Dr Francesca Mackenzie
Faculties, deparments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Pharmacology (Neuroscience)
- Email:
- f.mackenzie@kingston.ac.uk
About
I obtained my PhD on the genetics and pathophysiology of deafness from University of Oxford and MRC Harwell Mammalian Genetics Unit in 2006. During postdoctoral work I then researched neuromuscular biology at MRC Harwell, and neuronal development, regeneration and degeneration at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.
I joined Kingston University in 2017 as Lecturer in Physiology and Pharmacology with a specialism in neuroscience, and became Senior Lecturer in 2018.
My subject research interests are in the genetics and cell biology of neuronal development and regeneration, particularly in the peripheral nervous system and in the eye. My pedagogical interests are in research-led teaching, embedding authentic problem-solving, and in equality, diversity and inclusivity.
My work falls under the UN Sustainable Development Goals of 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, 4 Quality Education, and 10 Reduced Inequalities.
Qualifications
- 2018 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- 2017 Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)
- 2006 DPhil (Oxon) Genetics, University of Oxford
- 2001 BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, University of Bath
Domains
I teach undergraduate and postgraduate physiology and pharmacology with a focus on neurobiology.
- Module Leader for undergraduate Level 6 module LS6027 (LS6004) Drugs, Brain and Behaviour
- Deputy Course Leader, BSc Pharmacology
I also supervise postgraduate MScR and PhD research students in neurobiology topics.
Undergraduate module teaching:
- LS6027 Drugs, Brain and Behaviour
- LS4004 Human Physiology
- LS4001 Genes, Cells and Tissues
- LS5005 Medical Physiology
- LS5010 System Pharmacology
- LS6014 Project
Qualifications
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
- D.Phil. (Oxon) Genetics, University of Oxford
- BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, University of Bath
Courses taught
My research interests are in the genetics and cell biology of neuronal development and neuronal regeneration, particularly in the peripheral nervous system and in the eye. I supervise postgraduate PhD and MScR students.
ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Francesca_Mackenzie
Current lab members:
- Lucrezia Bruno (PhD)
- Najwa Abdulkadir (PhD)
- Amtul Bhunnoo (PhD, 2nd supervisor)
- Tien Ngo Thuy (MScR)
Completed postgraduate students:
- Almas Mahmood (MScR)
- Agne Mikailionyte (PhD year 4)
- Elizabeth Spiritosanto (MScR, 2nd supervisor)
Other research activities
- Academic lead, Biotechnology laboratory, KU
- KU Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC)
- KU IhSHA Vision, Cognition and Neuroscience; and Diabetes & Cardiovascular research themes
- Reviewer for Frontiers in Neuroscience, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Cells, IJMS, the Biochemical Society
Qualifications
- D.Phil. (Oxon) Genetics, University of Oxford
- BSc (Hons) Applied Biology, University of Bath
Specialisms
- Neurobiology
- Genetics
- Cell biology
- Disease models
- Regeneration
Scholarly affiliations
- Local Ambassador, The Genetics Society
- Member, British Neuroscience Association
- Member, British Society for Developmental Biology
University responsibilities
- Deputy Course Leader, BSc Pharmacology
- Academic lead, Biotechnology research lab
- Module Lead LS6027 Drugs, Brain and Behaviour
Publications
Metabolites of cannabis induce cardiac toxicity and morphological alterations in cardiac myocytes
Orme Merve, Ayse, Sobiecka, Pola, Remeškevičius, Vytautas, Taylor, Luke, Saskoy, Lili, Lawton, Scott, Jones, Ben P., Elwakeel, Ahmed, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Polycarpou, Elena, Bennett, Jason and Rooney, Brian, 2022, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (23), 3, pp 1401
