Ms Gurpreet Hansra

Ms Gurpreet Hansra

Casual Academic
Science
School of Biotech & Biomolecular Science

Gurpreet is currently a PhD candidate and Research Assistant with the Centre for Health Brain Ageing (CHeBA) in the department of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales. Her work involves the identification of molecular biomarkers in the blood for the early detection and prognosis of vascular contributions to dementia (VCID). Furthermore, she is currently working on developing a method for the measurement of oxytocin in the blood for social cognition. Gurpreet is supervised by Scientia Professor Perminder Sachdev.

Gurpreet graduated with a dean's commendation in high achievement for her degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Queensland. She holds a MPhil in Medicine from the University of Sydney, where she utilised microscopy and 3D imaging to investigate the link between cerebrovascular disorders (microvascular dysfunction) and Alzheimer’s disease in human brain tissue. Prior to joining CHeBA, Gurpreet worked as a Manager (Outreach) and Lecturer in Life Sciences in Singapore, where she taught nursing students and led research projects on dementia collaborating with fellow Scientists. 

Apart from her academic endeavours, Gurpreet holds active positions in various capacities. She serves as the Early Career Investigator Representative for the International Society of Vascular Behavioral and Cognitive Disorders (VasCOG) and oversees communications for an Elsevier journal, "Cerebral Circulation: Cognition and Behaviour."

Location
Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing Wallace Wurth Building (C27), Level 2 Cnr High Street & Botany Street Kensington NSW 2052
  • Journal articles | 2026
    Marseglia A; Carare RO; Teeling JL; Hilal S; Cai VY; Chander R; Chabriat H; Gustafson D; Hainsworth AH; Hansra GK; James SN; Low A; Ottoy J; Saito S; ter Telgte A; van den Brink H; Wolters FJ; Vemuri P, 2026, 'The international society of vascular behavioural and cognitive disorders: highlights from VasCog 2025 in the UK.', Cerebral Circulation Cognition and Behavior, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2025.100525
    Journal articles | 2026
    Sachdev PS; Bentvelzen AC; Gustafson D; Hansra GK; Hosoki S; Jiang J; Lennon MJ; Moro MA; Saks DG; Samaras K; Kovacic JC; Kalaria R, 2026, 'Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Clinical Features, Neuropathology, and Biomarkers', Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 87, pp. 52 - 76, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.11.008
    Journal articles | 2025
    Hansra GK; Jayasena T; Poljak A; Sachdev P, 2025, 'A Molecular Biomarker Panel for the Diagnosis of Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Multi-Cohort Study', Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 9, pp. 100408 - 100408, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2025.100408
    Journal articles | 2025
    Tan L; Yu CC; Choo R; Le MK; Ng R; Tierney T; Lim E; Lim D; Liaw SY; Hansra G; Ho YY; Ngeow C; Chia SC; Low JA, 2025, 'Development and validation of the Multidimensional Clinical Empathy Scale for healthcare professionals and students', SAGE OPEN MEDICINE, 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/20503121251365011
    Journal articles | 2024
    Hansra GK; Jayasena T; Hosoki S; Poljak A; Lam BCP; Rust R; Sagare A; Zlokovic B; Thalamuthu A; Sachdev PS, 2024, 'Fluid biomarkers of the neurovascular unit in cerebrovascular disease and vascular cognitive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Cerebral Circulation Cognition and Behavior, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2024.100216
    Journal articles | 2024
    Saks DG; Bajorek B; Catts VS; Bentvelzen AC; Jiang J; Wen W; Mather KA; Thalamuthu A; Huang-Lung J; Nivison-Smith L; Griffiths LR; Smith RA; Sexton A; James P; Jayasena T; Poljak A; Hansra GK; Hosoki S; Park A; Hillenbrand CM; van Wijngaarden P; Chander RJ; Humphrey S; Chen R; Kochan NA; Helman TJ; Levi C; Brodtmann A; O'Sullivan MJ; Markus R; Butcher K; Parsons M; Kovacic JC; Sachdev PS, 2024, 'The protocol for an observational Australian cohort study of CADASIL: The AusCADASIL study', Cerebral Circulation Cognition and Behavior, 6, pp. 100225, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2024.100225
    Journal articles | 2023
    Hansra GK; Lim H; Cheong CY; Yap P, 2023, 'Knowledge and Attitudes towards Dementia among the General Public in Singapore: A Comparative Analysis', Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 52, pp. 214 - 221, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000530271
    Journal articles | 2023
    Hosoki S; Hansra GK; Jayasena T; Poljak A; Mather KA; Catts VS; Rust R; Sagare A; Kovacic JC; Brodtmann A; Wallin A; Zlokovic BV; Ihara M; Sachdev PS, 2023, 'Molecular biomarkers for vascular cognitive impairment and dementia', Nature Reviews Neurology, 19, pp. 737 - 753, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41582-023-00884-1
    Journal articles | 2019
    Hansra GK; Popov G; Banaczek PO; Vogiatzis M; Jegathees T; Goldbury CS; Cullen KM, 2019, 'The neuritic plaque in Alzheimer's disease: perivascular degeneration of neuronal processes', Neurobiology of Aging, 82, pp. 88 - 101, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.06.009

