Introduction
My name is Jessica Traynor and I am a second year PhD
student at the University of Manchester. My research is based on producing a
localised drug delivery system for people suffering from endometriosis.
Endometriosis is a common gynaecological condition that affects roughly 10% of
women at reproductive age. Endometriosis occurs when lesions grow outside of
the uterus. These lesions can cause painful periods, pelvic pain and fatigue.
Although this disease is common, the treatment options are still limited. Women
are most likely to be given anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone-based therapies
(such as the pill or the coil) or undergo surgery to remove the lesions. These
treatment options are not ideal, especially surgery, as there is a high chance
the lesions will grow back.
My lab work is trying to find a way to deliver old and new
drugs directly onto the lesions. This will hopefully stop the lesions from
growing as well as reduce the side effects of these drugs!
In depth
My initial interest in pharmacology (the study of drugs)
began in sixth form. I knew that I was interested in science in general during
my GCSEs, so I picked biology, chemistry, physics and maths. I realised that
although Biology wasn’t my strongest subject, I found it the most interesting,
especially topics surrounding the human body and disease. I decided to look
into biomedical sciences for University, which I soon realised included a lot
of other topics, such as genetics, biochemistry and immunology. When I looked at
the list, I found pharmacology the most interesting subject as I wanted to
learn more about the production of drugs and treating diseases. I chose to
study pharmacology at Newcastle University.
In my final year at Newcastle I started my research project,
which was based on lithium action within the brain and how this can help treat
bipolar disorder. This made me realise that I loved the research environment; I
loved researching a topic where the answer was unknown.
Overall, my degree taught me a lot of research techniques
that can be brought into any research environment, of course, not all labs are
the same but University provided me with the confidence to learn and master
techniques that I’d never seen before!
I graduated from Newcastle in 2017 with a first class degree
in Pharmacology, and if I’m truly honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what to do
next! I knew I wanted to carry on in research, but I wasn’t certain on where or
on what topic. I spent the year researching PhD topics whilst working within an
NHS virology lab as a research assistant. I found this PhD online and thought
it was right up my street! Not only was it a PhD based on drug design/delivery
but it was also based around an under-researched disease that affects so many
women. I had a skype interview with the supervisors and then was put forward
for funding!
My lab group consists of people from different backgrounds,
whether that is pharmacology, cancer research or pharmacy. We all work
alongside other groups to gain a better understanding of disease and its
treatment. We all use a variety of different techniques throughout our
research, so every day is different. Personally, I find my day is split between
lab work, writing papers/reviews, planning future studies and teaching!
After my PhD, I don’t have a set plan on what I want to do
next! My opinions may change throughout the years and I could learn new skills
that change my perception on what I want my career to be!
Going Further
If you want to find out more about endometriosis and its
effects on women, the BBC have recently produced a popular article explaining
what endometriosis is and the idea of the ‘gender pain gap’ (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-49925760/endometriosis-the-condition-that-can-take-over-seven-years-to-diagnose)
To learn more about the research that is happening in my
faculty: (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/)
If you want more information about Biomedical
Sciences/Pharmacology you can find that here (https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2020/00532/bsc-biomedical-sciences/)
and here (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/pharmacology)
Something that sparked my interest in the treatment of
disease was a podcast that talks about medical history, you can give it a
listen if you’re interested, too! (https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/)
by YPU Admin on November 22, 2019,
. Tags:
biology, biosocial, BMH, experimental psychology, Health, medicine, Mental Health, Neuroscience, PhD, and Research
Introduction
Hi everyone! I’m Jess and I’m a PhD researcher at the Division of
Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology at the University of Manchester. I’m
in my second year of a 4-year biosocial PhD programme – a programme that
specialises in research in both biological and social sciences. My research
specifically looks at how social support affects mental health, whilst taking
into account different factors. Those factors include the structure and
function of the brain, wealth and education, and personality type.
