2012 Genetics Society Committee and Executive subCommittee Nominees
Area A (Gene structure, function and regulation)
Colum Walsh
Centre for Molecular Biosciences,
Tel: +44 (0)28 7012 4484
School of Biomedical Sciences
Email: cp.walsh@ulster.ac.uk
University of Ulster,
Coleraine BT51 3PH
http://biomed.science.ulster.ac.uk/stemcell/
Research interests: We are interested in DNA methylation and how it acts to
regulate gene activity, as well as its interplay with chromatin modifications. To this
end we use mouse and human cell lines and tissues to examine methylation
reprogramming during development, both in the germline and the soma. We also
look at aberrant methylation in cancer. Unprogrammed loss of methylation also
triggers the DNA damage response and we are investigating the mechanisms by
which this occurs.
Area E (Evolutionary, ecological and population genetics)
Judith Mank
Dept of Genetics, Evolution and Environment
Tel: +44 (0) 1865 281 312
University College London
Email: Judith.Mank@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
http://www.zoo.ox.ac.uk/group/jmank/
Research interests: My research interests are at the intersection of the genome,
complex animal phenotypes and selection. In particular, I am interested in the ways
that sex-specific selection pressures act on the genome to produce separate female
and male phenotypes. To address these questions, my group applies models of
gene expression and sequence evolution to next-generation transcriptome sequence
data to identify genes that have responded to sex-specific selection and are involved
in phenotypic dimorphisms.
Area F (Corporate genetics and biotechnology)
Dominique Kleyn, Non Executive Director
BioIndustry Association
www.bioindustry.co.uk
Tel: 07768 344346
Email: dominique.kleyn@btinternet.com
Research interests: I am interested in using the links between genes and disease to
discover drugs, develop treatments and diagnose patients. My background is in
technology commercialisation, product and business development, most recently as
non-executive director and then Chief Executive of London Genetics Limited (2005 –
2011). LGL is a university-backed spin-out providing pharmacogenetic services to
support clinical development and more personalised medicines
(www.londongenetics.com). Prior to this I worked in technology transfer at Imperial
Innovations and in licensing at the Wellcome Foundation plc. I am currently a nonexecutive director at the BioIndustry Association.
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Rebecca Oakey
Tel: +44 (0)20 718 83711
Dept of Medical & Molecular Genetics
Email: rebecca.oakey@kcl.ac.uk
8th Floor Tower Wing
King’s College London
London SE1 9RT
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/medicine/research/divisions/gmm/sections/clusters/bse/oakey/in
dex.aspx
Research interests: My laboratory is interested in epigenetic regulation of gene
expression. Our focus is on a group of imprinted retrogenes, understanding how they
are regulated and what role DNA methylation plays in processes such as alternative
polyadenylation. We extend this interest into comparative studies in human and
apply this to genome-wide methylation analysis of human diseases and
bioinformatics tool development.
Vice President
Elizabeth Fisher
Tel: +44 (0) 203 448 4439
Department of Neurodegenerative Disease Email: e.fisher@prion.ucl.ac.uk
UCL Institute of Neurology
Queen Square
London WC1N 3BG
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/neuroscience/researchers/show.php?UPI=EMCFI97
Research interests: We are interested in developing novel methods to create new
mouse models of neurological disease and working with existing resources such as
the ENU archives. Our main research efforts lie in producing models to help
understand human neurodegeneration arising from the chromosomal disorder Down
syndrome, and the autosomal dominant disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Honorary Secretary
Tanya Whitfield
Tel: +44 (0) 114 222 2350
MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics
Department of Biomedical Science
Fax: +44 (0) 114 222 2787
University of Sheffield
Email: t.whitfield@sheffield.ac.uk
Sheffield
S10 2TN
http://cdbg.shef.ac.uk/research/whitfield/
Research interests: My group works on the developing vertebrate inner ear. We
are interested in the genes that control axial patterning and neurogenesis in the early
otic vesicle, development of the semicircular canal system, the control of
endolymph production, the role of cilia, formation of otoliths and sensory hair
cell ototoxicity. We use the zebrafish embryo as a model system, both to understand
normal developmental processes and as a model for human genetic disease.
Postgraduate Representative
Adam Hargreaves
Genes and Development research group
Bangor University
Brambell building
Deiniol Road
Bangor LL57 2UW
Tel: +44 (0) 7757 860698
Email: bspa1b@bangor.ac.uk
Research interests: Animal skin pigmentation fulfils a variety of functions and is
subject to ecological and evolutionary pressures. Snakes are excellent model
organisms with which to investigate this area as they demonstrate a diverse variety
of pigmentation patterns within and between species whilst all sharing a simple body
plan. My research aims to determine the genetic and developmental basis of
morphological variation in snakes, using pigmentation patterning as a model system.