elliott bernard

I conducted an eight week research project on the effects of cancer associated mutations in the autophagy protein Atg16L1 on autophagosome biogenesis. Practicing techniques including: mammalian and bacterial cell culture, immunofluorescence, widefield fluorescence microscopy, site directed mutagenesis, lipid based and electroporation transfection, image analysis using MetaMorph software. Obtained some promising results that require further investigation. Awarded a prize for best final year practical research project.

Investigating the involvement of autophagy in the control of mycobacterial infection by macrophages. Using skills such as: indirect immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, transient transfection, protein knockdown by RNA interference, Western blotting and image analysis with ImageJ. Designing my own experiments and interpreting data to allow logical progression towards the end goal of understanding the process of anti-mycobacterial autophagy in greater detail.

The Francis Crick Institute will be a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation in London. It will promote connections between researchers, between disciplines, and between academic institutions, healthcare organisations and businesses. The Crick's mission is to understand the basic biology underlying human health, driving forward better treatment and prevention of the most significant diseases affecting people today.Dedicated to research excellence, the institute will have the scale, vision and expertise to tackle the most challenging scientific questions underpinning health and disease. Due to open in 2015, The Francis Crick Institute is a charity supported by Cancer Research UK, the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, UCL (University College London), Imperial College London and King's College London. It will be world-class with a strong national role – training scientists and developing ideas for public good.

Activities and Societies: Debate team, Head boy