Contact Details

Telephone

work +44 (0)1224 437587

work +44 (0)1224 437411

Email

m.delibegovic@abdn.ac.uk

Address

The University of Aberdeen Director (Diabetes), Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre
Systems Physiology Programme Lead
University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Office 6:34, Lab 6:50
College of Life Sciences and Medicine
Foresterhill Health Campus
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZD

Web Links

Our paper on direct comparison between dietary methionine and leucine restriction on metabolic health in ageing was one of the selected highlighted articles by Scientific Reports in 2018; special Editor's Choice: Ageing Focus

https://www.nature.com/collections/nwscjhpmpq/content/calorie-restriction

To find our more about our work on the role of the immune system in metabolic disease, watch the video on our Wellcome Trust ISSF funded project entitled “Role of PTP1B in the regulation of the immune system”.

Very honoured to have been a part of the Science Scotland issue about the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland.

The project run by the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland on the Academic Women Now: Experiences of mid-career academic women in Scotland is now online; for my personal story on the balancing of academic life and family life, go to page 45. However, there are many inspiring stories from women from all fields of arts, sciences and humanities.

The project run by Vitae on the importance of mentoring of research staff in which I took part (5 minute videos on the importance of mentoring and how to mentor effectively) is now online.

Biography

Education

Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA
Post-Doctoral  Fellow, Division of Medicine, Cancer Biology Programme, laboratory of Professor Benjamin G. Neel (2003 –2007). Funded by the American Heart Association North-East Affiliate Postdoctoral Fellowship.

University of Dundee, MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, Dundee, UK
PhD in Biochemistry. Supervisor Professor Patricia T.W. Cohen (1999 –2003). Funded by the Royal Society postgraduate studentship.

University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
BSc in Biological Sciences with Honours in Pharmacology (1995 –1999). Funded by the University of Edinburgh undergraduate studentship.

Secondary education: George Heriot's School, Edinburgh, UK  (1994 –1995) (Funded by the George Heriot's school studentship);
Mesa Selimovic Grammar School, Tuzla, Bosnia & Hercegovina (1990-1994).

Employment History

2015: Professor in Diabetic Medicine (Personal Chair); University of Aberdeen; School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of medical sciences (IMS)

2014: Reader; University of Aberdeen; School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS)

2012: Senior Research Fellow; University of Aberdeen; School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS)

2010: University of Aberdeen, Promotion to Grade 7 (Lecturer grade): School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences

2007 - 2012: University of Aberdeen, RCUK Fellowship (5 year tenure track); School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences

2003 - 2007: Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA; Post-Doctoral  Fellowship (personal fellowship from the American Heart Association) in the Division of Medicine, Cancer Biology Programme

Grant panel memberships

2015-2018; 2019-2022: Diabetes UK Main Grants Committee

2019-2022: British Heart Foundation (BHF) Project Grants Committee

Public Engagement:

Winner of the 2018 Wellcome Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Public Engagement in the Biomedical Sciences

Joint Winner of the 2018 Public prize - Professor Mirela Delibegovic, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition and Dr Donna MacCallum, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition.

"Super Zena" (Super Woman) Award at the First International Festival of the Modern Woman (Bosnia & Herzegovina, April 2018)

Research Grants (active)

• Medical Research Scotland PhD studentship (2019-2023): Principal Investigator (with Dr Heather Wilson as co-PI and MedImmune industrial partnership).
• Cohen Global Pharmaceuticals: Commercial  Project (2018-2021): Principal Investigator 
• Diabetes UK Project Grant (2018-2020) “INHIBITION OF MACROPHAGE PROTEIN TYROSINE PHOSPHATASE 1B (PTP1B) AS A NOVEL THERAPY FOR IMPROVED WOUND HEALING IN DIABETES” Principal Investigator (co-PI: Carvalho E., Wilson, H. M., Rajnicek, A. M.)
• Alzheimer’s Research UK Major Project Grant (2017-2021) “NEURONAL HBACE1: THE LINK BETWEEN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DIABETES” Co-applicant (PI: Platt, B., co-PI: Riedel, G.)

