Dr Francesca Mackenzie
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Pharmacology (Neuroscience)
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am a Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Pharmacology, with a specialism in neuroscience. I teach undergraduate neurophysiology and neuropharmacology. I am also the Deputy Course Leader for BSc Pharmacology, and I lead a small research group of postgraduate students.
My subject research interests are in the genetics and cell biology of neuronal development and regeneration, particularly in the peripheral nervous system and in the eye. My pedagogical interests are in research-led teaching, embedding authentic problem-solving, and in equality, diversity and inclusivity.
I obtained my PhD on the genetics and pathophysiology of deafness from University of Oxford and MRC Harwell Mammalian Genetics Unit. During postdoctoral work I then researched neuromuscular biology at MRC Harwell, and neuronal development, regeneration and degeneration at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
My work falls under the UN Sustainable Development Goals of 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, 4 Quality Education, and 10 Reduced Inequalities.
Qualifications
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
- DPhil (Oxon) Genetics, University of Oxford
- BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, University of Bath
Domains
I teach undergraduate and postgraduate physiology and pharmacology with a focus on neurobiology.
- Module Leader for undergraduate Level 6 module LS6027 Drugs Brain and Behaviour
- Deputy Course Leader, BSc Pharmacology
I also supervise postgraduate MScR and PhD research students in neurobiology topics.
Undergraduate module teaching
- LS6027 Drugs, Brain and Behaviour
- LS4004 Human Physiology
- LS4001 Genes, Cells and Tissues
- LS5024 Medical Physiology
- LS5010 System Pharmacology
- LS6014 Project
Qualifications
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- D.Phil. (Oxon) Genetics, University of Oxford
- BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, University of Bath
Course director
Courses taught
My research interests are in the genetics and cell biology of neuronal development and neuronal regeneration, particularly in the peripheral nervous system and in the eye. I supervise postgraduate PhD and MScR students.
Current lab members
- Lucrezia Bruno (PhD)
- Najwa Abdulkadir (PhD)
- Tien Ngo Thuy (MScR)
Completed postgraduate students
- Almas Mahmood (MScR)
- Agne Mikailionyte (PhD year 4)
- Amtul Bhunnoo (PhD, 2nd supervisor)
- Elizabeth Spiritosanto (MScR, 2nd supervisor)
Other research activities
- Academic lead, Biotechnology laboratory, KU
- KU Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC)
- KU IhSHA Vision, Cognition and Neuroscience; and Diabetes & Cardiovascular research themes
- Reviewer for Frontiers in Neuroscience, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Cells, IJMS, the Biochemical Society
Qualifications
- D.Phil. (Oxon) Genetics, University of Oxford
- BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, University of Bath
Specialisms
- Neurobiology
- Genetics
- Cell biology
- Disease models
- Regeneration
- Eye
Scholarly affiliations
- Local Ambassador, The Genetics Society
- Member, British Neuroscience Association
- Member, British Society for Developmental Biology
University responsibilities
- Course Leader, BSc Pharmacology
- Academic lead, Biotechnology research lab
- Module Lead LS6027 Drugs, Brain and Behaviour
Publications
Metabolites of cannabis induce cardiac toxicity and morphological alterations in cardiac myocytes
Merve, Ayse Orme, Sobiecka, Pola, Remeškevičius, Vytautas, Taylor, Luke, Saskoy, Lili, Lawton, Scott, Jones, Ben P., Elwakeel, Ahmed, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Polycarpou, Elena, Bennett, Jason and Rooney, Brian, 2022, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (23), 3, Published
Mechanosensing and the Hippo pathway in microglia: a potential link to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis
Bruno, Lucrezia, Karagil, Simge, Mahmood, Almas, Elbediwy, Ahmed, Stolinski, Michael and Mackenzie, Francesca E., 2021, Cells (10), 11, Published
Dysfunctional mechanotransduction through the YAP/TAZ/Hippo pathway as a feature of chronic disease
Cobbaut, Mathias, Karagil, Simge, Bruno, Lucrezia, Diaz de la Loza, Maria Del Carmen, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Stolinski, Michael and Elbediwy, Ahmed, 2020, Cells (9), 1, Published
Rescue of mutant rhodopsin traffic by metformin-induced AMPK activation accelerates photoreceptor degeneration
