Newcastle University

Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Digital Infrastructure, took time from her busy schedule to join Dr David Kavanagh's Group at the IGM as part of the Royal Society’s Pairing Scheme.

Following David’s ‘Week in Westminster’, Chi spent the day at the IGM mastering biomedical techniques. After a brief overview of the Renal Complement Group’s work identifying genetically determined complement abnormalities in atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, it was off to the laboratory.

Rachel Challis, a 1^st year PhD student, demonstrated the bioinfomatics involved in analysing whole exome sequencing and the proteomic techniques she uses to detect copy number variations in complement proteins.  It was then time for Chi to make recombinant complement proteins.  Aided by Dr Edwin Wong (a clinical research associate), Chi was tasked with feeding Pichia Pastoris to induce protein production.  In true “Blue Peter” style Dr Holly Anderson  (post-doctoral research assistant) had recombinant protein she had prepared earlier to allow Chi to undertake FPLC purification of a complement protein and described how this would subsequently be used in functional assays. In this manner, Chi was taken through the scientific process, starting in the hospital with a family with a disease, to finding genetic variants, to proving that they are functionally significant and ultimately to a treatment for disease  in a matter of hours.

After the hands on laboratory experience, Chi had expressed a wish to meet early stage career investigators at the IGM as she has an ongoing interest in diversity and long term career paths in science. The RCG was then joined by Dr Helen Phillips (BHF Intermediate Research Fellowship), Andrew Best (PhD Student), Dr Lorraine Eley (Research Associate) and Geisilaine Soares dos Reis (PhD Student) as Chi hosted a round table examining these issues.

 David describing the Royal Society Pairing Scheme said:

 “The Royal Society Paring Scheme provides a wonderful opportunity to engage in the political process.  It has provided me with an understanding of the mechanisms through which the scientific community can influence policy. This knowledge provides the basis for an ongoing dialogue with government throughout my career”