Cognitive Impairment Detection

    Xia, Y., Gregory, J. M., Waldron, F. M., Spence, H., Vallejo, M.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • An adaptable protocol for antibody & TDP-43 RNA aptamer dual immunohistochemical staining for FFPE-preserved human tissue: with SOP and tick-sheet

    Waldron, F., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Antibody and TDP-43 RNA aptamer dual staining to detect patterns of co-pathology in FFPE-preserved human tissue, as described in Rifai et al., 2024 (Brain Pathology): A SOP and tick-sheet. V1

    Waldron, F., Rifai, O. M., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Understanding the influence of altered lipid metabolism on TDP-43 pathology: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis v1

    Langerova, T., Spence, H., Waldron, F. M., Gregory, J.
    protocols.io.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • Amygdala TDP-43 pathology is associated with behavioural dysfunction and ferritin accumulation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

    Rifai, O. M., Waldron, F., O'Shaughnessy, J., Read, F., Gilodi, M., Pastore, A., Tartaglia, G. G., Zacco, E., Spence, H., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • RNA aptamer reveals nuclear TDP-43 pathology is an early aggregation event that coincides with STMN-2 cryptic splicing and precedes clinical manifestation in ALS

    Spence, H., Waldron, F., Saleeb, R. S., Brown, A., Rifai, O. M., Gilodi, M., Read, F., Nellany, K., Milne, G., Wilkinson, D., O'shaughnessy, J., Pastore, A., Fratta, P., Shneider, N., Tartaglia, G. G., Zacco, E., Horrocks, M. H., Gregory, J.
    Acta Neuropathologica, vol. 147, 50
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • SOP and tick-sheet for using TDP-43 RNA aptamer (TDP-43APT) to detect pathological TDP-43 in FFPE-preserved human tissue, as described in Spence and Waldron et al., 2024 (Acta Neuropathologica) v1

    Waldron, F. M., Gregory, J., Spence, H.
    protocols.io.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • TDP-43 RNA aptamer staining to detect pathological TDP-43 in FFPE human tissue, as described in Spence and Waldron et al., 2024 (Acta Neuropathologica):: A SOP and tick-sheet. v2

    Waldron, F. M., Spence, H., Gregory, J.
    protocols.io (article).
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • Distinct neuroinflammatory signatures exist across genetic and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cohorts

    Rifai, O. M., O'shaughnessy, J., Dando, O. R., Munro, A. F., Sewell, M. D., Abrahams, S., Waldron, F. M., Sibley, C. R., Gregory, J. M.
    Brain, vol. 146, no. 12, pp. 5124-5138
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • RNA aptamer reveals nuclear TDP-43 pathology is an early aggregation event that coincides withSTMN-2cryptic splicing and precedes clinical manifestation in ALS

    Spence, H., Waldron, F. M., Saleeb, R. S., Brown, A., Rifai, O. M., Gilodi, M., Read, F., Roberts, K., Milne, G., Wilkinson, D., O’Shaughnessy, J., Pastore, A., Fratta, P., Shneider, N., Tartaglia, G. G., Zacco, E., Horrocks, M. H., Gregory, J. M.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Systematic, comprehensive, evidence-based approach to identify neuroprotective interventions for motor neuron disease: Using systematic reviews to inform expert consensus

    Wong, C., Gregory, J. M., Liao, J., Egan, K., Vesterinen, H. M., Ahmad Khan, A., Anwar, M., Beagan, C., Brown, F. S., Cafferkey, J., Cardinali, A., Chiam, J. Y., Chiang, C., Collins, V., Dormido, J., Elliott, E., Foley, P., Foo, Y. C., Fulton-Humble, L., Gane, A. B., Glasmacher, S. A., Heffernan, ?., Jayaprakash, K., Jayasuriya, N., Kaddouri, A., Kiernan, J., Langlands, G., Leighton, D., Liu, J., Lyon, J., Mehta, A. R., Meng, A., Nguyen, V., Park, N. H., Quigley, S., Rashid, Y., Salzinger, A., Shiell, B., Singh, A., Soane, T., Thompson, A., Tomala, O., Waldron, F. M., Selvaraj, B. T., Chataway, J., Swingler, R., Connick, P., Pal, S., Chandran, S., Macleod, M.
    BMJ Open, vol. 13, no. 2, e064169
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • ALS and the Gut-Brain Axis: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the relationship between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the gut and its microbiome.

