Genetics
We bring together a strong team of basic and clinical scientists with an interest in clinical and developmental genetics. The focus of our research is to understand the causes of genetic disease at the molecular and cellular level and to move towards treatment.
Our main research areas are: genetic medicine; developmental genetics, including stem cell biology; neuromuscular and neurological genetics, mitochondrial genetics, and cardiovascular genetics.
We also have expertise in cancer genetics, statistical genetics, and bioinformatics. Our research is world renowned and the quality of work is reflected in a number of external indicators. For example in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 2008, 70 per cent of our work was classed as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ placing us in the top three universities in the UK in terms of research quality.
Our thriving research community of 70 students and 80 staff is based in the Institute of Genetic Medicine (IGM). The Institute is located in Newcastle’s Centre for Life, which houses a number of research, clinical and educational organisations including the Northern Genetics Service.
The MRes programmes have a strong research focus and once you have completed the taught modules, you progress onto a seven-month research project. As a research student you will be provided with office facilities that have all the necessary research essentials (desk, phone, Internet and computing facilities, social room), and you will be close to all the specialist facilities you need to support your studies. On site we have facilities for: multicolour FAC Sorting; ‘next generation’ high- throughput sequencing and genotyping: transgenics/gene targeting; confocal microscopy: optical projection tomography; gene expression imaging; microarray technology; bioinformatics; fluorescent activated cell sorting; and a suite equipped for ‘Good Manufacturing Practice’ for human stem cells.
The Medical Sciences Graduate School provides a structured programme of research training and professional development, which you are encouraged to attend. We also offer support to research students who are developing research that has commercial potential and have established a number of successful spin-off companies. Funded MRes/PhD and PhD projects are advertised when details are available and we also supervise self-funded research students whose interests come within our areas of research expertise.
