Dr Marcella Montagnese

Junior Research Fellow, Christ's College Cambridge

Understanding the neural basis of cognitive decline through AI and neuroimaging

Developing AI-powered tools for patient stratification and prognostication using neuroimaging and clinical data from NHS memory clinics.

AI & neuroimaging researcher building tools for individualised dementia care.

University of Cambridge Christ's College King's College London

About me

Current positions

Based at Christ's College and the Neuroinformatics Lab, I work across clinical and computational teams to bridge research and clinical practice.

  • Junior Research Fellow in Biological and Medical Sciences, Christ's College, University of Cambridge
  • Research Associate in Neuroinformatics, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge
  • Affiliate, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge

Research focus

As part of the Neuroinformatics Lab, I focus on analysing neuroimaging and clinical data from NHS memory clinics, leveraging AI and normative modeling to create individualised tools for patient stratification and prognostication. I have contributed to the PASSIAN Project in collaboration with UCL, implementing a secure, scalable clinical data-sharing solution via federated learning in the NHS.

My PhD research explored neural and cognitive correlates of Parkinson's Disease Psychosis using multimodal imaging techniques, combined with network neuroscience, transcriptomics, and receptor map approaches.

Read more here →

Research interests

  • Brain Ageing and Neurodegeneration
  • Multimodal neuroimaging (T1-weighted, diffusion, fMRI, EEG)
  • Computational psychiatry & brain networks
  • Machine learning and open science
  • Federated learning
  • Visual hallucinations and psychosis
  • Clinical Translation of data-driven approaches

Education

  1. 2018 – 2023

    PhD in Neuroimaging — King's College London

    Supervisors: Prof Mitul Mehta & Prof Dominic ffytche

  2. 2017 – 2018

    MPhil - Computational Psychiatry — University of Cambridge

    Supervisor: Prof Graham Murray

  3. 2014 – 2017

    BSc - Psychology & Neuroscience — University of Cambridge

Other Experience

  1. Nov 2022 – Present

    Google Women Techmakers Ambassador

    Promoting open access to coding and AI resources for women in technology.

  2. May 2021 – Feb 2022

    NIHR SPARC Award Internship — University of Cambridge (Psychiatry Dept)

    Worked on graph-theoretical and machine learning analyses of brain imaging data under supervision of Prof Ed Bullmore and Dr Sarah Morgan. (Cambridge, UK)

  3. Jun 2016 – Aug 2016

    Summer Research Fellowship — University of Cambridge (Genetics Dept)

    Ran optogenetic testing of modulatory neurons in larval Drosophila. Funded by the Genetics Society UK Summer Studentship Award. (Cambridge, UK)

  4. Jul 2015 – Sep 2015

    Summer Research Fellowship — Harvard University (Psychology Dept)

    Ran eye-tracking and behavioural experiments on patients with Prader-Willi syndrome and worked on natural language coding for the Natural History of Song Project (NHS). (Cambridge, US)

Marcella Montagnese Research Overview

Research projects

I combine normative modelling, federated learning and machine learning to build robust, privacy-preserving clinical tools for dementia diagnosis and prognosis.

AI for Individualised Dementia Diagnosis in Memory Clinics

Combining AI with clinical and biological data (QMIN-MC and NACC cohorts) to develop individualised diagnostic and prognostic tools for dementia.

Morphometric Similarity Networks in dementia

Investigation and validation of this approach in a large scale cohorts of people with different dementia diagnoses.

ARUK Grant £3,847

Brain Networks Analysis

Applying graph theoretical methods and machine learning to resting-state fMRI data to understand network dysfunction in PD psychosis.

Computational Modeling of Reinforcement Learning

Applying computational reinforcement learning models to understand decision-making deficits in schizophrenia and their relationship to genetic risk.

NSPN Consortium

Publications

Brain network visualization
2025

Structural Similarity Networks Reveal Brain Vulnerability in Dementia

Montagnese M, Ebneabbasi A, García-San-Martín N, et al.

Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association (Accepted)

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Cloud computing
2025

Cloud Computing for Equitable Data-Driven Dementia Medicine

Montagnese M, Rangelov B, Doel T, et al.

The Lancet Digital Health (Accepted)

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Brain network
2025

Disrupted Functional Brain Network Associated with Hallucinations in Parkinson's Disease

Montagnese M, Mehta M, ffytche D, et al.

Brain Communications, 7(3)

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Cognitive processing
2022

Cognitive and Visual Processing Performance in Parkinson's Disease: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis

Montagnese M et al.

Cortex, 146, 161-172

Read paper →
Multimodal hallucinations
2021

A Review of Multimodal Hallucinations: Categorisation, Assessment, Theoretical Perspectives and Clinical Recommendations

Montagnese M et al.

Schizophrenia Bulletin, 47(1), 237-248

Read paper →

Full list (selected recent entries)

