Mr Conor Clarkson (MSci)

  • Edinburgh BioQuarter

Contact details

Address

Street

The Queen's Medical Research Institute,
Edinburgh BioQuarter,
47 Little France Crescent

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH16 4TJ

Biography

Background

I obtained an MSci in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Glasgow in 2025. During my degree, I had the opportunity for two placements at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), University of Queensland (2023–2024), and at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (2024). My placement research focused on the chemical biology of venom-derived proteins from box jellyfish.

My PhD aims to identify the molecular mechanisms which underlie pancreas lipotoxicity in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). In the pancreas, toxic lipid accumulation causes dysfunction of the insulin secreting β-cells contributing to T2D. Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical platform for profiling toxic lipid species and elucidating their biosynthetic pathways. By applying modern methods in global and spatial lipidomics, my research aims to identify novel drug targets which preserve β-cell function and limit the biosynthesis of toxic lipid intermediates.  

 

Research summary

T2D Diabetes.

Lipidomics

Protein Biochemistry

Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Pancreas Endocrinology

Proteomics 

Current research interests

T2D Diabetes. Lipidomics Protein Biochemistry Mass Spectrometry Imaging Pancreas Endocrinology

Past research interests

Venom Biochemistry Peptide Chemistry Asymmetric Synthesis Cubozoa

Project activity

High-resolution molecular profiling of lipids to understand the mechanisms of pancreas lipotoxicity in T2D.

Current project grants

East-Bio

This article was published on