People

Nina Jordan

Ms Nina Jordan

Industrial Partners: QIAGEN and Almac

Keywords: Fibrosis, Endothelial mesenchymal transition, MicroRNA

I am the third fellow of POSAT and I come originally from Bordeaux in the south of France.

My previous studies in France consisted of a bachelor degree in biochemistry, which has helped me to learn the basics of biology and provided a platform towards a masters degree in Immunology and transplantation. This masters allowed me to gain expertise in this specific knowledge domain in transplantation and translational research.

This masters degree (Relation host-graft, University Francois Rabelais, Tours) was the result of the collaboration of 4 universities in France. I had the opportunity to interact with each of these partner institutions, received lectures within this network. Furthermore, I was invited to the annual congress of transplantation in Beaunes. This first experience encouraged my professional mobility, expanded my knowledge and ultimately confirmed my desire to work in transplantation research.

My technical skills improved with trainings in two laboratories. I studied two months the effect of rapamycin on the culture of lymphocyte T gamma delta V delta 2 negative from transplanted patients. For my final masters project, I spend 6 months working on the role of calmodulin kinase in interleukin 10 synthesis pathway in human dendritic cells. I acquired extensive background knowledge in immune tolerance and cell signalling pathways. These first steps in the laboratory encouraged me to pursue a PhD

I applied for POSAT as this project appeared as the best opportunity for me to move abroad, work in my field of expertise and discover the world of biomedical industry.

My PhD targets the identification of biomarkers in renal fibrosis. Among the large list of potential biomarkers, I have chosen to focus on the microRNA profile in endothelial mesenchymal transition induced- fibrosis.

After my first month in Newcastle, I was seconded to QIAGEN Manchester for four months. This secondment allowed me to discover the special niche between academia – industry and health service. It has opened my mind towards different opportunities, which I look forward to pursuing following completion of this PhD.