Gareth Ackland‘Cellular and humoral mechanisms associated with improving surgical outcomes’
Gareth is an anaesthesiologist whose research proposal focuses on the reduction of post-operative organ dysfunction. Using a combination of laboratory and clinical research, he proposes to study the potential benefits of improving delivery of oxygen to tissues by establishing the cellular and immune protective mechanisms that this process may provide. He aims to start his research in early 2009 under the supervision of Professor Mervyn Singer at University College London.
Luke Devey‘The role of antigen presenting cells and T regulatory cells in ischaemic preconditioning’
Luke is a transplant surgeon who will shortly take up his post at the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of Professor Stephen Wigmore. He is interested in harnessing immune cells (specifically T regulatory cells) to overcome ischaemia reperfusion injury, which impacts upon the function of transplanted organs. He also has an interest in public engagement in transplantation. Luke will commence his fellowship in early 2009.
Jonathan Fallowfield‘Haemodynamic and anti-fibrotic effects of targeted therapies in models of cirrhosis and portal hypertension’
Jonathan is a hepatologist who will shortly take up the post of honorary consultant at the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research in Edinburgh. His proposal sets out to evaluate the efficacy of several potential anti-fibrotic strategies in experimental liver fibrosis/cirrhosis whilst determining the relationship between changes in liver histology and portal hypertension. The main objective of his work is to identify an effective approach to both accelerate the liver’s intrinsic capacity to remodel fibrosis, whilst concurrently reducing portal hypertension. Jonathan will commence his research under the supervision of Professor John Iredale FMedSci towards the end of 2008.
Damian Mole'Preventing acute lung injury in pancreatitis by targeting gut tryphophan metabolism'
Damian is a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeon based at the University of Edinburgh. Through his research he hopes to provide patients with an improved understanding of acute pancreatitis and hopes to further the development of potential medicines for the treatment of this ailment. He aims to work on preventing organ failure, looking in the longer term to reduce the pressure for intensive care beds. Damian will carry out his research under the supervision of Professor John Iredale FmedSci.
Dr Barry Seemungal‘Vestibular perception of head velocity versus displacement: neuro-anatomical and clinical correlates’
Barry is a neurologist based at Imperial College London. He sub-specialises in Neuro-Otology, a speciality that has traditionally dealt with problems of the inner ear vestibular organ. As a neurologist, Barry is also interested in how the brain processes signals from the vestibular organ and he proposes that abnormalities in the brain processing of vestibular signals, particularly at perceptual level, may be important in human disease. The research proposal hypothesises that vestibular perceptual abnormalities may be related to falls in the elderly and to symptoms of spatial disorientation, a prominent feature in Alzheimer’s Disease. Barry plans to start his research in the autumn of 2008 under the supervision of Professor Adolfo Bronstein.