Hi, my name is Mel, I am a PhD student based at Lancaster University, collaborating with Queen’s University Belfast. I have completed my BSc in Biochemistry at Lancaster University and during this time I completed an internship in partnership with Northwest Cancer Research, which sparked my interest into immunology. After completing my Master’s by Research, studying the innate immune response in melanoma phenotype switching, which solidified my interest into immunology and molecular biology, I decided to pursue a PhD combining these two fields.
My PhD research aims to underpin the complex mechanisms of how the innate immune response detects hallmarks of cellular ageing. Ageing is a complex process which affects all animals at the level of organisms, tissues and cells. Individual cells can display various hallmarks associated with ageing including persistent DNA damage, loss of telomere protection, mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence. Recently chronic inflammation- termed “inflamm-ageing” has been added to the list of factors associated with ageing. My project will examine several key innate immune signalling pathways which have been implicated in the ageing process: the DNA sensors cGAS and IFI16 which activate the adaptor protein STING, and the NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes which activate caspase-1.
Outside of the lab, I am part of Lancaster University’s Swimming and Water Polo Society. I enjoy cooking and baking for myself and for others! You can also find me often reading, in the cinema or taking too many photos of my cat!