Date of birth 21 September 1977 Nationality British
2005 – Present Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston.
Postdoctoral Fellow.
Studying the role of IQGAP1 and the Rho GTPases in the signalling mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal changes utilized by microbial pathogens during cells invasion and disease.
Principle Investigator Dr. David Sacks.
1999 – 2004 Developmental and Molecular Neurochemistry Group, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
Research Technician Grade D
Involved in all aspects of the day-to-day running of the laboratories, including maintenance of liquid nitrogen stores, tissue culture facility and ordering of laboratory reagents. In addition, performing technical demonstrations and supervision of the microinjection facility and preparation of primary neurones.
Jan 2000–June 2004 Developmental and Molecular Neurochemistry Group, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
1996 - 1999 King’s College London, University of London, UK.
B.S. Honours Biomedical Science: Molecular Biology (2:1)
1989 - 1996 Bournemouth Grammar School, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.
A levels: Physics (A), Biology (B), Chemistry (B)
11 G.C.S.E.s (above grade C): inc. English (AA), Mathematics (B), Combined Science (A*A*)
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE / COLLABORATIONS
June 2003 – June 2004 Molecular Neurobiology Group, Medical Research Council Centre for Developmental Biology, King’s College London, University of London, UK.
Collaborative work – collaboration examining the role of Collapsin Response Mediator Protein in sema3A collapse of dorsal root ganglia neurones. Collaborative colleague: Dr B. Eickholt
Jun - July 2001 Neural Differentiation and Degeneration Group, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, The National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Collaborative project – working visit to Singapore, examining the effects of a novel Collapsin Response Mediator Protein-1 isoform with the Rho GTPases.
Collaborative colleague: Dr T. Leung
Sept 1998 - May 1999 The Randall Institute, Kings College London, University of London, UK.
B.S. Final year project – The molecular cloning and expression of human TNF-a and its pertinence to rheumatoid arthritis. Supervisor: Dr P.A.M. Eagles
M. Brown, T. Jacobs, G. Ferrari, N. Cann, M. Teo, C. Monfries, L. Lim, C. Hall. (2004). Alpha2-chimaerin, cyclin-dependent Kinase 5/p35, and its target collapsin response mediator protein-2 are essential components in semaphorin 3A-induced growth-cone collapse. Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 24, 8994-9004
C. Hall, M. Brown, T. Jacobs, G. Ferrari, N. Cann, M. Teo, C. Monfries, L. Lim. (2001). Collapsin Response Mediator Protein Switches RhoA and Rac1 morphology in N1E-115 Neuroblastoma Cells and Is Regulated by Rho Kinase. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol 276, 43482-43486.
M. Brown, L. Lim, Christine Hall. (2003). Collapsin Response Mediator Protein-2 is a novel binding partner of the Rho GTPases, and regulates GTPases function. Keystone Symposia, Axonal Connections: Molecular Cues for Development and Regeneration, Keystone, CO, February 2003:p42
M. Brown, T. Jacobs, Christine Hall, L. Lim. (2002). Collapsin Response Mediator Protein-2 modulates Rho and Rac signalling, via a phosphorylation-regulated mechanism. Keystone Symposia, Cellular Motility and Signalling in the Wiring and Plasticity of Nervous Systems, Taos, NM, March 2002:p37
· Brain Awareness Week, Institute of Neurology, London, UK. May 2003 – Poster presentation.
· Keystone Symposia, Keystone, Colorado, USA. February 2003 – Poster presentation.
· Brain Awareness Week, Institute of Neurology, London, UK. May 2002 – Poster presentation.
· Keystone Symposia, Taos, New Mexico, USA. March 2002 – Oral presentation and poster presentation.
· Mechanisms of Cell Signalling, Gordon Research Conference, Oxford, UK, August 2001
· Brain Awareness Week, Institute of Neurology, London, UK. May 2001 – Poster presentation.
· From Genes to Thoughts, Student symposia, EMBL, Heidelberg Germany, November 2000
· Neurochemistry Student Symposium, Institute of Neurology, UK. June 2000 – Oral presentation.
· Maintenance of transgenic mouse colonies, including genotyping.
· Use of stereotactic frames and intracranial injection of cells into mouse cortex and hippocampus.
· Cardial perfusion of mice for brain histochemistry.
· DNA microinjection of cell lines and primary neurones, in conjunction with phase and fluorescent time- lapse microscopy, including sema3A growth cone collapse assays.
· Immunocytochemistry and fluorescent imaging of cultured cell lines and primary neurones, for morphological
analysis using fluorescent and confocal microscopy.
· Microdissection of spinal cord and preparation of primary dorsal root ganglia neurones from postnatal rats.
· Culture and transfection of various cell lines, including neuroblastoma and fibroblast cell lines.
· Dissection of embryonic rodent brains and culturing of hippocampal neurones.
· Preparation of cell lysates and cytosolic fractions for electrophoresis, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, recombinant protein preparation and the use of radioactive compounds for overlay assays and kinase assays.
· Experience in working as part of a team and collaborating with other researchers.
· Experience in ordering, invoicing and administration for laboratory resources.
· Fluent with numerous computer packages, including Microsoft (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Photoshop, Reference Manager and the DNA analysis package, DNA-STAR.
· British Red Cross Certification in “First Aid at work”.
· University College London, certification in the use of radioactive compounds.
· Full, clean driving license for 8 years.