Newcastle University

Qualifications

D.Phil. Spatial models of antipredator vigilance in birds. University of Sussex. 2000
MSc Applied stochastic processes. University College London 1997
BSc Mathematics. The Open University 1995
BEd Education and mathematics. University of Leicester. 1975

Research Interests

My main areas of research are modelling the mechanisms of telomere shortening and uncapping; telomere-dependent checkpoint response pathways; and the role of chaperones and protein degradation pathways in maintaining protein homeostasis and the decline of these systems with age. In particular, I am interested in how this decline leads to the aggregation of proteins which is implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases

Other Expertise

Stochastic simulation

Current Work

Building models of different mechanisms involved in protein aggregation such as the chaperone system, protein degradation pathways and the role of mitochondria.

Future Research

Use of modelling to examine common mechanisms in different neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.
Modelling links between neurodegenerative disorders and cancer.

Postgraduate Supervision

Computer modelling of molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in ageing and age-related neurodegeneration

Funding

Alzheimer Scotland and Alzheimer's Research Trust Fellowship

Projects

• A systems biology approach to understanding protein aggregation and its role in neurodegeneration
  Project Leader(s): Carole Proctor
• Cellular senescence – regulatory signalling networks
  Project Leader(s): Thomas von Zglinicki
• The Biology of Ageing e-Science Integration and Simulation system (BASIS)
  Project Leader(s): Darren Wilkinson

Undergraduate Teaching

Three lectures for BMS3014

Postgraduate Teaching

One lecture for MRes in Medical & Molecular Biosciences,Biology of Ageing module
One lecture for MRes in Medical & Molecular Biosciences, Systems Biology module

• Proctor CJ, Gray DA. GSK3 and p53 - is there a link in Alzheimer's disease?. Molecular Neurodegeneration 2010, 5, 7.
• Proctor CJ, Tangeman PJ, Ardley HC. Modelling the Role of UCH-L1 on Protein Aggregation in Age-Related Neurodegeneration. PLoS ONE 2010, 5(10), e13175.
• Tang MY, Proctor CJ, Woulfe J, Gray DA. Experimental and computational analysis of polyglutamine-mediated cytotoxicity. PLoS Computational Biology 2010,6 9 e1000944.
• Proctor CJ, Gray DA. Explaining oscillations and variability in the p53-Mdm2 system. BMC Systems Biology 2008, 2, 1-20.
• Passos JF, Nelson G, Wang CF, Richter T, Simillion C, Proctor CJ, Miwa S, Olijslagers S, Hallinan J, Wipat A, Saretzki G, Rudolph KL, Kirkwood TBL, von Zglinicki T. Feedback between p21 and reactive oxygen production is necessary for cell senescence. Molecular Systems Biology 2010,6 347.
• Proctor CJ, Tsirigotis M, Gray DA. An in silico model of the ubiquitin-proteasome system that incorporates normal homeostasis and age-related decline. BMC Systems Biology 2007, 1(17), 1-18.
• Proctor CJ, Soti C, Boys RJ, Gillespie CS, Shanley DP, Wilkinson DJ, Kirkwood TBL. Modelling the actions of chaperones and their role in ageing. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2005, 126(1), 119-131.
• Proctor CJ, Lydall D, Boys RJ, Gillespie CS, Shanley D, Wilkinson DJ, Kirkwood TBL. Modelling the checkpoint response to telomere uncapping in budding yeast. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 2007, 4(12), 73-90.
• Gillespie CS, Wilkinson DJ, Shanley DP, Proctor CJ, Boys RJ, Kirkwood TBL. BASIS: an internet resource for network modelling.. Journal of Integrative Bioinformatics 2006,3 2 [12].
• Gillespie C, Proctor CJ, Boys R, Shanley D, Wilkinson D, Kirkwood T. A mathematical model of ageing in yeast. Journal of Theoretical Biology 2004, 229(2), 189-196.
• Gillespie C, Wilkinson D, Proctor CJ, Shanley D, Boys RJ, Kirkwood TBL. Tools for the SBML community. Bioinformatics 2006, 22(5), 628-629.
• Kirkwood TBL, Proctor CJ. Somatic mutations and ageing in silico. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2003, 124(1), 85-92.
• Proctor CJ, Kirkwood TBL. Modelling cellular senescence as a result of telomere state. Aging Cell 2003, 2(3), 151-157.
• Kirkwood TBL, Boys RJ, Gillespie CJ, Proctor CJ, Shanley DP, Wilkinson DJ. Towards an e-biology of ageing: Integrating theory and data. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 2003. , 4(3), 243-249.
• Proctor CJ, Kirkwood TBL. Modelling telomere shortening and the role of oxidative stress. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2002, 123(4), 351-363.
• Richter T, Proctor CJ. The role of intracellular peroxide levels on the development and maintenance of telomere-dependent senescence. Experimental Gerontology 2007, 42(11), 1043-1052.
• Proctor CJ, Lorimer IAJ. Modelling the Role of the Hsp70/Hsp90 System in the Maintenance of Protein Homeostasis. PLoS One 2011, 6(7), e22038.