Dr Shaun Wood (BSc (Honours) MRes DPhil)
Research Fellow in Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products
Contact details
- Email: shaun.wood@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, 5 Little France Drive,
- City
- Edinburgh,
- Post code
- EH16 4UU
Background
Shaun currently holds the position of Research Fellow in Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products in the Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR) at the University of Edinburgh. Shaun was awarded a BSc (Honours) in Genetics from the University of Manchester in 2012, followed by a MRes in Translational Medicine in 2013. Shaun's DPhil was conducted at the University of Oxford where he studied the use of AAV-mediated gene therapy to treat an inherited form of blindness. Following this, Shaun undertook post-doctoral training at the University of Manchester where he was involved in the development of gene and stem cell therapy for a range of paediatric lysosomal storage disorders, in particular the mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). Shaun has significant experience of translational research in the field of advanced therapeutics. He also has significant experience of supervising junior lab members (including PhD/DPhil, Masters, undergraduate and placement students) and enquires from enthusiastic students looking to undertake projects in advanced therapies are always welcome.
Qualifications
BSc (Honours) Genetics (with Industrial Experience) - University of Manchester, 2012
MRes Translational Medicine - University of Manchester, 2013
DPhil Clinical Neuroscience - University of Oxford, 2017.
Responsibilities & affiliations
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Current PhD students supervised
Rachel Searle (Co-Supervisor)
Research summary
Shaun's research primarily focuses on the development of gene and stem cell therapies for the treatment of rare neurological diseases. He has been involved in the development of several stem cell gene therapies for lysosomal storage diseases which are now in clinical trial.
Shaun also has an interest in retinal disease in lysosomal disorders and is characterising retinal degeneration in mouse models of these conditions. He is also developing AAV gene therapies with the goal of treating the retina in lysosomal disease patients.
Technical knowledge:
- Viral vector (AAV and lentivirus) production and characterisation.
- Molecular cloning and plasmid production.
- Behavioural testing in mouse models of neurological disease.
- In vitro assays for gene therapy vector testing.
Current research interests
Development of stem cell gene therapies to treat neurological lysosomal storage diseases, development of AAV gene therapy to treat the brain and retina, modifying lysosomal enzymes to improve transport across the blood-brain-barrier and characterising animal models of lysosomal and retinal disease.Past research interests
- Development of AAV gene therapy to treat Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy (ARB).Project activity
- Characterisation of mouse models of neurological and retinal disease.
- Development of AAV gene therapies to treat the retina in lysosomal storage diseases.
- Development of AAV and stem cell gene therapies to treat the brain in lysosomal storage diseases.