About me
I have been working in epigenetics for 20 years, both at the molecular and patient level. During this time, I was awarded a PhD in molecular biology entitled “The role of microRNA-146a in the IL-1β-Induced inflammatory response in human lung alveolar epithelial cells”, as well as a Research Fellowship studying how changes in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) underlie the phenotypic changes observed in airway smooth muscle (ASM) proliferation and steroid insensitivity in severe asthma. I am currently studying the role of genetics and miRNAs in congenital muscular dystrophies, regulation of gene expression in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy by alternative splicing, muscle regeneration and muscle stem cell function. During the course of my research I have also held two post-doctoral positions which resulted in high impact and highly cited publications in the fields of respiratory disease and non-coding RNAs, and allowed me the perfect opportunity to propose my own independent research fellowship project.
I am fully proficient in in vitro/ex-vivo assays, including standard cell culture techniques (both primary and immortalised. e.g. A549’s, Beas2B’s, THPs, Airway Smooth Muscle, primary epithelial cells, PBMC’S), transfection & transformation and vector-based expression assays. I also utilise numerous molecular and cell biology techniques in my research, including molecular cloning, PCR and RT-PCR including quantitative PCR/RT-PCR, western blotting, extensive microRNA and lncRNA analysis using RT-PCR platforms, in-vitro manipulation using siRNA & LNA inhibitors, analysis of microRNA targets (mRNA and protein), ChIP-sequencing, ELISA, proliferation and cytotoxic assays. Additionally, my skills also extend to studying murine models of lung disease including acute inflammation, methods of drug and compound delivery (including siRNA), anaesthesia, dissection and tissue processing. My time at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey (Jan ’99 – April ’05), also means that I am fully competent in avian, porcine, ovine and bovine delivery of parasitic pathogens, subsequent dissection and tissue processing, which was under GLP and UKAS accreditation.
Teaching
In addition to my commitments at Westminster.
BSc Yr. 1
Pharmacology (Key Skills) – Uni of Portsmouth
BSc Yr. 2
Introduction to Neuroscience and Pharmacology (Lab classes) – Uni of Portsmouth
Neuroscience, Endocrine and Gastrointestinal Pharmacology (Lectures, Lab classes) – Uni of Portsmouth
BSc Yr. 3
MPharm Delivering Pharmaceutical Care to Patients (Science into practice workshops) – Uni of Portsmouth
Neuropharmacology (Lectures) – Uni of Portsmouth
Pathophysiology and Pharmacology (Lectures, Lab classes, Tutorials) – Uni of Bedfordshire
Immunology (Lab classes) – Uni of Bedfordshire
Paediatrics and Child Health (Project supervision) – UCL
Pharmacology (Extra mural year placement supervision) – Kings College
BSc Biomedical Science & MBBS/BSc Medicine (Lectures, Lab classes, Tutorials, Project Supervision) – Imperial College London
MSc / MRes
Pharmacology units included Drug Discovery & Development; Molecular Pharmacology; Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (Lectures, Lab classes, Tutorials, Project supervision) – Uni of Bedfordshire
Paediatrics and Child Health (Lab demonstrations) – UCL
Genes, Drugs & Stem Cells-Novel Therapies (Lectures) – Imperial College
Biomedical Research, Molecular Genetics, Advanced Therapeutics (Lectures, Project Supervision) – Imperial College
PhD
PhD assessor (Reviewing the project at the Early Stage Review (12 months from initial start date) – University of Portsmouth
PhD assessor (Reviewing the Research Proposal submitted by the student, the project at the Early Stage Review (9 months from initial start date) and Late Stage Review (18 to 21 months from initial registration) - Imperial College
Assistant PhD supervisor (Extensive experience assisting in the supervision of PhD students in the laboratory, with results analysis and during thesis writing) – Imperial College
Research
I am a Medical Researcher and Lecturer for BSc, MSc Biosciences, MPHARM, and MBBS. The focus of my research is the role of epigenetics in development and disease.
A comprehensive publication list can be found here;
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-mark-perry-sfhea
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark-Perry-12
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.