Dr Catherine Adamson

Catherine Adamson graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biology from the University of Manchester in 1993. She continued at the University of Manchester in Dr Jayne Brookman’s lab, where she gained her PhD in 1997 for her studies investigating the assembly of Ty1 virus-like particles. She then undertook postdoctoral research with Professor Ian Jones at both the Institute of Virology in Oxford and the University of Reading. These studies examined assembly of retroviruses (HIV and MLV) in a heterologous expression system and the use of phage display to generate novel antibodies against the prion protein. In 2004 she moved to the US and took up an International Research Fellowship in Dr Eric Freed’s Lab within the HIV Drug Resistance Program at the NIH. During this time her research focused on the novel HIV-1 maturation inhibitor bevirimat (PA-457). 

Dr Adamson was appointed to a Lectureship in Molecular Medicine at the University of St Andrews in March 2010, where her lab is interested in understanding assembly, release and maturation of HIV and other retroviruses.

Mrs Mary Ainsworth

N.B. All undergraduate admissions enquiries should go to: 
admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk

I graduated from the University of Stirling with a BA (Hons) degree in English Studies in 1984 and followed that with various secretarial studies.  Later, in 1998, I qualified (PGCE) as a secondary school teacher of English.  Prior to joining the Medical School at St Andrews in 2003, I had worked as a secretary, teacher and as a press officer for a university and in local government.

School Roles

• Managing the Medical Admissions Unit
• Managing the process of allocating students to Phase 2 (years 4-6) of their medical training

Dr Jim Aiton

After graduating from the University of St Andrews with a BSc (Hons) Physiology degree in 1972, I was awarded a PhD in 1976 for studies which looked at the physiological and pharmacological mechanisms involved in regulating trans-membrane movement of potassium. This developed my interest in cardiac electrophysiology, which I pursued during post-doctoral work with Professor Mel Lieberman at the Duke University Medical Center.  I returned to St Andrews in 1978 as a temporary lecturer in the Department of Physiology (and have not moved since!).

My main teaching responsibilities relate to the organisation of the Foundations of Medicine Modules MD2001 and MD2002. Within these modules, I teach the molecular physiology of membrane transport and muscle contraction. In recent years, I have helped teach histology and some introductory anatomy in the DR. In the MD3000 modules, I deliver a short course on Evidence-Based Medicine and also teach gastro-intestinal physiology.  My teaching in the MD4000 modules includes working with honours students to develop their skills of critical analysis and scientific methods.  

As I approach the latter stage of my academic career, I am still able to draw inspiration from each and every intake of new students.  My aim is to continue to develop my teaching skills and, by so doing, help stimulate students to learn for themselves. I am also interested in developing innovative assessment methods to evaluate the ability of students to interpret scientific data. In the long term, I still hope to be able to tie my own shoe laces.

School Roles

• Module controller MD2001 and MD2002
• Teaching Management Group
• Teaching Committee
• Academic Lead for the ePortfolio
• Development of research skills

Mrs Aixa Aleman-Diaz

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Mrs Julie Anderson

Dr Melissa Andrews

In 2000, I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BS degree focused in Bioengineering and Life Sciences.  I received a PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in 2006, where I evaluated the role of olfactory ensheathing cells in enhancing regeneration after spinal cord injury under the supervision of Professor Dennis Stelzner.  My post-doctoral work was performed at the University of Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair in the laboratory of Professor James Fawcett.  This research focused on the potential of transmembrane receptors known as integrins to promote axonal growth after spinal cord injury as well as studying their ability to transport in vivo within central and peripheral nervous system axons.  During my time in Cambridge, I also served as a Research Associate for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the Plasticise European Research Consortium for Professor Fawcett's group.  I was appointed as Lecturer in Anatomy at the University of St Andrews where I moved in September 2012.

My research focus is aimed at enhancing repair of the acutely or chronically injured brain and spinal cord.   My work involves targeting the intrinsic inability of the CNS to regenerate using gene therapy approaches to reintroduce necessary proteins that are missing in the adult and injured nervous systems.  In addition, I am interested in incorporating cellular therapies to promote neuroprotection and regrowth in the damaged or degenerated nervous system.

Mr Mohammed Arastoo

Dr Tom Beattie

Dr Predrag Bjelogrlic

School roles:

• Principal Teaching Fellow in Clinical Medicine
• Module Organiser MD4003
• Clinical Medicine Skills Programme Co-ordinator
• OSCE Manager
• Personal Tutor
• Supervisor for MD4002 projects.
• Interviewer in admissions process

• Medical Teaching and Assessment Committee
• Medical Teaching Management Group
• Clinical Medicine Skills Group
• Medical Teaching Research Group

After graduating in Medicine University of Belgrade, I have moved to the UK and completed several junior doctor posts in East Anglia and Norther Ireland.  Then I graduated in MSc in Histopathology, University of London before coming to St Andrews School of Medicine in 1997.

My interests are in Medical education and OSCE assessment.

Mr James Bowness

Dr Ruth Bowness

I graduated with a BSc in Mathematics from the University of St Andrews in 2005, and after Masters courses in Mathematics and Numerical Computing from the University of Cambridge and the University of Manchester, I returned to St Andrews to complete a PhD in Applied Maths.  During my PhD I worked in the Solar MHD group, my project involved numerically solving the Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in order to model solar phenomena.

I joined the St Andrews Medical School in September 2012 to work with Professor Stephen Gillespie’s research group on the PreDiCT-TB work programme.  Working also with Dr Duncan Mackay from the St Andrews Mathematics and Statistics department, we aim to separate populations of different cell states of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and model their response to tuberculosis treatment in clinical trials.  Ultimately we hope to develop an appropriate mathematical framework within which data generated from experiments and clinical trials can be integrated.  In this way we will attempt to form template models that could help to form treatment plans and aid future drug development.

Dr Gerard Browne

I'm a General Practitioner with a special interest in medical education.

Looking at teaching and learning allows for improvements in medical student education. This also helps to give learners the skills to continue their learning in the future. My focus is on assessment and clinical skills.

Dr Jen Burr

I graduated in medicine from the University of Birmingham, subsequently specialised in ophthalmology. In 2002,  following an MSc in epidemiology and statistics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,  I moved to an academic post in the Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen.   

In St Andrews I will continue a portfolio of clinical research into effective and efficient models for eye care, using a variety of methods including qualitative, evidence synthesis, economic modelling, and clinical trials as well as working one day a week as an ophthalmologist in NHS Fife.  I am part funded the National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre in Ophthalmology and  support the design and conduct of clinical trials to address the important questions in ophthalmology and the development of core outcome measures for research and clinical practice.

School Roles:

• Applied clinical research and ophthalmology
• Clinical teacher

Dr Elaine Campbell

Mrs Frances Carlton

Mr John Carnochan

Dr Jo Cecil

Jo Cecil graduated with an Honours degree in Biological Anthropology from the University of Cambridge in 1993.  She gained her post-graduate teaching qualification in Biological Sciences (PGCE) from the University of Cambridge in 1994.  She received her PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sheffield, where she conducted human research into the role of gastrointestinal lipid on eating behaviour.  She moved to Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, USA in 1999, where she investigated gastrointestinal mechanisms underlying the control of food intake using animal models in collaboration with researchers in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.  In 2000 she took up a research position in the Department of Psychology at the University of Dundee to conduct research in pre-pubertal children, investigating synergy between genotype & behavioural phenotype in the maintenance of energy balance.  In 2004 she was appointed as a Lecturer at the University of St Andrews.

Mr Fraser Chisholm

Fraser Chisholm graduated with a BSc in Human Anatomy for the University of Dundee in 2007. Since then he has gained experience working in technical roles in both Veterinary and Human Anatomy Departments.

Fraser joined St Andrews University in September 2012 with the remit of updating the Anatomy department's prosection collection as well as assisting in technical duties.

School Roles:

• Creation of high quality Prosections for use in the teaching of Medical Undergraduates, Post graduates and Allied Health Professionals.
• Maintenance and Preservation of Human Anatomical Material.
• Assisting in the teaching of practical Anatomy classes.
• Maintenance of accurate records in accordance with Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006
• General laboratory duties

Dr Alex Collinson

Mr Christopher Coutts

I have had a varied working history including experience in both IT and Education. I came to St Andrews to continue the development of the School of Medicine's curriculum management system, Galen.

During my time here I have also been involved in collaboration with colleagues from Edinburgh and Blantyre (Malawi) to help support the introduction of a new curriculum at the University of Malawi - College of Medicine.

Mr Murray Coutts

Dr Janet Cox-Singh

Dr Gordon Cramb

Departmental Duties:

• School Safety Officer (Research)
• Module controller MD3002

Dr Maureen Crosby

N.B. All undergraduate admissions enquiries should go to: 
admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk

After graduating from the University of Aberdeen with MBCHB , I gained full medical registration before joining the University of Aberdeen as a lecturer in Pathology, where, while working with a research team led by Prof CW Horne, I developed an interest in tumour markers.

Following a career break to have my children, I joined the staff at St Andrews  in 1996, initially as a demonstrator in Physiology. I currently work in medical admissions as well as teaching – and developing - clinical skills to all years, but mainly MD2000 and MD3000.

I first became involved in admissions interviews in 1997 and joined the Admissions Team in 2004. We aim to ensure a fair and transparent process in the selection of students for the course.

I am also a member of the Scottish Medical Schools Admissions Group, which meets twice a year to discuss common admissions issues.

School Roles

• Member of the Admissions Team
• Teaches clinical skills throughout the curriculum
• Senior Teaching Fellow

Dr Ruth Cruickshank

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with MBChB, I gained full medical registration before pursuing a career in anaesthesia. I undertook most of my post graduate training in Glasgow, passing my FRCA in 1990. I currently have a clinical commitment with Fife Acute Hospitals Trust of 2 days each week focused on providing anaesthesia for patients having trauma or dental surgery.