In Depth…
I have always been interested in why people act, think and feel the way
they do, which is why I decided to study Psychology at university. We learned
about different areas of psychology, such as developmental, social and
cognitive psychology, but I had a strong interest in clinical and biological
psychology – mental health and the brain. Like many people who studied
psychology, at first I considered becoming a clinical psychologist, so I worked
for a mental health service provider for a couple of years after my degree.
However, I realised that my passion lies in research, so I went on to complete
my Master’s degree in Edinburgh and then (after a short detour of work and
travel in Japan) on to start my PhD in Manchester. I wanted to pursue a PhD in
order to become an expert in a research topic and to contribute to the body of
knowledge that has the potential to impact the lives of many people. This is
important in the field of mental health, as the majority of people in their
lifetime will struggle with their mental health, and we need to understand the
biological and social mechanisms behind this and the best way to help.
A bird's eye view of different sections of the brain from top to bottom from an MRI scan.Currently, my day-to-day life is very varied. For my research, I am
conducting a systematic literature review, which involves trying to find all
the research there is on a particular topic and combining it all together.
Alongside this, I teach on the undergraduate Psychology course, deliver
workshops to schools and write my own blog about psychology and neuroscience
research. This is one of the parts I like most about doing a PhD; you have the
opportunity to get involved with different areas and build skills and
confidence outside of your niche research topic. After my PhD, I want to
continue to work in research, but I am also attracted to the idea of working in
policy and science communication. I want my work to have meaningful and
far-reaching consequences, which could be achieved by any of these career
paths. Luckily I have some time to think about it before I finish my PhD!
Going Further…
If you want to find out more about different aspects of psychology, check
out the links below:
-
Interested in studying Psychology? Here is the
website for Psychology at the University of Manchester, which gives more
information about the course and the requirements: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2020/00653/bsc-psychology/
-
Wondering
what you can do with a Psychology degree? The British Psychology Society (BPS)
has some careers information here: https://careers.bps.org.uk/
-
Keen to learn more about psychology and
neuroscience research? Check out my very own blog: https://brainsinaspace.home.blog/
or my own academic Twitter:https://twitter.com/JStepanous
-
Want to
learn more about your mental health? This website has videos and articles on
different topics: https://teenmentalhealth.org/learn/
-
Curious
about what the different parts of the brain are? You can download this free,
interactive app for your phone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/3d-brain/id331399332
Introduction
Hi, my name is James, I am a second
year PhD researcher in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Manchester and
I make drugs. To put that statement into context, I make drugs targeting the
biological process of inflammation which is involved in diseases such as
Alzheimer’s.
My research group are interested in
targeting the aptly named ‘inflammasome’ using small molecules. We hope that
these small molecule inhibitors might one day be able to treat diseases which
involve inflammation, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is
something that everyone is aware of. And it’s only going to become more common
– we are all living a lot longer than we used to, which means that age-related
diseases are on the rise. That’s why I think that the work that we do is really
important!
In Depth…
I studied at the University of York
where I graduated with a first class MChem degree in Chemistry (with a year in
industry), taking my fourth and final year on an industrial placement at LifeArc
in Stevenage. LifeArc is where I first started working in the field of
medicinal chemistry, and it is the year I spent there which inspired me to
continue in that area. There is something amazing about manipulating molecules
to make ones that have never been made before. Chemistry is a lot like cooking
in your kitchen, albeit with a few more pieces of safety equipment, and without
licking the spoon at the end…
On a typical day, I will spend most
of my time in the lab – setting up reactions, as well as analysing and
purifying them. I will never get bored of the fact that I am playing around
with electrons to form new bonds… and mixing two coloured liquids together to
give a sparkly white solid will always be absolute magic to me.
