During 1636, an outbreak of bubonic plague within Newcastle upon Tyne killed approximately 5000 people, with those afflicted dying quickly and horribly, experiencing high fevers with suppurative buboes (swellings). This research documents the progression of the epidemic among various parishes of Newcastle: St. Nicholas’, St Andrew’s, Allhallows, and St. John’s. In addition, possible factors contributing to the rapid spread of disease, such as the ubiquity of rats and overpopulation are discussed. Prominent features of the outbreak were the implementation of quarantine, how this was done in practice and how it was perceived, which are often overlooked.

This research may help to provide insights into managing the COVID-19 epidemic or current outbreaks of plague, within low and middle-income countries such as Madagascar, the DRC and Peru where plague is still endemic. 

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a blood stem cell cancer that expresses cancer-causing Bcr-Abl protein. Imatinib, a Bcr-Abl inhibitor, is the first-line treatment for CML. Several next-generation Bcr-Abl allosteric inhibitors including trifluoromethoxy-phenylaminopyrimidinyl benzamide (GNF-5) are developed and currently under preclinical evaluation. Annatto tocotrienol (AnTT) is an annatto seed extract consisting of delta- and gamma-tocotrienols, where they have been shown to possess anticancer properties. Nevertheless, the anti-leukaemic properties of tocotrienol are not reported. Investigating the combinational effects of AnTT with Bcr-Abl inhibitors, imatinib and GNF-5, may offer novel insights in CML treatment.

This study aimed to determine the anti-leukaemic effects of AnTT on human CML K562 cells, with or without the combination of imatinib or GNF-5. K562 cell viability upon 24h of imatinib (0-100 μM) or GNF-5 (0-100 μM) was determined by MTT assay. Subsequently, K562 cells were treated with AnTT (0-50 μg/mL), with or without imatinib or GNF-5 at their respective 25% and 50% of half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. Their interactions upon combination were confirmed by isobologram analysis. Current findings demonstrated that imatinib, GNF-5 and AnTT treatment alone reduced the viability of K562 cells with IC50 values of 40 µM, 50 µM and 37 µg/mL, respectively. Nevertheless, the IC50 values of AnTT remained similar or slightly lower upon combination. Isobologram analysis revealed the antagonistic interactions between Bcr-Abl inhibitors with AnTT. In conclusion, although the mechanism of antagonism remains unclear, current findings suggest that tocotrienol supplementation or tocotrienol-rich diet might not be suitable for CML patients receiving Bcr-Abl inhibition therapy. 

My project investigated how ribosomes are produced in fungal cells, particularly to try and identify fungi-specific aspects of ribosome production. Functional ribosomes are essential, as the ribosomes produce all the proteins needed for the cell to survive. Drugs that interfere with the ribosome production machinery can be used in order to kill cells. Therefore, investigating this process in fungal cells could provide insights into new targets for antifungal drugs. 
 
Within my project I investigated the enzyme RNase MRP, which is important to the production of functional ribosomes. RNase MRP is particularly interesting as it is known to have fungal-specific subunits, so could be a good target for antifungal drugs. Through uncovering the mechanism by which RNase MRP acts we can build the foundation of understanding needed to enable this enzyme to be targeted with drugs in future. 
 
My project aimed to address the UN sustainability goals, particularly goal 2 and 3. Fungal contamination is a significant contributor to food spoilage globally. Antifungal drugs that specifically target fungal cells could reduce spoilage, without impacting the food itself. This addresses UN sustainability goal 2, as it aims to prevent food wastage. Pathogenic fungi present a globally significant issue, as per year over 150 million people contract severe fungal infections worldwide, resulting in approximately 1.7 million deaths. Finding new drug targets to address this issue is critical and addresses UN sustainability goal 3. 

Immunotherapy is an emerging field of cancer research that is changing the way we think about cancer therapy. It is based on our immune system's innate ability to fight cancer and the goal is to find ways to enhance this ability. It is well established in the literature that elevated levels of Vitamin D, C, and zinc are associated with improved outcomes in different cancers.

The aim of this project was to use vitamin D, C, and zinc as adjuvants that offer attractive opportunities to potentiate the killing activity of T cells. For this purpose, T cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of Vitamin D, C, and zinc or combination and the intra/extracellular levels of granzyme B secreted by T cells were measured as a biomarker of cancer immunotherapy. Also, the activation status of granzyme B was assessed using a scientific tool that would allow the differentiation between active/inactive status.

