Saimir Luli
About
Subsequent to finishing a degree in Medical and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Northumbria, I enrolled in Master of Research course (MRes) at Newcastle University studying Medical and Molecular Biosciences. The MRes project aimed to investigate Serotonin Transporter (SERT) disturbances in dementia by utilising imaging techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Single-Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT).
In 2011 I was appointed as an imaging technician here at Newcastle University. I oversee the day-to-day running of an imaging facility. This includes In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and X-ray Computed Tomography (CT). Primarily I provide advice and guidance in all aspects of the IVIS 3D Bioluminescent/Fluorescent imaging to a wide range of staff (e.g. experimental design and data analysis). In my current role I have worked in many IVIS projects which aimed to monitor tumour growth, progression of leukaemia and in vivo cell and peptide tracking. In addition to IVIS imaging, I have been involved in PET projects aiming to asses of tumour proliferation (F-18 FLT PET) and metabolism (18F-FDG PET).
Most recently I was able to introduce IVIS-CT image co-registration, allowing accurate anatomical localisation of functional abnormalities obtained with the IVIS.
Education
- BSc Biomedical Sciences – University of Northumbria (2009).
- MRes Medical and Molecular Biosciences - Newcastle University (2011)
Links
- The Newcastle University IVIS website can be accessed here.
Publications
- Luli S, Di Paolo D, Perri P, Brignole C, Hill SJ, Brown H, Leslie J, Marshall HL, Wright MC, Mann DA, Ponzoni M, Oakley F. - A new fluorescence-based optical imaging method to non-invasively monitor hepatic myofibroblasts in vivo.
- Fox C, Cocchiaro P, Oakley F, Howarth R, Callaghan K, Leslie J, Luli S, Wood KM, Genovese F, Sheerin NS, Moles A - Inhibition of lysosomal protease cathepsin D reduces renal fibrosis in murine chronic kidney disease.
- Moles A, Sanchez AM, Banks PS, Murphy LB, Luli S, Borthwick L, Fisher A, O'Reilly S, van Laar JM, White SA, Perkins ND, Burt AD, Mann DA, Oakley F. - Inhibition of RelA-Ser536 phosphorylation by a competing peptide reduces mouse liver fibrosis without blocking the innate immune response.
- Wilson CL, Jurk D, Fullard N, Banks P, Page A, Luli S, Elsharkawy AM, Gieling RG, Chakraborty JB, Fox C, Richardson C, Callaghan K, Blair GE, Fox N, Lagnado A, Passos JF, Moore AJ, Smith GR, Tiniakos DG, Mann J, Oakley F, Mann DA. NFκB1 is a suppressor of neutrophil-driven hepatocellular carcinoma. Nature Communications. 2015