School Roles:

• Pro Dean (student support undergraduate)
• Senior Clinical Teacher
• School of Medicine Management Group
• Faculty Executive Group
• Joint lead Personal Tutor Scheme

Responsibilities of the Pro Dean of Medicine include oversight, on behalf of the Dean, of academic and pastoral affairs of undergraduate students in the Faculty, including advising; status changes, such as leave of absence; termination of studies; handling of appeals, and corresponding with Local Education Authorities and other external bodies concerning student matters.

As Senior Clinical Teacher I liaise with clinicians in Fife Acute Hospitals to organise short clinical attachments for third year students. In addition I teach Clinical Medicine to students in all 3 years of our curriculum. Initially I teach 1st year students introducing clinical methods within the security of the School environment.  As students progress through 2^nd and 3^rd years I move with them within the Fife Acute Hospitals to teach at the bedside.  I very much enjoy seeing the students progress and gain confidence in their clinical skills and knowledge.

Research

I am a member of the School medical education research group and each year supervise students researching their Honours project in the area of medical education. I am currently looking at strategies to enhance student support systems for undergraduate medical students.

Prof Candace Currie

Ms Dorothy Currie

Dr Andrew Dagens

Ms Hannah Dale

I graduated from the University of York in 2003 with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and completed an MSc in Health Psychology at the University of Nottingham in 2006. I held several roles within NHS Trusts in England, working in the areas of health improvement, smoking cessation and sexual health before commencing a 2 year ‘Stage 2’ training in Health Psychology post with NHS Fife. This developed my interest in psychological and health behaviours factors in men with cancer and health improvement for looked after young people. Having completed this training in January 2010, I have continued working in the areas of looked after young people, oncology and blood borne virus within the NHS as a Health Psychologist.

Along side my NHS role, I am continuing to conduct quantitative and qualitative research into men with cancer as part of my PhD under the supervision of Professor Gerry Humphris and Dr Gozde Ozakinci. This research examines predictors of psychosocial issues and health behaviours in men with cancer, along with the effect of these on access to support services and barriers and facilitators to men seeking support.

I teach several lectures and workshops on the MSc in Health Psychology and communication skills training on the Undergraduate Medical Degree. I am also a trained Stage 2 supervisor in Health Psychology and welcome enquiries from prospective trainees.

My broad interests are concerned with the development and evaluation of interventions, in particular for hard-to-reach populations. I hope that my current research will help inform the development of appropriate needs-met services and interventions for men with cancer.

For further of talks and presentations at: http://st-andrews.academia.edu/HannahDale

School Roles:

• Honorary Research Fellow, teaching on the MSc in Health Psychology and Medical Students

Dr Rachel Davies

After graduating with a BA in Biochemistry from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, I moved to London to do a PhD on human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. This stimulated my interest in cancer research which I further extended as a post-doctoral scientist. Initially, I worked on Wilms’ Tumour, a childhood kidney cancer, in Edinburgh and later on breast cancer in Cambridge. I then moved to the Institute of Human Genetics in Newcastle where I ran the MSc in Medical Genetics.

My research interests are focused on the control of cell proliferation. The ability of a cell to faithfully replicate its genetic material and accurately separate that into two daughter cells is central to the survival of any organism. To this end, various ‘checkpoints’ have been established which ensure the individual phases of the cell cycle are completed correctly before moving on to the next. Defects in checkpoints can result in cancer and mitotic checkpoint controls play a particularly critical role in cancer progression and treatment.

I am studying a class of proteins which are frequently associated with signaling at checkpoints. I have uncovered a network of interacting proteins which I believe function at the mitotic checkpoint and I am currently seeking to understand the consequences of these interactions in health and disease. Hopefully, my research studies will reveal potential new targets for chemotherapy

I teach molecular medicine throughout the curriculum, particularly focusing on genetics. I hope that my teaching will provide a secure foundation in molecular aspects of medicine for doctors as they progress through medical school and into practice, and inspire a subset of students to pursue these aspects further.

School Roles:

• Degree Programme Director, MRes Medicine
• Deputy Module controller MD4001
• Deputy Module controller MD4002
• Strand leader ‘Molecular Medicine’ MD4002
• Member of Assessment Management Group
• Personal tutor

Dr Winnie Dhaliwal

After graduating from University College London with a BSc (Hons) degree in Microbiology, I was awarded a PhD from Bart’s and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, for my research into gastrointestinal innate mucosal immunology.

My research interests include investigating the role of antimicrobial host defence peptides in gastrointestinal and tropical disease. In collaboration with Professor Stephen Gillespie, I am currently engaged in clinical and molecular biological studies of respiratory infections.

School Roles

• Lecturer in Infectious Diseases
• Infection Control Lead
• MD3001 Module Controller

Miss Diana Donaldson

Prof Peter Donnelly

Since taking up post as St Andrews first Professor of Public Health Medicine in September 2008 I have sought to build a team with diverse research interests. My personal focus is in two areas. Firstly violence reduction on which subject I work closely with The World Health Organisation and colleagues in a number of countries including South Africa, Jamaica and Lithuania. Closer to home I am evaluating a violence reduction and gang member rehabilitation programme in Glasgow and working on a number of issues related to the Scottish Government's equally well programme. 

My other area of interest is in Health Sytems; their organisation, funding, governance and accountability and how they can be optomised to maximise patient benefit and to reduce health inequalities.  In this area I have worked with the WHO, OECD, the Milbank Memorial Fund in New York and policy makers and politicians from around the world.

Miss Kerry Drysdale

I joined Professor Stephen Gillespie’s laboratory as a PhD student in September 2012. My research focuses on the pathogenicity of human mycoplasmas. I will be working mainly on the recently discovered Mycoplasma amphoriforme. This species was discovered in the respiratory tract of a patient with chronic bronchitis; subsequent studies have found this organism in healthy individuals, leading to the concern that this organism is a novel human pathogen, either opportunistically or as a causative agent of respiratory disease.

Mrs Sandra Dye

Mr Sean Earnshaw

Mr Mike Fearon

Dr Amanda Fleet

After graduating from the University of St Andrews with a BSc (Hons) degree, I was awarded a PhD in 1997 from University College, London (UCL), for my studies investigating calcium signalling in neuronal cells.

During my time at UCL, I became interested in teaching. I now teach musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, endocrine and special senses physiology to undergraduate medical students at the School of Medicine, University of St Andrews.

As part of my role, I hope to develop innovative ways to teach the integration of basic and clinical sciences.

School Roles

• Module controller
• Teaching Management
• Assessment
• Personal tutor
• Library Representative
• Room Bookings Coordinator

Dr Mark Ford

After graduating from the University of Dundee in 2001 with MBChB, I gained full medical registration before pursuing a career in General Practice.  I undertook my GP training in Dundee, passing my MRCGP in 2005. I have an interest in palliative medicine and have previously worked for the Fife palliative care service. I currently work once day each week as a GP, with the remainder being spent in the medical school.

School Roles:

• Pro Dean (student support undergraduate)
• Teaching Fellow
• Faculty Executive Group
• Joint lead Personal Tutor Scheme
• Ethics Committee

Responsibilities of the Pro Dean of Medicine include oversight, on behalf of the Dean, of academic and pastoral affairs of undergraduate students in the Faculty, including advising; status changes, such as leave of absence; termination of studies; handling of appeals, and corresponding with Local Education Authorities and other external bodies concerning student matters.

I am involved in clinical teaching both within the medical school and in the community. I teach clinical and communication skills to all 3 years and help co-ordinate hospital placements for year 2.

Research

I am involved in the School medical education research group and supervise students undertaking their dissertation projects in the areas of medical education, ethics and professionalism. I am particularly interested in improving how feedback is delivered to students and am currently researching using simulated patients to deliver feedback on clinical examination.

Miss Zoe Gage

Dr Anna Gavine

Ms Alison Gehring

Mr Steven Gellatly

Dr Mario Giardini

I graduated and obtained my PhD in Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Pavia, in Italy. I have worked for many years at the Italian National Institute for Physics of Matter, on the frontier between Medicine, Engineering Physics,  Mathematics and Industry. I then moved to Industry for a few years, where I have directed an industrial R&D unit for a Microscopy company.

I am using techniques derived from optoelectronics, from physics and from mathematics to tackle open problems in clinical and basic medicine. My current focus is on robotic, MRI-guided and/or endoscopic surgery, on in-field diagnostic/interventional instrumentation and on brain signalling. I collaborate with several international Institutions and with EU Facilities. In this, I develop new technologies, that often lead to patents, and that become part of the School of Medicine’s technology portfolio.

Within the School teaching programme, I supervise projects in which students become part of my team for a few months, and in which they take an active role in developing my research.

Prof Stephen Gillespie

Mr Ian Gordon

After obtaining a BSc (Hons) in Media Systems, I have been focussed in a number of different roles in media production including the creation and delivery of training materials, promotional videos and IPTV.

My interests with the School are mainly in the development of media assets for teaching. This includes video, eLearning and medical imaging. I have a growing interest in 3D design, modelling and rendering software and hope to find ways to include this technology as a resource for learning. 

My responsibilities to the School are:

• Maintenance and development of the Video Capture and Lecture Capture system
• Maintenance and support of the AV Facilities. 
• The production of video and eLearning assets.
• Management of the Digital Signage system.

