Dr Kathleen E. Wright

Profile

Kathleen’s first degree was a BSc (Hon) in Medical Biochemistry with a year in industry. This was followed by a Cell Culture Scientist position at NIBSC, developing Biological Reference Materials for cancers, genetic disease, etc. Following this, she undertook her PhD studies in Life Sciences at The Open University in Milton Keynes. Here she majored in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, studying the nerve-sparing effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on sensory neural cells in collagen-based 3D models. This was in aid of deciphering the nerve-sparing effect observed in clinics after PDT was used for treating prostate cancers.

Kathleen has since undertaken several postdoctoral research posts in the areas of neural & cancer Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, in the use & further development of PDT, and in cardiovascular research.

On joining the University of Leeds, Kathleen has supported laboratory research in colorectal surgery (LIBACS) as a senior research fellow and cardiovascular research (SBMS) as senior scientific officer. More recently she has supported the research needs of the Macmillan Comprehensive Patient Records project (for cancer outcome in Leeds) as a project manager in (LIDA, LICAP). Here she supported a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, biostatisticians, data analysists, health economists, healthcare psychologists, cancer psychosocialists and patient representatives (https://lida.leeds.ac.uk/comprehensive-patient-records-2/).

Kathleen also takes part in public & patient engagement activities, and has undertaken a University of Leeds (UoL) Public Engagement Fellowship (A Healthy Diet for a Healthier Heart) video(https://mymedia.leeds.ac.uk/Mediasite/Showcase/default/Presentation/9dcd872db17141b5a217eed6998841a51d). She is a member of the UoL Network of Public Engagement Champions (Necnet), and a supporter of the University's annual Discovery Zone (for school children in Leeds).

Research interests

My research interest is on using the targeting cancer therapy photodynamic therapy (PDT), and in investigating tumour diagnostic potential of laparoscopic techniques in conjunction with photosensitising agents. My focus is on the use of intraoperative PDT to prevent local recurrence and to treat peritoneal carcinomotosis.

Qualifications

• Cert. APM Project Management
• PhD in Life Sciences
• BSc (Hon) Medical Biochemistry (Sandwich)
• Cert. TESOL

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's