Emma Clayton explores the processes that lead to dementia and how a better understanding of them could offer hope for future treatments
PubSci is a ‘pay-what-you-can’ event. Your contributions are what keep it going
1 in 3 people tragically develop dementia; a key aspect of neurodegenerative disease is a breakdown in the way synapses maintain a healthy brain and nervous system. So, what does this mean for dementia research — and how could understanding it lead to better treatments?
On Wednesday 26th November, we’re delighted to welcome Dr Emma Clayton from the UK Dementia Research Institute to explain what we know about dementia and how her lab at UK DRI is researching what causes this synaptic dysfunction.
Synapses connect neurons and allow brains cells to communicate, making them fundamental to brain function. By allowing information from different parts of the brain to be integrated, they play a critical role in processes such as thought, but in dementia there’s a breakdown in synaptic processes.
A growing body of evidence indicates this occurs before the better-known symptoms of dementia become apparent, so understanding why cells lose the ability to communicate may well be key to treating – possibly, even, preventing – dementia.
Come to PubSci on Wednesday 26th November to hear from a leading researcher and learn what we already know about dementia, how the UK DRI is at the forefront of research, and what Dr Clayton’s lab is learning about the cause and role of synapse dysfunction in dementia.
Don’t miss our final event of the year! Please note that for November only, PubSci is on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
PubSci events book up fast. Please reserve you place on Eventbrite ASAP.
Scroll down for ticketing options and to read about this month’s speaker.
PubSci talks run for around 45 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session. The Old King’s Head has a happy hour before 7 and the kitchen serves traditional pub grub. The nearest tube is London Bridge. Join us upstairs at the Old King’s Head on Wednesday 26th November 2025. Book your place now or read on to learn more about this month’s speaker. Full details and booking on Eventbrite.
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PubSci talks are pay-what-you-can: you can make a contribution when booking on Eventbrite or bring cash to contribute on the night. We have no other source of funding. There are two ticket options:
Book without donating (max 4 tickets) if you prefer to put cash in the pot on the night
Book for one + Support PubSci (max 1 ticket) if you prefer to contribute when booking – this option also reserves you one spot at the event. You may need to scroll down to see this option on Eventbrite.
Doors open at 6.30 for a 7pm start. Talks run for ~45 minutes and are followed by a Q&A session. The Old King’s Head has a happy hour before 7pm, and the kitchen serves excellent pub grub.
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About the speaker
Dr Emma Clayton is a research scientist and lab head at the UK Dementia Research Institute, King’s College, London.
UK DRI is focused on understanding the underlying biological processes at work down at the molecular level of neurodegenerative disease in order to find new ways to diagnose and treat it.
After studying Genetics at University College, Cork, Emma had an internship with NASA undertaking ecological studies at Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge, which surrounds the Kennedy Space Centre.
Emma completed her PhD in Edinburgh, investigating brain cell communication, followed by postdoctoral work at UCL where she first worked on the neurodegenerative diseases, Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or ‘Lou Gehrig’s disease’). She describes this period as “hugely motivating” in her commitment to understanding what happens to brain cells in neurodegenerative disease.
In 2023, Emma began her own lab at King’s College, London with a Senior Fellowship grant from Alzheimer’s Research UK, and was named an Emerging Leader the same year.
Clayton Lab investigates the earliest changes to brain cells before neurodegeneration even takes hold with the goal of identify novel drug targets to treat neurodegenerative disease. Her work is particularly focused on Frontotemporal Dementia, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease.
PubSci is delighted to welcome Emma as the final speaker in our 2025 programme.
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To make sure you don’t miss out on future events, subscribe to our Google Calendar to be the first to know when new talks are scheduled, and follow PubSci’s events on Eventbrite to be notified when tickets are available. You can also sign up to our own mailing list on any page on this site.
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PubSci is entirely funded by audience contributions and has no other income.
As a Pay-What-You-Can event, we don’t charge a fixed price for our talks, so anybody who wants to come can come. Think of it as “Free, with a donation”, which can be made when registering on Eventbrite or by putting a few pounds in the beer mug which is passed round on the night. You can also contribute digitally through our TipJar. Please help PubSci continue putting on events.
We aim to keep PubSci accessible for all, although it is unsuitable for under 18s as we meet in the function room of a pub. Regrettably, there is no wheelchair access.
Check out the Future Events page where you can also subscribe to our Google Calendar so PubSci events automatically appear in your own Calendar. You can find all our links on our LinkTree.
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PubSci is organised and hosted by science communicator, Richard Marshall, assisted by Mike Lucibella. It usually takes place on the third Wednesday of the month, upstairs at the Old King’s Head near London Bridge Underground (Borough High Street east side exit). Join us every month except December for your regular helping of Sipping, Supping & Science.
Address:
The Old King’s Head (upstairs room)
King’s Head Yard
45-49 Borough High Street
London SE1 1NA
PubSci 