Research output per year
Research output per year
Dr
Research Interests:I am a Lecturer in Functional Genomics in the Respiratory Research Group at the University of Manchester. My research interest is to investigate the molecular mechanisms (both epigenetic and genetic) underlying the heritability of asthma. I am a co-investigator on the unselected population based birth cohort: MAAS (The Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study). MAAS has the optimum study design to investigate complex chronic disorders which start in early life (population-based, with careful longitudinal phenotyping and contemporaneous measurement of environmental exposures). My group includes a PhD student and Postdoctoral Researcher who are investigating the functional role of SNPs in candidate genes that are associated with the development of asthma. Our poor understanding of the heritability of asthma necessitates the use of Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). I am analysing GWAS data from the MAAS cohort to uncover genes associated with the development of asthma. In addition I am a Principle Investigator on an ongoing research project funded by the British Lung Foundation. This project is designed to investigate the role of epigenetics in the development of asthma using Illumina infinium arrays.
Prior research interests: John Curtin’s prior academic work focused on the genomics of Melanoma. His work demonstrated that melanoma consists of genetically distinct subgroups depending on sun exposure and anatomic site of the tumour. His subsequent discovery of frequent activation of a novel melanoma oncogene in some of these melanoma subtypes has potentially provided a new therapeutic avenue for some patients with melanoma. This oncogene (c-kit) is also a rational therapeutic target since a compound (Imatinib) that targets it is already approved for treatment in other cancers.
Postgraduate teaching
Undergraduate Teaching
Angela Simpson (University of Manchester) - co-investigator MAAS
Adnan Custovic (Imperial College) - co-investigator MAAS
David Denning (University of Manchester) - co-supervisor of PhD Student
Sebastian Johnston (Imperial College) - collaborator
Jenny Hankinson (University of Manchester) - postdoctoral researcher
Iain Buchan (University of Manchester) - collaborator
Hans Bisgaard (COPSAC, University of copenhagen) - collaborator
Katie Allen (University of Melbourne) - collaborator
Mairead Kiely (University College Cork) - collaborator
Case-control studies
epigenetics
Positional Cloning
Comparative Genomic Hybridization
Imperial College. PhD in Genetics, 2003.
University of Aberdeen. MSc in Medical Molecular Genetics, 1999.
University of Limerick. BSc in Industrial Biochemistry. 1998.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Doctor of Philosophy, Genetic characterisation of Spin cycle - An ENU induced mutant mouse, Imperial College London
1999 → 2002
Award Date: 1 Oct 2002
Master of Science, Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Aberdeen
1998 → 1999
Award Date: 1 Sept 1999
Bachelor of Science, Industrial Biochemistry, University of Limerick
1994 → 1998
Award Date: 1 Jul 1998
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California (San Francisco)
2003 → 2006
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review