Promotions in the School of Medicine

Image: Top row from left: Dr James Cantley, Dr Alex Doney, Prof Jenni Harvey, Dr Bonnie Lynch, Dr Luigi Manfredi. Middle row from left: Dr Sarah Martins da Silva, Dr Mairi McLean, Dr Fiona Muir, Dr Colin Murdoch, Dr Paul Newey. Bottom row from left: Prof Graham Rena, Dr Adrian Saurin, Prof Susie Schofield.

Dr James Cantley, who was promoted to Reader, has maintained a career-long research focus on investigating pancreatic beta cell function and insulin secretion in the context of type 1 and 2 diabetes. He leads the islet biology research group at Dundee, working at the interface of biochemistry, cell biology and metabolic physiology, as well as teaching in endocrinology and diabetes. He is an enthusiastic advocate for the key role played by innovation and enterprise in making a real-world impact from academic research, and co-chairs the School of Medicine Commercialisation Committee.

Dr Alex Doney was promoted to Clinical Reader for his broad involvement in promoting and developing Precision Medicine research, clinical implementation and teaching in the Medical School. He directs the Health Data Science for Applied Precision Medicine Masters Programme and leads on a number of Precision Medicine research initiatives particularly in relation to Artificial Intelligence applied to clinical images. He also championed the first “real-world” exemplar of Pharmacogenetic Precision Medicine in action in the NHS with the P4Me Clopidogrel initiative.

Prof Jenni Harvey, who was promoted to a Personal Chair in Cellular Neuroscience, leads a programme of research around leptin and synaptic function in health and disease. Jenni is Associate Dean for Culture and Performance and previously was School Lead for ED&I and Athena Swan. In addition, Jenni is module lead for BSc and BMSc neurodegeneration teaching, co-leads a MSc Applied Neuroscience module and is external examiner for Neuroscience TPG degrees at Edinburgh University and Kings College London.

Dr Bonnie Lynch, who was promoted to Senior Lecturer, is involved in research, teaching and scholarship in the areas of assessment and selection. She is currently Principal Investigator in two nationwide studies: one related to the upcoming launch of the Medical Licensing Assessment and the other concerning the Multiple Mini Interview.

Dr Luigi Manfredi, who was promoted to Reader, led an EPSRC Project, SoftEn, to develop an autonomous medical device for screening and treating Colorectal Cancer based on AI and Machine Learning. He also led Softech Robotics, a Scottish Enterprise High Growth Spin Out Program grant, to commercialise a soft robotic colonoscope. Dr Manfredi edited a book entitled “Endorobots: design, R&D, and future trends”, published by the Elsevier in January 2022. In response to his recent promotion Luigi said “I am very pleased to get this promotion as a recognition of my contribution to the School of Medicine and University of Dundee. I would like to show my gratitude to those of you who support me in my professional growth.”

Dr Sarah Martins da Silva, who was recently promoted to Reader in Reproductive Medicine, is a clinical academic and runs a programme of translational research focussed around sperm biology, drug discovery and male infertility and contraception. Sarah runs a programme of translational research focussed around sperm biology, drug discovery and male infertility and contraception and is part of the faculty for the hugely successful taught PG masters course: Human clinical embryology and assisted Conception. Sarah is also course director for the NHS Tayside Speciality Trainee research training course as well as an honorary consultant gynaecologist in Ninewells Assisted Conception Unit, lead for NHS Tayside infertility services and Person Responsible for Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

Dr Mairi McLean joined the Division of Molecular & Clinical Medicine in the School of Medicine in 2020 as a Clinical Academic Gastroenterologist and has recently been promoted to Clinical Reader. She leads a lab-based research program on gastrointestinal mucosal immunology and epithelial barrier structure and function, with expertise in human gut tissue derived organoid models. Mairi is an associate member of the Cell Signalling & Immunology Division in the School of Life Sciences and is Academic Lead of the Tayside Tissue Biorepository.

Dr Fiona Muir, who was promoted to Reader in Medical Education, joined the School of Medicine in 2005 and has held several academic roles within the undergraduate programme: GP education, Professionalism, Interprofessional Education, Writing for publication amongst others, and in 2009 she designed the BMSc Medical Education (Hons) intercalated degree (now with Advance HE Associate Fellowship) which she continues to support. Fiona subsequently joined the Centre for Medical Education where her involvement in teaching, curriculum design and quality assurance continue within postgraduate programmes which extends to working overseas in Kuwait and Jeddah.

Dr Colin Murdoch, who was promoted to Reader, led a Horizon2020 EU consortium, iPlacenta, which trained 15 PhD students. iPlacenta has worked with industry partners to develop a placenta on a chip and an endoscopic laser speckle imaging probe. Colin is also co-lead of the Cardiovascular and Diabetes Medicine BMSc and module lead for BBSE cardiovascular teaching.

Dr Paul Newey, who was promoted to Reader, is an Endocrinologist whose major research and clinical interests involve understanding the genetic basis of endocrine disease. He is involved in the development and delivery of endocrine genetic testing at a national level. In response to his recent promotion Paul said “I am delighted at this news and look forward to continuing my combined clinical and research programme at the University of Dundee, which provides an excellent environment for my work”.

Prof Graham Rena, who was promoted to Professor, came to Ninewells as a Lecturer and then Caledonian Research Foundation Fellow in 2004 and has been here ever since. Current research focuses on the immunometabolic character of metformin action, including a 2017 review co-authored by Graham that has been downloaded almost 80000 times. More recently, Graham helped our PGRs navigate the pandemic, as Head of Doctoral Studies. In his spare time, Graham enjoys surfing. What he lacks in technique on the board, he makes up for with enthusiasm! He is also a long-distance runner and has completed eight timed marathons/ultras, including the ‘Highland Fling,’ a 53-mile run along the southern section of the West Highland Way.

Dr Adrian Saurin was promoted to Reader. His lab studies how signalling networks control cell division and how these can be targeted by anti-cancer drugs. They are funded by programme awards from Cancer Research UK and The Wellcome Trust. In addition, Adrian leads the 4th year BBSE Cancer Biology module and is deputy academic lead for the Dundee Imaging Facility.

Prof Susie Schofield, who was promoted to a Personal Chair, joined us in 2006 as the inaugural Staff Development Officer, a post created by Profs Margery Davis, Gary Mires and Dilip Nathwani. Since then she has transformed faculty development at Tayside, and wider afield through our world-famous Masters in Medical Education, CME’s PhD programme, and as Distance Learning Lead for the University. As our current Associate Dean of Quality and Academic Standards she brings a wealth of experience of evidence-based enhancement to both courses and process, emphasising the importance of improving both staff and student experience.