Dr Christal Grierson

Mr Ian Grieve

Mrs Karen Grieve

Mr Bill Gudgeon

My School Roles:

• Systems Administrator
• Server Management
• End User IT Support

Prof Simon Guild

Dr Christian Hacker

I studied biology at the University of Wuerzburg in Germany and graduated in cell biology in 2005 having worked on nuclear export. I continued research in the department of cell and developmental biology in Wuerzburg and was rewarded a PhD in 2010 with the work on the involvement of the major vault protein in nuclear pore complex formation in the lab of Prof Dabauvalle. Microscopy played a central role in my studies in Wuerzburg and therefore I decided to specialise in electron microscopy for my future work.

Moving from Germany to Scotland in 2010 I started as a post-doctoral researcher in the lab of Dr John Lucocq at the University of Dundee with a focus on cutting edge electron microscopy.

I followed Dr Lucocq to the University of St Andrews in 2012 and joined the School of Medicine where we set-up a lab specialised on electron microscopic techniques which include conventional TEM, cryo-EM, electron tomography – all combined with quantitative stereological analysis.

I currently work on the structure, life cycle and cellular function of microsporidian mitosomes, tiny mitochondrial remnants with enigmatic function as well as starting and continuing collaborations inside the School of Medicine as well as with collaboration partners outside the University of St Andrews.

I am looking forward to share and expand my knowledge of electron microscopy and cell biology in general.

Nanomorphomics lab

Mr Robert Hammond

Originally from North England, educated in Glasgow at the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow for my undergraduate and masters respectively. I joined the Gillespie group as a PhD student.

My research centres on Mycobacteria species, specifically Mycobacteria tuberculosis. Working with Dr Mario Giardini in the school of medicine we aim to glean information about the population of Mycobacterium bacteria in in vivo and ex vivo samples from people suffering with the disease through the use of highly sensitive laser scattering techniques.

We aim to be able to construct a device that is highly portable and self-contained, with few disposable elements and which is cheap to manufacture and easy to operate that will diagnose tuberculosis infection

Mr Joe Hancock

Prof David Harrison

Dr Jane Hartley

Biography

Jane graduated with an MA (Hons, First Class) in Social Anthropology and Art History from the University of St Andrews (2004) and an MRes in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh (2007). She gained her PhD in Medical Sociology from the Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in 2011. Her thesis is entitled ‘Do media portrayals of drinking and sexual/romantic relationships shape teenagers’ constructions of gendered identities?’, supervised by Professor Daniel Wight and Professor Kate Hunt. This is a qualitative project involving teenage participants in Scottish schools. The thesis theorises teenagers’ perceptions of gender-appropriate behaviour; specifically sexual and romantic behaviour, and alcohol consumption. The study considers in particular the relationship between the media and the identities of teenagers. The thesis may be read online at: http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2855/01/2011HartleyPhD.pdf

Previously, she worked as a researcher at Glasgow Caledonian University at the Institute for Applied Health Research. This qualitative research explored the feasibility of an internet-based approach to screening young heterosexual men (aged 16 – 24) for the sexually-transmitted infection chlamydia. Jane took up her current post as Senior Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine in 2012.   

Research interests

Young peoples’ health, with a particular interest in:

• Identity construction 
• Young peoples’ health behaviours (in particular sex and drinking alcohol)
• Sexual and romantic relationships
• Gender and health
• The influence of consumer culture, including social inequalities
• The influence of mass media
• Holistic approaches to health: exploring the connections between behaviours that impact on health
• Music and belonging

Projects

Jane is currently project managing an international study which aims to develop the Family Affluence Scale (FAS), a survey tool measuring family affluence among adolescent populations. The study is being carried out in Scotland in collaboration with seven other European countries (Poland, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Slovakia, Romania and Greenland). This project aims to update a previous Family Affluence Scale (FAS) which has been used widely over previous years to inform the large-scale international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey.

Mrs Alice Haworth

Dr Laura Hay

Dr Richard Hickman

Dr Alun Hughes

Prof Gerry Humphris

I graduated from University of Reading (BSc Hons degree in Psychology), awarded a PhD from Guy’s Hospital, University of London as a result of my investigations into parental and child attitudes and behaviour with regard to health. I obtained my clinical psychology training from Liverpool University (MClinPsychol) and worked as a NHS clinical psychologist before becoming a full-time Lecturer at the University of Liverpool in 1991, where I became the Director of Communication Skills for the School of Medicine. While at the University of Manchester, I continued my interest in health provider/patient communication before taking up the post of Chair in Health Psychology at the University of St Andrews.

My undergraduate and postgraduate teaching focuses on the application of psychological principles in the delivery of health care, with a link to cognitive and behavioural outcomes. I am keen to encourage the study of health psychology in medicine and other health care professions, including applied psychologists.

I continue to develop the field of communication and health. I collaborate with members of the European Association for Communication in Health Care, with partners in two recent EU projects (ORION, TRIP) http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/dentalanxiety and a CIHR funded project (HeNCeLIFE) in Montreal.

The fields of health I concentrate on are oral health, head and neck cancer and health behaviour. Through the discovery of underlying processes to promote training and change in practice, I hope to demonstrate that the detailed analysis of person-to-person interaction improves outcomes.

School Roles:

• Director of MSc Health Psychology
• Convenor of School Ethics Committee

See also:

SABICS

Ms Karen Hunter

Karen joined the University of St Andrews in 2008 as a Senior Administrator for European Recruitment & Exchanges, later to become Exchanges & Study Abroad, part of Admissions and Registry.  She was responsible for the administration of both incoming and outgoing students on their year abroad and staff and student mobility through the Erasmus scheme.

Karen moved to the School of Medicine in October 2011 as a Research Administrator with the Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit.  She provides support accross the various research projects,  monitoring and assisting in management of budgets and providing pre and post-award administration.

Dr Jo Inchley

Biography

Jo graduated with a BSc in Anatomical Sciences from Bristol University (1992) and an MSc in Health Promotion from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (1994). She gained her PhD from the University of Edinburgh in 2009 for work on longitudinal determinants of physical activity among early adolescents.

Previously, she worked as a researcher at the Centre for Health and Social Research in Fife and as Evaluation Coordinator for the European Network of Health Promoting Schools at the the University of Edinburgh. She moved to CAHRU when it was established in 2000 and became Assistant Director of the Unit in 2006. She took up her current post at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine in 2011.   

Jo’s research interests are in child and adolescent health and health behaviours. Her work mainly focuses on two core areas (1) physical activity and health and (2) schools as a setting for health promotion. She is a member of the Scottish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (SPARColl) and the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) research network.

Research Interests

• Physical activity behaviour among children and adolescents
• The psychosocial and environmental context of health behaviour in young people
• Health promotion in the school setting
• Conceptualisation, implementation and evaluation of the Health Promoting School
• Health transitions from primary to secondary school

Activities/Projects

• Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Promotion Research
• Evaluation of the Fit for Girls Programme
• Physical Activity in Scottish Schoolchildren (PASS)
• European Network of Health Promoting Schools (ENHPS)
• Active Travel to School Primary-Secondary Transition
• Scottish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (SPARColl)
• HBSC (member of Scottish national team and International physical activity focus group)
• Health Promoting Schools Indicators Project

Mr Paul Irvine

Dr Jon Issberner

Departmental Duties:

• Deputy Director of Teaching (Curriculum Management)
• Module Organiser for MD4001

Departmental Service:

• IT Initiatives Group
• Medical Science Teaching Committee
• Medical Science Teaching Management Group
• Medical Teaching Research Group
• School Assessment Committee
• Medical Science Staff Student Council
• Personal Tutor

Prof Cathy Jackson

Cathy Jackson graduated in both Physiology and Medicine from the University of Manchester. She trained in Internal Medicine in Sheffield and the North of England before completing training in Primary Care Medicine in Sheffield, Cumbria and Angus. She became a lecturer in Primary Care Medicine in Dundee in 2001 initally to develop a clinical communication skills course for the medical school, in addition to having   responsibility for the  Community Medicine course for senior students and continuing her research interests. In 2005 she was appointed as Clinical Senior Lecturer with responsibility for CSO Generation Scotland group of studies in Tayside in addition to her existing research  and teaching commitments. In 2008 she was appointed to the Chair of Primary Care and made Director of Clinical Studies at St Andrews to further the develop the clinical teaching and research at the university.

• Deputy Director of Teaching
• Director of Clinical Studies
• Professor of Primary Care Medicine

Mr MBSB Janitors

Dr Mark Jones

Dr Svetlana Kalujnaia

Dr Taciana Kasciukovic

Mr Omar Kassaar

Prof Lindsey Kent

N.B. All undergraduate admissions enquiries should go to: 
admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk

I graduated in Medicine from Aberdeen University in 1989. After training in Psychiatry in Birmingham and obtaining MRCPsych, I became a Clinical Lecturer in Child Psychiatry and obtained my PhD from the University of Birmingham in 1998. In 1999 I commenced a Wellcome Trust Fellowship in Psychiatric Genetics as applied to childhood psychiatric conditions. I briefly held a Senior Lecturer position in Birmingham before moving to the University of Cambridge in 2003 as a University Lecturer in Child Psychiatry. I was appointed as a Reader at the University of St Andrews in 2007 and promoted to Professor in 2009.

My research programme investigates the biological underpinnings of child psychiatric disorders, predominantly Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Quantitative genetic research has firmly established that ADHD has a significant genetic contribution but little is known about the underlying biological mechanisms involved in ADHD aetiology.  Using the different strategies of sib pair linkage, whole genome association and candidate gene association studies, I hope to identify genetic variants which contribute to ADHD susceptibility. As part of the International ADHD Molecular Genetic Consortium I am involved in an NIMH funded ADHD genomewide association study (GWAS), and an exome sequencing study. I am also pursuing gene expression studies in human post mortem brain tissue with some of the variants thought to be involved in ADHD susceptibility.

My interest in genetics is also translated into a variety of teaching activities predominantly to undergraduate medical students and postgraduate Masters research students. I am the Module Organiser for the final year Honours Dissertation module for medical students and I also teach clinical skills across the year groups. In 2012 I took on the role of School Director of Admissions.