  • University International Postgraduate Award, UNSW, Australia [2022-2026]
  • NHMRC Vascular Contributions to Dementia Care (VCD-CRE) Top Up Scholarship, CheBA, Australia [2023 - Ongoing]
  • Kwan Fung and Yuet Ying Fund Healthy Brain Ageing Research Award Fund, Australia [2023]
  • Staff Excellence Award - Production & Transformation, School of Health Sciences' NextGen ICT-enabled learning with Immersive Technologies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore [2022]
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, School of Health Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore [2022]
  • NGW and Mrs Ann Macintosh Memorial Scholarship, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia [2016]
  • Excellence Service Award - Gold, Science Centre Singapore [2014]
  • Dean's Commendation for High Achievement, University of Queensland, Australia [2010]
  • Fellowship Award, Singapore's Business and Professional Women's Association for Academic and Leadership Excellence [2006]

 

Publications

  • Hansra, G. K., Jayasena, T., Hosoki, S., Poljak, A., Lam, B. C. P., Rust, R., Sagare, A., Zlokovic, B., Thalamuthu, A., & Sachdev, P. S. (2024). Fluid biomarkers of the neurovascular unit in cerebrovascular disease and vascular cognitive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 6, 100216. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2024.100216

  • Saks, D. G., Bajorek, B., Catts, V. S., Bentvelzen, A. C., Jiang, J., Wen, W., Mather, K. A., Thalamuthu, A., Huang-Lung, J., Nivison-Smith, L., Griffiths, L. R., Smith, R. A., Sexton, A., James, P., Jayasena, T., Poljak, A., Hansra, G. K., Hosoki, S., Park, A., . . . Sachdev, P. S. (2024). The protocol for an observational Australian cohort study of CADASIL: The AusCADASIL study. Cerebral Circulation - Cognition and Behavior, 6, 100225. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cccb.2024.100225

  • Hosoki, S., Hansra, K.G., Jayasena, T., Poljak, A., Mather, K.A., Catts, V.S., Rust, R., Sagare, A. Kovacic, J.C., Brodtmann, A., Wallin, A., Zlokovic, B.V., Ihara, M. & Sachdev, P.S. (2023). Molecular Biomarkers for Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, Nature Reviews Neurology, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-023-00884-1

  • Hansra, G.K.,Lim, H.,Cheong, C.Y., Yap,P. (2023). Knowledge and attitudes towards dementia among the general public in Singapore. A comparative analysis. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, doi: https://doi.org/10.1159/000530271
  • Hansra, G.K., Popov, G., Banaczek, P.O., Vogiatzis, M., Jegathees,T., Goldsbury, C.E., Cullen, K.M.(2019), The neuritic plaque in Alzheimer's disease: Perivascular degeneration of neuronal processes, Neurobiology of Aging, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.06.009
  • Peh, A., Han, M., Hansra, G., Lim, H., Yu, J., & Mahendran, R. (2020). Gait Control and Cognition in Community Living Elderly in Singapore. [Virtual Scientific Symposium]. Behavioural Health in Extraordinary, Unprecedented Times, Singapore