  • Montagnese M, Ebneabbasi A, García-San-Martín N, Pecci-Terroba C, Romero-García R, Morgan S, Cole J, Seidlitz J, Rittman T, Bethlehem R.A.I. (2025). Structural Similarity Networks Reveal Brain Vulnerability in Dementia. Preprint: doi:10.1101/2025.06.10.25328978. (Accepted, Alzheimer's & Dementia)
  • Montagnese M, Rangelov B, Doel T, Llewellyn D, Walker Z, Rittman T, Oxtoby N.P. (2025). Cloud Computing for Equitable Data-Driven Dementia Medicine. (Accepted, The Lancet Digital Health)
  • Montagnese M, Mehta M, ffytche D, Firbank M, Lawson R, Taylor J.P, Bullmore E, Morgan S (2025). Disrupted functional brain network associated with presence of hallucinations in Parkinson’s Disease. Brain Communications. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcaf185
  • Montagnese M, Rittman T. Bridging Modifiable Risk Factors and Cognitive Decline: The Mediating Role of Brain-Age. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 5(4), e243–e244. doi:10.1016/S2666-7568(24)00042-4
  • Yuanxi Lee L, Vaghari D, Burkhart M, Tino P, Montagnese M, Zühlsdorff K, Giorgio J, et al. (2024). Robust and translatable AI for dementia diagnosis and prognosis in real-world clinical settings. The Lancet eClinicalMedicine. doi:10.17863/CAM.108903
  • Laurell A, Rittman T, Schmidt T, Montagnese M, et al. Estimating demand for potential disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease in the UK. The British Journal of Psychiatry. doi:10.1192/bjp.2023.166
  • Vignando M, ffytche D, Mazibuko N, Palma G, Montagnese M, et al. (2024). Visual mismatch negativity in Parkinson’s psychosis and potential for testing treatment mechanisms. Brain Communications. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcae291
  • Wright A, Palmer-Cooper E, McGuire N, Montagnese M, et al. (2023). Metacognition and psychosis-spectrum experiences. Schizophrenia Research. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2022.12.014
  • Wright A, Palmer-Cooper E, Cella M, McGuire N, Montagnese M, et al. (2023). Experiencing hallucinations in daily life: The role of metacognition. Schizophrenia Research. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2022.12.023
  • Montagnese M et al. (2022). Cognitive And Visual Processing Performance In Parkinson’s Disease Patients With vs Without Visual Hallucinations: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis. Cortex, 146, 161–172. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2021.11.001
  • Montagnese M et al. (2022). Cognition, hallucination severity and hallucination-specific insight in neurodegenerative disorders and eye disease. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry. doi:10.1080/13546805.2021.1960812
  • Williams D, Montagnese M (2022). Bayesian Psychiatry and the Social Focus of Delusions. In Expected Experiences: The Predictive Mind in an Uncertain World. Routledge. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.27852.23683
  • Montagnese M et al. (2021). A Review of Multimodal Hallucinations: Categorisation, Assessment, Theoretical Perspectives And Clinical Recommendations. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 47(1), 237–248. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbaa101
  • Wong JY, Wan BA, Bland T, Montagnese M, et al. (2021). Octopaminergic neurons have multiple targets in Drosophila larval mushroom body calyx and can modulate behavioral odor discrimination. Learning & Memory, 28(2), 53–71. doi:10.1101/lm.052159.120
  • Rains L et al. (2021). Early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health care. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. doi:10.1007/s00127-020-01924-7
  • Montagnese M et al. (2020). Reinforcement learning as an intermediate phenotype in psychosis? Schizophrenia Research, 222, 389–396. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2020.04.022

Teaching & outreach

Supervision & mentoring

PhD & MPhil Students

Co-supervision of 2 PhD students to date.

I was the Trinity College Postdoc mentor for 3 graduate students, meeting about mentoring and academic skillset, alongside progression in academia.

Undergraduate Projects

Assisting in statistical classes and workshops and marking reports.

Admissions & College Service

Interviewer for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS) undergraduate admissions, Christ’s College, University of Cambridge (2023, 2024, 2025).

Graduate student events

I took part in an event with the graduate students in my college (the MCR) to demystify applications to funding and Junior Research Fellowships at Oxbridge.

Lectures & workshops

Neuroimaging Analysis

Workshops on MRI data processing, fMRI analysis, and multimodal neuroimaging.

Natural Sciences Part II PDN (Module N2)

I will be lecturing for the Natural Sciences Part II PDN (3rd year) on Module N2: Experimental Tools for the Neuroscientist.

Public engagement & outreach

🧠

Women Techmakers Ambassador

Promoting diversity in STEM and providing mentorship to women in technology and AI.

💻

Open Science Advocate

Championing open-access research, code sharing, and reproducible science practices.

🎤

Science Communication

Regular talks and presentations to make neuroscience and AI accessible to broader audiences.

Awards & grants

2025

Best Presentation Prize

Research Departmental Symposium, University of Cambridge

2024

ARUK East Network Research Grant

+ Travel Grant £400

For work on Morphometric Inverse Divergence Networks and post-mortem brain analyses

2023

Guarantors of Brain Travel Award

£1,000

For presenting at OHBM Conference in Montreal, Canada

2022

Google Women Techmakers Ambassador

Selected from thousands of applicants

Conferences & Invited Talks

  • Christ’s College Cambridge - Annual Medical Society Conference (April 2024)
  • Cambridge University Department of Clinical Neuroscience Symposium (December 2023)
  • DEMON Network Applied Models and Digital Health Working Group meeting (April 2023)
  • Trinity College Cambridge - Early Career Researchers Spotlight (2023)
  • The Brain Conference (2022). Only ECR invited as speaker for the Psychosis session.
  • International Consortium on Hallucination Research (2021)
  • King’s College Cambridge Rising Talent Spotlight Talk (2018)
  • The Genetics Society UK workshop in Edinburgh (2017)
  • OHBM poster presentation (June 2022, July 2023, June 2024) as first author
  • The Brain Conference (2022) - Featured poster in Psychosis session as first author
  • Poster presentation at BNPA 2020 Conference and at BNA 2019 Conference as first author
  • ’Towards an understanding of reinforcement learning in Psychosis’, Fletcher’s lab (Cambridge) - 2018
  • Public speaking in BBC ARTiculation show - 2014
Animated brain video

Contact me

Interested in my research or potential collaborations? Connect with me on social media or explore my research outputs.

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