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Neil Avent Professor Neil Avent - (Neil David Avent)
Role Qualifications & background Full Biog http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/neil-avent/8/a02/480 PA Mrs Maureen Loton 01752 584604 maureen.loton@plymouth.ac.uk Selected recent presentations have been added to "publications" section Professional membership Staff serving as external examiners Research interests Avent lab current Research activity 1. Free fetal DNA (ffDNA) in maternal plasma (Dr Tracey Madgett, Dr Narendra Kausik, Tara Miran) ffDNA represents the greatest potential for delivering routine non-invasive prenatal diagnosis, and especially coupled with next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies could easily become the norm for the diagnosis of aneuploidy. Unfortunately NGS technology presently is prohibitively expensive, and we have developed methods for the enrichment of fetal DNA and depletion of maternal DNA in maternal plasma samples. The study is set to exploit the digital PCR platform we have just acquired within the Plymouth post-genomics Centre, which is due to open in November 2011. The methods involve relatively straightforward manipulations of the PCR procedure to inhibit the amplification of maternal DNA, and in one assay to actively destroy it. The work is currently funded by the NIHR, and is in collaboration with Prof Lyn Chitty (ICH/UCL/GOSH). Despite the huge advances in the study of ffDNA (described above) there are distinct advantages in being able to work with single purified fetal cells. Based on our previous work, we are isolating fetal erythroblasts using our FACSAria 2 flow cytometer, and investigation the transcriptome using next-generation sequencing. With this we hope to identify fetal erythroblast specific biomarkers to enable their more efficient isolation from maternal blood samples. We consider the lack of suitable biomarkers of erythroid cells to be a key factor in the ineffectiveness of fetal cell isolation methodologies in the past. 3. Molecular Investigation of Mechanisms of red cell turnover 4. New Serum Screening biomarkers for aneuploidy (Dr Narendra Kaushik) We have identified a significant number of biomarkers using CVS samples from Down and non-Down mothers by transcriptomics, and by previous proteomics studies (see Heywood et al., (2011) in publications list). We are validating these markers after raising monoclonal antibodies to them. Many Down-specific changes involve PTMs and we will use our new Orbitrap velos mass spectrometer to identify their molecular nature- knowing precisely which protein species is involved. Study funded by the Fetal medicine Foundation in collaboration with Prof Kypros Nicolaides and Dr Ranjit Akolekar 5. New roles for the CD47 glycoprotein A study in collaboration with Prof Oliver Hanemann (PCMD), we are investigating the binding partners of CD47 in neural tissue, and then using CD47 ligands as potential new therapeutic agents against brain tumours, especially Schannoma. Research degrees awarded to supervised students Jill Storry (2000) UWE, Bristol (Second Supervisor) Wendy Liu (2001) University of Bristol (Director of Studies) Kirstin Finning (2003) UWE, Bristol (Director of Studies) Emma Court (2003) UWE, Bristol (Second supervisor) Lucy Skinner (2004) UWE, Bristol (Director of Studies) Charlotte Spink (2004) UWE, Bristol (Second supervisor) Zoe Plummer (2006) UWE, Bristol (Director of Studies) Lisa Spary (2007) UWE, Bristol (Second supervisor) Amanda Wallington (2007) UWE, Bristol (Director of Studies) Kevin Kemp (2007) UWE, Bristol (Second supervisor) Kelly Sanders (2008) UWE, Bristol (Second supervisor) Sina Mueller (2009) University of Goettingen (Second supervisor) MD Kin Choi (2011) University of Bristol (Second Supervisor) Grants & contracts (6) “Transcriptomics of Down syndrome placental samples” 2008-2009 N.D. Avent and D.G. Maddocks, Fetal Medicine foundation £45,000
Publications Papers Since 2008 Original articles Alberry M.S., Illanes. S., Maddocks, D.G., Fattah, S.A., Zimmerman, B.G., Avent, N.D., Soothill, P.W. (2008) Maternal levels of free fetal DNA are elevated in pregnancies with growth restriction due to placental dysfunction. South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 13: 60-63. Avent N.D, Plummer, Z.E., Madgett, T.E., Maddocks, D.G., Soothill, P.W. (2008) Post-genomics studies and their application to non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 13: 91-98. [Times cited 13] Avent N.D. (2008) RHD genotyping from maternal plasma: guidelines and technical challenges. Methods Mol. Biol. 444: 185-201 [Times cited 11] Zimmerman B.G., Maddocks D.G., Avent N.D. (2008) Quantification of circulalatory fetal DNA in maternal plasma. Methods Mol. Biol. 444: 219-229 [Times cited 5] Alberry, M.S., Maddocks, D. G., Hadi, M.A., Metawi, H., Hunt, L. P.,Abdel-Fattah, S.A., Avent, N. D., Soothill, P. W. (2009) Quantification of cell free fetal DNA in maternal plasma in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies with placental dysfunction. Am J. Obstet. Gynecol. 