• Tenovus Scotland Project Grant (2018-2019) Principal Investigator

• NHS Grampian endowments project grant (2017-2018) “NEW TREATMENTS FOR DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY” Co-applicant (PI: Wilson, H. M.)
• BBSRC Project Grant (2016-2019): "Determining the effects of genetic variation and early life stress on the regulation of the galanin gene in fat and alcohol selection." Co-applicant (PI: Dr. Alasdair MacKenzie)
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2017-2020): "Synthetic derivatives of Fenretinide: a novel approach to prevent lipotoxicity, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial dysfunction" Co-applicant (PI: Dr Nimesh Mody; co-PI: Prof Matteo Zanda). 
• British Heart Foundation PhD studentship (2016-2019): “The regulation of phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes-15 in vascular smooth muscle cells”. Co-applicant (PI: Prof Graeme Nixon)
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2016 – 2018): “Muscle fat compartments and turnover as a determinant of insulin sensitivity”. Co-applicant (PI: Dr. Dana Dawson)
• Diabetes UK Project Grant (2015-2017) Principal Investigator (with Prof. Roger Pertwee and Dr. Maria Cascio as co-applicants)
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2014-2017) Principal Investigator (with Dr. Heather Wilson, Dr. Nimesh Mody, Dr. Dana Dawson, Dr. Paul Brown and Prof. Phil Whitfield)

Research Grants (completed)

• BBSRC Doctoral Training Grant (DTG) (2011-2015) 'Elucidating the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease' Principal Investigator
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2011-2014) Principal Investigator
• NHS Grampian Endowment Grant (2015-2016) co-applicant (PI: Dr. Dawn Thompson, other co-applicants: Dr. Heather Wilson and Prof. Julie Brittenden)
• NHS Grampian Endowment Grant (2014-2015) Principal Investigator (with Dr. Heather Wilson and Dr. Paul Brown)
• Alzheimer’s Research UK (2014-2016) Co-applicant with Prof. Bettina Platt as lead PI and Dr. David Koss
• Alzheimer’s Research UK Network (2014-2015) Principal Investigator (with Prof. Bettina Platt)
• Kosterlitz Centre for Therepeutics project grant (2013-2014) Principal Investigator(with Prof. Bettina Platt and Dr. Nimesh Mody as co-PIs)
• EFSD/Lilly European Diabetes Research Programme Grant (2012 - 2013) Principal Investigator (with Dr. Nimesh Mody as a co-PI)
• Tenovus Scotland, 1-year Research Grant (2013-2014) "Diet, obesity and diabetes" Principal Investigator (with Dr. Nimesh Mody as a co-PI)
• Medical Research Scotland, Vacation Scholarship (2013), Principal Investigator
• Tenovus Scotland, 1-year Research Grant (2012-2013) "Protein X and Dementia Risk" co-applicant (PI: Prof A. Murray).
• Diabetes UK Project Grant (2009-2012) Principal Investigator
• Tenovus Scotland, 1-year Research Grant (2011-2012) Principal Investigator
• Medical Research Scotland, Vacation Scholarship (2011), Principal Investigator
• UKRC for Women in SET, Travel bursary, USA conference and collaboration trip (2010)
• Royal Society of Edinburgh Interdisciplinary Scottish Crucible Grant;  Rhodes, SM, Wheate, N., Blythe, R., Delibegovic, M. "Tailoring the science curriculum and teaching methods to children's cognitive development: a pilot study". (2009-2010) Co-PI
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2009-2010) Principal Investigator
• BBSRC Doctoral Training Grant (DTG) (2009-2013) 'Role of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in body mass regulation and glucose homeostasis' Principal Investigator
• The Royal Society Research Grant (2009-2010) Principal Investigator
• College of Life Sciences and Medicine Start-up Fund (2007-2012)
• Research Councils UK (RCUK) Fellowship, University of Aberdeen, Study of mouse models of ageing and obesity (2007-2012)
• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005-2007) Principal Investigator

Research Interests

The aim of our laboratory is to understand how ageing and poor nutrition lead to development of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascuar disease, cancer and other age-associated comorbidities. 

Last year, one of our publications in which we compared two nutritional interventions, achievable in humans, on metabolic health was selected as the Editor's Choice: highlight in Ageing research by Scientific Reports (nature online journal).

Lab News

Pre-lab meeting lab photo December 2018; from left to right: Nimesh, Jenny, Fiona, Dawn, Oliver, Mirela, Sarah, Besa, Ruta, Shehroz and Rebecca. 

Congratulations to our PhD student, Ruta Dekeryte, for successfully defending her PhD viva and giving an excellent pre-viva seminar on the 26th November 2018! Thanks to her examiners: Prof Victor Gault (University of Ulster) and Dr Ann Rajnicek (University of Aberdeen). 

