Dr Ke Ning
MD, PhD
School of Medicine and Population Health
Non-clinical Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience
+44 114 222 2245
Full contact details
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room B46
91Ö±²¥ Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
91Ö±²¥
S10 2HQ
- Profile
-
I graduated in Medicine from First Military Medical University (Southern Medical University) in China in 1985. I undertook my Specialist Training in Neurosurgery at Sun Yatsen University of Medical Science in China and got a M.Sc in Neurosurgery in 1991.
I obtained my PhD in neuroscience at the Third Military Medical University in China In 1996 and was promoted to an associate professor in neurosurgery at Southern Medical University in China in 1997.
Since 1999, I have undertaken full time research in neuroscience in the USA, Canada and the UK. I joined the University of 91Ö±²¥ as a Lecturer in Translational neuroscience in 2006 and was promoted to a Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience in 2011.
I have been closely involved in translational neuroscience research and teaching in motor neuron diseases.
- Research interests
-
The focus of my research is the use of viral vector-mediated gene therapy and stem cell strategies to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). ALS/MND is a common adult onset neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive degeneration of motor neurones in the brainstem and spinal cord.
There is no effective treatment or cure for MND/ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders. Gene therapy approaches offer a promising strategy for delivery of genes to enhance motor neuron survival. New approaches for the treatment of neurological disorders have been developed by using lentiviruses and other viruses (Adeno-associate virus AAV6, AAV9 and so on).
These vectors have been refined to a very high safety and efficiency levels. Lentiviruses are particularly advantageous for use in gene transfer to the nervous system. Numerous animal studies have now been undertaken with these vectors and correction of disease models has been obtained.
Recent studies have demonstrated very good efficacy of Lentiviral- or AAV9-mediated gene therapy approaches in ALS, SMA and other degenerative disorders. These studies provide great optimism for the future utility of lentiviral or AAV gene delivery as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.
- SMA Trust Project
- MRC Project
- MNDA Project
- Publications
-
Journal articles
Conference proceedings papers
Preprints
- Research group
-
- Dr Ana Maria Sandoval (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
- Jie Ren (PhD student)
- Anushka Bhargava (PhD student)
- Teaching interests
-
The focus of my teaching is the use of inquiry-based learning (IBL) methods to teach (MSc lectures) or supervise undergraduate projects (SSC) and graduate (MSc and PhD) students.
I am the representative ECG (The Early Career Group) committee member for the Division of Neuroscience for postdoctoral training at the University of 91Ö±²¥. I am a primary supervisor for MSc and PhD students and a mentor for Medical students.
- Current Projects
- Characterisation of the motor neurons obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- SMN Replacement Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Clinical Development
- Arfapin 2 regulates protein aggregation and survival in ALS
- Characterisation of electrophysiology in motor neuron disease
- PTEN signalling in motor neuron survival
- Development and validation of a human brain microphysiological system derived from induced pluripotent stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)