Prof Julie Williams

Group Leader

Understanding the genetics of Alzheimer's disease

Biography

Prof Julie Williams is a world leader in the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and former Chief Scientific Advisor to the Welsh Government. She was the founding Centre Director for UK DRI at Cardiff from 2017-2024. With a background in Psychology, Julie obtained her PhD from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology. She joined University of Wales College of Medicine in 1991 as a Research Assistant, rising to Reader in Neuropsychological Genetics. As a co-lead in global initiatives her group has contributed to the discovery of over 40 susceptibility loci for AD. These findings implicate the role of immunity in disease development and specifically the contribution of microglia. Computational genetics of AD shows it to be a disease of multiple components which together, allow the prediction of those at high risk. Julie’s contribution to the field was recognised with a CBE in 2012. She is also an advocate for women in STEMM, commissioning a report that aimed to address the gender imbalance in science, published in 2016. Julie is also a member of the Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences and their champion in Wales.

News

Key publications

Nature genetics
Published
PLCG2 downregulation impairs synaptic function and increases Alzheimer's disease hallmarks in neuronal cultures
Authors
Audrey Coulon, Florian Rabiller, Mari Takalo, Avishek Roy, Alexandre Pelletier, Henna Martiskainen, Dolores Siedlecki-Wullich, Nina Lannette-Weimann, Naďa Majerníková, Arthur Grenon, Vance Gao, Anaël Erhardt, Anne Pernodet, Morgane Lemaire, Floriane Limoge, Pauline Walle, Tiago Mendes, Karine Guyot, Célia Lemeu, Lukas-Iohan Carvalho, Ana Raquel Melo de Farias, Marc Hulsman, Chloé Najdek, Alejandra Freire-Regatillo, Orthis Saha, Philippe Amouyel, Camille Charbonnier, Jean-François Deleuze, Orio Dols-Icardo, Heli Jeskanen, Roosa-Maria Willman, Teemu Kuulasmaa, Mitja Kurki, John Hardy, Sami Heikkinen, Henne Holstege, Petra Mäkinen, Gaël Nicolas, Simon Mead, Michael Wagner, Alfredo Ramirez, Tuomas Rauramaa, Aarno Palotie, Rebecca Sims, Hilkka Soininen, John van Swieten, Julie Williams, Céline Bellenguez, Carla Gelle, Erwan Lambert, Marcos R Costa, Julia Tcw, Enrico Glaab, Anne-Marie Ayral, Florie Demiautte, Benjamin Grenier-Boley, Manon Muntaner, Delphine Eberlé, Séverine Deforges, Joel T Haas, Devrim Kilinc, Christophe Mulle, Julien Chapuis, Mikko Hiltunen, Julie Dumont, Jean-Charles Lambert
PLCG2 downregulation impairs synaptic function and increases Alzheimer's disease hallmarks in neuronal cultures

Williams Lab

Explore the work of the Williams Lab, studying the genetics of Alzheimer's disease

Williams Lab