Wellcome Trust Fellows 2010-2013

Dr Kathryn Kirkwood

SpR in Pathology

Since undertaking an intercalated degree in Anatomical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh Kate has been clear she wanted to pursue both clinical and academic training in pathology. She sees a postgraduate research project in laboratory sciences as a key step along the way to a career as an academic pathologist.

Kate was drawn to the Dundee programme by the world class scientific supervisors and research environment available to fellows. She found the induction course which provided an opportunity to explore different project ideas with many supervisors, along with robust laboratory training, essential to getting the most out of her PhD project.

Kate is interested in human disease pathogenesis with a focus on proteins involved in cell growth and transformation. She would like to work towards a greater understanding of testicular disease aetiology by applying laboratory cell culture based results directly to human tissues, bridging the gap between bench-to-bedside research.

Project
“The translation of quantitative mass spectrometry in human disease”
Supervisor: Professor Angus Lamond

Dr Kash Patel

SpR in Endocrinology & Diabetes

From an early stage in clinical training Kash wanted to combine postgraduate medical training with research and was introduced to academic medicine via an Academic Foundation project at the University of Warwick.

As an endocrinologist, Kash wishes to be able to offer improved management of insulin resistance and obesity. Kash is interested in investigating the signalling pathways involved in insulin resistance to better understand that pathology behind the disease.

Kash considered the availability of mentors who could advise on both scientific and clinical training issues an important aspect of the programme.

Project
“Development of novel models for the study of hepatic insulin resistance as a means to an early diagnosis and treatment for pre-diabetes”
Supervisor: Dr Kei Sakamoto

Dr Esther Sammler

SpR in Neurology

Before joining the Dundee programme, Esther had already started building her academic career by joining a combined research and clinical neurology programme in Heidelberg, Germany. Since moving to the UK, Esther has continued to contribute to various laboratory projects alongside her clinical training.

Esther has a research interest in investigating the mechanisms that underlie motor and cognitive deficits in neurodegenerative disorders with the long-term aim of contributing to treatment and preventative measures.

She is keen to spend a period of undisrupted time on her research interests in a stimulating scientific environment.

Project
“Signalling pathway of Fbxo7 and its role in hereditary Parkinsonism.”
Supervisor: Professor Dario Alessi

Dr Jamie Wilson

SpR in Pathology

Jamie became interested in the basic underlying causes of disease early in his medical training, carrying out an intercalated BMSc in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of disease. This led to a career in pathology in which the macroscopic, microscopic and theoretical aspects of disease are addressed together in an attempt to diagnose and intervene positively with the disease process. Specialising in pathology has allowed Jamie to pursue his interests in pathophysiological mechanisms, particularly with regard to molecular aspects of carcinogenesis and genomic instability. 

The Wellcome Trust Programme has provided the opportunity to carry out an intensive period of research that he hopes will pave the way to a career in academic pathology. Working in a high quality laboratory, with a proven track record, a motivated team of researchers and the expert supervision of Prof. John Rouse, his work is focussed on understanding the mechanisms that cause DNA damage, how such damage is repaired and how these contribute to carcinogensis and cancer therapeutics. He aims to use his insights to improve diagnosis and treatment while also discovering possible new molecular targets.

Project
“Functional analysis of the SLX4 regulator of DNA repair nucleases”
Supervisor: Prof John Rouse