Contact Details

Telephone

work +44 (0)1224 437374

Fax

fax +44 (0)1224 437506

Email

n.vargesson@abdn.ac.uk

Address

The University of Aberdeen School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Institute of Medical Sciences, Room 5.15.5, University of Aberdeen. Foresterhill. Aberdeen. AB25 2ZD. Scotland.

Web Links

For links to recent scientifc articles written for the public on topics including thalidomide, primodos, limb differences, Zika virus and COVID-19:

2020

An article discussing the use of thalidomide as a potential treatment for COVID-19 published in 'theconversation.com'

https://theconversation.com/despite-thalidomides-dark-past-researchers-are-investigating-it-as-a-potential-covid-19-treatment-136750

2019

For a recent article on the potential causes of clusters of children in France with rare limb differences, see the following article published in 'theconversation.com'

https://theconversation.com/mystery-of-french-babies-born-with-deformed-arms-heres-what-a-developmental-biologist-thinks-112107

2018

Link to new Primodos paper published in 'Scientific Reports' on 13 Feb 2018 and which received widespread media coverage (Sky News, BBC, ITV, newspapers and online media)
www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21318-9 can also use http://rdcu.be/GRqS

eg:
https://news.sky.com/story/primodos-study-finds-pregnancy-tests-had-potential-to-deform-embryos-11248682

2017 and 2016

For a recent discussion on Primodos and its use as a hormone pregnancy test, please see the following articles published in 'The Conversation':

https://theconversation.com/is-primodos-the-forgotten-thalidomide-50673

https://theconversation.com/why-i-cant-agree-with-the-conclusions-of-the-report-on-primodos-88033

For a discussion on what is required to prove Zika virus cause birth defects see:

https://theconversation.com/proving-that-the-zika-virus-causes-microcephaly-53716

2015

For a recent discussion about Thalidomide research and some of the goals we have please see the following article published in 'The Conversation':

https://theconversation.com/thalidomide-the-drug-with-a-dark-side-but-an-enigmatic-future-50330

Biography

August 2018 Professor in Developmental Biology (Personal Chair), School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen.

August 2013  Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen.

August 2007   Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen.

2006 - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

2005 - CASLAT (Cerificate of Advanced Study in Learning and Teaching), Imperial College

2004 - 2007    Lecturer. NHLI Division, Faculty of Medicine. Imperial College London.

2001 - 2003    Postdoctoral Fellow. Cancer Research UK, London. UK, with Dr Julian Lewis studying zebrafish gut development.

1998 - 2001    Postdoctoral Fellow. Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York. USA, with Dr Ed Laufer studying TGFbeta signalling in chick limb development (funded by HFPSO Long-Term Fellowship)

1998 - Ph.D (Developmental Biology), University College London (with Profs Lewis Wolpert and Cheryll Tickle)

1994 - B.Sc. (Hons) Human Biology, Kings College London

Research Interests

Research in the lab is focused on determining the mechanisms underlying thalidomide-induced teratogenesis; identifying non-teratogenic forms of thalidomide; studying the actions of Primodos (was used as a hormone pregnancy test and alleged to have caused birth defects); screening drugs to identify their function/s and action/s; studying how blood vessels are involved in controlling normal and abnormal limb development; studying the role of the YAP signaling pathway in embryonic development; using the chicken embryo to produce a model of Clubfoot to understand how this common birth anomaly comes about; and understanding how birth defects come about in general.

For a discussion on Primodos and its prior use and history please see the following articles: https://theconversation.com/is-primodos-the-forgotten-thalidomide-50673

https://theconversation.com/why-i-cant-agree-with-the-conclusions-of-the-report-on-primodos-88033

For a recent discussion written for the public about Thalidomide, its history, some of the goals we have as well as potential new uses for thalidomide in treating COVID-19 please see the following articles published in 'The Conversation':

https://theconversation.com/thalidomide-the-drug-with-a-dark-side-but-an-enigmatic-future-50330

https://theconversation.com/despite-thalidomides-dark-past-researchers-are-investigating-it-as-a-potential-covid-19-treatment-136750

For recent discussions written for the public on other topics related to birth defects please see the following articles:

https://theconversation.com/mystery-of-french-babies-born-with-deformed-arms-heres-what-a-developmental-biologist-thinks-112107

https://theconversation.com/proving-that-the-zika-virus-causes-microcephaly-53716

My research interests have also led to requests for scientific advice from the World Health Organisation, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Canadian Parliament. I have also been interviewed by the media to comment on news stories including Thalidomide (eg: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scots-race-to-develop-safe-form-of-thalidomide-f3gph3blkd5), Primodos (eg: http://news.sky.com/story/primodos-sky-news-exposes-pregnancy-drug-cover-up-10807338; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZRkCNUQvBA&sns=fb; Sky News Live interview 21 March, 2017) and also recently on Epilim. Interviewed by Sky News Live (26 Sept, 2017) to discuss the epilepsy drug, Epilim, and how it caused damage to babies born to epileptic mothers, and the new European Medicines Agency inquiry into a lack of information/warnings being given to expectant mum's.

