Dorothy, originally from Hong Kong, has always been captivated by the intricacies of the human brain and the fascinating realms of behaviour and memory. She did her undergraduate in Biotechnology in HK. She obtained an MSc by research (2005) and a PhD in Neuroscience (2011) at the University of Edinburgh, UK. Her doctoral training was supported by the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Scholarship and Research Scholarship from the University of Edinburgh. During her MSc, she joined the laboratory of Professor Richard Morris to investigate the neurobiology of learning and memory.
She embarked on postdoctoral fellowships in the Morris group to further develop her understanding on how the brain remembers information, investigating how different factors affect new learning. One of her projects was on how prior knowledge affects new information and facilitates rapid memory consolidation. Her research approach combined state of the art techniques, ranging from animal behaviour to calcium imaging, optogenetics and pharmacological manipulations.
Since establishing her own lab in 2021, her primary focus has been exploration of the determinants of memory in both humans and rodents. One of her ongoing projects involves developing translational behavioural models to better understand the neurobiology of memory in humans. Additionally, her lab conducts research into healthy aging and early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Dorothy values the opportunities to inspire and nurture young neuroscientists. She set up the first Liverpool Neuroscience early career researcher group. She is a British Neuroscience Association (BNA) mentor and the European Brain and Behavioural Science (EBBS) young scientist lead.
The Tse Lab specializes in investigating the neurobiology of memory, with a particular focus on understanding how the brain processes and retains new information. My research explores the impact of various factors on different types of memory, including episodic (events), semantic (facts and knowledge), and spatial memories.
My lab has three main research themes:
To gain insights into the mechanisms underlying memory and learning, I employ a diverse array of experimental techniques, including behavioural analysis, virtual reality, electroencephalography (EEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). These methods are used to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of memory and learning.
The Tse lab collaborates with a variety of patient and public involvement groups and charities to promote healthy aging and brain health. The lab has worked with the University of the Third Age (u3a) Ormskirk and Aughton to promote active ageing and behavioural change in Northwest UK communities. I have also collaborated with the University of Bournemouth and Healthwatch Dorset on a project funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK to promote healthy brain health in ethnic minority communities. Additionally, the Tse lab works with the Early Onset Dementia Group at Walton Centre, UK, to improve knowledge of health and wellbeing.