My School Roles

• Director of Admissions
• MD4002 Honours Dissertation Module Controller
• Clinical Skills Teacher
• School Management Group
• Research Management Group
• Teaching Management Group
• Teaching & Assessment Committee
• Personal Tutor
• Student Progress Committee
• Student/ Staff Liaison Committee

Dr Siavash Khazaipoul

Dr Peter Kilgour

Miss Linda Kirkcaldy

School roles

• Responsible for administration of clinical medicine placements
• Admin support to Deputy Head of School/Director of Teaching and Professor of Primary Care Medicine.

Mr Kamil Koscielniak

Dr Anita Laidlaw

Graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1997 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biology, I was awarded a PhD in 2001 for a thesis on a behavioural model of itch. When working with Professor Verity Brown and Dr Eric Bowman in the School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, I took my interest in factors influencing behaviour further by investigating response selection to stimuli.

My interest in why we respond behaviourally to our environment and cues within it now focuses on communication (verbal and non-verbal) and the factors that influence it - an interest I explore in both my teaching and research. Previous research includes investigating the impact of social anxiety and facial expression perception on medical students’ communication abilities. I expect to expand these interests in future by examining the role of facial expressions within clinical interviews in more detail, and how, in light of these findings, we can improve training.

I also have an interest in pedagogical research. I run the Medical Education Group within the School of Medicine and I am co-director of the Centre for Higher Education Research within the University. My specific interests include assessment of clinical communication, graduate attributes from professional vocational courses and psychological wellbeing in undergraduates.

I am involved in teaching clinical communication and health psychology to all three undergraduate years and run the MD5002 Health Psychology MSc module ‘Quality of life, communication and chronic illness’.

School Roles

• Module controller: MD5002
• Deputy module controller: MD3002
• Teaching Management: Convenor of Clinical Communication Skills
• Personal Tutor

Miss Sarah Lee

Ms Kate Levin

Mr Will Linden

Mr Sam Lipworth

I joined the Gillespie group as an MRes student in 2012 having graduated from St Andrews Medical School with a BSc (Hons) in pre-clinical medicine the same year.  Previously I gained laboratory experience as part of the St Andrews iGEM team and spent a summer with the Asthma and Allergy Research Group at Ninewells Hospital Dundee, investigating the effect of beta blockers in patients with COPD.

My project involves investigating the dormant mycobacterial cell, firstly by trying to isolate a pure sample of dormant cells in vitro and then working to characterize these cells.  I am currently developing methods to detect the presence of lipid bodies within the cells as they move to a dormant state and also investigating the different characteristics conveyed upon them by different in-vitro models of dormancy in-vitro.

Mrs Jessica Long

Dr John Lucocq

Research: I am a medically qualified research scientist working in the area of cell biology and electron microscopy. I also have an interest in membrane lipids, membrane traffic and mitosis. I have made discoveries in the areas of membrane compartmentation, organelle partitioning in mitosis and the evolution of organelles.

Teaching: I have extensive experience in medical, dental, and life sciences teaching; delivering courses in the areas of cellular biochemistry, membrane traffic, problem solving, statistics and quantitative techniques as well as gross anatomy, histology and stereology. I have a 30 years experience in teaching international (european and world) courses on quantitative electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. I specialise in teaching function-oriented neuroanatomy and neuroscience courses.

Journalism: I have an interest in medical journalism and popular science writing as well as motivational speaking.

Nanomorphomics lab

Google scholar outputs

Prof Hugh MacDougall

Head of the Bute Medical School and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of St Andrews

Consultant Clinical Oncologist, The Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust. 3 fixed clinical sessions in Edinburgh. Multidisciplinary clinics for cutaneous malignancy and soft tissue sarcoma. Responsibility for patients having radical and palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Qualifications

M.B., Ch.B.St Andrews 1972; F.R.C.S. Edinburgh 1977; D.M.R.T.Edinburgh 1979; F.R.C.R.London 1981 F.R.C.P.Edinburgh 1996

• Chairman of Scottish Medical Deans Group 2004 -to date
• Tayside Universities Strategic Liaison Group 2003- to date
• Member of Board of Trustees Melville Trust for Care and Cure of Cancer.            2000-to date
• Council of Heads of Medical Schools 2002-to date
• Executive Member of Council of Heads of Medical Schools 2003- date
• Member of Committee on Safety of Medicines 2002-to date
• Member of the Faculty Board Royal College of Radiologists 1999-to date.
• Secretary of Scottish Standing Committee of The Royal College of Radiologists     1999- to date
• Member of Liaison Cancer Clinicians Group of Scottish Cancer Therapy Network responsible for planning Linear Accelerator Programme for Scotland 1998-to date.
• Member of Oncology Board, Academy of Medicine, Scotland 1998-to date
• Member of Board of Trustees of Cross Trust   1998-date.
• Member of Medical Advisory Committee for the Maggie's Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.  
• Member of CRAG National Audit Steering Committee of head and neck cancer in Scotland 1995-date
• Examiner for the Fellowship and Membership of The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.   1995-to date.
• Member of Steering Committee UKCCR Head and Neck Group 1991-to date.

Membership of Learned Societies

• Harveian Society
• European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
• British Medical Association

Miss Jane Mackie

Duties

• wash, dry and sterilize glassware
• autoclave waste
• sterilize media.

Mr Clive Masson

After graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I was an Infantry Officer for 22 years. During this time, I was employed in a range of leadership, management and policy roles: a tour as liaison officer to the warring factions in Bosnia; four years commanding a 120-strong company on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and the Falklands; two years as second-in-command of the 1 SCOTS Battle Group on operations in Iraq; and two years writing and delivering the Army’s Pre-Deployment Training Policy. 

I have a MA in Defence Management from Cranfield University Business School and attended the Advanced Course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College.  Latterly, I was Brigade Finance Director. 

I was appointed to the post of Executive Administrator at the School or Medicine, St Andrews University in 2008.

Within the School of Medicine, I manage the school’s support functions: the operation of the building, the transfer of students, new programmes, the website and student Fitness to Practise.

School Roles

• Building Management
• Disclosure Officer
• Fitness to Practise
• Business Continuity
• Information Management

Ms Mairi McKinley

Dr Sara McQuitty

Mr Scott Millar

Miss Martine Miller

Martine's research interest lie within the field of public health policy, specifically in relation to risk-taking behaviour, reducing health inequalities and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities. 

Martine is an experienced mixed method researcher who has been involved in a broad range of quantitative and qualitative studies that have explored the health and lifestyle of the population.  Before joining the University of St Andrews, Martine was involved in large-scale national surveys such as the Scottish Health Survey and the Scottish Children’s Diet Study.  Her research work has also involved a variety of programme evaluations that have explored public health issues such as:

• sexual health education for young people;
• incentivised smoking cessation services;
• community pharmacies as an alternative setting for screening those ‘at risk’ of developing cardio vascular disease;
• current nursing practice within the community;
• nurse-led, early intervention to improving outcomes for young, first time mothers and their babies.  

• Bromley, C, Given, L, Miller, M (2010) Knowledge, Attitudes and Motivations to Public Health, 2008 and 2009: Health Scotland http://www.scotpho.org.uk/home/Publications/scotphoreports/pub_KAM_0809.asp

• Martin, C, Ormston, R, Birch, A, Miller, M, Amos, A, Van der Pol, M, Ludbrook, A (2010) An evaluation to assess the effectiveness of 'Quit4u': Interim Report: NHS Health Scotland

• Elliott, L, Raab, G, Wight, D, Henderson, M, Martin C, Birch, A, Burtney, L, Themesl-Huber, M, Storkey, H, Claveirole, A, Miller, M, Nixon, C, Pow, J (2010) Evaluation of Healthy Respect Phase Two: Final Report: NHS Health Scotland http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/4122.aspx

• Corbett, J, Dobbie, F, Doig, M, D'Souza, J, Given, L, Gray, L, Leyland, A, MacGregor, A, Marryat, L, Maw, T, Miller, M, Mindell, J, Ormston, R, Roth, M and Sharp, C (2010) Scottish Health Survey 2009: Scottish Government http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/09/23154223/0

• Corbett, J, Given, L, Gray, L, Leyland, A, MacGregor, A, Marryat, L, Miller, M & Reid, S (2009) Scottish Health Survey 2008: Scottish Government http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/28102003/0

• Elliott, L, Raab, G, Wight, D, Henderson, M, Martin C, Birch, A, Burtney, L, Themesl-Huber, M, Storkey, H, Claveirole, A, Miller, M, Nixon, C, Pow, J (2008) Evaluation of Healthy Respect Phase 2: Interim Report, Executive Summary. Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/3084.aspx

• Kennedy, C, Elliott, L, Rush, R, Hogg, R, Cameron, S, Hall, S, Miller, M, Plunkett, C & Lauder, W (2008) Review of Nursing in the Community Baseline Assessment, Scottish Government Social Research http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/06105122/0

Miss Susana Moleirinho

Mr Peter Mullen

Mr Christopher Murgatroyd

Chris Murgatroyd graduated in 2005 from the University of Warwick with a degree in Virology. He then embarked on a six year long teaching career in schools and colleges. In 2012, he joined Dr Catherine Adamson's lab at the University of Saint Andrews where he is currently studying for a Ph.D

His research interests include retroviruses specifically HIV assembly, release and maturation.

Dr Fergus Neville

Dr Colin Nicol

I graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1970 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Pharmacology. I then worked in the pharmaceutical industry with Organon Laboratories for two years before returning to the University of Glasgow in 1972. I was awarded a PhD in 1975 and took up my present lecturing post at St Andrews that year.