Current Research

Primodos:

Primodos was used as a hormone pregnancy test between 1958-1978. It is alleged to have caused birth defects in children exposed to the drug when their mother was trying to confirm they were pregnant. We have investigated the actions of the components of the drug in Zebrafish embryos.

Primodos paper published in 'Scientific Reports' on 13 Feb 2018 and which received widespread media coverage (Sky News, BBC, ITV, newspapers and online media)
Direct link to paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21318-9 can also use http://rdcu.be/GRqS

An example of the media coverage:
https://news.sky.com/story/primodos-study-finds-pregnancy-tests-had-potential-to-deform-embryos-11248682

Some of the Lab's work (prior to publication) looking at the components of Primodos in zebrafish embryos was featured in a Sky News Documentary on 21 March 2017 entitled: “Primodos: The Secret Drug Scandal”. The full documentary can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZRkCNUQvBA&sns=fb

Several short versions of the story featured on Sky News:

19 March, 2017: http://news.sky.com/story/primodos-sky-news-exposes-pregnancy-drug-cover-up-10807338

21 March, 2017: http://news.sky.com/story/uk-mothers-betrayed-pregnancy-drug-wasused-for-abortions160160-10809235

I was also interviewed on Sky News Live (21 March, 2017) discussing the lab's research on Primodos and discussing the Sky News documentary 'Primodos: The Secret Drug Scandal'.

Our Primodos research also featured in a news article in the German Newspaper 'Taz - die Tageszeitung' https://www.taz.de/Archiv-Suche/!5411785&s=&SuchRahmen=Print/ on 2 June, 2017.

I was also invited to discuss our Primodos research to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in Oct 2016 and Aug 2017. The MHRA were investigating if Primodos could have caused birth defects.

The MHRA published their report on 15 November 2017 and i featured in a Sky News Live special news report discussing the MHRA report and its conclusions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=uU28nNZwfVg&app=desktop   can also use  https://t.co/fm7FrHcNuF 

I further discussed my concerns about the MHRA report in a Sky News article published 22 November, 2017. https://news.sky.com/story/primodos-report-questionable-and-irresponsible-says-expert-11138448

I was also interviewed by the British Medical Journal for thoughts on the MHRA Report  which featured in an article published in the BMJ on 17 November. http://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5352

I wrote an article for 'theconversation.com' about the Report and what is now needed which was published on 6 December. https://theconversation.com/why-i-cant-agree-with-the-conclusions-of-the-report-on-primodos-88033 

References to some of our Primodos research was featured in a Sky News article (13 December, 2017) and some of our Primodos research was also on Sky News Live (13-14 December, 2017). https://news.sky.com/story/expert-used-to-endorse-primodos-report-brands-findings-simply-wrong-11169277

For a discussion on Primodos and its prior use and history please see the following article: https://theconversation.com/is-primodos-the-forgotten-thalidomide-50673

Thalidomide:
We have demonstrated (Therapontos et al., 2009) how thalidomide can cause limb malformations. The drug was used as a non-addictive, non-barbiturate sedative and was also prescribed to pregnant women suffering from morning-sickness (typically, but not exclusively, between weeks 5-10). Tragically over 10000 children were born with severe birth defects, notably, and commonly, limb malformations.

Using analogs and metabolic byproducts of the drug, we showed that the antiangiogenic action of the drug causes limb defects, through preventing blood vessel migration into the developing limb bud. We further showed how the drug exerts its antiangiogenic effect, through preventing endothelial cell proliferation and migration and thus, preventing vessel tube networks from forming. At the time the limb forms (which in humans is around 5-8 weeks) it has a highly changeable vessel pattern - whereas the rest of the body has a stable vascular network. Thalidomide therefore may prevent new vessel outgrowth, which then causes an increase in cell death and loss of limb signalling pathways, stopping limb formation.
 

