Ashleigh Willis
Overview
I'm a final year PhD student at the University of Glasgow. My doctoral research has focussed on the molecular and cellular underpinnings of schizophrenia. More specifically, I'm interested in how genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia interact to disrupt cortical interneuron development.
Read more about my previous education
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I'm fascinated by how the brain develops. I'm particularly interested in the intricate developmental processes of neuronal subtypes (such as interneurons) and the signalling mechanisms which guide their maturation. Moreover, I wish to understand how the disruption of these cellular cues contributes to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.
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I have a strong technical background in both in vitro and in vivo experimental methods. During my PhD, I spent time training and collaborating with the Murai Lab at McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, where I was trained in complex surgical and molecular genetic manipulations.
Read more about my technical skills
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I'm passionate about sharing my science and exploring new ideas. Throughout my PhD, I've given numerous public talks and organised outreach events. I also enjoy writing for non-specialist audiences and creating original video content about neuroscience.
Find out more about my scientific talks
Check out my blog or YouTube content
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I am currently seeking a postdoctoral position - please get in touch!
EDUCATION
UK Home Office Personal License Holder (ScotPIL A, B & C - rodents)
Animal Procedures and Surgery (under Animals – Scientific Procedures Act 1986)
In vivo behaviour and physiology: Rodent behavioural testing paradigms (including, elevated plus maze, open field, home-cage monitoring, PPI), I.P injections, cardiac perfusion and schedule 1 procedures.
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In vivo surgical procedures: In utero electroportion, microchip implantation.
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Neuroanatomical dissections: Adult and embryonic.
In vitro techniques: Primary neuronal culture (from embryonic tissue), primary astrocyte culture, neuron-astrocyte co-culture, cell-line culture (e.g. P19 and N2A cells), embryonic organotypic slice culture
Immunohistochemical techniques: Including sample preparation of tissue (cryostat and vibratome) and cultured cells. ABC method and immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, image analysis.
Protein analysis and assay techniques: Protein extraction, western blot and associated techniques. ELISA (competitive and sandwich), protein assays (e.g. BCA, Bradford), specific kits (e.g cAMP-Glo).
Analysis of gene expression and genotyping: RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, RT-qPCR, DNA extraction and genotyping.
Psychology:128 electrode EEG recording (humans), ERP and time-frequency analysis, behavioral paradigm design and implementation (E-prime software).
Data analysis: Strong background in both inferential and Bayesian statistical methods using programming (Python, R) and GUI (JASP, Minitab).
IT/programming: ImageJ, Ethovision, Prism Graphpad, Python, PERL, Videoscribe, Microsoft Office.
PhD, Neuroscience
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Thesis: Investigation of GABAergic interneuron development: Implications for schizophrenia.
My research investigates the genetic and environmental factors which contribute to schizophrenia risk during early brain development, with the long-term aim of unlocking new possibilities for early intervention and treatment, which could ultimately surpass our current ability to help patients. To date, I have explored the impact of gene-environment manipulations in vitro on cultured mouse cortical interneuron development via gene and protein expression. This work has uncovered a role for the schizophrenia-related TAOK2 gene in mediating interneuron development.
Supervisors: Professor Brian Morris, Professor Judith Pratt
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PhD Secondment
McGill University Health Centre, Montreal
Project: During this collaborative visit, I worked under the supervision of Professor Keith Murai and Dr Chris Salmon to investigate the genetic factors which orchestrate cortical interneuron migration from the medial ganglionic eminence. Using in utero electroporation in E17 Gad1-cre reporter mice, we manipulated the expression of Taok2 (a known genetic risk factor for schizophrenia and autism) with a GFP-tagged Taok2 microRNA construct. We also cultured organotypic slices from E13 Gad-cre/TdTom reporter mouse brains and manipulated TAOK2 signalling pharmacologically. Confocal analysis of our data is currently on-going.
