John Grady

PhD Student

Primary Supervisor: Prof Doug Turnbull/Dr Mark Baker
Research group: Mitochondrial Research Group

  • Email: john.grady@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: 0191 2227051
  • Address:
    M4021, Cookson Building
    Newcastle University
    Framlington Place, NE2 4HH

Introduction and area of work:

Mitochondrial dysfunction as a limiting factor for myelin repair in the brain: implications for multiple sclerosis and mitochondrial diseases.

The overall aim of my PhD is to investigate the extent to which myelin repair in the central nervous system (CNS) is dependent on mitochondrial function, with a view to identifying potential therapeutic targets that enhance remyelination. This sits within the broader context of the role of mitochondria in cell differentiation and the biochemical pathways that manage and this process.

Specific aims:

  • To characterise the impact of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex dysfunction (complex I and complex IV) on differentiation of progenitors of myelin forming cells (oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, OPC), in the presence of neurons, and capacity of OPCs to myelinate.
  • To determine the mechanisms involved in the impaired differentiation and myelination with the aim of identifying potential agents that improve myelination in these patients.

Qualifications:

- MRes Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University (2010)
- PGCE Secondary Teaching (Mathematics), Newcastle University (2008)
- MSc Computer Science, University of Edinburgh (1997)
- BSc Mathematics & Statistics, Imperial College, London (1996)

Techniques:

Electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, tissue culture

Awards and bursaries:

Wellcome Trust 4 Year Neuroscience PhD Studentship