欧美高清

Publications

, , MacQuaide N,

Scottish Cardiovascular Forum 2026 (2026)

, Roberts Charlotte, Cunningham Eve, , MacQuaide Niall,

Scottish Cardiovascular Forum 2026 (2026)

, , , Carter Katharine C, Tate Rothwelle J, , ,

Journal of Biological Education (2026)

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences Vol 9, pp. 13-21 (2025)

PLOS One Vol 20 (2025)

, Callan Rachel, Sran Arshdeep, MacQuaide Niall, ,

Heart Vol 111, pp. A6 (2025)

Teaching

• Teaching across Biomedical Sciences classes: BM110, 108, 109, 210, 214, 321, 326, 327, 422, 423, 430, 432; Pharmacy: MP422; Postgraduate: BM934, 937, 951, 942, 952, 953, 959.
• Coordinator of Biomedical Sciences classes BM321, BM423; Postgraduate: BM934, 937, 952.
• Personal Development Advisor
• Internal/external examiner PhD theses
• External examiner MSc Neuroscience, UCL, (2013-2015)

Certificates of Recognition in University of 欧美高清 Student Union Teaching Excellence Awards: 2012, 2013, 2014. Winner: Most Supportive Teacher 2017.

Research Interests

The traditional view is that gene expression is largely governed by promoter activity, meaning that analysis is carried out gene-by-gene. Expressed mRNAs encode expressed proteins and, again, the prevailing view is that mRNA levels are the major influence on levels of their encoded proteins.

I have discovered an entirely new level of regulation for both mRNA and protein expression that is based on the idea that the synthesis of both types of molecules is dependent on an interaction between the supply of building blocks (nucleotides or amino acids) and the demands of the sequences of the mRNAs or proteins to be made (how extreme/costly a composition they possess). Independent studies of protein expression data, and now mRNA expression data, have shown that this interaction drives a global-level regulation of expression. This is like looking at the 'wood' instead of the 'trees', and offers a high-level readout of the cellular state.

For proteins, we have shown that growth/cell proliferation eats up the amino acid supply, particularly limiting the expression of聽 proteins involved in connective tissue structure. For mRNA, the situation much more profound. I see global mRNA expression profiles shifted in numerous disease states such as Alzheimer's disease , schizophrenia, and autoimmune conditions. Additionally, 20% of all drugs/chemicals assessed perturb the global profile, revealing a new way to think of drug action and side-effect. It's not all pathological: the cell uses this form of regulation across the circadian day and menstrual cycle, and it apears to correlate with the extent of cellular differentiation. In fact, cells appear to use changes in nucleobase supply to shift their global expression profile as an efficent way to reprogram physiological state or to respond to adversity.

The goal of my research now is to convert these largely data-driven findings into practical applications relating to disease understanding and treatment.

Professional Activities

Participant

13/4/2024

Visiting researcher

6/4/2024

Visiting researcher

6/2019

Projects

Chamberlain, Luke (Principal Investigator) Pickard, Ben (Co-investigator) Teng Shervone, T (Post Grad Student)

01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2026

Chamberlain, Luke (Principal Investigator) Pickard, Ben (Co-investigator) Allan Cockerill, Jack (Post Grad Student)

01-Jan-2023 - 30-Jan-2026

Chamberlain, Luke (Principal Investigator) Pickard, Ben (Co-investigator) Campbell, Iona (Research Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2022 - 01-Jan-2026

Edkins, Robert (Principal Investigator) Pickard, Ben (Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2020 - 31-Jan-2021

Coats, Paul (Principal Investigator) Jiang, Hui-Rong (Principal Investigator) Lawrence, Catherine (Principal Investigator) McDonald, James (Principal Investigator) Pickard, Ben (Principal Investigator)

09-Jan-2018 - 31-Jan-2018

Pickard, Ben (Principal Investigator)

02-Jan-2018 - 17-Jan-2018