Research focus
The aim of our group is to understand why some people gain weight more easily than others, and to identify new treatments for people with weight problems.
Background and experience
I have always wanted to pursue a career in medical research. I initially did an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Leeds before undertaking a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Dundee. After a short postdoctoral position, I decided to change directions and move into research co-ordination.
Working at the IMS-MRL
Our research focus is to understand why some people gain weight more easily than others by looking for genes which are involved in regulating body weight. To do this we have recruited over 7500 participants with severe early-onset obesity from hospital settings to the Genetics of Obesity Study (GOOS) and over 3000 healthy thin participants from primary care for the Study into Thin and Lean Subjects (STILTS). As the Senior Research Co-ordinator, I had overall responsibility for recruitment to both studies. This includes ensuring that recruitment targets were met, samples were processed correctly and results were correctly documented.
Our group is also currently running several clinical trials for treatments to control body weight and hunger in patients with genetic causes of obesity. I provide administrative support for these trials by arranging patient visits, ensuring that the data from patient visits is accurately recorded and working with external suppliers to ensure that patient visits run smoothly. More details about the study and our findings so far can be found on the websites for the GOOS (link https://www.goos.org.uk/home) and STILTS studies (link https://www.stilts.org.uk/).