At the School of Medicine, I teach the physiology of the cardiovascular system and the pharmacology which underpins the clinical treatment of disease as it affects all the major systems of the body, with particular focus upon the cardiovascular, renal and respiratory systems. I also teach drug disposition and pharmacokinetics, an understanding of which is vital for limiting the occurrence of drug side effects and serious adverse drug reactions.

My aim is to help students develop a better scientific basis to their knowledge and to enable them to apply this to their future practice.

School Roles

• Admissions
• Assessment
• Organisation of visiting days
• Adviser/Tutor

Dr Bernadette O Hare

Mrs Veronica O'Carroll

BA (Hons), MSc Prof and Higher Ed, PG Cert Prof Ed, RNA

After graduating from Brunel University with a BA (Hons) Nursing in 1998, I worked as a registered Nurse in Ireland and Scotland in General Medical, Surgical, and Renal wards and also with NHS 24 as a Nurse Advisor. I took up my first post in St Andrews in 2007, teaching clinical skills.   I went on to gain a post graduate teaching qualification and in 2012 completed an Msc in Professional Education at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.

My current post as a Nurse Lecturer is a joint post between the University of St Andrews and the University of Dundee. I coordinate opportunities for medical students to link with students from other health care professions including  nursing, allied health professions and social work in the practice placement location within NHS Fife and also contribute to clinical skills teaching and clinical medicine programme in St Andrews. I am interested in the student experience of learning with other health care professionals, effective teamwork and the impact on patient safety.

I continue to maintain my professional registration by undertaking periods of clinical work within NHS Fife.

School Roles:

• Interprofessional education
• Clinical skills teaching
• Clinical medicine teaching
• Practice of Medicine teaching
• Member of school safety committee
• Infection control and patient safety
• Moving and Handling Trainer
• Assessor for OSCE’s
• Supervisor for MD4002 projects.
• Interviewer in admissions process

Dr Katarina Oravcova

I joined the Gillespie group in Medical School of University of St Andrews in November 2010 as postdoctoral research fellow. My main research interests focus identification of phenotypic and genotypic biomarkers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis dormancy. In particular, the involvement of lipid bodies in dormancy and drug response, and application of experimental data in predictive models.  I am also involved in a project investigating antibiotic resistance and mapping of biological fitness in respiratory pathogens. In addition, having worked extensively with mycoplasmas previously, I am investigating the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma amphoriforme.

I graduated and completed a Master’s degree in Chemistry and Biotechnology. After obtaining my PhD degree in Molecular Biology from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia in 2009 with the thesis focusing identification and genotyping of a foodborne bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, I worked in the Food Research Institute in Bratislava and at ITACyL, Valladolid, Spain developing numerous assays for genotypic and phenotypic characterization of foodborne and veterinary pathogens. The overall aim of my research was to elucidate phylogenetic relationships among the isolates and their persistence in environment.

Dr Gozde Ozakinci

Graduating from Bogazici University (Istanbul) with a BA (Hons) degree in Psychology, I did my MSc in Health Psychology at University College London in 1998, exploring safer sex attitudes and behaviours among Turkish youth. I was awarded a PhD in Psychology in 2004 for my studies in genetic counselling and testing for BRCA 1/2 from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. My current research interests are in the area of health-related behaviour interventions for clinical and non-clinical populations (e.g., medical students) and emotional regulation interventions for patients who have completed cancer treatment.

In order to assist cancer survivors with high fears of cancer recurrence, in collaboration with Professor Gerry Humphris, I am currently exploring fears of cancer recurrence. I am also exploring appearance-based diet interventions in collaboration with Professor Dave Perrett from the School of Psychology, St Andrews, and a PhD student, Ross Whitehead, to improve the current rates of fruit and vegetable consumption. In addition, I am developing a research project on smoking cessation around the time of cancer diagnoses that captures behaviour change around the time of critical health events.

I teach behavioural medicine to medical undergraduates and also run communication skills workshops. I am also a module controller in our MSc in Health Psychology programme, focusing on health information, prevention, and decision making.

In order to reduce the burden of chronic diseases that are attributable to lifestyle factors, I develop and test novel interventions for health behaviour change. The specific areas of focus are diet, physical activity and smoking cessation. I also plan to develop and test the fears of cancer recurrence intervention in larger trials.

Para 3 – My School Roles

• MD4002: Topic leader for People and Populations strand
• Module controller: MD5004 – Health information, prevention, and decision making in MSc in Health Psychology
• Overseeing Undergraduate Behavioural Science teaching
• Ethics Committee: member
• Organiser of the School of Medicine Seminar Series
• Co-organiser of Work in Progress talks

Dr Silvia Paracchini

I graduated in Biological Sciences (cum laude) from University of Pavia in 1998 and obtained a DPhil in Human Genetics from Oxford University in 2003. My project, supervised by Dr Chris Tyler-Smith and Prof. Ed Southern involved the development of genotyping methods and screening of large cohorts for genetic associations with prostate cancer and male infertility. I conducted my post-doctoral training in Prof. Anthony Monaco’s group at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford University. My work led to the identification of strong candidate gene for dyslexia (KIAA0319) and initiated functional studies to understand the role of this gene during early development. I was appointed as Academic Fellow at the University of St Andrews in 2011 and awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship in the same year.

My research programme is aimed at investigating the genetic component of common neurodevelopmental disorders such as dyslexia. Dyslexia is a specific impairment in learning to read and affects as many as 5% school age children. My work involve the screening of large cohorts, carefully characterised with quantitative phenotypes and is often conducted within international multidisciplinary collaborations, such as the NeuroDys Consortium. In addition I use large population-based cohorts to pinpoint the cognitive traits affected by  genetic associations. This approach allows me to study the genetic of cognitive traits, such as reading and language abilities, regardless of a clinical diagnosis. Ultimately, I am interested in the biological pathways affected by susceptibility genetic variants and in particular their impact on gene expression. I am developing a program aimed at studying the mechanisms linking genetic variation to transcription regulation. I am using both targeted approaches for single gene analysis as well as genome-wide system based on next generation sequencing platforms. The goal of my research is both to identify the genetic determinants of common disorders and to understand the mechanisms underlying human cognition. 

Mr Christian Paris

In 2009 I graduated with a double degree; one of which was awarded by the University of Aberdeen (BSc (Hons)) and one by the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (BSc). In my final project, which was supervised by Professor Neil Gow, I worked on Candida Albicans and investigated synergies and antagonisms induced by various combinations of antifungal agents. During my study programmes, I developed great interest in drug development, drug approval, medical microbiology and biotechnology.

My PhD project, supervised by Dr Joanna Parish, aims to elucidate the role of host factors in the papillomavirus life cycle using two different approaches. The first involves studying interactions between the versatile host protein CTCF and the viral genome in terms of chromatin architecture and gene regulation. The second approach is to establish a novel technique for viral genome purification using Locked Nucleic Acids (LNA). This technique is thought to provide a novel option for viral genome purification solely mediated by base pairing. No antibody is needed for this method, providing an advantage over the commonly used chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP). 

Upon completing my PhD, I would like to acquire a master of business administration in order to pursue a successful career in the field of drug development and approval, with special interest in managing clinical trials. 

Prof Ian Parkin

I qualified in medicine in 1975 (Aberdeen), but have been involved in teaching and examining anatomy since 1978. Before being appointed as part-time Professor of Clinical Anatomy at St Andrews in 2011 I had held the Chair of Clinically Applied Anatomy, University of Dundee and Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) for five years. Prior to that, I had been Clinical Anatomist at the University of Cambridge, and Senior Lecturer in Anatomy at the University of Birmingham, as well as contributing to numerous postgraduate, surgically related courses. I am an intercollegiate examiner for the RCSEd, have acted as an external examiner for a number of UK universities, and I am a Fellow of the British Association of Clinical Anatomists.

I believe in directed, “self-learning, by doing”, preferably in small groups. I am looking forward to working with the St Andrews’ students in the dissecting room, hopefully helping them to acquire a strong anatomical foundation for their future, clinical careers. 

• Lecturer in anatomy
• Tutor/demonstrator in the DR

Mrs Mary Peebles

Undergraduate Teaching Secretary for 1,2 and 3rd year

Dr Kerry Pettigrew

I graduated in Biomedical Sciences from University of Ulster in 2003, and obtained my PhD from Queens University Belfast in 2006; my project entailed case-control candidate gene studies to identify genetic variants influencing susceptibility to nephropathy in type 1 diabetes. Since 2007, I have conducted postdoctoral research into the effects of VEGF on alveolar cells (Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, University of Birmingham), identification of genetic variants predisposing to prostate cancer (National Cancer Institute, US) and hypertension (University of Glasgow), and the effects of DNA methylation on telomerase activity in acute myeloid leukaemia (Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queens University Belfast). I have also spent a short period at the Cancer Research UK Genome Variation Laboratory Service (Leeds).

My primary research interest is genetic association studies to identify common variants which affect susceptibility to disease. I was appointed postdoctoral researcher with Silvia Paracchini in February 2012, on a three year Royal Society project to investigate the genetic component of common neurodevelopmental disorders, including dyslexia and specific language impairment. We aim to identify genetic variants associated with reading and language measures, with a view to gaining an understanding of the molecular mechanisms which influence human cognition.

Dr Miguel Pinheiro

I am graduated in Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Aveiro in 2002, and I took a Master degree at the same University with the thesis entitled “Metabolic diseases screening system”. I was awarded in 2010 a PhD in the same University with the title “Computational system for the study and redesign genes”. In 2008 I started working in Biocant at the sequencing facility department. There, I developed several tasks in bioinformatics, in areas like metagenomics, trancriptomics, de novo sequencing, genotyping and phylogeny.

