Profile
Karen Reed
:-( Evicted - but still check out this website for a rap made locally to me that explains cancer and genes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMNHUFmLOsc&feature=plcp
My CV
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Education:
Pencoed Comprehensive School (1992), University of Bath (1992 – 1996), University of Cambridge (1996 – 2000)
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Qualifications:
3 A levels, Biology, Chemistry and Maths (grade C in all 3), BSc Applied Biology (grade 2:i) and a PhD in gene regulation and developmental biology
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Work History:
Babraham Institute, Cambridge (2000-2002). Cardiff University, School of Biosciences, Cardiff (2002-now).
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Current Job:
Postdoctoral Research Associate; I do research
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In 2009 nearly 16,000 people in the UK died from bowel cancer (the 3rd most common cancer) and I’m trying to find new ways we could treat this disease by looking at the genes that cause the normal gut cells to become cancer cells.
Cancer happens when cells start to make more new cells, when or where they are not supposed to. We need to make new cells all the time and we do this by a process called cell division. Normal cell division is VERY highly controlled, so that we only get new cells when they are needed. The controls come from the instructions in our genes. Our genes are pieces of DNA that have jobs to do. If our DNA gets damaged it could stop a gene doing its job properly, and that can change the way lots of other genes do their jobs. As a result, the normal control on cell division can be lost and you can end up with cancer.
If we can understand all that happens to all of our genes in the really early stages of cancer, after one gene gets damaged, then we can possibly find new ways of stopping or treating the cancer cells. That is what I’m trying to do. We can also try and find new ways of telling if someone has cancer or diagnosing cancer at a earlier stage which is important because the earlier you treat someone with cancer the better the outlook.
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My Typical Day:
Very varied, but I check the health of my mice, do dissections, do experiments in the lab, go to meetings, listen to others talk about their work (hopefully learning lots), read papers, write reports, and help others with their work.
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One of the best things about my job is that every day is different. There are some routine things I do all the time, like looking after the mice, but I learn something new most days. I really enjoy helping and teaching others. My least favourite thing is writing papers, but it’s an important thing to do.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would love to develop a mobile lab that can turn up in schools and community groups and allow people to experience some hands on science experiments and learn about the causes of cancer at the same time, so I’d put the money towards that.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Loving, Placid, Inquisitive
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No – I was a swat and goody two shoes – I HATE conflict of any sort.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
No one favourite – most things on the radio (either radio 2 in morning or nation or kiss rest of day)
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To get a permanent and secure job. To make a break-through finding in work that could improve peoples lives. To live a long and healthy life then to die quickly and painlessly at a ripe old age.
Tell us a joke.
A duck goes into a bar and asks the barman for a drink. The barman replies “sorry mate we don’t serve ducks in here”. Not being put off, the duck asks again and gets the same reply. After a while of continual asking the barman loses it and says rather rudely “look I’ve already told you we don’t serve ducks, so get out of here!” Still not deterred the duck asks the barman again for a drink. This time the barman is livid and snaps “I’m not telling you again, WE DON’T SERVE DUCKS. If you ask me one more time I’ll nail your beak to the bar”. The duck pauses for a while then politely asks the barman “do you have a hammer?” The barman looking confused says “a Hammer? No. Why?”, so the duck replies “Can I have a drink please?”
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