I’ve recently joined the Beall team to complete my PhD research project, which involves me investigating how pharmacologically manipulating AMP-activated protein kinase might be beneficial for controlling immune cell activity in Type 1 Diabetes.

Prior to coming to Exeter, I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of York, gaining an Integrated Master’s Degree (MBiomedSci) in Biomedical Science, with a year in industry, for which I was awarded First Class Honours. My industry placement was with the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, where I was part of the Chagas Disease team, and my final Master’s project (under the supervision of Professor Dimitris Lagos) involved me determining the specificity and efficacy of novel, unpublished small molecule compounds targeting the long non-coding RNA MALAT1 in CD4+ T cells in a biological context for the first time. My time at York really solidified my love of immunology, and helped develop my passion for autoimmune conditions, which I’m thrilled to be able to pursue through my PhD project.

Outside of the lab I enjoy a mix of activities, ranging from musical theatre and ballet to table-top games such as Dungeons and Dragons. I love all things Sci-Fi and fantasy, in literary form or TV/film, and can’t resist a good action movie either!