Mike Ashford

Biography

Mike received his BSc in Physiology in 1977 and PhD in 1981, from the University of Aberdeen. In Aberdeen he was trained as an electrophysiologist and moved to the University of Nottingham in 1980 as an MRC Training Fellow to learn the technique of patch clamp. In 1983 Mark was appointed as a University Demonstrator (under the “New Blood Lecturer” scheme) in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge and in 1988 was confirmed as a University Lecturer. During this period, he became interested in ATP-sensitive potassium channels and their role in the control of insulin secretion. Mike also extended his interest in this channel to encompass central neurons and in particular glucose-sensing neurons of the hypothalamus. In 1995 Mike took up the post of Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Aberdeen and there developed my interest in hypothalamic leptin signalling and obesity. In 2001 he moved to the University of Dundee as Professor of Neuroscience and his current research interests are (i) glucose-sensing of beta cells and hypothalamic neurons in health and disease (ii) hypothalamic leptin resistance associated with obesity and leptin signalling mechanisms and (iii) the role of beta-secretase (BACE1) in energy homeostasis and metabolic disease.

Research Interest

Diabetes