Lorna Garcia Penton

Building on 20 years of experience as a cognitive neuroscientist, I’ve transitioned into the role of clinical research coordinator and project manager at the Cambridge Centre for Frontotemporal Dementia and Related Disorders. In this role, I take care of essential 'behind-the-scenes' work—from managing complex contracts and HR matters to overseeing finances and projects—so our team can focus on its research. I help bridge the gap between the lab needs and university administration, helping ensure our research runs smoothly.

My research career began at the Cuban Neuroscience Centre and the Basque Centre on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), where I investigated attention, perception, and bilingualism. I then conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Toronto on visual word recognition and imagery, using machine learning, and held a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Research Fellowship at MRC-CBU (University of Cambridge), investigating controlled semantic cognition and its disorders. I now oversee clinical research and trials under Prof. James Rowe, applying my expertise to optimise the research environment and advance research towards effective therapies and a cure for dementia.