Kate Lee Email & Phone Number

Auckland, Nz

Auckland, New Zealand

Faculty Of Medical And Health Sciences

I am based in the Cancer, Nutrition and Metabolism team headed by Professor Peter Shepherd at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. As well as leading some key research projects aimed at understanding the mechanism of metabolic disease/health associated gene variants, I am also maintaining my general interests in pancreatic beta cell function and the molecular mechanisms of insulin release as well as the role of IGF-II derived peptide hormones in beta cell function and glucose metabolism.I am heavily involved in early career researcher networks at the FMHS as well as MWC as I feel connectivity is a crucial part of the research culture and an asset to the careers of all those who get involved in terms of meeting collaborators, learning about funding opportunities and providing ourselves with a voice that is loud enough to be heard.

Auckland, New Zealand

Research: I am working as part of a team lead by Professor Garth Cooper who's research goals are focused on discovery and assessment of agents with the potential to treat type II diabetes. Specifically I am involved in the characterisaton and investigation the therapeutic potential of novel IGF-II related peptide. My interest extends to IGF-II biology and islet specific bioactive peptides.Affiliations: Working for the School of Biological Sciences and based within the Institute of Innovation in Biotechnology I hold a purely research position funded by MBIE.Acheivements: I have published a first author manuscript in Endocrinology plus two further papers in Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry. I have 3 further manuscripts in preparation from my work to date. I have presented my work nationally and internationally and have obtained grant funding as principal and associate investigator from the university and external sources.Service: I am current (2015) chair of the School of Biological Sciences Post-Doc Society and have driven our year's programme to focus on post-doctoral career progression, networking and showcasing/sharing techniques.

(Maternity cover) Centre for Microvascular Research led by Professor Sussan Nourshargh. I have a key position in the operation, maintenance and day-to-day running of the group's research facilities, including `in vivo' facilities. My responsibilities include: monitoring budgets and arranging procurement, assisting in the grant application process, staff administration as well as being responsible for all aspects of Health & Safety in the department. I also manage the procurement and logistics for relocation of the group into a refurbished space.

My PhD investigated the mechanism by which bone marrow derived ‘stem cells’ caused the reduction in cell death observed after treatment for MI. I used proteomic and transcriptomic methods to look for mechanistic candidates and analysed the datasets using several pathway enrichment tools. Several functional categories of proteins and genes (metabolism, apoptosis and inflammation) were found to be affected and candidates for further investigation were highlighted. The proteomic aspect of this work forms part of a publication in Atherosclerosis.

Establishment of an MRC funded National DNA Repository for the BRIGHT Project under Professor P B Munroe and Professor M Caulfield.; Managing the immortalization of EBV cell lines and creating a DNA repository from over 4000 samples. Including training in cell culture at the European Collection for Animal Cell Cultures (ECACC) at Porton Down before setting up my own cell culture laboratory and developing and refining protocols in lymphocyte extraction, cell culture, DNA extraction, quantification and fingerprinting. I was also involved in some of the genotyping of these samples for WTCCC studies as well as some other smaller projects within the group studying association of candidate gene variation with hypertension.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Protein And Gene Expression Analyses In Bone Marrow Stem Cells Mediated Restoration Of Myocardium Af

Bsc (Hons); School, Zoology With Animal Ecology; Biological Sciences

Activities and Societies: SU Ents CommitteeBSc hons: Zoology with Animal Ecology