 Congratulations to our PhD student, Samantha Le Sommer, for passing her PhD viva with minor corrections!!! Dec 2017

Thanks to Samantha's examiners: Prof Rose Zamoyska (University of Edinburgh) and Dr Alasdair Mackenzie (internal)!

Our "Aberdeen Team" did a 5K Diabetes UK professional conference run and raised £400 towards the work of this great charity (LR: Nimesh Mody, Emma Lees, Mirela Delibegovic, Justin Rochford).  Diabetes UK recognised our Aberdeen team, as their top fundraiser in 2015: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Diabetes-UK-Professional-Conference/5kfunrun/

Current Research

 Research Fellows

Dr. Dawn Thompson (2014 - 2020) is a research fellow funded by British Heart Foundation working on the role of PTP1B in inflammation and heart disease.

 Oliver Helk (2016-2019) is a Clinical Research Fellow in my laboratory  working on insulin sensitizing approaches in treatment of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Oliver is working towards his MD/PhD in collaboration with our colleagues from the NHS Grampian diabetes centre.

Dr Gerda Gasiunaite (2018-2020) is a postdoctoral research fellow in the laboratory working on the Diabetes UK funded project examining the effects of PTP1B inhibition on diabetic wound healing. Gerda obtained her PhD from the University of Bristol; prior to that, she did her undergrad at the University of Aberdeen.

Rebecca Walker: Rebecca was awarded a Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland Scholarship to fund her PhD in Chemistry (2015-2018) at the University of Aberdeen, which focused on synthesis and characterisation of novel liquid crystals to investigate the structure-property relationships of the recently discovered twist-bend nematic phase. Prior to that, she obtained her MChem degree from the University of Aberdeen in 2015, and was awarded the William Rudolph Center Medal for most distinguished graduate. She is now working as Research Fellow on the Cohen Global Pharmaceuticals project (2018-2020).

Ruta Dekeryte (2014-2018) was awarded the competitive IMS PhD studentship  to work on the project investigating dietary and pharmacological approaches in combating cognitive dysfunction in models of Alzheimer's disease. Ruta was co-supervised by Prof. Bettina Platt (University of Aberdeen) and Dr. Calum Sutherland (University of Dundee). She is now working as Research Fellow on the Cohen Global Pharmaceuticals project (2018-2021).

Current PhD students

 Fiona Clegg is the MD PhD student in the lab, and a Clinical Lecturer in Gastroenterology. Fiona does research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, with an interest in liver fibrosis, hepatocarcinogenesis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Miss Sarah Kamli-Salino did her final year Honours project in our laboratory and obtained her BSc Hons in Physiology at the University of Aberdeen in 2018. She is currently doing her 1-year MRes project (2018-2019) in our laboratory, testing novel drugs for treatment of cardiovascular disease, funded by the Development Trust.

Miss Besa Emini is a joint, dual degree PhD student at the University of Antwerp and University of Aberdeen, as a part of the MoglyNet EU  Consortium. She is working on novel drugs for treatment of atherosclerosis. 

Miss Fabiana Baganha is a joint, dual degree PhD student at the University of Antwerp and University of Aberdeen, as a part of the MoglyNet EU  Consortium. She is working on novel drugs for treatment of atherosclerosis. 

Lab technician

Miss Jennifer Liddell joined our laboratory as the lab technician in December 2018; she is the University of Aberdeen graduate having received her BSc in Developmental Biology and Embryology in 2016. 

 Current Honours final year research project students (2018/2019):

 Miss Harriet Watt (Jan- March 2019)

Miss Julia Clarke (Jan - March 2019) 

Previous Lab Members

Dr. Samantha Le Sommer (2013-2017) was awarded a competitive Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) PhD studentship in my lab to work on the immunology project investigating the effects of myeloid-PTP1B deficiency on cell proliferation and migration. Samantha obtained her undergraduate degree in Immunology from the University of Edinburgh.

 Samantha has successfully defended her thesis on time and is working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Aberdeen, laboratory of Prof John Forrester. For the recent paper which reports a couple of her PhD chapters, go to: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/78/1/75.long 

Dr. Louise Grant (2011-2017) is a research fellow in the lab, initially working on a BHF-funded project grant investigating the role of adipocyte and macrophage PTP1B in metabolism, followed by investigation into insulin sensitizing effects of dietary manipulations and kidney health. 

