Amanda Louise Ash

I am a recent Human Bioscience graduate about to embark on an MPhil as a post graduate research student at the University of Northampton.

My interest and experience in Duchenne began when writing a research proposal for my undergraduate dissertation with Dr Karen Anthony. During that summer, I reached out to Professor Kate Bushby and took on an internship at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre in Newcastle. Here, working with Dr Andreas Roos, I investigated molecular mechanisms of muscular dystrophy using animal and cell models. I became competent in cell culture, immunocytochemistry and confocal & fluorescent microscopy, as well as enhancing my skills in western blotting.

Returning for my dissertation with Dr Anthony, I discovered that DMD patient derived fibroblasts grow differently to controls and generated evidence to suggest this may be due to the loss of the type of dystrophin found in the brain. I am excited to investigate this preliminary finding further, in hope to find a new possible therapeutic target.

July 2017