An Interview with Dr. Andras Lakatos

Dr Andras Lakatos was awarded a PhD grant from Spinal Research in 1998. Since then he has developed his career in neuroscience further and now leads his own lab at University of Cambridge.

How long have you been working with Spinal Research?

I was one of the first Spinal Research NRB funded students and then a postdoctoral scientist altogether for six years before I returned to clinical medicine to complete my medical residency program and subspecialty training in Neurology. Having been recently awarded funding for a Nathalie Rose Barr Student in my  laboratory, now I am looking forward to our new exciting challenges together with Spinal Research again.

What led you to a career in neuroscience?

A number of events. I was initially inspired by my parents and great lectures given by excellent neuroanatomists Katalin Köves and Béla Halász in Budapest. Then I vividly remember a dogma-dissolving paper published by Fred Gage’s group at the end of the 90s, which had opened up unprecedented promises in neural repair and has attracted me to the field of regenerative neurobiology. My curiosity in neuroscience during my PhD and postdoc had been fuelled and channelled by renowned neurobiologists, mentors and collaborators, including Robin Franklin, Sue Barnett, James Fawcett and David Rowitch. So really, there was no escape from neuroscience.

What motivates you in your work?

The unknown, exploring how things work and its potential clinical implications drive me to the lab every morning. Plus, the excellent students, postdocs and collaborators I work with.

Why do you think collaboration is important in medical research?

The answer is obvious, we are now all super specialists, thus both the quality and speed of discovery relies on a well-orchestrated teamwork. The less obvious matter is how we implement this, but there have been excellent examples when joint work led us to success. I praise our luck of having had amazing colleagues working with us in the UK and beyond.

How has Spinal Research benefitted you and your research?

My PhD studies funded by Spinal Research in the Beatson Laboratories and at the University of Cambridge were formative. This was instrumental in establishing my own niche research group as MRC Clinician Scientist at Cambridge to investigate repair failure in injury and in degenerative brain and spinal cord conditions. Needless to say, that it has also shaped my clinical interests as an academic Consultant Neurologist.