Louise was nominated for the prestigious Nick Hales Young Investigator Award at the Diabetes UK Professional conference in Manchester (2013).

Dr. Ruth Banks (2014-2017) is a research fellow in the lab  initially working on an industry funded Kick Start/Kosterlitz Centre for Therapeutics project in novel cancer therapies. In July 2015, Ruth started a new project funded by Diabetes UK investigating the potential of novel synthetic cannabinoids in treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Nicola Morrice(2017) was a research assistant in the lab working on the Welcome Trust ISFF funded project working on the RNA seq and ChIP seq analysis data from LysM PTP1B macrophages. This work was recently published: 

Deficiency in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase PTP1B Shortens Lifespan and Leads to Development of Acute Leukemia.

Dr. Emma Lees (2011-2015) was a BBSRC funded PhD student, co-supervised by Dr. Nimesh Mody, elucidating the role of dietary interventions such as methionine restriction in longevity and metabolic diseases associated with ageing.

Upon the completion of her PhD, in Oct 2015, Emma moved to Liverpool Hope University, where she obtained a Lecturship in Nutrition tenured position. 

In October 2014, Emma worked in the laboratory of our collaborator, Prof. Thomas Gettys, in Baton Rouge, LA, USA to futher investigate the mechanisms of these dietary interventions using genetic models. For this, she was awarded the EFSD Albert Renold Fellowship.

 Other Awards: Awarded travel grant from University of Aberdeen; ‘Principal’s Excellence Fund’ for International conference in Vancouver, January 2014.

Awarded travel grant from Biochemical Society for International conference in Vancouver, January 2014.

Awarded full scholarship from German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD) for Diabetes Research School – Barcelona – November 2013.

Dr. Carl Owen (2009-2013) was a BBSRC funded PhD student  in my lab investigating the role of PTP1B in body mass regulation and insulin sensitivity. Carl successfully defended his thesis in November 2013.

He now works as a Senior Medical Writer.

Dr. Abdelali Agouni (2009-2011) was the Diabetes UK funded postdoctoral fellow working on the role of PTP1B in regulation of hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress).

Upon completion of his postdoc in my lab, Abdel obtained a tenure track position as the Lecturer in Cardiovascular Pharmacology at the University of Surrey, UK. He is now Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Qatar University, Doha, Qatar. 

Dr. Alicja Czopek: (2009-2011) BHF funded postdoctoral fellow (current position: postdoctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh)

Dr. Ela Krol: (2011-2012) Diabetes UK funded postdoctoral fellow (current position: postdoctoral fellow, University of Aberdeen).

Dr. Kirsty Shearer (2012-2013) was a postdoctoral fellow working on the EFSD/Lilly Diabetes European Research Programme grant investigating the role of macrophages in insulin resistance, cholesterol synthesis and organ size.

Kirsty is now a Clinical Trials Manager at the NHS Grampian.

Miss Christina Christopoulou (University of Aberdeen undergraduate student) has been volunteering in our lab since summer 2013 and has managed the genotyping for all of our colonies in 2013/2014 and has supervised/trained other undergrads in the lab. She then did a 1-year industrial placement at NIMR, London in Sept 2014. She graduated this summer with a 1st class Honours degree; we wish her good luck for the future scientific career. 

 Petros Stathakos (University of Aberdeen undergraduate student) - summer project in the lab working on the link between insulin sensitivity and Alzheimer's disease (AD) (summer 2012); previously summer student in the lab of Dr. Nimesh Mody and my lab working on the role of tyrosine phosphatases and ER stress (summer 2010, summer 2011). Petros is currently doing his PhD on Parkinson's disease at the University of Bristol.

Miss Eleanor Moncur (Dec 2013-April 2014) was an Intercalated degree medical student doing her 20-week research project on the role of amino acid sensing in regulation of whole body metabolism. Eleanor received a 1st class Honours for her intercalated degree and project and some of her findings from this project were published in Lees EK, Aging Cell, in press.

Mr. Tom Metz was a Masters student from the University of Groningen, doing his 6-month research project in our lab (January 2014-July 2014), working on the role of neuronal inflammation and inflammatory pathways in regulation of metabolism. Tom is now continuing to do his PhD studies in Groningen.

