Bethan Cole
- Email: bsbac@leeds.ac.uk
- Thesis title: Function and pharmacological modulation of Na+-activated K+ channels involved in early-onset epileptic encephalopathies
- Supervisor: Dr Jonathan Lippiat, Dr Steven Clapcote
Profile
I am carrying out my PhD under the supervision of Dr Jon Lipppiat, funded by BBSRC and Autifony Therapeutics. I moved to the University of Leeds in 2017, following completion of my Pharmacology (BSc) degree at the University of Bristol.
Research interests
I am using electrophysiological techniques to study inhibition and gating mechanisms of wildtype and mutant KCNT1 (Slack) channels, which are highly expressed K+ channels activated by Na+, and weakly by voltage. The channels play an important role in normal physiology, though the mechanisms of voltage dependence and channel activation are poorly understood. Gain of function mutations of this channel are associated with treatment-resistant early-onset epileptic encephalopathies.
Qualifications
- BSc Pharmacology
Research groups and institutes
- Integrative Membrane Biology
- Neuroscience