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Joseph Dunford

I joined the MRC IBR DTP following undergraduate training in clinical sciences, and previous postgraduate study in Medical Sciences and Genetics. After gaining experience of both clinical and laboratory based research through this, I decided to transition entirely into academia. Through the MSc course, I have had the opportunity to develop my fundamental biological knowledge and research skills, and experience work within and across other exciting fields.

PhD Project

For my PhD, I am working in the laboratory of Dr Andrew Blanks, continuing on from a project undertaken during the MSc. During this project, I am investigating the role of ANO1, an ion channel protein the forms the calcium activated-chloride channel in the myometrium. This is believed to play a role in starting the action potentials that cause uterine contraction duiring labour. This work involves wet laboratory work conducted at the Clinical Sciences Research Laboratories at UHCW, computational simulation overseen by Dr Hugo van den Berg in Systems Biology, and experiments in collaboration with Dr George Gallos at the University of Columbia (USA) using a mouse model.

MSc Projects

1st MSc research project: Optimisation of a Metallothionein Based-Tagging System for Protein Labelling in Electron Microscopy

Supervisor: Dr Stephen Royle

In this project, I helped to develop a system of labelling intracellular proteins visualized using electron microscopy using Heavy Metals. Such a system has significant potential in cell biology, as it would allow unambiguous identification of proteins at high resolution, as well as providing detailed information about their spatial distribution.

2nd MSc research project: Computational Investigation of the Role of ANO1 in Calcium Dependent Depolarisation in Uterine Smooth Muscle

Supervisor: Dr Andrew Blanks

During this computational project, a mathematical model of uterine muscle depolarization was used to make quantitative predictions help determine the electrogenic species leading to the uterine action potential, and thus contraction, in the initiation of labour, specifically considering the protein ANO1 as a candidate. Simulations predicted that its genetic deletion would reduce the spontaneous electrical activity of uterine smooth muscle myocytes, a hypothesis that will be investigated further using an animal model.

Biography

2014: MRes (Distinction) Medical Sciences (Newcastle University)

2016: BSc(Hons) Medical Studies (Upper 2nd Class, Newcastle University)

2016-2017: MSc (Distinction) Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research (Warwick University)

2017-Present: PhD in IBR (Warwick University)

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Joseph Dunford

j.dunford@warwick.ac.uk