Contact
Biography
Dr Sarah Jones graduated in from Liverpool University in 1988 with an honours degree in Biochemistry. She then studied for a PhD in the Department of Genetics and Microbiology, again at Liverpool University and was awarded her PhD in 1992.
Sarah then worked as a scientific officer at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester. She then moved to Scotland and completed two post-doctoral positions at St. Andrews University before arriving in Dundee in 1999. Sarah then worked as a post-doctoral research assistant until 2011 when she was promoted to the post of lecturer.
Sarah teaches the pre-clinical years of the BDS programme and also supervises final year BSc and BMSc laboratory-based research projects for basic science, dental and medical students.
Sarah is also 1BDS examination convenor and leads the standard setting process for 1BDS.
Sarah is an active member of two research groups focusing on Oral Cancer and Craniofacial Anomalies and currently supervises PhD and MRes research projects in both of these areas.
Research
Sarah’s research interests fall into three main categories; craniofacial abnormalities, oral cancer and dental materials and she co-supervises research projects in all of these areas. The craniofacial abnormality projects are supervised in conjunction with Professor Mossey and Dr Ian Ellis and focus on palatogenesis and the team collaborates with groups in Manchester and Madrid. Sarah also attends ESF and EUROCleftNet meetings and conferences.
Sarah is currently co-supervisor of one PhD and one MDSc student working on cancer-based projects.
Current projects
- Is there a Role for Activated Akt in Palatogenesis?
- Palatogenesis: Is there a Relationship Between TGFβ3 and Hyaluronan Synthase (Has 1, 2, 3) Expression in vitro?
Regarding oral cancer, Sarah’s main interests are centred on the role of angiogenesis promoters and suppressors in cancer and its progression. Sarah is currently co-supervisor of one PhD and one MDSc student working on cancer-based projects.
Current projects
- Role of Signal Transduction in Oral Tumour Cell Migration
- Synthesis of Hyaluronan by Tumour Cells – Mechanisms and Implications
Sarah is also involved in several novel multi-disciplinary PhD projects looking at dental materials.
Current projects
- Approaches to Root Caries Restoration; Exploring a Bioengineering Approach to Tissue Adhesion of Glass Polyalkenote Cements.
- Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Failure of Tooth Root Canal Restorations.
Teaching
Undergraduate
Sarah is involved in teaching the first and second year BDS Microbiology practical course and also supervises final year BSc and BMSc laboratory-based research projects for basic science, dental and medical students. Sarah also gives lectures to 1BDS on the biochemistry of digestion. Sarah, in her role as 1st BDS examination convenor, holds feedback sessions and is a student mentor.
Examples of Undergraduate research projects
- Palatogenesis: Is there a Relationship Between TGFβ3 and Hyaluronan Synthase (Has 1, 2, 3) Expression in vitro?
- Is there a Role for MTA Filling Material and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2) in the Activating “resting” Stromal Cells to an Active Phenotype?
- EGF AND TGF-alpha Motogenic Activities are Mediated by the EGF Receptor: Identification of the Signalling Pathways Relevant in Oral Cancer.
- Is there a Role for Activated Akt in Palatogenesis?
Postgraduate
Sarah currently co-supervises PhD, MDSc and MSc students, and contributes towards the taught (practical) component of the MRes degrees in Cancer Biology and Oral Cancer. She also leads one of the modules in MRes Oral Cancer; Cell proliferation and cancer.