    Jackson, A. T., Press, R. G., Waldron, F., Gregory, J.
    protocols.io.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • Distinct neuroinflammatory signatures exist across genetic and sporadic ALS cohorts

    Rifai, O. M., O'shaughnessy, J., Dando, O., Munro, A. F., Sewell, M. D., Abrahams, S., Waldron, F., Sibley, C. R., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • pTDP-43 aggregates accumulate in non-central nervous system tissues prior to symptom onset in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case series linking archival surgical biopsies with clinical phenotypic data

    Pattle, S. B., O'shaughnessy, J., Kantelberg, O., Rifai, O. M., Pate, J., Nellany, K., Hays, N., Arends, M. J., Horrocks, M., Waldron, F. M., Gregory, J.
    Journal of Pathology: Clinical Research, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 44-55
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • A Systematic Approach to Identify Neuroprotective Interventions for Motor Neuron Disease

    Wong, C., Gregory, J., Liao, J., Egan, K., Vesterinen, H. M., Khan, A. A., Anwar, M., Beagan, C., Brown, F., Cafferkey, J., Cardinali, A., Chiam, J. Y., Chiang, C., Collins, V., Dormido, J., Elliott, E., Foley, P., Foo, Y. C., Fulton-Humble, L., Gane, A. B., Glasmacher, S., Heffernan, ?., Jayaprakash, K., Jayasuriya, N., Kaddouri, A., Kiernan, J., Langlands, G., Leighton, D., Liu, J., Lyon, J., Mehta, A. R., Meng, A., Nguyen, V., Park, K. H., Quigley, S., Rashid, Y., Salzinger, A., Shiell, B., Singh, A., Soane, T., Thompson, A., Tomala, O., Waldron, F. M., Selvaraj, B. T., Chataway, J., Swingler, R., Connick, P., Pal, S., Chandran, S., Macleod, M. R.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Interferon signalling as a potentional therapeutic target in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia – protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Waldron, F., Rifai, O. M., Gregory, J.
    protocols.io.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • pTDP-43 aggregates accumulate in the gut and other non-central nervous system tissues prior to symptom onset in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

    Pattle, S. B., O'shaughnessy, J., Rifai, O. M., Pate, J., Arends, M. J., Waldron, F., Gregory, J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Building a Systematic Online Living Evidence Summary of COVID-19 Research

    Gabriel, B., CAMARADES COVID-SOLES group, Waldron, F.
    Journal of EAHIL, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 21-26
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Testing evolutionary explanations for the lifespan benefit of dietary restriction in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster)

    Savola, E., Montgomery, C., Waldron, F., Monteith, K., Vale, P., Walling, C. A.
    Evolution, vol. 75, no. 2, pp. 450-463
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Unlocking Spatial Molecular & Cellular Relationships of SARS-CoV-2 in Archived Human Tissue

    Pattle, S. B., Gregory, J., Waldron, F.
    protocols.io.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • Testing evolutionary explanations for the lifespan benefit of dietary restriction in Drosophila melanogaster

    Savola, E., Montgomery, C., Waldron, F., Monteith, K., Vale, P., Walling, C. A.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Therapeutic Targeting of Proteostasis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Research

    Elliott, E., Bailey, O., Waldron, F. M., Hardingham, G. E., Chandran, S., Gregory, J. M.
    Frontiers in Neuroscience, vol. 14, no. 2020, 511
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Correction: Metagenomic sequencing suggests a diversity of RNA interference-like responses to viruses across multicellular eukaryotes

    Waldron, F. M., Stone, G. N., Obbard, D. J.
    PLoS Genetics, vol. 16, no. 3, e1008679
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Mehta, A. R., Walters, R., Waldron, F. M., Pal, S., Selvaraj, B. T., Macleod, M. R., Hardingham, G. E., Chandran, S., Gregory, J.
    Brain Communications, vol. 1, no. 1, fcz009
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Creation and maintenance of Ashworth outcrossed DGRP population V.1

    Waldron, F., Monteith, K. M., Vale, P.
    protocols.io.
    Other Contributions: Other Contributions
  • Metagenomic sequencing suggests a diversity of RNA interference-like responses to viruses across multicellular eukaryotes.

    Waldron, F., Stone, G., Obbard, D.
    PLoS Genetics, vol. 14, no. 7, e1008679
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The virome of Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest of soft fruit

    Medd, N. C., Fellous, S., Waldron, F., Xuéreb, A., Nakai, M., Cross, J. V., Obbard, D. J.
    Virus Evolution, vol. 4, no. 1, vey009
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The virome of Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest of soft fruit

    Medd, N. C., Fellous, S., Waldron, F., Xuéreb, A., Nakai, M., Cross, J. V., Obbard, D. J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Metagenomic sequencing suggests a diversity of RNA interference-like responses to viruses across multicellular eukaryotes

    Waldron, F., Stone, G. N., Obbard, D. J.
    Working Papers: Preprint Papers
  • Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

    Gregory, J., Waldron, F. M., Soane, T., Fulton, L., Leighton, D., Chataway, J., Pal, S., Chandran, S., Macleod, M. R.
    Evidence-based Preclinical Medicine, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 17-19
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The Discovery, Distribution, and Evolution of Viruses Associated with Drosophila melanogaster

    Webster, C. L., Waldron, F. M., Robertson, S., Crowson, D., Ferrari, G., Quintana, J. F., Brouqui, J., Bayne, E. H., Longdon, B., Buck, A. H., Lazzaro, B. P., Akorli, J., Haddrill, P. R., Obbard, D. J.
    PLoS Biology, vol. 13, no. 7, e1002210
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Elevated levels of expression associated with regions of the Drosophila genome that lack crossing over

    Haddrill, P. R., Waldron, F. M., Charlesworth, B.
    Biology Letters, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 758-761
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

Refine

Contributions to Journals

Working Papers

Other Contributions