Previous Undergraduate Students (national and international)

• Miss Sandra Svedberg; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2018
• Miss Josefine Bjorkqvist; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2018
• Miss Sarah Kamli-Salino; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2018
• Miss Violeta Dragoeva; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2018
• Miss Jenna Brodie; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2017
• Miss Rebecca Brodie; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2017
• Mr Luke Simpson; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2017
• Miss Holly Rocliffe; ; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2017
• Miss Rebecca Orha; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2016
• Miss Bethany Coull; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2016
• Mr Scott Rae; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2016
• Miss Katarina Miteva; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2016
• Miss Denitsa Spasova; (final year Honours) Jan-April 2016
• Mr Thomas Bernard (ERASMUS student from Belgium) Feb-May 2015
• Mr Karim Elshakankery (intercalated degree medical student) Nov -April 2015
• Miss Aleksandra Kowalczuk (final year Honours) Jan-April 2015
• Miss Chelsea Cook (final year Honours) Jan-April 2015
• Miss Sophie Hill (final year Honours) Jan- April 2015
• Miss Martina Pesaresi (final year Honours) Jan- April 2015
• Miss Christina Duncan (final year Honours) Jan- April 2015
• Miss Damaris Versiani Caldeira Goncalves - summer 2014 (medical student from Brazil - international exchange)
• Miss Camilla Brimble - summer 2014 (undergraduate volunteer student from the University of Plymouth)
• Miss Katherine Wood - summer 2014 (undergraduate volunteer student from the University of Oxford)
• Miss Christina Christopoulou (University of Aberdeen undergraduate student) - volunteering in the lab for 2013/2014 summer and term-time.
• Miss Eleanor Moncur (2013-2014) - Medical student; 20-week research project
• Miss Gabriele Zvilaityte (2013-2014) -Final year research project
• Miss Elena Ruseva (2013-2014) -Final year research project
• Mr Andrew Mccracken (2013-2014) -Final year research project
• Miss Juliana Luchin - summer 2013 - (medical student from Brazil - international exchange)
• Mr. Armin Oskooi (University of Aberdeen undergraduate student) was awarded a Medical Research Scotland vacation studentship (2013) to study the link between obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation.
• Miss Olga Kochman (2012-2013) - Final year research project
• Miss Sonia Pawelek (2012-2013)- Final year research project
• Mr Jay Hutchinson (2009-2012) - obtained a Medical Research Scotland vacation studentship in 2011
• Ms. Jenny Reekie (2011-2012) - Medical student; 20-week research project
• Mr. James Workman (2011-2012)- Final year research project
• Ms. Katie Towle (2010-2011)- Final year research project
• Ms. Lindsey Hasler (2009-2010)- Final year research project

Collaborations

External

Consortium: Marie Sk?odowska-Curie ITN-European Joint Doctorate.: University of Milano (Italy), University of Leiden (Netherlands), University of Antwerp (Belgium) and University of Barcelona (Spain).

• Prof. Benjamin Neel; Director Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center; NYU School of Medicine, New York
• Prof. Barbara Kahn: BIDMC and Harvard Medical School; Boston; USA
• Prof. Thomas Gettys; Penningtom Biomedical Research Center; Baton Rouge; USA
• Dr. Kendra Bence; University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia; USA
• Dr. Maria Kontaridis; BIDMC and Harvard Medical School; Boston, USA
• Prof. Kei Sakamoto; Head of Division of Diabetes Research, Nestle Institute of Health Sciences and Professor at EPFL, Lausanne; Switzerland
• Dr. Olga Göransson, Lund University , Protein Phosphorylation Research Group, Sweden
• Dr. Frederic Preitner; University of Lausanne; Switzerland
• Prof. Colin Selman, Professor of Biogerontology, University of Glasgow
• Prof. Phil Whitfield, Head of Lipidomic Research, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness

Internal

• Prof. Bettina Platt, Chair in Translational Neuroscience, University of Aberdeen
• Dr. Nimesh Mody; Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen
• Dr. Dana Dawson; Clinical Reader, University of Aberdeen and Consultant Cardiologist, NHS Grampian
• Prof. John Forrester, Emeritus Professor, University of Aberdeen
• Dr. Alasdair MacKenzie, Reader, University of Aberdeen
• Dr. Heather Wilson, Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen
• Prof Matteo Zanda, Personal Chair in Medical Technologies, University of Aberdeen
• Dr Paul Brown, Pathologist, NHS Grampian
• Dr Sam Philip, Consultant, Aberdeen Diabetes Centre, NHS Grampian and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen

Research Grants

• Commerical Pharmaceutical Project (2018-2021) Principal Investigator
• Diabetes UK Project Grant (2018-2020) “INHIBITION OF MACROPHAGE PROTEIN TYROSINE PHOSPHATASE 1B (PTP1B) AS A NOVEL THERAPY FOR IMPROVED WOUND HEALING IN DIABETES” Principal Investigator (co-PI: Carvalho E., Wilson, H. M., Rajnicek, A. M.)
• Alzheimer’s Research UK major project grant (2017-2021) “NEURONAL HBACE1: THE LINK BETWEEN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DIABETES” Co-applicant (PI: Platt, B., co-PI: Riedel, G.)
• NHS Grampian endowments project grant (2017-2018)“NEW TREATMENTS FOR DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY” Co-applicant (PI: Wilson, H. M.)
• BBSRC Project Grant (2016-2019): "Determining the effects of genetic variation and early life stress on the regulation of the galanin gene in fat and alcohol selection." Co-applicant (PI: Dr. Alasdair MacKenzie)
• British Heart Foundation PhD studentship (2016-2019): “The regulation of phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes-15 in vascular smooth muscle cells”. Co-applicant (PI: Prof Graeme Nixon)
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2016 – 2018): “Muscle fat compartments and turnover as a determinant of insulin sensitivity”. Co-applicant (PI: Dr. Dana Dawson)
• NHS Grampian Endowment Grant (2015-2016) co-applicant (with Dr. Dawn Thompson as PI, Dr. Heather Wilson and Prof. Julie Brittenden as co-applicants)
• Diabetes UK Project Grant (2015-2017) Principal Investigator (with Prof. Roger Pertwee and Dr. Maria Cascio as co-applicants)
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2014-2017) Principal Investigator (with Dr. Heather Wilson, Dr. Nimesh Mody, Dr. Dana Dawson, Dr. Paul Brown and Prof. Phil Whitfield)
• NHS Grampian Endowment Grant (2014-2015) Principal Investigator (with Dr. Heather Wilson and Dr. Paul Brown)
• Alzheimer’s Research UK (2014-2016) Co-applicant with Prof. Bettina Platt as lead PI and Dr. David Koss
• Alzheimer’s Research UK Network (2014-2015) Principal Investigator (with Prof. Bettina Platt)
• Kosterlitz Centre for Therepeutics project grant (2013-2014) Principal Investigator (with Prof. Bettina Platt and Dr. Nimesh Mody as co-PIs)
• Tenovus Scotland, 1-year Research Grant (2013-2014) "Diet, obesity and diabetes" Principal Investigator (with Dr. Nimesh Mody as a co-PI)
• Medical Research Scotland, Vacation Scholarship (2013), Principal Investigator
• Tenovus Scotland, 1-year Research Grant (2012-2013) "Protein X and Dementia Risk" co-applicant (with Dr. A. Murray as lead PI, Dr. Staff - coapplicant, Dr. McNeil - coapplicant).
• EFSD/Lilly European Diabetes Research Programme Grant (2012 - 2013) Principal Investigator (with Dr. Nimesh Mody as a co-PI)
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2011-2014) Principal Investigator
• BBSRC Doctoral Training Grant (DTG) (2011-2015) 'Elucidating the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease' Principal Investigator
• Tenovus Scotland, 1-year Research Grant (2011-2012) Principal Investigator
• Medical Research Scotland, Vacation Scholarship (2011), Principal Investigator
• UKRC for Women in SET, Travel bursary, USA conference and collaboration trip (2010)
• Royal Society of Edinburgh Interdisciplinary Scottish Crucible Grant;  Rhodes, SM, Wheate, N., Blythe, R., Delibegovic, M. "Tailoring the science curriculum and teaching methods to children's cognitive development: a pilot study". (2009-2010) Co-PI
• British Heart Foundation Project Grant (2009-2010) Principal Investigator
• BBSRC Doctoral Training Grant (DTG) (2009-2013) 'Role of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in body mass regulation and glucose homeostasis' Principal Investigator
• The Royal Society Research Grant (2009-2010) Principal Investigator
• Diabetes UK Project Grant (2009-2012) Principal Investigator
• College of Life Sciences and Medicine Start-up Fund (2007-2012)
• Research Council UK (RCUK) Fellowship, University of Aberdeen, Study of mouse models of ageing and obesity (2007-2012)
• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005-2007) Principal Investigator

