Biography

I am a veterinary graduate who went on to gain a First-Class degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Salford in July 2014. I was awarded Pathways to Excellence PhD studentship to pursue a PhD in Antimalarial Drug Discovery under the supervision of Prof Niroshini Nirmalan at the University of Salford. My research project focussed on lead optimisation of a natural product drug (Emetine Dihydrochloride) discovered through a repositioning screen of FDA-approved compound libraries. I have extensive experience in all aspects of malaria culture, cell culture, ELISAs, flowcytometry, drug screening, drug interactivity assays including Calcusyn and Checkerboard methodology for isobologram calculation. I am well versed with cell culture from my current and past placements. As part of my project, I trained and oversaw undergraduate and Masters level research projects and was involved in their study design, health and safety training, methodological training, data analysis and thesis writing. My project also involved training and collaboration with Prof Kamalinder Singh at UCLAN to explore human serum albumin nanotechnology delivery systems for emetine. I have presented my research at leading national and international Parasitology conferences throughout my PhD, including oral and poster presentations at the British Society for Parasitology conference, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference and the Natural Product Drug Conference (2017) where I was awarded the Best Poster Prize. I was also awarded the best poster and best oral presentations at the University Salford SPARC conference 2017.

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Research Interest

Currently I am working as a research associate in Professor Niroshini Nirmalan at the University of Salford. My current research is investigating the natural project for malaria treatment.