Philippa Clarkson
Research Student
Qualifications: MEng Mechanical Engineering. University of Leeds (2011)
PhD research: My project aims to investigate the cellular response of neural cells to mechanical inputs. One aspect looks at how neural stem cells respond to the mechanical properties of their surroundings, and how this may be manipulated to encourage quiescence, proliferation or differentiation. The second aspect of my project involves observing how rate of impact affects primary neural cells: how the cells may respond differently to a car crash – type impact vs a slow compression due to tumour growth. The research will be used for a better understanding of how the nervous system can be damaged, and how it may be repaired.
Supervisors: Dr James Phillips1, Professor Richard Hall2 and Professor Joanne Tipper2 (UCL1, University of Leeds2)