MRC-PPU Clinical PhD Student awarded prestigious Clinical Lectureship
Esther Sammler, a Clinical PhD student supervised by Dario Alessi, has been appointed to a sought-after SCREDS Clinical Lectureship in Neurology at the University of Dundee. SCREDS (Scottish Clinical Research Excellence Development Scheme) lectureships enable talented young clinicians to combine research with clinical training.
Esther, who will defend her PhD in April, was previously awarded a highly competitive Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD Fellowship to undertake her PhD in Dario's lab. During her PhD Esther has been investigating the function of the F-box protein, FBX07, in which mutations lead to Parkinson's disease. Esther has made a number of exciting advances in her project including generating a novel transgenic mouse model containing a human disease-associated point mutation. Esther will take up her lectureship after she defends her PhD and will continue to investigate FBX07 in Dario's lab as well as complete her clinical training towards becoming a Consultant Neurologist.
Commenting on the award, Dario said: 'I am delighted for Esther in securing this prestigious clinical position that will enable her to continue her important studies on understanding FBX07. Over the last few years the MRC-PPU has placed a huge emphasis on training clinicians at both PhD and postdoctoral level. A common theme of PhD projects offered in the Unit is an emphasis on undertaking basic research to uncover molecular mechanisms underpinning human diseases including cancer, immunological and neurodegenerative diseases and our clinicians have made major contributions in these areas. Its very important for the future of UK medical research that our Unit does all it can to provide promising young clinicians with the opportunity to undertake cutting-edge fundamental research into understanding human disease.'
Esther is the fourth clinician to train for a PhD in the MRC-PPU and the second to be awarded a clinical lectureship upon completion. Kashyap Patel (supervised by Kei Sakamoto) was recently awarded a clinical lectureship at the University of Exeter Peninsula School of Medicine to undertake research in diabetes under the mentorship of Prof Andrew Hattersley FRS.
Esther, who will defend her PhD in April, was previously awarded a highly competitive Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD Fellowship to undertake her PhD in Dario's lab. During her PhD Esther has been investigating the function of the F-box protein, FBX07, in which mutations lead to Parkinson's disease. Esther has made a number of exciting advances in her project including generating a novel transgenic mouse model containing a human disease-associated point mutation. Esther will take up her lectureship after she defends her PhD and will continue to investigate FBX07 in Dario's lab as well as complete her clinical training towards becoming a Consultant Neurologist.
Commenting on the award, Dario said: 'I am delighted for Esther in securing this prestigious clinical position that will enable her to continue her important studies on understanding FBX07. Over the last few years the MRC-PPU has placed a huge emphasis on training clinicians at both PhD and postdoctoral level. A common theme of PhD projects offered in the Unit is an emphasis on undertaking basic research to uncover molecular mechanisms underpinning human diseases including cancer, immunological and neurodegenerative diseases and our clinicians have made major contributions in these areas. Its very important for the future of UK medical research that our Unit does all it can to provide promising young clinicians with the opportunity to undertake cutting-edge fundamental research into understanding human disease.'
Esther is the fourth clinician to train for a PhD in the MRC-PPU and the second to be awarded a clinical lectureship upon completion. Kashyap Patel (supervised by Kei Sakamoto) was recently awarded a clinical lectureship at the University of Exeter Peninsula School of Medicine to undertake research in diabetes under the mentorship of Prof Andrew Hattersley FRS.