Dr Yvonne Alexander (PhD) - personal details

Yvonne Alexander is a non-clinical lecturer in Molecular Medicine in the Cardiovascular Research Group at the University of Manchester. Originally from Ireland, Yvonne graduated in Biology from Strathclyde University in 1987 and read for a PhD in Molecular Pathology in the CRC Beatson Laboratories in the University of Glasgow, where she graduated in 1991 from the Department of Medicine.

Yvonne was a research fellow in the University of Glasgow from 1991 until 1999, strengthening her interest in Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, when in 1999, she took up a position as lecturer in Cardiovascular Genetics. In November 2000, she moved to the University of Manchester and joined the cardiovascular group as a lecturer in Molecular Medicine to continue her interest in molecular aspects of cardiovascular disease and vessel wall biology. Work to date has involved the use of rodent models and a genotype-driven approach to developing effective novel molecular treatment strategies for disease. This has involved identifying genes with a protective function against vascular damage, and exploiting these properties and control elements to develop gene-based therapeutic approaches to improve, or correct impaired vascular function. The work involves the use of adenoviral-mediated gene transfer as a study tool to understand gene regulation and protein function in relation to cardiovascular disease mechanisms. It also involves the use of transgenic technology and animal models to mimic human disease, in order to examine biological systems at the cellular and molecular level. Yvonne collaborates in a wide network of International Researchers, acts on review panels, and as reviewer of manuscripts for International Journals and holds a number of research grants. Yvonne has also given a number of invited lectures, communicating enthusiasm for cardiovascular biology and vascular gene therapy, its difficulties but also its enormous potential rewards as a valuable adduct to the current medical skills.

• British Society for Cardiovascular Research (Committee member)
• European Vascular Biology Organisation (Council Member)
• British Society for Biochemistry
• British Society for Atherosclerosis
• British Society for Gene Therapy
• European Society for Gene Therapy
• European Society for Calcified Tissue Research
• European Association for the Study of Diabetes

• BSC Hons 1987 Molecular Biology Univesity of Strathclyde
• PhD 1991 Molecular Pathology University of Glasgow

As a principal Investigator of a research group I hold a number of research grants and strive towards excellence in academic output in terms of publications and presentations at both National and International meetings ensuring our research maintains a high profile in the scientific and clinical cardiovascular arena. My research group has  received six prizes at International conferences.

My role also includes acting on  review panels and as reviewer of manuscripts and grants for International journals and funding bodies respectively.  I also act as committee and council member for the British Society for Cardiovascular Research and the European Vascular Biology Organsiation respectively and assist as a member of the Scientific programme organising committee for meetings.  As a member of professional organisations I aim to radiate my enthusiasm for molecular medicine to the next generation of cardiovascular biologists.

My role as post-graduate tutor for the Cardiovascular Research Group and for the Diabetes and Endocrine Science Group, is to ensure, that meetings and goals, set up for students at strategic time-points during the programme of research,  are adhered to, in order to help achieve a high standard of excellence in academic output for the student, supervisor and School within the allocated time-scale. The Cardiovascular Group within the School of Biomedicine are striving to be a leading academic clinical research centre and excel in their student training programme.

Phase 1 and 2 Early Experience Portfolio Tutor

BL3452 Clinical Genetics - Gene and Cell Therapy Lectures
Supervisor for Year 1 Medicine and Dentistry Special Study Modules

I currently supervise four PhD students:

• Sahena Haque (in collaboration with Dr Ian Bruce) (Premature senescence, endothelial turnover and accelerated atherosclerosis in SLE: the relationship between lupus factors, telomere length and circulating endothelial cells.)
• Agbor Ako Ndip (in collaboration with Professor Andrew Boulton) The relationship between serum and tissue RANK-L and vascular calcification in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with peripheral vascular disease.
• Kate Williamson (in collaboration with Dr Sally Stringer) Investigating the age-dependant changes of heparan sulphate structure on endothelial progenitor cells.
• Ben Parker (in collaboration with Professor Ian Bruce) Effects of biological agents on inflammation and vascular function in systemic lupus erythematosus: inflammation or drug effect?

2 current MRes students

I have successfully supervised 4 PhD students through to completion.

3 Final Year Honours student projects, 6 MRes student projects.

Been External Examiner for 2 PhD thesis, Internal examiner for ? thesis, Examiner for X 1st year PhD Transfer reports, and acted as advisor for X PhDs and Y MDs and 2 MPhils.