vCardProf. Mark Birch-Machin

Prof. Mark Birch-Machin
(1) Professor in Molecular Dermatology (2) Deputy DPD MRes (3) Founder of Genesis Genomics UK

Research Interests

The work in my research group focuses on the cutaneous response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and the molecular genetics of skin cancer. Specific areas of research are:
· Mitochondria and UVR; in particular the novel approach of using mitochondrial DNA, rather than nuclear DNA, as a biomarker of cumulative UVR exposure.
· Molecular genetics of skin cancer; in particular the role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in the development of human non-melanoma skin cancer.
· The cutaneous response to ultraviolet radiation, including signalling mechanisms and the therapeutic use of UVR in skin disease.
· The role of mitochondria in the therapeutic action of dithranol in psoriasis
· The role of mitochondria in UV-induced oxidative stress.
· The relationship between oxidative stress, ageing and nutritional status.
· The role of mitochondrial DNA mutations in the ageing process
· Endoplasmic Reticulum induced apoptosis
· Melanoma Therapy
· Mitochondrial DNA damage and Oral Cancer

Other Expertise

·Mitochondrial DNA and ageing.
·Mitochondrial DNA and cancer (e.g prostate cancer).
·Sunscreen Testing
·Sun Awareness

Selected Publications

More Publications

Esteem Indicators

Top 4
1. International keynote speaker:
• European Society of Dermatological Research, Vienna, Austria, (2004). This is the major annual European dermatology meeting.
• Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, COLOMBIA (January 2004)
• 7th international symposium of Predictive Oncology & Intervention Strategies,France (2004).
• Sun Protection conference, Royal Society, London (2005)
• Proctor and Gamble International Science Symposium, UK (2005)
• European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology,Greece (2006)
• European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology,Vienna (2007)

(b) National keynote speaker:
• Biogerontology Research Symposium, June 2002.
• Cancer Research UK Sunsmart Campaign launch, London, 2003.
• Practical Update in Dermatology, Lumley Castle, Durham 2004.
• Practical Update in Dermatology, Lumley Castle, Durham 2006
• British Association of Cosmetic Doctors, March 2006
• Health Protection Agency (Toxicology), Univ.of Surrey, 2006
• 70th Anniversary UK Oral Surgery Association, 2006
• The Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, London, April 2007
• British Association of Dermatologists, Birmingham 2007

2. Co-editor of International Journals:
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (2004-2007), a major international dermatology journal

3. International Advisory Boards:
• Chair of the International Scientific Advisory Board of Genesis Genomics Inc. (includes researchers who collectively have worked with four Nobel Prize Scientists), Canada (2003-current)
• Expert Advisor for the Complaints and Investigations Board of the UK Advertising Standards Authority (2006-current)

4. National Dermatology:
Elected Treasurer (2002-2006) and Member of the organising and abstract selection committee of the British Society of Investigative Dermatology (BSID)which is the national body for investigative dermatology research in the UK.

Other esteem indicators
• Regular Reviewer for International Journals: e.g. J Invest Dermatol; Brit J Dermatol; Biochim Biophys Acta; Euro J Hum Genet; Euro J Biochem; Clin Endocrinol; and Clin Chim Acta; Brit J Cancer, Clin Endocrinol; Clin Exp Dermatol and Clin Chim Acta.
• Peer Review Assistant for SickKids Foundation, Toronto, Canada
• Expert reviewer for the The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
• Review of National Grants: MRC,BBSRC, British Skin Foundation, AICR, Hospitals Charitable Trusts in Sheffield and Oxford.
• Chair of International Science Advisory Board, Genesis Genomics, Thunder Bay, CANADA
• Director of Genesis Genomics Inc., Canada and UK
• A Director of the North Eastern Skin Research Fund.
• Member of Graduate School Executive Committee, Faculty of Medical Sciences,
• Academic Selection Committee Lay member, Faculty of Medical Sciences (2003-2004)
• PhD and MD external thesis examiner
• International and National Conference Organisation:
• International Invited keynote speaker e.g
European Thyroid Cancer Research meeting, Warsaw, POLAND,
Universidad de Los Andes, Dept. of Genetics, Bogota, COLOMBIA,
7th Int. Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies, Nice, France,
European Society of Dermatological Research (ESDR), Vienna, Austria,
Sun Protection conference, Royal Society, London

Dissemination of knowledge/research to the general public

Television. National:
o This Morning ITV, May 2006, 10 minute live interview by Philip Schofield and Fern Britten
o Truth About Food, BBC2.
o Discovery Health Satellite Channel, Health issues.
o ITN Tonight with Trevor McDonald, July 2003 (full 30 min. programme)
o ITN News at Ten feature on my ‘Sunburnt DNA’ research,.
o Makeovers from Hell, prime time ITV1.
o Live expert interviews on BBC News 24 and Sky News
o BBC Look North Live Studio Interviews
o Tyne Tees TV Interviews,

INTERNATIONAL
o Swiss National TV documentary
o Medstar TV: North America’s leading Medical and Health News
o Discovery Channel USA
o Launch of Genesis Genomics UK, ITN news and local BBC TV

