Project title
‘Investigating the Effect of Animal Venom in Pancreatic and Colorectal Cancer’
Profile summary
I have been a part time PhD student and University Instructor in the School of Human and Life Sciences since December 2015.
My work is an industry-linked collaboration between CCCU and my industrial partner, Venomtech Ltd. As such, my PhD lab work is carried out at Discovery Park in Sandwich, split between the Life Sciences Industry Liaison Lab and Venomtech’s industrial lab.
Before starting at CCCU, I graduated with an MPharm degree from the University of Brighton (2013) and decided to further my lab experience and pharmaceutical knowledge with an MSc in Drug Design at the University of Kent (2015).
My PhD research investigates the effect of cobra venoms in pancreatic and colorectal cancer. I have optimised a resazurin dye-based cell viability assay to enable me to perform high-throughput screening of cobra venoms and their constituent parts on cancer cells in culture in order to determine toxicity of the venom on the cancer cells.
I use the separation technique High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to separate the venoms into individual components in order to determine which part of the venom is having the toxic effect. This is important to remove any additional, unwanted venom proteins and components and enables the specific toxic compounds to be studied.
I then use quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) to determine upregulation and downregulation of relevant cancer related genes in response to venom exposure. This is with the aim of finding a potential lead compound which could be developed into a future cancer chemotherapeutic drug.
I am a member of the Biomolecular Research Group and have particular interests in drug discovery, bioinformatics, venom, protein interactions and toxicology. I also have an interest in the care and husbandry of venomous invertebrates and reptiles.
Teaching and Subject Expertise
- L0 – Principles of Chemistry, Study Skills
- L4 – Biochemistry, Chemistry, Microbiology
- L5– Communications and Analysis
- L6 – Applied Biological Chemistry, Bioinformatics
Other External Activities
STEM ambassador for various outreach activities including the Big Bang fair, Discovery Park (2016 & 2017) and the Science Jamboree, Discovery Park (2016-2018).