the protozoan cell as a host for multiplication. The latter is considered a possible mechanism by which bacteria have evolved into pathogens in the environment i.e. by practicing on amoebae, which behave similarly to macrophages of the immune system. Dr Roberts is interested in the roles of ion transport proteins in fungal cell biology. The aim is to find ion channels that may serve as biocidal targets, and to further understand the contribution of plasma membrane ion channel proteins to cell growth and development.


Medical Cell Biology The grouping includes research groups whose work is focused on applying biochemical and structural techniques to understanding cellular function at its fundamental level. Particular research interests include corneal transparency and dysfunction, proteoglycan structure and function, the developmental genetics of Drosophila and research into healthy aging.


Dr Nigel Fullwood, Dr Bob Lauder, Dr Gavin Brown, Dr Alan Shirras, Dr Jane Owen-Lynch, Dr David Clancy and Dr Sue Broughton.


Dr Nigel Fullwood’s research centres on the eye and improving treatment for corneal diseases, corneal transplantation and gene delivery within the cornea. He is also involved with the development of an artificial cornea and a vitreous substitute. He has a long standing collaboration with Kyoto Medical University in Japan in projects involving the ex vivo expansion and transplantation of corneal stem cells for clinical use. He is also currently working closely with the spectroscopy company Renishaw in the development of ultra-sensitive biomarker detection systems by using the latest developments in nanotechnology.


The glycobiology group at Lancaster comprising Dr Gavin Brown and Dr Bob Lauder researches the structure and function of glycoproteins and proteoglycans, the latter having key roles in tissue organisation, cell adhesion, cell signalling and host-pathogen interactions. A key objective of the work is to acquire a greater understanding of proteoglycan involvement in a variety of disease processes


108 School of Health and Medicine


including the development of osteoarthritis, neurodegener- ative disease and vision impairment. In addition the group collaborates with Prof Allsop to investigate the role of glycosylated alpha-synuclein in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, the roles of proteoglycans in amyloid formation and the production of synthetic glycolipids for incorporation into artificial plasma membranes.


Dr Alan Shirras, Dr Sue Broughton and Dr Dave Clancy form the Drosophila research group. Because it shares so much biochemistry and genetics with humans, and because of the unparalleled utility of the genetic tools available, the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster has proved exceptionally useful. Dr Shirras is studying the developmental genetics of Drosophila melanogaster, with a particular interest in peptide hormone and neuropeptide metabolism. The functions of several processing enzymes are being studied including the role of angiotensin - converting enzyme homologues in spermatogenesis and, with Dr Broughton, in sleep regulation. Dr Broughton and Dr Clancy are seeking to understand the basic mechanisms which cause ageing and the genetic and environmental factors which determine lifespan, and are developing biological markers to monitor healthy aging and aging related diseases. Individually, Dr Broughton is examining the role of insulin/IGF-like signalling in central nervous system ageing, with particular emphasis on age-related cognitive health and lifespan, and Dr. Clancy is manipulating candidate genes to extend healthy lifespan.


Dr Jane Owen-Lynch, in collaboration with colleagues in Physics, studies the dynamics of ageing in the cardiovascular system, mainly at the level of the capillaries. Advances in sensor technology have opened up new approaches for non-invasive monitoring of this blood flow. Recordings of e.g. the electrocardiogram (ECG), respiration, blood pressure, and blood flow signals can be acquired and stored for analysis by the application of a variety of sophisticated algorithms. We now know that blood flow is oscillatory in nature and current work is focused on a detailed understanding of some of the components that contribute to this dynamic process through a study of the endothelial cells of the capillaries.


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