• National Press Spokesperson on ‘Sunburnt DNA’, DNA damage and Skin Cancer Risk for Cancer Research UK and its Sunsmart campaign
• International and National Radio. Approx. 60 radio interviews over the last 2 years. Highlights are: BBC Radio 4 (Today Programme and The Material World), World Service; The International Media Line Service; BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Newcastle, LBC (London), IRN (circulated to 250 radio stations).
• Online Advice/News: BBC online, Channel 4 Teletext, BBC teletext, Daily Mail online (Femail.co.uk), Hero (Higher Education and Resource Opportunities in the UK).
• Over 65 National and Local Newspaper articles. Articles featuring my research + quotes on sun awareness have appeared regularly in The Sunday Telegraph, The Times, Independent, Guardian, The Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Evening Chronicle, Journal, The Northern Echo.
• Over 45 Popular Magazine articles: Marie Claire, NOW, Good House Keeping, Saga, Zest, Woman’s Own, Readers Digest, Eve, Bliss, More and Company.
• Science Media Centre, London. Member of the panel of experts to interface with the press.

Funding

Research has been funded by:
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research Technology
The Wellcome Trust
BBSRC
British Skin Foundation
Royal Society
University of Newcastle
Unilever
Genesis Genomics
NStar Investments
One North East
Department of Trade and Industry

Industrial Relevance

Genesis Genomics UK

Patents

Patents.
• Co-Inventor of the world-wide umbrella patent for Genesis Genomics (GGI) (2003) ((PCT: wo 02101086) complete mitochondrial genome sequences as a diagnostic tool for the health sciences)
• Co-inventor for 2 recent (Oct 2005) GGI patents (US patent office) on Mitochondrial Rearrangements to Diagnose Sun exposure and Cancer a mtDNA deletion (2004) (Number 31726-2017) and The Use of a 3895 BP Mitochondrial DNA Deletion as a Marker for Sunlight Exposure in Human Skin (serial no. is 2,480,184 and the file no: 102222-02).
• Co-inventor : MITOCHONDRIAL SITES AND GENES ASSOCIATED WITH PROSTATE CANCER,United States of America patent office Serial Number: 11/339,751.
• University of Newcastle upon Tyne patent no GB 0600903.9. The use of at least one agent which induces ER stress together with at least one agent which gives rise to protein disulfide isomerase inhibition for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of cancer.
Secured Jan 2006 Inventors: PE Lovat, CPF Redfern, MA Birch-Machin

Roles and Responsibilities

Teaching and Administration

EDUCATION AND TEACHING
As Degree Programme Director, I have designed, created and manage the team which administers the MRes in Medical and Molecular Biosciences which in 2 years has become the largest postgraduate taught programme in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

In addition, I have regularly and extensively contributed to the national education of sun-awareness using the popular media (see below). I have also given a mini-roadshow on sun-awareness to local schools, a regular Invited Public Speaker at the Discovery Museum Science Show (Newcastle), an ‘expert’ speaker at the European Union Excellence in Cities- Specialist Bioscience Summer School (EU funded).

ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER SERVICE:

A) School/Faculty Responsibilities
• 2003-current: Member of Graduate School Executive Group
• 2003-current: Graduate School Committee
• 2003-current: School Teaching Committee
• 2002-current: Chair of MRes Curriculum and Staff-Student committee
• 2003-current: Chair of MRes Exam Board
• 2004: School Biological Safety Supervisor
• 2004: School GM Chair
• 1997-current: Organise/Sponsorship Dermatology (RVI+Univ.) seminar series

B) Service at University Level
• 2004: Member of the University's Learning and Teaching Strategy Review (Chair: Prof Katharine Perera, University of Manchester)
• 2004-current: Lay Member of Academic Selection Committee
• 2003: University Teaching and Learning Panel Member to assess the viability of a new programme i.e. MRes in Bioinfomatics.

C) University and External bodies
• 2002- Current: Director on the North Eastern Skin Research Fund
• 2002- Current: Chair of the International Scientific Advisory Board for Genesis Genomics, Canada
• 2001:2006: Treasurer of the British Society of Investigative Dermatology
• 2002-2004: Press spokesperson for CRUK, Sunsmart campaign

I also teach, assess and contribute to curriculum development on undergraduate degree courses (Biomedical Sciences BSc. and the MBBS)

Qualifications

July 1983 B.Sc. (Hons) II(i) Biological Sciences
specialising in biochemistry. University of East Anglia

July 1987 Ph.D. in biochemistry, University of East Anglia.

June 1997 Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
(Faculty of Education), University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Previous Positions

August 2005: Professor in Molecular Dermatology
2003-2005: Reader in Molecular Dermatology
2001-2003: Senior Lecturer, Department of Dermatology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
1995 - 2001: Lecturer, Department of Dermatology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
1994 - 1995: Senior INSERM scientist (1 year appt.) Hôpital Necker, Paris, France
1992 - 1994: Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
1986 - 1992: Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Neurosciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. (including 4 months during 1989 at the University of Oregon, USA.

Memberships

· Elected Committee member and Treasurer of the British Society of Investigative Dermatology 1999-2006(BSID),
· Chair of the International Scientific Advisory Board Member for Genesis Genomics Inc.
· Director on the North Eastern Skin Research Fund.
· Advisory panel member for the Science Media Centre (London)

Postgraduate Teaching

Deputy Programme Director for the MRes in Medical and Molecular Biosciences.
Strand Leader forthe Medical Biotechnology strand of the MRes.
Module Leader for Business for the Bioscientist (MRes)