The results showed that individual treatment with Vitamin D and combination treatments with all 3 substances significantly increased granzyme B concentration secreted by T cells. Granzyme B was found to be inactive inside T cells, however, activation is likely associated with secretion from T cells. Immunotherapy can offer increasingly effective patient-specific treatment without the need for unpleasant side effects of chemo/radiotherapy treatments. The killing potential of T cells against cancer cells can be assessed in future experiments and can lead to a full-scale study to investigate the clinical potential of this work and increase the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. 

Computer simulations are often created to model and predict the behavior of colonies of cells. These simulations can reach sizes of hundreds of thousands to millions of cells, requiring powerful hardware to run, which means that users with low-end machines are limited in the size of the simulations they can run. 

CellModellerCloud is a web-based platform that can create, view and edit multicellular simulations on the cloud. It allows users to run simulations on powerful server hardware, regardless of how good their own machines are. This application builds upon the simulation software CellModeller and provides users with a web editor, allowing for quick iteration. It is designed to be deployed in a lab environment, allowing mutliple users to share the same hardware resources and run simulations concurrently. 

The influx of horror in mainstream modern film has led to portrayal of mother figures in a range of situations. Using Kristeva’s theory of the abject, it will be explored how placing the mother in revolting or terrifying situations, exacerbates negative perceptions.

Exploring themes of sacrifice and selflessness, it will be shown how a woman cannot escape the mental and physical burdens associated with motherhood. The ‘abject’ allows a more thorough interrogation, as it elucidates the necessary rejection of the mother by the child, and our feelings of disgust towards repulsive things which threaten our being by confronting us with what is ignored in order to preserve life.

I will contest the idea that Kristeva’s abjection furthers rejection of the mother herself, and instead provides foundation to reconcile with her through a psychoanalytic framework. Bataille’s philosophy further adds nuance here, in discussing continuous and discontinuous being. It propounds for a reconciliation of being where embrace of others is necessary, even vital, to reach a harmonious, continuous being within a group.

Using these concepts, it will be tentatively concluded that the mother in modern horror offers potential to move from abjection in a way to redeem her. Typical analyses of the mother in horror range from detrimental to shallow to empowering, however this project aims to add nuance to the discussion of how it can be used as a feminist tool in rebuilding and humanising the mother, and critiquing the burdens placed on all women as potential mothers. 

In multiple sclerosis, myelin sheaths around the axons are damaged during demyelination and oligodendrocytes are not always successful in myelin repair, resulting in lack of functional recovery and disease progression. Although there are no treatments targeting myelin repair, the Fitzgerald Lab has shown that regulatory T cells (Tregs) can drive oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) differentiation and remyelination. However, very little is known about the mechanisms by which Tregs drive these processes. We identified MHC-II as a molecule of interest, as it is involved in the traditional T-cell activation pathways. 
 
As MHC-II is upregulated in the CNS by glial cells that are important for myelin regeneration, we hypothesized that MHC-II may be required for efficient OPC differentiation and remyelination; therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression of MHC-II throughout this process. We used an in vivo model of lysolecithin-induced demyelination in WT mice and stained by immunofluorescence for microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and MHC-II at 5, 10, 14, and 21 days post-lesion (dpl). 
 
Based on the data collected, it was observed that microglia are the highest expressers of MHC-II at all time points, with a peak at 10dpl. On the other hand, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes express low levels of MHC-II, suggesting that it may not be required for efficient myelin regeneration. 
 
Understanding the localization of MHC-II expression could help to identify its role during remyelination and whether glia cells functions could be impaired in its absence. Investigating MHC-II expression could also help to identify whether Treg immune responses coincide with upregulation and its role in both OPC differentiation and remyelination, and the development of potential therapies for MS. 
 
My abstract was already accepted, and I presented my poster at the British Society for Immunology Congress 2022. 

We all know the feeling of becoming fully immersed in an activity to the extent that we lose awareness and track of time. Csikszentmihalyi describes this experience of full immersion as the state of flow. Previous research on this topic has suggested that flow can lead to a happier more fulfilling life.

