Maria Stavrou is a newly appointed consultant neurologist, senior clinical research fellow at the University of Edinburgh, and subinvestigator at the MND Smart Trial, where she works as part of an expert team focused on drug selection. Maria's career is driven by a profound passion for both clinical practice and scientific inquiry, as she actively pursues her path as a clinician-scientist integrating these two realms. 

She graduated with First Class Honours in Medical Sciences and an intercalated BSc in Physiology from UCL, where she conducted research under the mentorship of Professor Michael Häusser, a pioneer in the field. The Rowling Scholarship awarded to her in Edinburgh has been instrumental in propelling her research pursuits, further complemented by the prestigious MRC fellowship that independently funded her PhD.

Her doctoral research, supervised by Professors S. Chandran and G. Hardingham, explores the complexities of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS. Maria's work has uncovered a previously unreported mechanism of axonal transport modulation through astrocytes. Notably, her findings suggest that enhancing astrocytic mitochondrial metabolism may reverse transport deficits in mutant motor neurons, indicating a compelling therapeutic target for ALS.

With unwavering dedication, Maria aims to contribute meaningful insights that can transform our understanding and treatment options for neurodegenerative disorders, including MND, ultimately improving the lives of those affected and their families.