200 98 e1-e6 Flegel, W.A., von Zabern, I, Doescher, A, Wagner, F.F., Strathmann, K.P., Geisen, C., Palfi, M., Písačka, M, Poole, J., Polin, H., Gabriel, C., and Avent N.D. (2009) D variants at the RhD vestibule in the weak D type 4 and Eurasian D clusters Transfusion 49: 1059-1069. (cover image, senior author). [Times cited 2] Maddocks, D.G., Alberry, M.S., Attilakos, G., Madgett, T.E., Choi, K., Soothill, P.W., Avent, N.D. (2009) The SAFE project: Towards non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 37: 460-465. [Times cited 10] Avent ND., Martinez, A., Flegel WA., Olsson ML, Scott ML, Nogués N, Písačka, M, Daniels GL, Van der Schoot CE., Muñiz-Diaz, E., Madgett TE., Storry JR, Beiboer SH, Petra A. Maaskant-van Wijk, von Zabern, I., Jiménez, E., Tejedor,D., López, M., Camacho, E., Cheroutre, G., Hacker, A., Jinoch, P., Svobodova, I., de Haas, M. (2009) The Bloodgen project of the European Union, 2003-2009 Transfusion Medicine and Haemostasis 36: 162-167. [Times cited 2] Jeremy, K.P., Plummer, Z.E., Head, D.J., Madgett, T.E., Sanders, K.L., Wallington, A., Storry, J.R., Gilsanz, F., Delaunay, J., Avent, N.D. (2009) 4.1R-deficient human red blood cells have altered phosphatidylserine exposure pathways and are deficient in CD44 and CD47 glycoproteins. Haematologica 94: 1354-1361 (IF 5.978) [Times cited 2] Diraison, F., Hayward, K., Sanders, K.L., Brozzi, F., Lajus, S., Hancock, J., Francis, J.E., Ainscow, E., Bommer, U.A., Molnar, E., Avent, N.D., Varadi, A. (2011) Translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) is a novel glucose-regulated protein important for survival of pancreatic beta cells. Diabetologica 54: 368-379. [Times cited 3] Attilakos, G, Maddocks, D.G., Davies, T., Hunt, L.P., Avent, N.D., Soothill, P.W., Grant, S.R. (2011) Quantification of free fetal DNA in multiple pregnancies and relationship with chorionicity. Prenatal Diagnosis 31: 967-972. Heywood, W.E., Madgett, T.E., Wang, D., Wallington, A., Hogg, J., Mills, K., Avent, N.D. (2011) 2D-DIGE analysis of maternal plasma for potential Biomarkers of Down syndrome. Proteome Science 9: Article number 56. Madgett, T.E., Pearl, M., Jones, J.W., Scott, M.L., Avent N.D. (2011) Molecular basis of the partial RhD variants DHMi and DHMii. In press, Transfusion. Reviews since 2008 Chitty L.S., Hahn, S., van der Schoot., C.E., Avent, N.D. (2008) SAFE -The Special Non-Invasive Advances in Fetal and Neonatal Evaluation network - Aims and achievements. Prenatal Diagnosis 28: 83-88. [Times cited 19] Avent N.D., (2009) Large scale blood group genotyping – Clinical Implications. British Journal of Haematology 144: 3-13. [Times cited 17] Avent N.D., Madgett, T.E., Maddocks, D.G., Soothill, P.W. (2009) Cell-free fetal DNA in the maternal serum and plasma: current and evolving applications. Curr Opin. Obstet. Gynecol. 21: 175-179. [Times cited 8] May, J.E., Xu, J., Morse, H.R., Avent, N.D., Donaldson, C. (2009) Toxicity testing: the search for an in vitro alternative to animal testing. Brit. J. Biomed. Sci. 66: 160-165. [Times cited 2] Avent N.D. (2009) Meeting report – June 4th-7th 2009 14th congress of the European Haematology association, Berlin: Transfusion medicine education session. Expert Reviews Haematol 2: 641-643. Editorials Avent N.D (2008) Unravelling the immune response during AIHA. Blood 111: 483 Avent N.D. (2012) Refining Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis with single molecule next generation sequencing. In Press Clin. Chem. Book Chapters Avent N.D., Cartron, J-P. (2011) Blood testing- development of new technologies. The white book, 2010, Chapter 4, In press (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18922721) Reports & invited lectures NB- Feel free to utilize the content of my presentations, all I request is that you cite me as the source, thanks. Neil February 24th-25th 2008 Speaker The SAFE network of excellence and Proteomics and Transcriptomics in Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis" SAFE and European Genetics Foundation joint PhD workshop- Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis, Bologna, Italy. March 13th 2008 Invited Speaker - Non-Invasive Prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy - a post genomics approach. Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis - Implications for antenatal diagnosis and the management of high risk pregnancies. Joint meeting by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and SAFE, RCOG, London. May 31st 2008 Chair, Session on Non-Invasive Prenatal diagnosis, European Society of Human Genetics 2008 conference, Barcelona, Spain June 10th 2008 Invited speaker Post-genomics analysis of the erythrocyte membrane and its antigens XXXth congress of the ISBT, Macao SAR, PR China. Download Presentation (pdf) June 13th 2008 Chair, Transfusion Medicine educational session, European Hematology association, Copenhagen, Denmark. July 7th 2008 Invited talk - Proteomics in Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis -National genetics reference laboratory (NGRL) workshop on New and Developing technologies in genetic diagnosis, NGRL, Salisbury, Wilts. Download Presentation (pdf) July 11th 2008 Invited lecture Fetal markers in maternal blood British Inherited Metabolic Disease group, annual symposium, UWE, Bristol. Download Presentation (pdf) September 8th 2008 The Bloodgen project - mass scale blood group genotyping Czech-Slovak congress in Transfusionology, Spindleruv-Mlyn, Czech republic. September 12th 2008 Rh D genotyping using microarrays - Session RhD - a perennial problem, British Blood transfusion society annual meeting, Llandudno Download presentation (pdf) September 17th 2008 The Bloodgen project of the European Union Invited speaker, Congress of the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Transfusionsmedizin und Immunhaematologie, DGTI), Dusseldorf, Germany. Download presentation (pdf) September 29th 2008 Blood group genotyping from maternal plasma Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada Download Presentation (pdf) April 3rd 2009 Genotyping in transfusion medicine Invited lecture, BGS 2009 congress, Reading. Download Presentation (pdf) June 5th 2009 Chair ; Educational session- Transfusion Medicine, European Hematology association 14th annual meeting, Berlin, Germany. July 22nd 2009 Invited lecture Mass scale blood group genotyping and non-invasive prenatal diagnosis, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, St Luke’s campus, Exeter. October 24th 2009 Invited lecture Bloodchip –The European experience with genotyping American Association of Blood banks, TXPO 2009, New Orleans, LA. USA Download presentation (pdf) October 30th 2009 Invited lecture Blood group genotyping, past, present and future NIH Clinical centre, Department of Transfusion Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA Download Presentation (pdf) November 9th 2009 Invited lecture Circulating DNA in health and disease - Revolutionising prenatal diagnostics Innovations & progress in Healthcare for Women, 2nd International Meeting, RCOG London March 19th 2010 Invited speaker 1st Central-Eastern European Symposium on Free Nucleic Acids in the Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis, Budapest, Hungary. April 22nd 2010 Invited lecture – The Bloodgen project – translational implications of mass scale genotyping of blood groups, EGENIS, University of Exeter, ESRC genomics network, health technologies and health systems workstream, 2nd conference. May 11th 2010 Invited lecture – Biomarkers for Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis and screening. Focus 2010, Glasgow. May 19th 2010 Invited lecture – Mechanisms of Red Cell turnover (eryptosis). Dutch Society for Blood Transfusion, Ede, The Netherlands. June 10th 2010 Invited lecture The Rh blood group system Scotblood 2010, University of Stirling June 11th 2010 Chair Transfusion medicine education session, European Hematology Association 15th congress, Barcelona. Download pdf – Expert Review Of Haematology March 4th 2011 Grifols Transfusion Medicine Advisory board meeting, Barcelona. May 30th 2011 Invited lecture Current status of Non-Invasive prenatal diagnosis. Eurogentest workshop, European Society for Human Genetics, Amsterdam, Netherlands Download Presentation June 28th 2011 Invited lecture Using difference in gel electrophoresis to define biomarkers for prenatal diagnosis (and screening) , 2nd Genomics workshop, National Reference Centre for genomics and proteomics (REGPOT) Skopje, Macedonia. Download presentation October 25th 2011 Grifols advisory board meeting, American Association of Blood Banks, San Diego, California January 18-19th 2012 Eurogentest and Techgene general assembly, Nijmegen, Netherlands March 7th 2012 Invited speaker Blood group genotyping Kainos user group meeting. Osaka, Japan. March 29th- April 1st 2012 3rd Genomics workshop, National Reference Centre for genomics and proteomics (REGPOT), Ohrid, Macedonia. May 9-11th 2012 Grifols Transfusion Medicine Advisory Board meeting, and Invited speaker on Blood group genotyping course, Barcelona, Spain. Conferences organised Other academic activities |
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