Hou Mak

• MBBS (NUMed Malaysia)
• The Requirement for Primary Cilia in Heart Development: Cre-Lox Based Analysis of Cardiac Progenitor Lineages.

Malformations of the heart affect almost 1 in 40 people. The cause of most congenital heart disease (CHD) is still unknown, but genetic and environmental causes are presumed to be important. The cilium is a finger like projection found on most cells, important for signalling and sensing. Recently cilia related genes been suggested to be an important cause of CHD. We are investigating this proposal by genetically removing the cilium from different cell types that form the heart using genetically modified mice and determining what heart malformations occur. During this summer project, the student will join a laboratory of 12 researchers investigating this problem. They will be taught how to perform basic molecular biological techniques such as PCR and fluorescent immunohistochemistry. With support the student will work towards producing a figure for inclusion in publication, whilst learning a broad range of transferable laboratory and presentation skills.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Supervisors: Dr Bill Chaudhry and Professor Deborah Henderson