Reference:

Therapontos C, Erskine L, Gardner ER, Figg WD, Vargesson, N. (2009). Thalidomide induces limb defects by preventing angiogenic outgrowth during early limb formation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA. 106, 8573-8578. DOI:10.1073/pnas.0o01505106.  
 

This work received wide spread media interest, including:

STV: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/95571-scientists-make-thalidomide-breakthrough/

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8040535.stm

http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/national-news/124324-thalidomide-victims-welcome-research-breakthough.html

A large number of newspapers, including The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Scotsman, The Press & Journal, and several Radio stations.

The work was also featured in Nature News: 

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090511/full/news.2009.462.html

Making safer Thalidomide alternatives:

We are also interested in identifying thalidomide alternatives that retain the clinical benefits of the drug (successfully used to treat Leprosy and Multiple Myeloma) with lessened or no side-effect (eg: birth defect, peripheral neuropathy). To this end we have compared the effects of Thalidomide with its structural analogs, Lenalidomide and Pomalidomide. We demonstrated that the minor structural changes in Pomalidomide make this compound more anti-inflammatory (and not teratogenic in chicken and zebrafish embryos) at lower concentrations than Thalidomide and Lenalidomide (Mahony et al., 2013). We have also screened fluorinated thalidomide analogs and demonstrated differences in analog activities (Beedie et al., 2015). These findings validate making structural changes to Thalidomide to try to find safer alternatives.

Following on from this work we have screened over 80 thalidomide analogs in our zebrafish and chicken embryo assays and identified several with actions that retain clinical advantages (ie: anti-inflammatory) with reduced or no observable teratogenic effects in zebrafish and chicken embryos (Beedie et al., 2016). Some of these analogs are being patented.

References:

Mahony C, Erskine, Niven J, Grieg NH, Figg WD, Vargesson N. (2013). Pomalidomide is nonteratogenic in chicken and zebrafish embryos and nonneurotoxic invitro. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA. 110, 12703-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1307684110

Beedie SL, Peer CJ, Pisle S, Gardner ER, Mahony C, Barnett S, Ambrozak A, Gütschow M, Chau CH, Vargesson N, Figg WD. (2015). Anticancer properties of a novel class of tetrafluorinated thalidomide analogues. Mol Cancer Ther 14:2228-2237. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-15-0320.

Beedie SL, Rore HM, Barnett S, Chau CH, Luo W, Greig NH, Figg WD, Vargesson N. (2016). In vivo screening and discovery of novel candidate thalidomide analogs in the zebrafish and chicken embryo models systems. Oncotarget. 2016 May 31;7(22):33237-45. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.8909.

Media Interest

This work was mentioned in The Sunday Times, 4 August 2013.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/scotland/article1296248.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_08_03

And on realradio.co.uk/scotland.

Review articles on Thalidomide History and Mechanisms of Action:  

Media Interviews/Discussions about our Thalidomide research:

2009 - The Material World (BBC Radio 4) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k9hlz#synopsis

2010 - The Diane Rehm Show (US Radio) - http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-09-16/thalidomide-and-fda

2010 - The New York Times - interviewed by Carl Zimmer
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/science/16limb.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

2011 - The Naked Scientists (BBC Radio) - http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1785/ 

2012 - German Public Radio - http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/hintergrundpolitik/1917460/

http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/wib/1945008/

2013 - The Today Program (BBC Radio 4) - Thalidomide: Were more babies affected?

2013 - BBV TV News - Thalidomide: Were more babies affected? (Oct 14, 2013)

2013 - BBC News Website - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24472269

2013 - The Naked Scientists (BBC Radio) -

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/1000545/

2015 - SHMU Radio - 'Talking Science' (Jan 27, 2015)

Some images of my thalidomide work is featured in a Fine Art Exhibition (and subsequent Book) by the renowned artist, Taryn Simon. The Exhibition is entitled: ‘A Living Man Declared Dead and Other Chapters’ and toured the world throughout 2011 and 2012.

Media articles about Thalidomide

2015 - The Conversation

https://theconversation.com/thalidomide-the-drug-with-a-dark-side-but-an-enigmatic-future-50330

2015 - The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/thalidomide-the-drug-with-a-dark-side-but-an-enigmatic-future-a6772956.html

Awards for Public Engagement

Winner, 2017 Principal's Prize for Public Engagement with Research - Senior Award.