Teaching Responsibilities

• Programme and Course coordinator for the PGT course: MSc in Cardiovascular Science and Diabetes 
• Teaching on:
• • BM4004 (2015-16): Advanced molecules, membranes and cells
  • BM4009 (2015-16): Staying Alive - Adaptation in Physiological Systems
  • BM4010 (2015-16): Advanced Molecules Membranes and Cells (Stem Cells and Regeneration)
  • BMS Honours Projects (2015-16)
  • BT5007 (2015-16): Year in Industry
  • MB4050 (2015-16): Honours Advanced Molecular Biology
  • MT5903 (2015-16): Research Project
  • PA4005 (2015-16): Molecular Pharmacology
  • SR4006 (2015-16): Promoting health with sports and exercise

External Responsibilities

• Diabetes UK Research Committee member
• British Heart Foundation Project Grants Committee member
• Elected for the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Young Academy of Scotland
• The Carnegie Trust, Research Assessor
• Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports (Molecular Biology)
• Diabetes UK Professional Member
• The American Physiological Society Elected Member
• The Biochemical Society Elected Member
• European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Member
• Editorial Board of Genomic Endocrinology
• Editorial Board Member of Frontiers in Systems and Translational Endocrinology
• Editorial Board Member of ISRN Obesity
• Reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and funding bodies (UK and international)
• Elected for the Scottish Crucible 2009 programme
• Member of the Scottish Researcher Career Coordination Forum
• Member of the Aberdeen Center for Energy Regulation & Obesity (ACERO) 
• Member of regulatory variation and disease collaborative centre

Admin Responsibilities

• The University of Aberdeen Court Member, Role: Senate Assessor (2016-2017; re-elected 2017-current)
• The University of Aberdeen Senatus Academicus (the Senate) (2014-2018; previously senator for Schoolf of Biological Sciences 2007-2012)
• Seminars organiser for Cell, developmental and cancer biology programme, University of Aberdeen, School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) (2013 - 2016)
• Leader for Mechanisms of Healthy Aging focus area, Pathways to a Healthy Life Theme, University of Aberdeen (2014-2016)
• Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (University and College), University of Aberdeen (Bronze Award)
• Member of the Ethics Review Board for College of Life Sciences and Medicine (CLSM)
• Member of the College BSU Management Group 
• Member of the Genetically Modified Organisms committee for Old Aberdeen (2007-2012)
• Seminars organiser for School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen (2007-2012)
• Project grants budget administration
• Undergraduate student examiner
• PhD and MSc student examiner

Invited Conference Speaker

• Invited speaker at Protein Phosphatases 2020 conference, Oregon, USA, August 2020
• Invited speaker at Kinase and Phosphatase Signalling, Cold Spring Harbor Asia meeting, Suzhou, China, Dec 2019
• Plenary Lecture, Tenovus Grampian Research Symposium, August 2019
• Invited speaker at Protein Phosphatases 2019 conference, Debrecen, Hungary, June 2019
• Invited speaker at FASEB Protein Phosphatases 2018 conference, Snowmass, Colorado, July 2018
• Invited speaker at Tenovus Symposium "Nutrition, Metabolism and Disease", Glasgow, Dec 2017
• Invited speaker at the ARUK Scotland symposium (Aug 2017)
• Keynote speaker, Cardiovascular, metabolism and nutritional symposium, Loire Valley (Angers, May, 2017)
• The Rank Prize Funds Mini-Symposium on Dietary Restriction and Ageing (July, 2016)
• Biochemical Society conference; Phosphatases and Signalling in Health and Disease (June, 2016)
• European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD): 51st EASD Annual Meeting, Chairperson; Stockholm, Sweden (Sept 2015)
• British Atherosclerosis Society, Cambridge, UK (Sept 2015)
• Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2015, London, Chairing Judge: Basic Science Poster Award (March 2015)
• Brambell Translational Science Seminar Series, University of Bristol (Sept 2014)
• British Renal Society, UK Kidney Week 2014, Guest Lecture, Glasgow (May 2014)
• Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2014, Chair: Diabetes in the Brain Session, Speaker: Diabetes Outside the Islet session, Liverpool (March 2014)
• Advancing in Academia Workshop, University of Aberdeen (May 2014, May 2015)
• Adipose Tissue Discussion Group (ATDG) 40th Anniversary, Speaker and 1st prize oral presentation (Edinburgh 2013)
• The ‘JJR Macleod Symposium: A Century of Progress since the Discovery of Insulin’, to celebrate the opening of the JJR Macleod Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (Oct 2013)
• 20th Anniversary of EFSD/Lilly Research Symposium, Bad Homburg, Germany (May 2013)
• Herrenhausen Symposium on Metabolic Diseases, Hannover, Germany (April 2013)
• Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2013, Manchester; Judge for the: Facilitied basic science poster award
• Keynote speaker, Cardiovascular Symposium, University of Aberdeen (Jan 2013)
• University of Dundee, Diabetes Research Centre, Dundee (Dec 2012)
• Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland (2011)
• Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference 2011, London (2011)
• University of Edinburgh, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Edinburgh, 2010
• Adipose Tissue Discussion Group (ATDG), Astra Zeneca UK, Invited speaker, Manchester 2009
• University of Angers Medical School, Angers, France (2009)
• ECO 2009 17th European Congress on Obesity (Amsterdam 2009)
• University of Dundee, Neuroscience Department (2008)
• Scottish Society for Experimental Medicine (Edinburgh 2008)
• Keystone conference on Diabetes Mellitus & Energy Metabolism (Vancouver 2006)
• Cold Spring Harbor, Protein Phosphorylation and Cell Signaling conference (2005)

