I have been working in epigenetics for 20 years, both at the molecular and patient level. During this time, I was awarded a PhD in molecular biology entitled “The role of microRNA-146a in the IL-1β-Induced inflammatory response in human lung alveolar epithelial cells”, as well as a Research Fellowship studying how changes in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) underlie the phenotypic changes observed in airway smooth muscle (ASM) proliferation and steroid insensitivity in severe asthma. I am currently studying the role of genetics and miRNAs in congenital muscular dystrophies, regulation of gene expression in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy by alternative splicing, muscle regeneration and muscle stem cell function. During the course of my research I have also held two post-doctoral positions which resulted in high impact and highly cited publications in the fields of respiratory disease and non-coding RNAs, and allowed me the perfect opportunity to propose my own independent research fellowship project.
I am fully proficient in in vitro/ex-vivo assays, including standard cell culture techniques (both primary and immortalised. e.g. A549’s, Beas2B’s, THPs, Airway Smooth Muscle, primary epithelial cells, PBMC’S), transfection & transformation and vector-based expression assays. I also utilise numerous molecular and cell biology techniques in my research, including molecular cloning, PCR and RT-PCR including quantitative PCR/RT-PCR, western blotting, extensive microRNA and lncRNA analysis using RT-PCR platforms, in-vitro manipulation using siRNA & LNA inhibitors, analysis of microRNA targets (mRNA and protein), ChIP-sequencing, ELISA, proliferation and cytotoxic assays. Additionally, my skills also extend to studying murine models of lung disease including acute inflammation, methods of drug and compound delivery (including siRNA), anaesthesia, dissection and tissue processing. My time at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey (Jan ’99 – April ’05), also means that I am fully competent in avian, porcine, ovine and bovine delivery of parasitic pathogens, subsequent dissection and tissue processing, which was under GLP and UKAS accreditation.
I am a Medical Researcher and Lecturer for BSc, MSc Biosciences, MPHARM, and MBBS. The focus of my research is the role of epigenetics in development and disease.
A comprehensive publication list can be found here;
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-mark-perry-sfhea
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark-Perry-12