I am interested in the development of new algorithms and new strategies to analyse the genomic data as well as in computer clusters administration and in parallel computation. In my current post I will support the analysis of large scale functional-genomics projects, an area which is rapidly expanding in St Andrews.

Dr Samantha Pitt

Samantha Pitt graduated from the University of York in 2002 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Biology. She then went on to complete a PhD in Cellular Physiology at the University of Cambridge graduating in 2006. Following two postdoctoral positions studying mechanisms of ion-channel regulation, one at University College London (Department of Pharmacology) and one at the University of Bristol (Department of Pharmacology) she moved to her current position as a University Research Fellow in the School of Medicine, University of St Andrews.

Throughout her career, Samantha’s main focus has been the role of ion-channels in mediating and regulating intracellular Ca²⁺-signals.

The release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores within the cell is essential for a diverse range of fundamental processes including muscle contraction, fertilisation, cell division and neurotransmitter release. Using electrophysiological approaches Samantha is interested in the study of intracellular ion-channels that are involved in the control and regulation of Ca²⁺-release in health and disease.

Ms Helen Popple

Dr Simon Powis

I graduated from the University of Glasgow with a BSc (Hons) in Immunology in 1986, and then undertook PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, based at the Babraham Research Institute, graduating 1990. Two postdoctoral positions followed at Babraham, followed by a move the University of Dundee where I held a Wellcome Trust Career Development Award (1995-1999) and then an MRC Senior Fellowship from 1999-2004. In 2005, I moved to my current post in the School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews.

Throughout my career, my main research focus has been a group of molecules in the immune system called the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules. These proteins are involved in protection against viral infections, cancer neogenesis and transplant rejection. I have been closely involved in characterizing how these MHC class I molecules assemble inside cells, where they undergo a complex series of quality control tests before being delivered to the cell surface for scrutiny by T lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells.

I am also studying one particular MHC class I molecule termed HLA-B27, which is closely involved in the development of a type of inflammatory arthritis of the spine called ankylosing spondylitis. If we can understand the role HLA-B27 plays, we will be able to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

With regard to teaching at the School, I deliver a series of lectures to medical students describing how the immune system works and what can happen when it goes wrong.

School Roles:

• Postgraduate ProDean – oversight at faculty-level of postgraduate student business
• Module Controller – MD5102, a series of research-focused seminars for the MRes degree.
• Centrifuge Curator – fixing them when they go wrong. 

Mr Henry Rae

I am a Registered Scientific Technician (RSciTech).

I came to the University of St Andrews in 1993, having formerly worked in industry as a workforce supervisor, which involved being responsible for the smooth running of the workforce, including staff training, discipline, quality control and logistics.

At the School of Medicine, I support medical teaching in the Multi Purpose Laboratory (MPL) in any way necessary.

I am an instructor for Heart Start and a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) First Aid Instructor.

I am a member of the Higher Education Technicians Education and Development (HEaTED) organisation. I am also a Course Provider for HEaTED providing a cold Castings course.

I have been trained in the following courses:-

• As a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) “First Aid instructor”.
• As an “Automatic External Defibrillator” (AED) instructor for Heart Start.
• “Train the Technical Trainer” Glasgow University.
• “Immediate Life Support” Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy.
• “Sim Man Hi Fidelity simulator” Ninewells Hospital.
• “Sim Man, Advanced Simulation” Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy. 
• “Catheterisation” the University of St. Andrews.
• “Venepuncture & Cannulation” Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy.
• “Hypodermic & Subcutaneous Infusion” Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy.
• “Blood Pressure” Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy. 
• “Blood Glucose Monitoring” Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy.
• “Temperature Pulse and Respiration” Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy.
• “Fluid Preservation” for Museum Collections.
• “Wax Model Conservation” National Museums of Scotland
• “Cold Casting” Glasgow College of Building and Printing.
• “Electrical Testing” Perth College held at the University of St. Andrews.

I have demonstrated to, or trained, staff, students and school pupils in a diverse range of subjects, including:

• Tropical Rainforest ecology in Central America
• Automatic External Defibrillation
• Dynamic Lung Function
• First Aid
• Hearing
• Visual acuity
• Renal analysis
• Reflexes
• Blood pressure
• Venepuncture
• Blood glucose
• Subcutaneous injection
• Sim Man scenarios

School Roles

• Technician for the Multi Purpose Medical Science lab
• Technical Advisor 

Dr Graeme Reid

Dr Paul Reynolds

I gained my PhD in 1997 from the Department of Pathology, University of Bristol, in  Keith Brown’s lab. In 1998, I became a postdoctoral fellow in Dr Daniel Haber’s lab at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, USA and then in 2003. I moved to a post with Dr Thea Tisty at the University of California, San Francisco in order to investigate the epigenetic modulation of primary human mammary epithelial cells. I was appointed to a Lectureship in Medical Science at the University of St. Andrews in June 2007.

Cancer is a remarkably heterogenous disease and the increasing complexity of molecular changes during tumour evolution highlights the importance of identifying events that occur early in this process. I am interested in identifying those molecular changes which drive tumour formation, with particular emphasis on 1) novel proteins in the Hippo signaling pathway, 2) microRNAs deregulated in breast cancer and its precursor lesions and 3) chromatin modifying proteins of the polycomb family.

In my lab, my colleagues and I are employing biochemistry, molecular biology and cell biology approaches to investigate the nature and context of these factors and how they impact upon carcinogenesis. An understanding of their biology may also contribute to the development of better strategies to identify aggressive tumours early, before the development of metastasis.

School Roles:

• Director of Postgraduate Studies
• School Advisor on Biological Safety
• Tissue culture room Curator

Mrs Gill Rhodes

Prof Andrew Riches

I graduated from the University of Birmingham, firstly with an Honours BSc in  Physics, then with an MSc in Radiobiology and finally with a PhD in Experimental Haematology from the Faculty of Medicine. This springboarded my interest in stem cells and in cancer research.

My early work focused on investigating the properties of haematopoietic stem cells, while further collaborations with Professor Martin Berry studied regeneration in the central nervous system. Having been introduced to cell culture methods, I used organ culture methods to study the hormone dependency of the prostate. More recently, I have collaborated with Professor Eric Wright and Dr. Joanna Bakala to define how leukaemic and normal haematopoietic stem cells regulate their proliferation.

As part of  EU collaborations following the Chernobyl accident, I have also undertaken very fruitful research with Professor Horst Zitelsberger. We developed in vitro models to study the mechanisms of human radiation-induced carcinogenesis in the thyroid, breast and prostate.

My current focus involves a return to Physics, where I have had very successful collaborations with the School of Physics & Astronomy and, in particular, with Professor Kishan Dholakia in the use of novel laser systems to interrogate, sort and photoporate cells.

I am currently exploiting the use of Raman spectroscopy to identify cancer cells in urine samples in patients with bladder cancer. This study is in collaboration with Mr Chris Goodman and his colleagues in the Urology Department at Ninewells Hospital & Medical School. This forms part of a CR-UK/EPSRC/MRC grant on Optical Imaging for Cancer Diagnosis. In addition, I am collaborating with Dr Simon Powis to investigate exosomes in cancer as putative biomarkers and immune modifiers and I have also been testing a novel range of cytotoxic drugs using gold and copper complexes synthesized by Professor Steve Nolan and colleagues in Chemistry.

Mr James Robb

I graduated with an intercalated honours BSc from the University of St Andrews in 1972 and MB ChB from the University of Dundee in 1975. I decided to specialise in orthopaedic and trauma surgery after teaching anatomy and doing accident and emergency and orthopaedics in Nottingham. I moved to Glasgow for my basic surgical training and began my orthopaedic training in Glasgow and finished it in Leeds. I then did an orthopaedic fellowship in Grenoble, France and was appointed as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Edinburgh in 1987, having a special interest in neuromuscular disorders. I helped establish a gait analysis laboratory in Edinburgh in 1988 and this subsequently achieved an international reputation. I joined the Medical School in St Andrews in 2004 as a part time member of staff.  

I research disorders of gait in collaboration with colleagues at the Anderson Gait Analysis Laboratory, Edinburgh. Knowledge of abnormal gait patterns can give better insights into how these can be managed for patients’ benefit. We have also produced two visual gait assessment scoring systems for cerebral palsy and amputees that are low cost solutions for investigators who do not have access to instrumented gait analysis.  Consult  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez  for a list of peer reviewed publications

Disorders of the locomotor system occur in many different clinical disciplines. I teach applied aspects of the musculoskeletal system to undergraduate medical students to link basic science knowledge with clinical medicine and surgery.

My short term goal is to help implement a Scotland wide surveillance programme for hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy

• Topic Strand leader, Mechanisms of Disease MD4002

Miss Karen Ross

Mr Graeme Russell

Dr Morven Shearer

Graduating from the University of Glasgow with a BSc (Hons I) degree in Pharmacology, I was awarded a MSc in Pharmacology by the University of Iowa for my work on cellular signalling mechanisms in breast and brain cancer, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge for my investigations into nerve regeneration following spinal cord injury.

I moved to the University of St Andrews in 2001. During this time, I became interested in biomedical ethics, an interest which I developed further during my time at the Ethox Centre, University of Oxford and at the University of London. I joined the School of Medicine in February 2011.

I am interested in the ethical issues raised by advances in medicine, particularly those involving reproductive technologies and those surrounding children and health care. Following on from my work on paediatric anti-depressant use, I am looking at the regulation of pharmaceutical testing on children and I’m also part of a research project considering how to optimise the care of children with severe cerebral palsy, and evaluating their transition into adult services.

In summer 2011 I worked at the WHO headquarters in Geneva on the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) international questionnaire, which is a part of a multi-partner project exploring the effects of child maltreatment on long term chronic health and health risk behaviours. In addition, I’m continuing my work with the Innogen Centre at the University of Edinburgh on balancing risks within pharmaceutical and pesticide use.