Going Further…
For those interested in learning a
bit more about everyday chemistry and how it impacts on your life, take a look
at the ‘Exploring Everyday Chemistry’ twitter pages or even sign up for a free
online course. This will help to expand your everyday chemistry knowledge, and
with the brilliant Professor Andy Parsons as your guide, you will have no
choice but to get excited about chemistry! (https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/news/deptnews/free-online-course-eedc/)
For the latest on Alzheimer’s
research and news, look no further than the Twitter feeds for the Alzheimer’s
Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK (https://twitter.com/ARUKnews)
The University of Manchester has a
huge range of exciting research – I would really suggest taking a look at the
UoM Research Hive for approachable and jargon-free updates on the work of
postgraduates (like me!) at the University. (https://twitter.com/UomHive)
For all the latest news from all
areas of science, take a look at the New Scientist twitter feed. (https://twitter.com/newscientist)
by YPU Admin on July 19, 2019,
. Tags:
biology, biology medicine and health, BMH, cancer, cancer research, Christie Hospital, colorectal cancer, medicine, and oncology
Introduction
Hi, my name is Shreya, a Master's student at the University
of Manchester. My Master’s is in cancer research, an extremely topical and fast
paced field. After completing three years of medicine, I decided to take a year
out, known as 'intercalating', to explore research.
The knowledge of how innovative and pioneering the current
projects are, coupled with the fact that I had a previous interest in the
clinical side of cancer, solidified that this was the field for me. After this
year I’ll return to finishing my medical degree, now with the perspective of
working as a researcher. The invaluable skills I’ve learnt and will continue to
develop this year should only help me become a better doctor in the future.
In Depth...
My research is focused on colorectal cancer, one of the most
common cancers in the UK. The project I’m doing specifically involves patients
that have had advanced colorectal cancer, which has unfortunately spread to the
lining of the abdomen. This type of cancer is difficult to treat and involves intricate
surgery that lasts for around 8-10 hours. Patients after this surgery have
kindly donated their tumours in order for our team to analyse them. We are looking
at the DNA of the starting tumour and the DNA of the tumours that have spread,
in order for us to see how closely related the two tumours are. This project
has many elements to it and involves a large team, I’m working closely with surgeons,
pathologists and lab researchers who are using state of the art techniques and
facilities to get the most accurate results. My main role will be to analyse the
raw results, which should start to become available within the next month. At
the moment I am mainly delegating and in charge of organising, as there are
many people involved, it can often be difficult, but I’m enjoying the
communication aspect. Performing a DNA profile of the starting tumour (primary)
is common practice in hospitals, as it helps doctors come up with a treatment
plan tailored to the tumour type. A profile of the tumour that has spread
(secondary) is not routinely done, therefore the profile of the primary is also
used to treat the secondary. This project aims to see if there are any
differences in DNA between the two, and whether the secondary site should also
be analysed for establishing treatment plans. A lot of information can be
gained by looking at the DNA of tumours, and more information is needed to help
manage this advanced disease, which currently has a poor prognosis.
My project is a good mix of lab work and clinical; often
projects are one or the other. This means I get the opportunity to explore both
kinds of research. I am also exposed to many different environments, for
example, I have sat down with pathologists and looked at tumour samples under
the microscope, as well as having the opportunity to be in the genomics lab and
understand the process of DNA profiling. Being able to have these experiences
is one of the reasons why I took a year out of medicine. Despite having
previous reservations about doing a Master’s (mainly due to adding an extra
year to my already long 5 year degree!) I’m happy with the work I’m doing, and I
have been enjoying experiencing the world of research.
Going Further…
1.
For more information on DNA and genes: https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/genetics101/what-is-dna/
2.
I am based at the world-renowned Christie
Hospital which is pioneering in cancer research, for more information on the
research they do have a look at their website: https://www.christie.nhs.uk/professionals/research/
3.
For general information about cancer, check out
the Cancer Research UK website: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImcevrJDr3wIVCbDtCh2byAaqEAAYASAAEgII7vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#/
4.
For more information about applying for medicine
at Manchester: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2019/01428/mbchb-medicine/
5.
