Martin Humphries

• Principal Investigator/Professor of Biochemistry/
  Vice-President & Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences

• Email:

  Martin.Humphries@manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Elucidation of the mechanisms responsible for metazoan life; specifically the role of cell adhesion in integrating signalling with tissue environment.

• Main discoveries:

  Pinpointing sites within extracellular matrix molecules that determine adhesion, developing these agents as anti-inflammatory therapeutics, determining the mechanisms of adhesion receptor activation, and elucidating how adhesion receptors act as sensors of the cell microenvironment.

• Essential laboratory techniques:

  Hire the best people possible, and do what you can to help them enjoy their research.



• Top 20 publications | Full publication list | Read more »

Paul Mould

Postdoctoral Research Associate/
Senior Research Scientist

• Email:

  paul.mould {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Cell adhesion molecules in health and disease.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  ELISA plate reader; mass spectro­meter; electrophoresis tank.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Prepare all buffers the day before.


• Recent Publications | Read more »

Janet Askari

Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Email:

  janet.a.askari {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Integrin structure/function relationships. Prote­omic analysis of integrin adhesion complexes.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  An accurate pipette.

• Education:

  BSc (Hons), Microbiology (University of Kent, UK). PhD, Biochemistry (University of Manchester, UK).


• Recent Publications

Jon Humphries

Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Email:

  j.d.humphries {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Cell adhesion. Proteomic analyses of integrin adhesion complexes. Integrin activation states.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  The usual stuff – and long suffering workmates.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Arriving in the morning, leaving in the evening, lunch in between.

• Websites:

  Research Profile


• Recent Publications

Mark Morgan

Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Email:

  mark.r.morgan {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Syndecan-mediated control of integrin function.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Cells, bad-ass microscopes and rubber policemen.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Noise-isolating headphones (aka Hellyeh-isolating headphones).

• Education:

  BSc (Hons), Biomedical Science (University of Sheffield, UK). PhD, Oncology (Cancer Research UK/University of London; GKT School of Medicine); Thesis: Role of the β6 integrin cytoplasmic domain in carcinoma cell invasion.

• Websites:

  Research Profile


• Publications

Adam Byron

Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Email:

  adam.byron {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Proteomic analyses of integrin adhesion com­plexes.

• Expertise:

  Affinity isolation; mass spectrometry-based proteomics; proteomic data analysis.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Protein gels; mass spectrometer; (über-fast) computer.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  A clean blot and a noise-free mass spectrum.

• Websites:

  Research Profile | Lab Webmaster | Personal Website | Twitter


• Publications | Biography | CV

Shweta Tiwari

Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Email:

  shweta.tiwari {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Folding and activation mechanism of integrins.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Tissue culture hood and incubators; computer.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Good planning.

• Education:

  BSc, MSc, Life Science (Devi Ahilya University, Indore, India). PhD, Biochemistry (Max-Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany).

Angélique Millon-Frémillon

Postdoctoral Research Associate

• Email:

  angelique.millonfremillon {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Proteomic analyses of integrin adhesion com­plexes.

• Essential laboratory techniques:

  Cell biology; microscopy; mass spectrometry; informatic analysis.

• Education:

  BSc, Cellular Biology and Physiology; MSc, Integrative Cellular Biology; PhD, Cellular Biology (Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France). Qualified in animal experimentation.


• Publications

Sue Craig

Research Technician

• Email:

  susan.e.craig {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Diverse. Structural over signalling every time!

• Expertise:

  Cell culture; protein production/purification; finding things!

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Sense of humour.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Iced fingers and reliable dialysis tubing!

• Education:

  BSc (Hons), Biochemistry (University of Bristol, UK).

Ewa Koper

Research Technician

• Email:

  ewa.koper {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Cell adhesion molecules.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  A protein column and lots of tubes.

• Education:

  MSc, Intercollegiate Department of Biotechnology (University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk, Poland). PhD, Neurobiology (Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany).

Hellyeh Hamidi

Final-Year Postgraduate Student

• Email:

  hellyeh.hamidi {at} student.manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Syndecan-4 receptor signalling in cell migration.

• Essential laboratory techniques:

  Molecular biology; biochemical and radioactive assays; flow cytometry; immunofluorescence.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Cakes, additions to my wall of weird-and-wonderful things or a WOW result!

• Education:

  BSc (Hons), Medical Biochemistry with Industrial Ex­perience (University of Manchester, UK; sanofi-aventis, UK).

Jila Ajeian

Second-Year Postgraduate Student

• Email:

  jila.ajeian {at} postgrad.manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Proteomic analyses of integrin adhesion com­plexes in human embryonic stem cells.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Well-defined stem cell media; pluripotency markers; mass spectrometer.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  A plate of well-grown, un­differentiated stem cells.

• Education:

  BSc, Zoology (University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran). MSc, Microbiology (University of Tehran, Iran). MRes, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (University of Manchester, UK).

Guillaume Jacquemet

Second-Year Postgraduate Student

• Email:

  guillaume.jacquemet {at} postgrad.manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Cell migration, integrin signalling and small GTPase regulation.

• Essential laboratory techniques:

  Classical biochemistry and proteomic analyses; microscopy.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Mycoplasma-free, alive cells.

• Public engagement:

  Lab Webmaster

• Education:

  Licence, Biochemistry (University of Reims, France). Master, Interaction cell matrix (University of Reims, France).

Nikki Paul

First-Year Postgraduate Student

• Email:

  nikki.paul {at} postgrad.manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Proteomic analyses of integrin adhesion com­plexes in mammary epithelial cells.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Microscope; pipette; pre-cast gels!

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Caffeine and sucrose.

• Education:

  BSc (Hons), Biochemistry with a Year in Industry (University of York, UK).

Joe Robertson

First-Year Postgraduate Student

• Email:

  joseph.robertson {at} postgrad.manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Phosphoproteomic analyses of integrin adhesion complexes.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Mass spectrometer.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  A vending machine well-stocked with purple Yorkies.

• Education:

  BSc (Hons), Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Newcastle University, UK).

Rachel Lennon

Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow/
Honorary Consultant in Paediatric Nephrology

• Email:

  rachel.lennon {at} manchester.ac.uk



• Research interests:

  Understanding mechanisms of proteinuria, focussing on glomerular podocyte adhesion in health and disease.

• Essential laboratory equipment:

  Lab book.

• Key to a happy day in the lab:

  Focus.

• Education:

  BMedSci, BMBS (University of Nottingham, UK). PhD (University of Bristol, UK). MRCP, Paediatrics. CCT, Paedia­trics/Paediatric Nephrology.

• Websites:

  Research Profile