Research Fellow - Cell signalling and Pharmacology.

I have been a researcher in the field of cell signalling and Pharmacology for over seventeen years specialising in the area of cell signalling in inflammation and G-protein coupled receptors.

My research area covers:

1) The cellular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory environment linked to breast cancer progression, with an emphasis on CXCL12 and the NFkB pathway. 

2) understanding the molecular mechanisims of PAR2 signalling in the proccesses that underpin inflammation (focus on arthritis), with an emphasis on targert validation and drug discovery.  

Recent preliminary projects have taken me in the direction of CXCL12 signalling in breast cancer, where I have uncovered a link between the non-canonical NFkB pathway and CXCL12 production in cancer cell lines. With the aid of first in class novel IKKa inhibitors we are in an excellent position to investigate this further. We  also have several 'hit compounds' from a SULSA screen which target CXCL12 transcriptional activity, this will allow further drug discovery/evaluation work in this area. Targeting the chemokine directly is a novel approach which will by pass many of the unwanted side effects evident with inhibition of its target receptor -  CXCR4. 

I had the privilege of being part of a group which was one of the first to recognise the biological relevance of PAR2, developed one of the first PAR2 knockout models and indeed my research career started within the Ferrell and Lockhart group, who along with my current group, have forged a world lead in the area of chronic inflammation (arthritis). 

Current Collaborators: 

CXCL12-IKKa project = Professor Valerie Speirs (University of Aberdeen) and Dr Craig Jamieson (UoS)

PAR2-Osteoarthrits project = Professor Robin Plevin (UoS), Dr Anne Crilly (University of the West of Scotland), Dr Craig Jamieson (UoS) and Dr Zahra Rattray (UoS)

I was awarded my PG Cert in teaching, learning and assesment in 2016 where I also become a recognised fellow of the higher education academy.

I have since 2014 taught the PP904 compulsory PhD class on abstract writing, poster presentation and presentation skills. I have also been actively involved in the organisation of the CPU summer school run here in SIPBS. I have delivered lectures to the undergraduate 3rd year Biomedical cohort - Drugs and disease 3 class.

Currently I am actively teaching and the course co-ordinater for the PP904 class, I am teaching on the BM937, BM906 and MP961 all Master level courses with the latter linked to my Masters of research project student. I am also teaching/assessing the BM432, 4th year honours cohort from the Biomedical degree.