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/engage/staff-students/2column-page-152-152.php

Some of the Lab's research on Primodos, a now disused hormone pregnancy test alleged to have also caused birth defects, featured in a Sky News & Sky Atlantic documentary  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZRkCNUQvBA) and Neil was part of resulting interviews, including on Sky News Live (21 March, 2017) and news stories in national and international media. Neil also discussed the Primodos research and answered questions from MP’s and Lords at the Houses of Parliament at a special event where the Sky News documentary was premiered. In addition, Neil presented the Primodos research to an Expert Working Group of the UK’s Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Agency who are determining if Primodos could have caused birth defects – their decision due in late 2017. Neil’s other research interest is understanding how thalidomide caused birth defects and identifying forms of the drug that retain clinical benefit without the spectre of birth defects. This work led to an advisory role to the World Health Organisation in 2014 which has contributed to advisory notices about the diagnosis and causation of thalidomide embryopathy from the World Health Organisation. In addition, Neil gave evidence to the Health Committee of the Canadian House’s of Parliament in 2017 investigating how the drug caused birth defects and the range of damage it induces, as part of the Canadian Government’s scheme of who and how to award compensation for thalidomide damage. Neil has also written several popular articles in 2015 and 2016 for the website ‘theconversation.com’ on Primodos (https://theconversation.com/is-primodos-the-forgotten-thalidomide-50673), thalidomide (https://theconversation.com/thalidomide-the-drug-with-a-dark-side-but-an-enigmatic-future-50330) and the zika virus and how it might cause birth defects (https://theconversation.com/proving-that-the-zika-virus-causes-microcephaly-53716).

Research Grants

2015-2017 PI, Sarcoma UK Project Grant

2012-2016 PI, Wellcome Trust/NIH funded PhD Scholar

Teaching Responsibilities

Undergraduate:

Degree Programme Co-ordinator - BSc (Hons) Human Embryology and Developmental Biology

Course Co-ordinator - DB3006 Principles of Developmental and Reproductive Biology

Course Co-ordinator - DB4002 Evolution and Development

Teach on SM2001, SM2501, SM3002, DB3006, DB3804, DB4002,  PA4005

Postgraduate:

Co-Degree Programme Co-ordinator - MSc Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Course Co-ordinator - MB5026 Principles of Reproductive Biology (Masters Level course).

Teach on MB5026, MB5524.

External Responsibilities

-Editorial Board Member, Reproductive Toxicology (2015 - present).

http://www.journals.elsevier.com/reproductive-toxicology/editorial-board

-Editorial Board Member, Integrative Physiology, a speciality of Frontiers in Physiology (2017 - present)

 
-Guest Editor for a Special Issue of Reproductive Toxicology entitled 'Developmental Angiogenesis'

Published June, 2017.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/08906238/70

-Organiser, 14th International Conference on Limb Development and Regeneration to be held at the University of Edinburgh between July 23-26, 2017.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/igmm/news-and-events/events/latest-events/limb-development-2017

-Member, Sarcoma UK Research Advisory Committee (2016-2019) - which oversees Grant Application reviewing and funding.

https://sarcoma.org.uk/research/research-advisory-committee

https://sarcoma.org.uk/about/people/rac

-Member, NC3R, Training Fellowship panel (2019 - present)

-Advisory Roles

Advisor, World Health Organisation 'Diagnostic Criteria and Mechanisms of Action of Thalidomide' - Feb 2014.  Meeting report with recommendations:   http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js21639en/

Advisor, Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) - Oct 2016 and Aug 2017. Discussing our research on Primodos effects upon embryonic development.

Advisor, Canadian Parliament, Standing Committee on Health, 'Thalidomide survivors compensation programme' - May 2017.

Advisor, All Party Parliamentary Group on Primodos and Hormone Pregnancy Tests - Dec 13, 2017.

Advisor, European Medicines Agency on use of zebrafish in research and for use in screening human sex hormones - July 17, 2018.

Advisor, Senate of Australia - discussing thalidomide and damage it caused - Jan 2019

Advisor, Royal College of Australasian Physicians - producing an online educational tool about thalidomide - June 2019 - Jan 2020.

