Celebrating our research technicians
Sept 2024: It's Technicians' Week at the University of Edinburgh! We are celebrating the vital role of laboratory technicians by featuring one of our technicians, Denise O'Keefe.
Technicians play an essential role in the laboratory science that underpins our research. They bring with them practical skills, knowledge and expertise and are essential to the success of the work carried out across our Scotland-wide research into motor neuron disease.
Often the unsung heroes, technicians are the glue that binds a successful lab together. Committed professionals, they not only undertake experiments with precision and care, but also play a vital role in training and teaching other lab members.
This Technicians' Week we are highlighting Denise O'Keefe who has recently been awarded a staff scholarship to undertake part-time postgraduate studies at the University of Edinburgh. Denise will be undertaking a PGCert in Stem Cells and Translational Neurology, an online learning programme devised and led by Dr David Hampton who is also a member of the Euan MacDonald Centre.
Double congratulations are due to Denise, because she was also nominated for this year's University of Edinburgh Technician Awards.
Denise joined the University of Edinburgh two years ago as a Research Technician in the Chandran lab with a focus on mouse models for motor neuron disease. Her work involves the processing of experimental tissues for cutting-edge MND research, maintaining mouse colonies, and managing behaviour experiments. For example, Denise measures coordination and muscle strength by placing the mice suspended by the forelimbs in the centre of a short horizontal bar, and timing how long they take to reach a platform at either end.
Prior to joining the Chandran lab, Denise worked in the research industry for 12 years, gaining expertise in fields including neurodegenerative disease, toxicology, genetics, and cancer research.
Thank you to Denise and all the other technicians across the Euan MacDonald Centre, for your hard-work, skill and commitment.
Useful links
University of Edinburgh Support for Technicians [University of Edinburgh website]
Stem Cells and Translational Neurology Online Learning postgraduate study programmes [University of Edinburgh website]
Professor Siddharthan Chandran's profile
Read about animal research at the University of Edinburgh [University of Edinburgh website]