Dr Alessandro Aldera

Research Interests

My background is in histopathology, and I am interested in molecular pathology and tumour biology in general, and specifically in studying oncogenic driver genes, signalling pathway alterations, and the tumour microenvironment in sub-Saharan Africa. In the realm of neuropathology, I am interested in intrinsic adult brain tumours and epilepsy pathology. 

I would like to contribute to a tissue repository and study these cancers using novel immunohistochemical stains, high-throughput sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. I am also interested in applying machine learning to whole slide scanned images to investigate the potential of classifying tumours and epilepsy lesions in our local environment, without the need for costly ancillary pathology and molecular tests.

I have a private practice where I have established a state-of-the-art immunohistochemistry laboratory and have introduced and validated several modern neuropathology stains which were previously not available for diagnostic use locally. I have also been involved in setting up our molecular laboratory where we do DNA extraction and next generation sequencing, again, introducing modern neuropathology tests to the local diagnostic environment. I would like to work with colleagues both locally and internationally to research genetic variations and tumour biology in our local population.

Research Areas

Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience