Self-funded PhD projects are available, please e-mail Dr Anthony.
Karen studied biochemistry at the University of Leeds during which time she spent one year as a sandwich student at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Essex before returning to graduate with a BSc (Hons) in 2005. At GSK Karen experienced the drug discovery process through the large scale purification of protein drug targets. Developing a strong interest in neurodegeneration Karen joined the lab of Dr Jean-Marc Gallo at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. Her PhD “tau RNA processing in neurodegeneration: trans-acting factors regulating alternative splicing and mRNA localisation” was awarded in 2009. As a post-doc in Dr Gallo’s lab Karen developed RNA reprogramming strategies for neurodegenerative diseases including RNA trans-splicing therapies for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 and the tauopathies. In 2010 Karen translated her RNA expertise to the neuromuscular field and moved to the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London (UCL). Working with Professor Francesco Muntoni, Karen played a key role in developing antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon skipping as a therapeutic strategy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Karen’s pre-clinical and clinical work in this area is helping to expedite the translation of exon skipping candidate drugs to the clinic. Karen moved to the University of Northampton in 2015 as a lecturer in molecular bioscience where she is continuing her research activities on RNA processing and RNA therapeutics for neurological disorders.