Athanasiou, Dimitra, Aguila, Monica, Opefi, Chikwado A., South, Kieron, Bellingham, James, Bevilacqua, Dalila, Munro, Peter M., Kanuga, Naheed, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Dubis, Adam M., Georgiadis, Anastasios, Graca, Anna B., Pearson, Rachael A., Ali, Robin R., Sakami, Sanae, Palczewski, Krzysztof, Sherman, Michael Y., Reeves, Philip J. and Cheetham, Michael E., 2017, Human Molecular Genetics (26), 2pp 305-319, Published
Macrophage-induced blood vessels guide Schwann cell-mediated regeneration of peripheral nerves
Cattin, Anne Laure, Burden, Jemima J., Van Emmenis, Lucie, MacKenzie, Francesca E., Hoving, Julian J.A., Garcia Calavia, Noelia, Guo, Yanping, McLaughlin, Maeve, Rosenberg, Laura H., Quereda, Victor, Jamecna, Denisa, Napoli, Ilaria, Parrinello, Simona, Enver, Tariq, Ruhrberg, Christiana and Lloyd, Alison C., 2015, Cell (162), 5pp 1127-1139, Published
Neural crest cell-derived VEGF promotes embryonic jaw extension
Wiszniak, Sophie, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Anderson, Peter, Kabbara, Samuela, Ruhrberg, Christiana and Schwarz, Quenten, 2015, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (112), 19pp 6086-6091, Published
Diverse roles for VEGF-A in the nervous system
Mackenzie, Francesca and Ruhrberg, Christiana, 2012, Development (Cambridge) (139), 8pp 1371-1380, Published
Emerging roles for semaphorins and VEGFs in synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity
Tillo, Miguel, Ruhrberg, Christiana and Mackenzie, Francesca, 2012, Cell Adhesion & Migration (6), 6pp 541-546, Published
Axonal and neuromuscular synaptic phenotypes in Wld<sup>S</sup>, SOD1<sup>G93A</sup> and ostes mutant mice identified by fiber-optic confocal microendoscopy
Wong, Frances, Fan, Li, Wells, Sara, Hartley, Robert, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Oyebode, Oyinlola, Brown, Rosalind, Thomson, Derek, Coleman, Michael P., Blanco, Gonzalo and Ribchester, Richard R., 2009, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience (42), 4pp 296-307, Published
Analysis of the mouse mutant Cloth-ears shows a role for the voltage-gated sodium channel Scn8a in peripheral neural hearing loss
MacKenzie, F. E., Parker, A., Parkinson, N. J., Oliver, P. L., Brooker, D., Underhill, P., Lukashkina, V. A., Lukashkin, A. N., Holmes, C. and Brown, S. D. M., 2009, Genes, Brain and Behavior (8), 7pp 699-713, Published
Upregulation of PKD1L2 provokes a complex neuromuscular disease in the mouse
Mackenzie, Francesca, Romero, Rosario, Williams, Debbie, Gillingwater, Thomas, Hilton, Helen, Dick, Jim, Riddoch-Contreras, Joanna, Wong, Frances, Ireson, Lisa, Powles-Glover, Nicola, Riley, Genna, Underhill, Peter, Hough, Tertius, Arkell, Ruth, Greensmith, Linda, Ribchester, Richard R. and Blanco, Gonzalo, 2009, Human Molecular Genetics (18), 19pp 3553-3566, Published
Mutation at the Evi1 locus in Junbo mice causes susceptibility to otitis media
Parkinson, Nicholas, Hardisty-Hughes, Rachel E., Tateossian, Hilda, Tsai, Hsun Tien, Brooker, Debra, Morse, Sue, Lalane, Zuzanna, MacKenzie, Francesca, Fray, Martin, Glenister, Pete, Woodward, Anne Marie, Polley, Sian, Barbaric, Ivana, Dear, Neil, Hough, Tertius A., Hunter, A. Jackie, Cheeseman, Michael T. and Brown, Steve D.M., 2006, PLoS Genetics (2), 10pp 1556-1564, Published
Disruption of the imprinted Grb10 gene leads to disproportionate overgrowth by an Igf2-independent mechanism
Charalambous, Marika, Smith, Florentia M., Bennett, William R., Crew, Tracey E., Mackenzie, Francesca and Ward, Andrew, 2003, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (100), 14pp 8292-8297, Published
Influence of physiological glucose levels on SIM-A9 microglial cell immune response
Bruno, Lucrezia, Mackenzie, Francesca and Stolinski, Michael(2023). [Published]
Online strategies for developing and delivering Enterprise activities for undergraduate Pharmacology and Life Science students
Reid, Dwain, Mador, Martha, Page, Nigel, Morgan, Anna L. B., Mackenzie, Francesca, Stolinski, Michael and Baker, Amanda(2021). [Published]
Supporting activities to embed creativity and innovation as an implicit part of the bioscience student experience
Baker, Amanda, Reid, Dwain, Mador, Martha, Page, Nigel, Mackenzie, Francesca, Morgan, Anna and Stolinski, Michael(2021). [Published]
Defining a new in vitro culture system to monitor the effects of glucose on microglial metabolism
Bruno, Lucrezia, Stolinski, Michael and Mackenzie, Francesca(2021). [Published]
The effect of video-game visual training on visual function in adults with self-reported reading difficulties
Mikailionyte, Agne, Pierscionek, Barbara, Mackenzie, Francesca E and Augousti, Andy(2021). [Published]
Developing and delivering new online Enterprise activities for L4, L5 and L6 Life Science students
Reid, Dwain, Mador, Martha, Mackenzie, Francesca, Morgan, Anna, Stolinski, Michael and Baker, Amanda(2021). [Published]
Gallery of work
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Differentiated neuronal cells