During my fellowship, I hope to develop a distinct research area in medical ethics and health policy, and to strengthen links with WHO, the Ethox Centre and the Innogen Centre, as well as other groups within St Andrews based in Philosophy and Management. 

School Roles

• Overseeing ethics teaching from first to third year
• Ethics lead for St Andrews, Scottish Deans Medical Education Group

Mr Robert Shore

Prof David W. Sinclair

Following graduation in Medicine from St Andrews University in 1972, I undertook clinical training, principally in Surgery, in Dundee, Nottingham and Edinburgh, achieving Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

I was very pleased to be appointed to a Lectureship in Anatomy in St Andrews in 1979, as I have a particular interest both in teaching and in the whole spectrum of medical education. Following a period as an Adviser of Studies, I later became Pro-Dean (Medical Science) and Senior Lecturer in Anatomy, posts in which I steadily increased my responsibilities for student administrative and pastoral affairs. I also gained a postgraduate qualification in Medical Education from the University of Dundee.

In teaching medical students in all three years of our programme, I have a particular interest in making links between the basic medical sciences and their applications in investigating and managing patients. My administrative work has been mostly based around students’ professional development and support needs, including matters relating to Fitness to Practise.

As Supervising  Examiner in Anatomy for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, I contribute to postgraduate surgical examinations at a national level, serving on several Intercollegiate Committees, as well as organising and teaching on postgraduate training courses. In addition I have served for ten years as a General Medical Council Associate in the area of postgraduate assessment  and also as an External Examiner in Anatomy for a number of other medical schools.

As I approach retirement I am currently in the process of handing over many of my long standing administrative functions.  I hope, however, to continue to explore different ways of integrating medical sciences and their clinical applications, particularly in order to maximise usage of the excellent new facilities in the School of Medicine.

My School Roles

• Senior Lecturer  in Anatomy
• Licensed Teacher of Anatomy
• Organiser of Annual Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving
• Pro-Dean of Medicine (Undergraduate)
• Member of:  University Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee

                                    Faculty of Medicine Business Committee

                                    School of Medicine Management Group

                Clinical Skills Group

Awarded The Farquharson Teaching Award in 2005 by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The award is given for outstanding contribution to teaching at undergraduate or postgraduate level, in Surgery or Anatomy.

Dr Elizabeth Sinclair

Previous Appointments

Clinical Assistant DDS Medicines Research Ltd Ninewells Hospital and Medical School Dundee

 Anaesthetic  Registrar Glasgow and Fife Health Boards

Clinical Assistant  Blood Transfusion Services Dundee and Edinburgh

School Roles

• Senior Teaching Fellow in Clinical Medicine
• Honorary Clinical Teacher Fife Health Board
• Deputy Module Organiser MD4003
• Clinical Medicine Skills Programme Organiser
• Medical Teaching Committee
• Medical Teaching Management Group
• Clinical Medicine Skills Group
• Clinical Medicine Placements Group
• Medical Teaching Research Group
• Personal Tutor

Graduating from the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee in Medicine led me into an Anaesthetic career. Anaesthetics further developed my interests in Pharmacology and Transfusion Medicine. In addition to anaesthetics, I have worked in the Dundee Apheresis Unit within the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and more recently have been involved in over 200 Clinical Phase 1 Drug Development trials in Ninewells Hospital. Over 36 years I have gained a wide experience in many areas of medicine and I have used this experience  in teaching and integrating clinical medicine within the Medical School in St Andrews for 27 years. I feel that in this context my main achievement has been the embedding of clinical medicine and professionalism within the curriculum by the introduction and continuing development of the Applied Medical Science Module since 1989. 

I am currently interested in the development of OSCEs as a comprehensive tool in the evaluation of Clinical Medicine Skills with particular emphasis on introducing, promoting and rewarding excellence rather than use of the current standard pass/borderline/fail examinations. I believe that all students should aim for excellence, not simple mastery of skills.

I teach Clinical Medicine to students in all 3 years of our curriculum. Initially I teach 1st year students introducing clinical methods within the security of the School environment.  As students progress through 2^nd and 3^rd years I move with them within the Fife Acute Hospitals to teach at the bedside. My varied experience allows me to cover a range of pathology. I very much enjoy both this progression of clinical teaching and, in particular, helping students to develop confidence within the hospital setting.

What I hope/expect to achieve in the short/medium/long term

As I approach retirement I would hope that my contribution would be to leave in place a comprehensive Clinical Medicine Strand which is well integrated within the School curriculum.

Mr Steve Smart

I perform a wide variety of functions within the School of Medicine and the School of Biology at St Andrews University, and provide design and media production support to a number of other websites and science communication projects.

My primary role is focussed on web, video and interactive media and design and production. I am also involved in graphic design for print. I am further associated with IT support staff involved with network support, design and management of a number of websites and network resources, co-ordinating work of IT Assistants, staff training, and media teaching for undergraduates and postgraduates.

I co-ordinate work at the Medialab.

I also work independently as a designer and visual artist.

Some web sites:

• Sea Mammal Research Unit
• School of Medicine
• School of Biology
• D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson
• Culture Evolves
• GeoBus
• Department of Earth Sciences
• School of Geology & Geosciences
• Department of Geography & Sustainable Development
• bio:log outreach site
• Darwin 200
• SOI
• MASTS
• Conference sites - example1 example 2
• IBANS
• SEAOS
• SCANS II
• Budongo Conservation Field Station
• Living Links
• CREEM
• MSc Applied Statistics and Datamining

Dr John Smith

Miss Aleksandra Sobota

Dr Alan Stewart

Alan Stewart graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BSc(Hons) degree in Biochemistry in 1999 and a PhD in 2003. He then took up a postdoctoral fellowship at the Roslin Institute before joining the MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit as a Career Development Fellow in 2006. Whilst there his work focussed upon the identification of novel neuroendocrine signalling pathways. In 2009 he was appointed to a Lectureship in Molecular Medicine at the University of St Andrews.

School Duties:

• Research
• Teaching
• School Safety Commitee
• School Ethics Commitee
• Building Radiation Protection Supervisor
• Admissions
• Personal Tutor

Miss Claire Stewart

Ms Gillian Strugnell

I followed a successful and varied career in nursing for the first 20 years of my working life.  This culminated in ward management and finally clinical teaching after studying for a diploma in nurse education.  I left this career to pursue a university education and later graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a BSc and an MSc.  My BSc was nominally in anatomy.  My MSc studies were conducted by research and involved microscopy, cell culture and immunostaining.  Subsequently I held two consecutive posts as a research assistant both concerning fish.  My skills in microscopy, cell culture and immunostaining along with the knowledge of embryology gained during my BSc. studies were all of use in these two posts.

I came to my current position in 2001 and find my multi-faceted background provides me with a broad insight into the world of medicine.  I can envisage a situation at the bedside, in the clinic, the operating theatre, in the community hospital, in the GP practice and in the research laboratory.

I teach anatomy to first, second and third year undergraduate medical students in practical classes.  I like small group teaching and believe this to be the best way for students to learn anatomy.  This type of teaching allows each student to see how the components of the body are arranged in relation to each other.  An understanding of the way the human body is structured is essential for appreciating the diversity of activities that a doctor will engage with, particularly when working with patients.  To play a part in the foundation of the anatomical knowledge of some of the doctors of the future is a rewarding experience for me.

My school roles are:-

• Teaching anatomy
• Personal tutor
• UCAS screener
• Interviewer of prospective students
• Assessment Management Group member
• School Teaching Learning and Assessment Committee member
• Assessment analyst

Mrs Julie Struthers

After graduating from the University of St Andrews with a BSc(Hons) Physiology I started work as a Cytogeneticist in the University of Glasgow. Later I trained as a teacher and gained CertEd from the Jordanhill College after which I taught for a few years.  Since then I have worked as a molecular geneticists, co-ordinated an international surgical research project and been an elearning developer.  In 1992 I helped set up the Cuschieri laparoscopic surgical skills training unit in Dundee.  This cutting edge unit stimulated my interest in technology and the potential for using the internet for teaching. In 2005 I gained a Masters in Advanced Learning Technology from the University of Lancaster through a distance learning programme and this  stimulated my interest and drive to make the best use of technology in learning and teaching.

My work

My role within the School of Medicine is to promote innovation in the use of technology to benefit learning, teaching and research throughout the curriculum.  I have a particular interest in curriculum management systems and how these are evolving with the rapid changes in web applications. I have led a team developing a bespoke system called Galen designed to manage an integrated, spiral curriculum. My recent focus has been on the introduction of an IP based video capture system for teaching, assessment and research purposes.

Current focus

• Use of video in Clinical Medicine teaching and assessment
• Use of text messages to collect quality feedback on teaching
• Introduction of online marking for OSCE exams
• Use of clickers in teaching

I was part of the team from the University of St Andrews which has supported the introduction of a new Medical Curriculum in the College of Medicine in Malawi. My role was to help them make the best use of technology to support the delivery of this new curriculum.

On the curriculum side I work closely with Dr J Aiton to plan develop, implement and assess the students’ e-Portfolio.  I have been particularly involved in the development of a series of structure tasks designed to develop the students’ skills of reflective practice.

My School Roles

• Learning technology team lead
• Chair IT initiatives team
• ePortfolio
• Curriculum evaluation
• Supervisor for dissertation projects in Medical Education

Mrs Liz Surtees

Dr Oliver Tavabie

Dr Javier Tello

Mr Garry Thomson

I manage the Dissecting Room and embalm cadavers for medical teaching.

