Profile

I completed my degree in Biomedical Science at the University of Portsmouth in 2022. I took a year out during my degree to train as a Biomedical Scientist during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was trained in Haematology (blood science), Blood Transfusion, Biochemistry and Histology (tissue science). While I loved my placement year I really wanted to try research!

I completed my Masters of Research Science in 2023 where I studied rare genetic diseases. This lead to my PhD which I am currently completing. My PhD project focuses on rare genetic diseases using Frogs as a model organism! 

My hobbies include looking after all my pets! We have a snake, two lizards, a hamster, 7 tarantulas (and more I have probably forgotten to mention)! I also love scary movies, reading and all things geeky! I go to MCM Comicon twice a year with my partner and my little brothers.

I currently study rare genetic diseases. These diseases affect less than 1 in 2,000 people.  In order to understand these diseases better and support diagnoses we need more data!

I use Xenopus (african clawed frogs) to model these disorders, this may sound bizarre but genetically they are very similar to humans. Xenopus frogs have been used for many years in scientific research – you can model human disorders such as heart, kidney and neurological disorders in the frog.

I use a gene editing system called CRISPR to edit the DNA of the frog – CRISPR works like a pair of molecular sized scizzors that can cut out DNA. This results in tadpoles with the same genetic changes seen in humans with rare genetic diseases. We use the tadpoles to better understand the disorder, with the aim to develop treatments and help clinicans provide diagnoses.

My day starts around 9am when I go to care for the tadpoles. The tadpoles are kept at 25 degrees celcius in an incubator. Everyday I replace their water and feed them a powder mix which is made of Spirulina (50%) and krill.

I then go to the lab to start my experiments. This is usually includes amplifying DNA via a process called PCR. Some days I also analyse the behaviour of my tadpoles. I do this by using using a machine with an Infrared camera that tracks how much the a tadpoles moves in 10 minutes. This allows us to see if the tadpoles with genetic mutations are delayed in motor development.

As the tadpoles get older I measure their working memory! I do this using a small Y shaped maze and monitoring the decisions the tadpoles make in the maze (this is my favourite part of my job!).