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Young Academy of Scotland

An elected member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland. The Young Academy brings together some of the most able and innovative young academics, entrepreneurs, artists and professionals in Scotland, with the aim of harnessing their creativity to develop a coherent and influential voice on behalf of the most talented people of their generation. The Academy members will work across disciplines to consider many of the most challenging issues facing society either domestically or globally, in fields as diverse as climate change, the economy, ethics or the arts.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotland’s National Academy, welcomed all the members of the new “RSE Young Academy of Scotland” to an event on Tuesday 29th November.

Public Engagement and Outreach

Aberdeen Science Centre, Aberdeen (January 2018)

TechFest (Festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in September (September 2017)

TechFest (Festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in September (2016)

Research the Headlines Blog (run by the RSE Young Academy)

Research the Headlines addresses the way in which research is discussed and portrayed in the media. Each post takes recent media coverage of a piece of research as a starting point, and allows readers to get to a better understanding of what was really done, and what it might mean for them, from an expert but independent position. The blog is intended to be of interest to those with and without any training in research. For and example of one of my blogs on the effects of fried and grilled meat on development of diabetes and dementia, follow:

http://researchtheheadlines.org/2014/03/20/fried-and-grilled-meat-may-raise-risk-of-diabetes-and-dementia/

Bring Your Own Brain IV: Food on your mind

This event is part of National Science and Engineering Week 2014.

Speaker: Professors Lora Heisler and Peter McCaffery and Doctors Mirela Delibegovic, Sandy Ross and Lynda Williams, University of Aberdeen

The popular Bring Your Own Brain event returns for 2014!

The brain is the overall control centre of appetite and energy expenditure, using interconnected neurological systems to assess and respond to changes inmetabolic state. University of Aberdeen medical scientists Professors Lora Heisler and Peter McCaffery and Doctors Mirela Delibegovic, Sandy Ross and Lynda Williams will discuss astonishing findings about how our brain controls what we eat and how the wrong nutrition can damage our brain and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

School Outreach / Work Experience Placements

We take in students from around Scotland and the local secondary schools for their Work Experience throughout the year and through Aberdeen City Council; the latest 2 students from Hazlehead Academy shadowed lab members and learnt about Western blotting, tissue culture, PCR and quantitative PCR, imaging. In this picture they are learning about the cardiovascular system from one of the final year undergraduates:

Public Engagement

My outreach activities were recognised this year by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement as well as Vitae.

I've engaged in outreach and teaching in secondary schools as a part of the Researchers in Residence programme, appointed to Hazlehead Academy in Aberdeen; in my latest class the students were learning about DNA.

In the past, I've given inspirational talks and practical science classes during my postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, to Science Club For Girls and similar practical "murder mistery" classes as a PhD student in Dundee.

Diabetes UK voluntary group talks

I've been invited by the Moray Voluntary Group, Ribble Valley Voluntary Group and Aberdeen Voluntary Group to talk about my lab's research, and our work is officially adopted by the Moray Voluntary Group and Ribble Valley voluntary group.

Publications 

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