 -Media/Public Engagement

Published an article regarding possible causes of clusters of children with rare limb malformations in France -
https://theconversation.com/mystery-of-french-babies-born-with-deformed-arms-heres-what-a-developmental-biologist-thinks-112107

Interviewed and appeared on Sky News, BBC Scotland, STV (13 February 2018) to discuss publication of Primodos paper in 'Scientific Reports' and is implications. This generated a lot of media interest and over 68 news outlets covered the story of the paper's publication. eg:

https://news.sky.com/story/primodos-study-finds-pregnancy-tests-had-potential-to-deform-embryos-11248682

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/1413209/aberdeen-scientist-shows-link-between-primodos-and-birth-defects/

https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/pregnancy-test-drug-had-the-potential-to-deform-embryos-1-4688580

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5385791/Oral-pregnancy-test-linked-birth-defects.html

Interviewed by Sky News Live (21 March, 2017) discussing the lab's research on Primodos and discussing the Sky News documentary 'Primodos: The Secret Drug Scandal' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZRkCNUQvBA&sns=fb

Interviewed by Sky News Live (26 Sept, 2017) to discuss the epilepsy drug, Epilim, and how it caused damage to babies born to epileptic mothers, and the new European Medicines Agency inquiry into a lack of information/warnings being given to expectant mum's.

Interviewed by and featured in a Sky News Live Special News Report (15 November, 2017) discussing the MHRA report into Primodos and birth defects and the MHRA Panels conclusions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=uU28nNZwfVg&app=desktop   can also use  https://t.co/fm7FrHcNuF 

Interviewed by the British Medical Journal for thoughts on the MHRA Report  which featured in an article published in the BMJ on 17 November. http://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5352

Featured in a Sky News article discussing my concerns about the MHRA Report (22 November, 2017). https://news.sky.com/story/primodos-report-questionable-and-irresponsible-says-expert-11138448

Wrote an article for 'theconversation.com' discussing the MHRA Report and what is now needed (6 December, 2017). https://theconversation.com/why-i-cant-agree-with-the-conclusions-of-the-report-on-primodos-88033

References to some of our Primodos research was featured in a Sky News article (13 December, 2017) and some of our Primodos research was also on Sky News Live (13-14 December, 2017). https://news.sky.com/story/expert-used-to-endorse-primodos-report-brands-findings-simply-wrong-11169277

Admin Responsibilities

Elected Member, University Senate (2008-2013) (2016-2020)

Senate Assessor to University Court (2009-2013) (2019-present)

Member, Governance and Nominations Committee (reports to University Court; 2012-2013)

Member, Honorary Degrees Committee (reports to Senate) (2017-2020)

Member, Senate Business Committee (2017-2020)

Member, Policy and Resources Committee (reports to Court) (2019-present)

Member, IMS Athena SWAN Team for Bronze Award (2015-present)

Awards

Winner, 2017 Principal's Prize for Public Engagement with Research - Senior Award.

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/engage/staff-students/2column-page-152-152.php

Some of the Lab's research on Primodos, a now disused hormone pregnancy test alleged to have also caused birth defects, featured in a Sky News & Sky Atlantic documentary  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZRkCNUQvBA) and Neil was part of resulting interviews including on Sky News Live (21 March , 2017) and news stories in national and international media. Neil also discussed the Primodos research and answered questions from MP’s and Lords at the Houses of Parliament at a special event where the Sky News documentary was premiered. In addition, Neil presented the Primodos research to an Expert Working Group of the UK’s Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Agency who are determining if Primodos could have caused birth defects – their decision due in late 2017. Neil’s other research interest is understanding how thalidomide caused birth defects and identifying forms of the drug that retain clinical benefit without the spectre of birth defects. This work led to an advisory role to the World Health Organisation in 2014 which has contributed to advisory notices about the diagnosis and causation of thalidomide embryopathy from the World Health Organisation. In addition, Neil gave evidence to the Health Committee of the Canadian House’s of Parliament in 2017 investigating how the drug caused birth defects and the range of damage it induces, as part of the Canadian Government’s scheme of who to and how to award compensation for thalidomide damage. Neil has also written several popular articles in 2015 and 2016 for the website ‘theconversation.com’ on Primodos (https://theconversation.com/is-primodos-the-forgotten-thalidomide-50673), thalidomide (https://theconversation.com/thalidomide-the-drug-with-a-dark-side-but-an-enigmatic-future-50330) and the zika virus and how it might cause birth defects (https://theconversation.com/proving-that-the-zika-virus-causes-microcephaly-53716).

Positions available for PhD students.

 I am looking for motivated, self-funded PhD students to join my group. Projects are available to study:

1. Mechanisms of thalidomide teratogenesis

2. Identification of non-teratogenic forms of thalidomide

3. Clubfoot

4. Mechanisms underlying limb proximo-distal outgrowth and pattern

5. Control of vascular patterning in the embryo

6. Role of YAP signalling in embryonic development

7. Action of Primodos in the vertebrate embryo

Publications 

View publications