We were interested in studying this because it lays at the heart of human creative activity and needs further psychological exploration. Therefore, we asked artists to discuss their experiences of flow and art using a technique called Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Semi-structured interviews were used to gain an enriched understanding of flow in six art students. The analysis found that all participants experienced flow whilst making art, and this experience was incredibly similar for all students, thus validating the theory. Interestingly, no emotions were experienced whilst the participants were in the flow state, yet positive emotions were associated with the experience of flow. Furthermore, the participants described negative emotions of frustration and dissatisfaction towards having to make art, suggesting that flow could be an incentive for wanting to produce art.

These findings point to the importance of flow for experiencing happiness, and, unlike previous research, suggests that flow states can play a role in the motivation to make art. Understanding flow has applications for how we can increase motivation and focus, as well as reduce stress. By manipulating cognitive states to make the flow state more accessible treatments for mental illnesses such as ADHD could be developed. 

Nowadays, employers look for more than outstanding educational qualifications. Volunteering, placements, part-time jobs, amongst other opportunities are considered crucial to an individual’s CV in the competitive employment environment. While universities offer these opportunities, this study aims to analyse why certain groups of students are and are not taking up the opportunities offered and what can be done to encourage equal participation to enhance their employment prospects upon graduation. 
 
This study looked at life sciences students within two schools at Newcastle University. Student data from 2015-2021 was collected from Business Warehouse to gain insight into the student population. The following information was retrieved: gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, caring responsibilities, POLAR4 status, home postcode, disabilities or challenge group status and degree outcome specifically for graduates. The opportunities studied were ncl+ award completions, placement years, laboratory assistant roles, volunteering, vacation studentships, study abroad terms and university internships. This data was obtained via the university and the student’s union. 
 
Additionally, a survey was conducted that obtained 178 responses. This survey helped the study gain information on factors restricting and motivating students to uptake opportunities and on student demographics and characteristics. Moreover, 18 one-to-one interviews were conducted to understand how students can be supported and encouraged to partake in developmental opportunities. Data for these will be provided. 
 
This study could provide data that could help implement strategies and solutions for underrepresented students to feel motivated to participate in career and developmental opportunities that are now essential to succeed in securing a job upon graduation. 

My research is looking at whether native speakers of grammatically-gendered languages are, in turn, more likely to have a binary view of human gender itself. Looking at Spanish and English, I have been conducting research via a short online questionnaire collecting basic data on the participants as well as the question ‘Do you agree with the statement that gender is binary?’ in which participants respond with either Yes or No.

My plan is to delve into how the grammar of the native language we speak has a direct link to the way we experience and view the world and people around us, as language itself is how we make sense of the world. The wider importance of this study is to further understanding on how language itself can play a major part in a person’s values and acceptance, including inclusivity towards those who identify outside the gender binary. In our current society, the idea of gender is a nuanced and complex topic, this research will hold importance in a wider context of sociolinguistics/sociology and our communities as a whole.

Previous researchers have discovered that speakers of certain grammatical gendered languages will often describe nouns in accordance to the ‘gender’ marker of the word in their native tongue, e.g. 'bridge' in Spanish being described as 'strong' but 'elegant' in French. My research will go one step further to discover whether our acceptance and recognition of non-conforming and non-binary gender identities is somewhat linked to how our native language sees gender. 

Lynch syndrome (LS) is a genetic condition that increases likelihood of developing a range of cancers. In the UK, it affects approximately 1 in 300 people, with only 5% cases clinically diagnosed. Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC) is a urinary tract cancer and the 3rd most common tumour associated with LS. Due to its elevated risk and high recurrence rates, early detection of UTUCs is clinically desirable, but no adequate, non-invasive tests are presently available. 
 
My research aimed to enhance an assay developed by researchers at Newcastle University, that detects genetic changes within LS patients, by integrating detection of commonly mutated genes seen in UTUCs. 11 frequently mutated regions across 7 genes were assessed in 10 tumour and 10 urine samples from urothelial cancer patients. To establish the best suited methodology to detect mutations within poor quality DNA samples like urine, a comparison between two editions of the assay was conducted. 
 
Results indicated that further assay development should include target regions detecting mutations within genes like FGFR3, PIK3CA, ADGRG6 and KRAS. Incorporating the targets into the latest edition of the assay would provide a better alternative to using the older edition, as it is a faster, cheaper, easier and more sensitive version of the test to effectively assess patient urine samples. The long-term goal of developing a simple and cost-effective test which can identify genetic changes non-invasively, would ideally be for early detection of UTUCs within LS patients and potentially non-LS patients, to improve overall urothelial cancer patient care.