Profile
Duncan Smith
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About Me:
Im a busy Dad of three boys. I love music (I’m a massive fan of the Charlatans and Ride), football (a fan of the one and one Oldham Athletic) and socialising. I’m a Vinyl record collector and love HiFi sound systems.
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My Work:
I use Mass Spectrometry to uncover the specific roles proteins play in Cancer. Proteins represent a major target of drugs so understanding proteins role in disease is one of the first stages of developing drugs of the future.
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Read more
We use the wealth of genomic sequences now available to predict the masses of every peptide we could encounter what is known as Proteomics (The study of all proteins). We then use very expensive Mass Spectrometers (£1M+) to weigh peptides with phenomenal accuracy in the lab to work out which protein they belong to. We can detect the protein differences between a healthy and cancer cell or between a cell that responds to a drug and one that is resistant. In this way we can discover the mechanism of cancer at a molecular basis.
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My Typical Day:
I arrive at work normally between 8am and 8:30, drink a coffee with friends and then into the lab to take on the experiment of the day. Days are incredibly varied (which I love). I’m lucky to be involved in the full breadth of biological research at my institute so one day I’ll be uncovering the proteins that change as a result of a new active drug being developed in melanoma (skin cancer) and the next I’m defining the way a potential leukaemia drug inhibits the modification of a set of signalling proteins. It’s always challenging, mostly rewarding, occasionally frustrating but always fascinating. It just isn’t possible to be bored in my job.
Normally my day is done about 5:30 but occasional late nights and the odd all nighter to chase that illusive data is not unusual. This isn’t expected, its driven from curiosity. I’m just very nosey.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
It will be a very strong field but if I were lucky enough to win the £500 public engagement prize, I would use it to fund specific engagement activities with schools in deprived areas of the city in which I live (the wonderful Manchester). My hope is that targeting such schools may ignite the imagination and desire in a child given few opportunities before. I think public engagement is great but leveraging it for social mobility is a massive bonus on top. How many children from those places go to top Universities and work in scientific research? Not enough and we ought to change that. One small step at a time.
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Education:
Moston Lane Primary School
North Manchester High School for Boys
Shena Simon College
Eccles College
UMIST
University of Manchester
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Qualifications:
GCSE
Biology A, Chemistry A, Physics A, English B, Maths A, Commerce A, History A
A Levels
Biology A, Chemistry A, Psychology A
Degree
Biochemistry with Applied Molecular Biology Bsc. Hons First Class
PhD
Proteomic Analysis of Bcr-Abl in Chronic Myeloid leukaemia
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Work History:
Baker ( I left school and decided to go to work). I was bored so after 3 years, I gave up my job and went to college to continue my education (A levels, degree and PhD)
Principle Scientist at Renovo (a small biotech company)
Post doctoral Scientist at Paterson Institute of Cancer Research (I used proteomics to study stem cell development)
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Current Job:
Head of Mass Spec core facility at CRUK Manchester Institute
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Employer:
University of Manchester
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
A pilot
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Marine Biologist with an interest in coral reefs
Who is your favourite singer or band?
The Charlatans and Ride (I can't split them-done ask me to please)
What's your favourite food?
Balti
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Happiness, Health and more records
Tell us a joke.
Oldham to win the league
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