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M.Res, Brain Sciences (with Distinction)
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Projects:
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Investigation of EEG correlates of audiovisual integration in humans (Published in J.Neuroscience here)
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Optimisation of microcontact printing of proteins for controlled neuronal cell growth
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M.A (Honours) Psychology (BPS Accredited Degree)
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Research Project: Investigating effects of schizotypal personality on 3D depth perception illusions
Dissertation: Adolescent brain development: understanding risk-taking behaviour
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RESEARCH SKILLS
2016 - Present
Sept - Dec 2019
2014 - 2015
2009 - 2013
GRANTS & AWARDS
2019
Early Career Researcher Grant: Glasgow - McGill Collaboration
Awarded by: University of Glasgow, Early Career Mobility Scheme
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BRAIN Travel Grant, Society for Neuroscience
Awarded by: Guarantors of Brain
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Skill & Training Award, Research Furth Funding
Awarded by: University of Glasgow
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Conference Support Award, Society for Neuroscience
Awarded by: University of Glasgow
2018
Best Oral Presentation, Young Life Scientists Symposium on Neuropharmacology
Awarded by: British Biochemical Society & British Pharmacology Societies
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Travel and Accommodation Award, Junior Scientists Workshop (Nice, France)
Awarded by: European College for Neuropharmacology (ECNP)
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2015 - 2017
Best Poster Presentation, Postgraduate Research Day, 2017
Awarded by: University of Glasgow
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PhD Studentship Full Funding Grant (4 years), 2016
Awarded by: Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences College, University of Glasgow
Travel and Accommodation Grant, 2015
Workshop on Statistical Modelling & Bayesian Theory, Lake Balaton, Hungary
Awarded by: Erasmus
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PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Willis, A., Pratt, J. & Morris, B.J. (2020). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and JNK-signalling modulate perineuronal net development and maturation of cultured cortical interneurons: implications for schizophrenia-related 16p11.2 duplication syndrome. In submission.
Willis, A., Pratt, J. & Morris, B.J. (2018). Distortion of protein analysis in primary neuronal cultures by serum albumin from culture medium: A methodological approach to improve target protein quantification. Journal of neuroscience methods. 308, 1 – 5.
Willis, A. & Morris, B.J. (2018). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor enhances glutamic acid decarboxylase and perineuronal net maturation in mouse primary cortical cultures. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 28, S10-S11.
Cecere, R., Thut, G., Willis, A. & Gross, J. (2017). Being First Matters: Topographical Representational Similarity Analysis of ERP Signals Reveals Separate Networks for Audiovisual Temporal Binding Depending on the Leading Sense. Journal of neuroscience. 37 (21) 5274-5287.
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INVITED TALKS
Glasgow Skeptics – Public Lecture, July 2019
Invited Speaker, “Genes, environment & development: schizophrenia under a microscope”
Scottish Funding Council, Edinburgh– Lecture Series, June 2019
Invited Speaker, “Neuroscience & Mental Health: the value of interdisciplinary approaches”
Pint of Science – Public Event: ‘Beyond a Beautiful Mind’, May 2019
Invited Speaker, “Schizophrenia in a petri dish?”
TEDx University of Glasgow, March 2018
Invited Speaker, “What can you learn from schizophrenia?”
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
The Art of Science’ Exhibition: Scientist-Artist Collaboration, May 2019
Collaborative project with an audio-visual artist to produce a short artist film inspired by the neurodevelopmental underpinnings of schizophrenia.
Williamswood High School STEM Fair, Oct 2018
During this project I designed and delivered various interactive workshops designed around concepts in neuroscience to participants aged 13 – 15.
Glasgow Science Festival, June 2017
Volunteering in this festival included delivering various educational for children aged 5-12, as well as organising classes, lectures and workshops for adults.
Brain Lab, Glasgow Science Centre, Dec 2016
Outreach workshop at a local science centre aimed at introducing children and parents to various concepts in neuroscience. This project was also part of a data collection project for Autism Spectrum Disorder research.