Ms Gurpreet Hansra
Research Associate
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychiatry, Clinical Medicine), University of New South Wales - 2022 to 2026
Master of Philosophy (Medicine), University of Sydney - 2017
Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences), University of Queensland - 2010
Diploma in Medical Technology, Singapore Polytechnic - 2009
Medicine & Health
Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing
Gurpreet is currently a Postdoctoral researcher with the Centre for Health Brain Ageing (CHeBA) in the department of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales working under Scientia Professor Perminder Sachdev. Her work involves the identification of molecular biomarkers in the blood for the early detection and prognosis of vascular contributions to dementia (VCID).
Gurpreet completed her PhD at the University of New South Wales where she led one of the largest multinational studies of VCID, bringing together plasma and data from nine national and international (Singapore, USA and Australia) cohorts to investigate blood-based biomarkers and vascular mechanisms underlying cognitive decline and dementia. She holds an MPhil in Medicine from the University of Sydney, where she utilised microscopy and 3D imaging techniques to investigate the relationship between cerebrovascular disorders (microvascular dysfunction) and Alzheimer's disease in human brain tissue.
Prior to joining CHeBA, Gurpreet worked as a Lecturer in Life Sciences and Manager (Outreach) in Singapore, where she taught nursing and health sciences students while leading and supporting dementia research projects in collaboration with fellow scientists. Her research interests span vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, biomarkers, neuroimaging, and the translation of research findings into clinical practice.
Apart from her academic endeavours, Gurpreet holds active positions in various capacities. She served 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." She led the Postgraduate Council at the UNSW as the Vice-President for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion from 2022 to 2024 and sat on the academic board as a higher degree student representative in 2025.
E-mail
Location
Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing
Wallace Wurth Building (C27), Level 2
Cnr High Street & Botany Street
Kensington NSW 2052
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- 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
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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
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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
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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