Professor Janine Kirby
PhD
Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Population Health
School Director of Education
Professor in Neurogenetics
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+44 114 222 2247
Full contact details
Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Population Health
Room B47
91直播 Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
91直播
S10 2HQ
- Profile
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I first came to the University of 91直播 as an undergraduate, graduating with a BSc in Genetics, having been awarded a First Class Honours and the Alan Roper (Panlabs) Prize for Genetics. I obtained my PhD in Genetics from University College London, having studied at the MRC Human Biochemical Genetics Unit.
I subsequently joined the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Research Group at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, headed by Prof Pamela Shaw. During the intervening years, first at Newcastle and now at the University of 91直播, my research has focused on the genetic and transcriptomic analysis of MND, to understand the molecular basis of this complex disorder and identify prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers.
I was awarded a New Blood Lectureship in the Academic Neurology Unit and I am now Professor of Neurogenetics, based in SITraN. I am currently Deputy Head of the Division of Neuroscience and Co-course Lead for MSc Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies. I also serve on University Senate and University Council.
- Research interests
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My research interests are the genetics of MND and how gene expression profiling can be used to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegeneration and to identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. MND is genetically heterogeneous, with over 30 genes identified for the most common form of the disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which in some patients can also be associated with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The use of next generation sequencing, both whole exome and whole genome sequencing has significantly increased the identification of new genes. Since individuals with known genetic variants of MND are generally indistinguishable from sporadic patients in the clinical setting, the disease is thought to progress along common pathways which result in the death of the motor neurones. Therefore, by understanding the pathogenic mechanisms in the genetic variants of the disease, it is hoped that the results will be widely applicable to other cases where the cause is currently unknown. My research therefore focuses on obtaining gene expression profiles from experimental disease models and from patient and control samples, in order to both elucidate the reasons why the motor neurones are dying and to identify useful biomarkers of ALS. More recently, as part of a large clinical trial, I am assessing the impact of therapeutic treatments on the blood transcriptome to help understand the mechanisms of action of low dose interleukin-2.
I am also expanding into the rapidly evolving field of Advanced Therapies. I co-lead a work-package within the ARDAT consortium () focusing on biobanking, with the aim of understanding pre-existing immunity and adaptive immune responses. I also lead on Skills and Training at the 91直播 Hub, one of three Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies (IHfGT) ().
- Publications
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Journal articles
Chapters
Conference proceedings papers
Datasets
Preprints
- Research group
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Post-doctoral Research Associate
Dr Rachel Waller
Research Technician
Alex Daniel
PhD Student
Katie Bowden
MSc Student
Tyler McMinn
- Teaching activities
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I am currently co-lead of the Advance Cell and Gene Therapies programme, as well as being module lead for several of the taught modules and the Research Project. I led the development and delivery of the MSc in Translational Neuroscience and subsequently developed and led the MSc in Genomic Medicine programme at the University of 91直播, having secured funding and NHS bursaries to support the development of the NHS workforce in genomics. I also contribute to delivery of other several other PGT courses, including the MSc Clinical Neurology as well as our distance learning programme Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration.
I was previously the Faculty of Health Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Director of Education for the Department of Neuroscience, as well as Deputy Head of Department for L&T, chairing the relevant committees associated with these roles.
I am an internal examiner for the Learning and Teaching Professional Recognition Scheme (LTPRS) and mentor applicants seeking fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology
- Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy
- Member of British Society for Cell and Gene Therapy, British Society for Genomic Medicine, British Neuroscience Association, Biochemistry Society, Genetics Society
- Examiner of PhD and MPhil students internally, nationally and internationally
- External Examiner for MSc/MRes Neuroscience at the University of Sussex
- Grant Panel member of AriSLA (Italy), ALS Canada, Fight MND (Australia), JPND (Europe), New South Wales MND (Australia)
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Panel of Advisors.
- Member of the Editorial Board for Journal of Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology
- Peer review of grant applications for funding bodies nationally and internationally including AFM-Telethon (France), Irish Research Council, Medical Research Council, Research Council of Finland, Research Foundation Flanders (Belgium), Wellcome Trust
- Peer review of submitted articles for high impact journals including Brain, Human Molecular Genetics, Nature Communications, Neurology and Nucleic Acid Research
- Member of University Council (2019; 2020-present)
- Member of University Senate (2016-present)
- Member of Ethics Review Panel for School of Medicine (2009-present)
- Mentor of early career researchers through Think Ahead and Elevate schemes
- Current Projects
- Determining the transcriptional response in blood to low dose interleukin-2 (IL-2)
- Establishing a cohort of longitudinal biosamples for ALS biomarker research
- Identification of genetic causes of ALS using next generation sequencing
- Establishing the genetic basis of ALS & PD in Bangladesh
- Accelerating Research and Development for Advanced Therapies (ARDAT)
- Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC) / IHfGT
- Elucidation of distinct ALS subgroups through large scale gene expression profiling of lymphoblastoid cell lines, with a specific focus on identifying signatures associated with genetic variants and disease progression