Nita Alpin

Nita is a DPhil student in Clinical Neurosciences at the Department of Neuropathology and based in the Parkinson's Neuropathology Group. She is supervised by Professor Laura Parkkinen and Dr David A. Menassa.

Utilising high-throughput AI-driven digital tools, proteomics, and transcriptomic profiling, her research focuses on investigating the neuropathological correlates of early sleep-related symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the role of neuroinflammation in its pathogenesis and progression. Currently, she is conducting molecular profiling of the brainstem’s REM sleep network in human PD, aiming to unravel the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the conversion of REM sleep behaviour disorder into neurodegenerative disease.

Nita collaborates closely with the Oxford Brain Bank (OBB) and is specialised in histopathology techniques using human brain tissue. She has extensive experience in brain bank operations and actively participates in student, public, and patient outreach programs. Nita is one of the NDCN's 2025 Public & Patient Engagement Ambassadors.

Nita graduated with an MSc in Biomedical Sciences (Psychopharmacology & Pathophysiology) from the University of Amsterdam in 2024.

Horizon 2020: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks Program