Genetics and immunology
The Genetics and Immunology Department is led by Associate Professor Antonia Pritchard.
The Department consists of research groups focusing on cancer and schizophrenia.
The teams are located on Inverness Campus in a modern genetics laboratory, and share access to the top-class of biochemistry and proteomics laboratories of the Life Sciences Innovation Centre.
Cancer research
Cancer research
A/Prof. Antonia Pritchard is a researcher into melanoma and related cancers, with specific interests in the genetic susceptibility to the disease (familial and sporadic), genomic changes within tumours and the immune response to cancer, particularly related to the genetic alterations.
A/Prof. Antonia Pritchard's current research interests include all subtypes of melanoma: cutaneous (skin), acral (palm of the hands/soles of the feet/nail beds), uveal (eye) and mucosal, as well as associated cancers including mesothelioma and renal/bladder tumours.
Current research projects
- Lead of studies within the national MyMelanoma project
- Identification of genetic mutation predisposing to melanoma in high density families
- Investigation of genetic variants predisposing to ocular melanoma
- Genomic investigation of melanomas (cutaneous, acral, ocular and mucosal)
- Investigation of tumour epitopes eliciting memory T-cell and B-cell responses
- Using cell free DNA for cancer diagnostics
Further information
If you would like further information about taking part in any of Associate Professor Pritchard's work or research projects, please email melanoma.research@uhi.ac.uk
Cancer research team
Cancer research team
Current team members
- Dr Colette Mustard, Post-doctoral researcher
- Ms Connie MacKinnon, PhD student
Former team members
- Dr Chloe Rodgers, graduated PhD student
- Dr Sharon Hutchison
Schizophrenia research team
Schizophrenia research team
Current team members
- Dr Neil McNamara (Consultant psychiatrist, NHS Highland)
- Elizabeth Buist (NHS Highland)
- Helen Urquhart (NHS Highland)
- Dr Ryan McLean ( Research Fellow)
- Dr Nicole Brace (Post-doctoral researcher)
- Mrs Philomena Halford (Research technician and PhD student)
Former team members
- Professor Jun Wei (retired Chair of Genetics and Immunology)
- Dr Ruth Whelan (graduated PhD student)