Dr Louise Mackenzie

Dr Louise Mackenzie is an in vitro pharmacologist who works on numerous projects involved with molecular mechanisms that underpin numerous disease states, such as nuclear receptors involved in inflammation.

Her background has been to study vasoactive compounds that control vascular function, but more recently she has worked in multi-disciplinary groups to screen for drugs that control pancreatic diseases, both diabetes and cancer.

 

 Louise-Mackenzie

Dr Louise Mackenzie

How I like to teach

I teach on the Biomedical and Biological Sciences degrees within the School, from the Foundation course through to final year projects. I am passionate about research and teaching, so I integrate many of my laboratory data into my lectures and seminars. Many of the students conducting final year projects will design a project based on my areas of research, which challenges them with current concepts and literature which is very new and exciting.

I believe in teaching the underlying concepts that govern cell biology and pharmacology, and that way students can apply their knowledge and gain meaningful answers to complex issues.

My research interests

Current research projects:

  • PPARβδ receptor control role of inflammation and disease
  • Understanding the non-genomic effects of PPARβδ agonists
  • Defining the off-target (non-COX) effects of NSAIDs
  • In vitro assay design: anti-diabetic actions of natural plant products
  • In vitro assay design: screening of novel anti-pancreatic cancer drugs

Previous research projects:

COREs and Research and Enterprise Groups:

  • STRAND

Research activity

Current research projects:

  • PPARβδ receptor control role of inflammation and disease
  • Understanding the non-genomic effects of PPARβδ agonists
  • Defining the off-target (non-COX) effects of NSAIDs
  • In vitro assay design: anti-diabetic actions of natural plant products
  • In vitro assay design: screening of novel anti-pancreatic cancer drugs

Previous research projects:

COREs and Research and Enterprise Groups:

  • STRAND

Social media

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Contact me

Dr Louise Mackenzie
Senior Lecturer Cell and Molecular Biology, PhD FHEA
School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
University of 映客直播
Moulsecoomb Campus
映客直播, BN2 4GJ

Telephone: +44 1273 642080

Email:  L.Mackenzie2@brighton.ac.uk

Biography

I started at the University of 映客直播 in February 2018, having gained 5 years’ experience as an academic at the University of Hertfordshire and 10 years post-doctoral research experience at Imperial College.

I have worked in numerous universities, and research is my passion. I gained a solid foundation in molecular genetics when working at Oxford University (The Welcome Trust for Human Genetics) where I used a range of molecular biology techniques to map genes and then UCL (The Hatter Institute) where I was introduced to cardiovascular pharmacology. I was able to put my expertise to the test during my PhD at Imperial College, where I developed my skills to include cell biology and pharmacological techniques working on vascular smooth muscle cell signaling pathways. During this time I was introduced to myography, which is a highly skilled pharmacological technique for studying very small arteries (less than 250μm in diameter).

In total I spent 10 years working as a Post-doctoral research scientist at NHLI, Imperial College and William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary’s University, where my expertise as a pharmacologist and molecular biologist has expanded and I formed a close working relationship with Prof Jane Mitchell and Prof Tim Warner. During my time as a Post-doctoral researcher, I wrote several papers, collaborated with numerous groups in the EU, supervised final year students and master’s research students. My research focus during this time was centred on the role and modulation of vasoactive hormones and arterial function, and an in depth study to investigate the cardiovascular side effects of NSAIDs (COX mediated).

At the University of Hertfordshire I expanded my research areas of interest into investigating the off-target side effects of NSAIDs (non-COX mediated) and also into nuclear receptors involved in inflammation and disease. During this time I started new collaborations centred on in vitro screening of drugs for pancreatic disease (diabetes and cancer). My research at the University of 映客直播 will continue these projects, expanded through new collaborations and opportunities.

Research output

PhD students

NameThesis
Gary Dolan

Defining the off-target effects of NSAIDs, (2016 – present, University of Hertfordshire)
Debbie Ogbeni Identification of lead compounds for pancreatic cancer (2015 – present, University of Hertfordshire)
Bayissi Bading Mechanisms of anti-diabetic actions of natural plant products (2014 – present, University of Hertfordshire)
Noelia Perez-Diaz

PPARβδ receptor mediated control of pulmonary artery function, (2013 – present, University of Hertfordshire)
Martina Lundberg

The role of cyclo-oxygenase and related pathways in vascular health and disease, (2009 – 2011, Imperial College)
Anna Reed

The potential role for PPAR beta/delta agonists in the treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, (2009 – 2011, Imperial College)