Mr Lyuben Todorov

Miss Sandra Tulloch

School Role

• Admin Assistant for School Ethics and MSc Health Psychology

Dr Winfried van der Sluijs

I completed my Masters in Social Psychology and Clinical Psychology at the University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) in 2001.  I received my PhD in Psychology (Health) at the University of Leicester in 2007, where I conducted research into social groups and cognitive antecedents of smoking.

Prior to joining Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU) in February 2008 as a Research Fellow, I worked as a part-time lecturer for the School of Psychology and the Institute for Lifelong Learning at the University of Leicester.  As part of my Masters in Clinical Psychology I also worked for a year as a psychologist at a psychiatric hospital in The Netherlands.

Research:

My research interests lie in the field of child and adolescent health.  My main interests lie in health risk behaviours (substance use and sexual behaviours), the use of social cognition models to explain health behaviours and identify ways to influence these, peer culture and peer influence, and differences in health behaviour between social groups. 

Since my appointment with CAHRU, I have been closely involved with the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC, a World Health Organisation Collaborative Cross-National Study) as survey manager for the Scottish National HBSC study.   Within the international HBSC network, I am the co-ordinator for the Peer Culture Focus Group and member of the scientific development group and methodology development group.   In 2010 I worked as a consultant on the Glasgow City Schools Health and Wellbeing Survey.  Another project I have been involved with is the Changes in Child Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (CHETS).  Since January 2012 I am a collaborator on the Determining the Impact of Smoking Point of sale Legislation Among Youth (DISPLAY) Study as the survey lead for the project.

Current Activities/Projects:

• Determining the Impact of Smoking Point of sale Legislation Among Youth (DISPLAY) Study
• Scottish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study.
• Peer Culture; Health Behaviour in School aged Children: WHO Collaborative Cross-National Study.
• Changes in Child Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (CHETS)

Miss Andri Vasou

Dr Ed Wallace

Mr Ross Whitehead

Dr Susie Whiten

Research

My research interests in recent years are applied anatomy and the use of IT in medical education and curricular design.

Teaching and Administration

The Bute Medical School offers a 3 Year Honours BSc Medicine degree. The degree allows our students to enter clinical training in Manchester and Scottish Medical Schools. I was closely involved in the development of our new integrated curriculum and its assessment and invited to implement the first year Foundation Modules in 2004.
I am module organiser of the first year of the degree programme and teach anatomy and some physiology across all three years of the curriculm. The role of module organiser carries responsibilities associated with several committees (see below). I am one of the School’s Licensed Teachers of Anatomy and am responsible for the daily administration of the teaching activities in the dissecting room.

Committees

Medical School Committees
Module Organiser
Teaching Committee
Teaching Management Group
Assessment Committee
Curriculum Committee
Progress Committee
Student/ Staff Liaison Committee
New Medical Building Planning Group, Anatomical Lead
Personal Tutor

University Committees
Senate Assessor on University Court
Convenor of the Academic Audit Committee
Member of the Senate Business Committee
Member of Academic Council
Member of Teaching,Learning and Assessment Committee
Member of TLAC Quality Enhancement Sub Commitee
Curator Anatomy and Pathology Collection

National Commitments
Licensed Teacher of Anatomy
Anatomical Society Education Committee
Journal of Anatomy Referee Panel

External Teaching

Invited Speaker Royal Institution
In 1998 I was the Higher Science Teacher of the Year awarded jointly by the Royal Institution and Times Higher Education Supplement. Since that time I have regularly contributed to the RI Schools Programme both in London and as an RI representative at Scince Festivals.
Cheltenham Science Festival (RI Speaker) June 2006 Anatomy for the Terrified
RI Speaker at W5 Belfast March 2007, 2008
Royal Institution Lectures Autumn Programme November 2008
I was invited to bid for Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2007

Invited Contributions to Post graduate Courses
Hip and Knee replacement course for the Zimmer Institute Amsterdam March 2007
Regular contributor to Arthroscopy Courses Ninewells Surgical Skills Unit
MRCS Anatomy Revision Course Leeds Jan 2007, Jan 2008
Postgraduate Anatomy Course for Podiatrists, June 2008

Publications (since 2006)

Books
Flesh and Bones of Anatomy Whiten S (2006) Elsevier
Crash Course Anatomy 3rd edition (2007) Faculty Adviser

Refereed Papers
McHanwell, S., Atkinson, M., Davies, C. Dyball, R., Morris, J., Ockleford, C., Parkin, I., Standring, S., Whiten, S. and Wilton, J. (2007). A core syllabus in anatomy for medical students. Adding common sense to need to know. European Journal of Anatomy 11 (special issue), 151-166.

D.W. Elson, S. Whiten, S.J. Hillman, R.J. Johnson, S.S. Lo, J.E. Robb, The Conjoint Junction of the Triceps Surae. Implications for Gastrocnemius Tendon Lengthening. Clinical Anatomy Volume 20, Issue 8, Date: November 2007, Pages: 924-928

Cotterill SJ, Aiton JF, Bradley PM, Hammond GR, McDonald AM, Struthers J, and Whiten S (2006) A flexible component-based ePortfolio: adapting and embedding in the curriculum. In: Handbook of Research on ePortfolios (ed. Jaffari, A and Kaufman, C) Idea Group. pp 292 – 304.

Conference Proceedings
Elson D, Whiten S, Robb J. “The conjoint junction of the triceps surae. Implications for gastrocnemius tendon lengthening.” British Orthopaedic Association Annual Congress. Glasgow. September 2006

Aiton JF, Struthers J, Whiten S, Cotterill S and Horner P (2006)
Loggingclinical skills in an ePortfolio for self assessment, peer assessment and portfolio building. Symposium on Medical Interactive Learning (SMILE at AMEE), Sestri Levante, Italy

Whiten S, Aiton JF, Struthers J and Suda N (2006) A web-based timetable provides a solution to curriculum management. Symposium on Medical Interactive Learning (SMILE at AMEE), Sestri Levante, Italy

Aiton JF, Whiten S, Struthers JE (2008) Generic Research Skills for Medicine – a vertical curriculum strand (AMEE) Conference Prague August 2008

Whiten S, Jim Aiton, Christie Marr (2008) Identifying early predictors of student performance in a new medical Curriculum (AMEE) Conference Prague August 2008

Interests

Scuba diving
Gardening
Film

Miss Dagmara Wiatrek

Dr Damien J. Williams

I received a First Class honours degree in Experimental Psychology and PhD from the University of Bristol. I worked in industry, undertaken consultancy and held a number of teaching and research posts prior to starting my Fellowship at St Andrews.

While my main role is an active researcher I undertake a number of roles within the School of Medicine. With a background in psychology my general interests are in understanding human behaviour, and my primary research focus is on violence prevention, which is said to be the first physical manifestation of inequality in society. I am also involved in teaching/tutoring/supervisory activities on the BSc in Medicine, MRes in Medicine, and the MSc in Health Psychology, and the supervision of PhD researchers. My aim is to apply my varied experiences and enthusiasm to the development of the future generation of academics.

School duties include:

• Research Fellow
• PhD Supervisor
• Lecturer/supervisor  on MRes in Medicine
• Lecturer on MSc in Health Psychology
• Personal tutor
• BSc in Medicine dissertation supervisor
• Public Health tutor
• Communication skills tutor/assessor
• Practice of Medicine tutor
• Public Health lecturer

Mrs Mary Wilson

As Research Technician / Laboratory Manager, I oversee the general daily running of the research lab facilities in the Medical School Building. 

This entails arranging any repair work required for facilities or equipment and also ensuring communal laboratory requirements are met.  I regularly meet with company representatives to keep up to date with new technology and also to arrange competitive quotes when required. I also assist in the varied project work of the School’s Principal Investigators as and when required and lecture annually to students on good laboratory practice and procedures.

In addition, I am the Deputy Departmental Radiation Protection Officer, ensuring strict guidelines are adhered to when working with radioactive sources.

Dr Han Xiao

After completing BSc in Biochemistry in University of Dundee, I continued my studies in the molecular biology field and gained her  PhD from University of Dundee in 2010.  This was a joint PhD studentship between James Hutton Institute and University of Dundee. During this project I identified some potent polyphenols from fruit and vegetable that can exert chemopreventive effect and the mechanism underlying it. Subsequently, I worked in University of Manchester for a year  on a project investigating the association between the changes of ion channel activity with the development of aging.

I joined the Gillespie lab in Sep 2012.  My current project is to develop a molecular based assay for detecting TB from biological samples. This assay aims to provide a more accurate, fast and cost-effective diagnosis method. Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium marinum are used as  model systems for drug development.  These new assays will speed the evaluation of novel agents through in vivo models.   Future work will involve the identification of TB cells at different state by applying molecular and microscopic techniques.

Dr Yuefang Zhou

I came to the UK in 2002, having taught English in secondary schools in China for ten years. I was awarded an MSc with distinction in Applied Research Methods in 2003 and a PhD in 2006, both by the University of Dundee. The title of my PhD thesis was ‘Processes of cultural pedagogical shock and adaptation of Chinese postgraduate students in the UK’. My knowledge of statistics and interest in psychological processes helped me complete my first post doctural project (2007-2008) at the School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, which investigated the effects of group identity on behaviour change. 

Since December 2008, when I started to work with Professor Gerry Humphris in the School of Medicine, my research interest has extended into health psychology. At the moment, I am working on a project investigating how dental nurses encourage young children to accept an oral health-related intervention. Situated within the broader area of healthcare communication, this project aims to determine how healthcare professionals’ behaviour influences children’s behaviour, which has wider implications for healthcare outcomes.

Since September 2010, I have been teaching cross-cultural medicine to undergraduate and postgraduate students working on their Master’s projects.

I would like to combine my knowledge in cross-cultural communication with my current research in healthcare communication to explore intercultural communication in medical settings. 

See also:

SABICS