Mechanosensing and the Hippo pathway in microglia : a potential link to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis
Bruno, Lucrezia, Karagil, Simge, Mahmood, Almas, Elbediwy, Ahmed, Stolinski, Michael and Mackenzie, Francesca, 2021, Cells (10), 11, pp 3144
Dysfunctional mechanotransduction through the YAP/TAZ/Hippo pathway as a feature of chronic disease
Cobbaut, Mathias, Karagil, Simge, Bruno, Lucrezia, de Loza, Maria Del Carmen Diaz, Mackenzie, Francesca E, Stolinski, Michael and Elbediwy, Ahmed, 2020, Cells (9), 1, pp 151
Rescue of mutant rhodopsin traffic by metformin-induced AMPK activation accelerates photoreceptor degeneration
Athanasiou, Dimitra, Aguila, Monica, Opefi, Chikwado A., South, Kieron, Bellingham, James, Bevilacqua, Dalila, Munro, Peter M., Kanuga, Naheed, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Dubis, Adam M., Georgiadis, Anastasios, Graca, Anna B., Pearson, Rachael A., Ali, Robin R., Sakami, Sanae, Palczewski, Krysztof, Sherman, Michael Y., Reeves, Philip J. and Cheetham, Michael E., 2017, Human Molecular Genetics (26), 2, pp 305-319
Macrophage-induced blood vessels guide Schwann cell-mediated regeneration of peripheral nerves
Cattin, Anne-Laure, Burden, Jemima J., Van Emmenis, Lucie, Mackenzie, Francesca E., Hoving, Julian J.A., Garcia Calavia, Noelia, Guo, Yanping, McLaughlin, Maeve, Rosenberg, Laura H., Quereda, Victor, Jamecna, Denisa, Napoli, Ilaria, Parrinello, Simona, Enver, Tariq, Ruhrberg, Christiana and Lloyd, Alison C., 2015, Cell (162), 5, pp 1127-1139
Neural crest cell-derived VEGF promotes embryonic jaw extension
Wiszniak, S, Mackenzie, FF, Anderson, P, Kabbara, S, Ruhrberg, C and Schwarz, Q, 2015, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) (112), 19, pp 6086-6091
Diverse roles for VEGF-A in the nervous system
Mackenzie, Francesca and Ruhrberg, Christiana, 2012, Development (139), 8, pp 1371-1380
Emerging roles for semaphorins and VEGFs in synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity
Tillo, Miguel, Ruhrberg, Christiana and Mackenzie, Francesca, 2012, (6), 6, pp 541-546
Influence of physiological glucose levels on SIM-A9 microglial cell immune response
Bruno, Lucrezia, Mackenzie, Francesca and Stolinski, Michael(2023). In: Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2023, 16-20 Jul 2023 :Amsterdam, Netherlands
Online strategies for developing and delivering Enterprise activities for undergraduate Pharmacology and Life Science students
Morgan, Anna L. B., Mackenzie, Francesca, Stolinski, Michael, Baker, Amanda, Reid, Dwain, Mador, Martha and Page, Nigel(2021). In: Pharmacology 2021, 07-09 Sep 2021 :Held online
Supporting activities to embed creativity and innovation as an implicit part of the bioscience student experience
Mackenzie, Francesca, Morgan, Anna, Stolinski, Michael, Baker, Amanda, Reid, Dwain, Mador, Martha and Page, Nigel(2021). In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy, 29-30 Jun 2021 :The Open University, U.K. (Held online)
Defining a new in vitro culture system to monitor the effects of glucose on microglial metabolism
Bruno, Lucrezia, Stolinski, Michael and Mackenzie, Francesca(2021). In: The International BNA 2021 Festival of Neuroscience, 12-15 Apr 2021 :Held online
The effect of video-game visual training on visual function in adults with self–reported reading difficulties
Mikailionyte, Agne, Pierscionek, Barbara, Mackenzie, Francesca E and Augousti, Andy(2021). In: Applied Vision Association Virtual Spring Meeting (2021), 29 Mar 2021 :Held Online
Developing and delivering new online Enterprise activities for L4, L5 and L6 Life Science students
Mackenzie, Francesca, Morgan, Anna, Stolinski, Michael, Baker, Amanda, Reid, Dwain and Mador, Martha(2021). In: Festival of Learning Bitesize 2023, 26 Feb 2021 :Held online
Gallery of work
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Differentiated neuronal cells
