Mark Gray (BVM&S MSc VetSci Cert SAS MRCVS PhD)

Lecturer in Large Animal Research Surgery

Background

Graduating from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Stuies in 2004, I initialy worked in the north east of England in mixed practice. Working at the PDSA in Middlesbrough I developed an interest in surgery which led me to complete the RCVS certificate in small animal surgery in 2011.  Following the completion of my Master by Research at the Univirsity of Edinburgh in 2013, I worked as an orthopaedic  veterinary surgeon in the East Neuk of Fife. But my interest in research again drew me back to Edinbugh to do a PhD, investigating the in vivo and in vitro methods to improve the use of radiotherapy in human and veterinary patients.

Following a short stint as a Research Assistant within The University of Edinburgh, I am now employed as a a lecturer in lare animal research surgery at the Veterinary School and Roslin Institute. I am working in the Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility at the Easter Bush Campus.

Qualifications

Ph.D. Molecular and Clinical Medicine. September 2015-2019

  • Funded by a scholarship awarded by The University of Edinburgh

M.Sc. by research. September 2012-November 2013

  • Funded by a scholarship awarded by The University of Edinburgh. Graduated with distinction

Certificate in Small Animal Surgery. January 2008-September 2011

  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. September 1999-June 2004

  • The University of Edinburgh

 

 

Responsibilities & affiliations

Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Research summary

  • My PhD was part of a £5.2M EPSRC funded program grant. The IMPACT (Implantable Microsystems for Personalised Anti-cancer Therapy) project aimed to develop miniaturised sensors that could be implanted into solid tumours to measure intra-tumoural oxygen and pH. My role was to develop novel small and large animal models which would validate sensor functionality. The large animal work involved the development of an ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma model.
  • As a secondary aim of my PhD I developed novel in vitro radioresistant cell lines which were used to characterise cancer cell radioresistance and identify secreted proteins related to radiation response.

Current research interests

The roles within this job are split between my own research projects, teaching at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and performing surgery for other research groups at the Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility (LARIF) within the University of Edinburgh. Within my surgical role at LARIF I am largely involved with the development of large animal surgical translational models. These studies have included a porcine intestinal anastomosis project, a porcine acute kidney ischaemic and reperfusion injury model, a bovine lymphatic model and an ovine lung tumour model. I continue to be involved with multidisciplinary projects both within and outside the University Edinburgh. I am particularly interested in the development of implantable sensors for a medical uses and continue to work with engineers to develop the IMPACT sensors for human and veterinary applications. I also collaborate with colleagues at the Moredun institute to continue my research into ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Affiliated research centres

  • Moredun Research Institute

Current project grants

In vivo validation of novel biomarkers of response to radiotherapy in breast cancer. Chief Scientist Office

Pilot Study to Identify Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers of Response Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer . The Urology Foundation.

Development and characterisation of an ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma model for human lung cancer and veterinary research. Industry funded.