For information about the Masters in oncology
(cancer): https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/courses/list/08422/mres-oncology/
Introduction
My name is Jemma and I am a second year PhD student in the
History of Science, Technology and Medicine (HSTM). I took a somewhat roundabout route to this
subject area. After finishing my A-Levels, I didn’t really know what I wanted
to study at university. I enjoyed both Biology and Chemistry so ended up
applying for Biochemistry at the University of Manchester in 2012. With a
number of the bioscience degrees at Manchester, there is the option to do them
as a 4-year undergraduate rather than the standard 3 – with the additional year
being spent working in industry. By the time my placement year came around I realised
that, whilst I found the theory and topics fascinating, I hated lab-based
research. As a result, I chose to spend a year working at the Manchester
Museum’s herbarium – the botany department of the Museum. My project with them
centred on a 19
th century medical collection called the Materia
Medica, which contains plants, animal and mineral products that used to be
employed in the teaching of pharmacy at Owens College (later this became the
University of Manchester). I became obsessed! I changed my degree for my final
year to Biology with Science and Society, which is basically a Biology degree
with HSTM modules, and did my final year dissertation on the domestic use of
opium (the plant extract which morphine comes from) by women in the 19
th
century. HSTM has been a great way to combine my love of history and science.
After my undergraduate degree, I received a 1+3 studentship
to do my Masters and PhD in HSTM at Manchester. My Masters dissertation
returned to the Materia Medica collection as I compared pharmacy education in
Manchester and London in the 19th century. In 2018 I started my PhD,
looking at the place medicinal plants had in 20th century pharmacy.
In Depth…
Pharmaceuticals drugs today are often presented as being
created intentionally – often synthetically by chemical processes – and somehow
separate from traditional medicinal knowledge. However, many drugs still have a
basis in herbal medicine. So how did this perception come about? Why do we view
modern drugs as being divorced from traditional knowledge practices? My
research therefore focuses on medicinal plants, specifically within the context
of conventional pharmacy, during the 20th century. It examines how
plants were used as well as perceived following the rise of synthetic
pharmaceutical drugs to present a more complicated history of drugs than a
simple forward progression from traditional herbal knowledge of the 19th
century to modern, synthetically produced drugs of the late 20th.
I really enjoy my research, but I don’t spend all my time
just doing the PhD. I am a strong supporter of academics not just doing
research but also engaging people with their work. I therefore split my time
between doing my PhD and other activities (though with the emphasis on my PhD
of course). Along with being a Widening Participation Fellow, I am a Heritage
Guide for the University and still volunteer at the Manchester Museum’s
Herbarium. At the Museum, I often get involved with their events as well as designing
activities myself (such as an activity on medicinal plants used by the Romans -
https://blogs.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/pharmacy/2018/11/02/manchester-science-festival-2/).
I am also a big fan of interdisciplinary collaboration, having worked with
members of the pharmacy department as well as artists on public engagement
activities. My current project is setting up a podcast series, called In
Pursuit Of Plants, dedicated to sharing cross-disciplinary research on
medicinal plants – from history to biophysics – with the public. Along with
other PhD students, I even co-organise conferences to promote interdisciplinary
connections amongst Masters and PhD students at the University of Manchester.
Whilst it is important to balance these so they don’t detract from my research,
doing things beyond the PhD is very rewarding and a great way to get others
excited about the topic.
Going Further…
Links to the In Pursuit of Plants podcast series and website
can be found via our twitter page: @IPOP_Podcast
History of Science, Technology and Medicine is such a
diverse field, to find out more about the types of research conducted in our
PhD group check out our website: https://chstmphdblog.wordpress.com/people/
For a look at some of the public engagement I have done, you
can read this blog post (plus see the final video!) of a collaborative project
with a creative from Reform Radio: https://chstmphdblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/12/mixlab-2018-a-public-engagement-experiement/
You can also follow me on twitter for more on my research
(plus lots of photos from the Manchester Museum): https://twitter.com/PlantHistorian
For more on the Biology with Science and Society
with Industrial/Professional Experience see:
http://www.chstm.manchester.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/