Professor Louise Serpell
Biochemist, Neuroscientist
- BORN 1970, Brighton, East Sussex, UK
- WORKED University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; MRC centre, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge; University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Serpell Lab, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
- HONOURS I won Red magazine “Pioneer” (haha)
- MINERVA SCIENTIFICA PROJECT Misfolding 2021
Podcast
In this podcast, myself and Dr Karen Marshall from the Serpell Lab, School of Life Sciences and Prof. Nicholas Till – Centre for Research in Opera and Music Theatre, explore the ideas behind the Misfolding Project, based at the University of Sussex. We commissioned a series of 5 audiovisual works from a diverse range of artists under the mentorship of Frances M Lynch, which together form an exploration of the science of Alzheimer’s disease. The podcast gives you a flavour of the music by Lynch, Shu Yang, Kira Ramchaitar-Husbands and Antonia Redding with a comprehensive exposition of the science – in laymans’ terms.
Artistic Connections
I don’t have any official connections with music or other arts but I am very interested in music (I played the flute as a child) and I am reasonably creative person. I like making pretty slides and figures.
MUSIC
Title: Miss Amy-Lloyd Folding
Composer: FRANCES M LYNCH
Words by: FRANCES M LYNCH
Written: April 2023
For: 3 solo voices
Performed by: ELECTRIC VOICE THEATRE SINGERS:- Frances M Lynch – Soprano Margaret Cameron & Samantha Houston – Mezzos
Film by: Hannah Fox
One of 5 films made for the MISFOLDING Project 2023 – an audiovisual exploration of the science of Alzheimer’s disease
Title: Misfolding for Dummies
Composer: FRANCES M LYNCH
Words by: FRANCES M LYNCH
Written: April 2023
For: speaker and digital instruments
Performed by: the composer with Sarah Ankers (BSL Interpreter)
Film by: Herbie Clarke
Part of the MISFOLDING project – an audiovisual exploration of the science of Alzheimer’s disease.
Title: Misfolding for Dummies
Composer: FRANCES M LYNCH
Words by: FRANCES M LYNCH
Written: May 2021
For: Woodwind quartet, 2 violins and speaker
Performed by: the composer (all instruments are simulations due to current covid restrictions)
Frances wrote this piece to try to tell the whole story of misfolding proteins and their connections to Alzheimers disease. It is based on all the discussions we had this year about the project and what we wanted to communicate to the public. It ends with a message of hope.
Title: 3 Misfolding Responses (“Folding and Misfolding”, “Virus, Bacteria, Protein” and “Hope for ReFolding”)
Composers: Kira Ramchaitar-Husbands, Antonia Redding, Shu Yang
Written: as part of intensive Misfolding Workshops 1st & 2nd June 2021.
Each composer attended our online sessions, heard about the science, worked on science/music parallels and created music and visuals which aim to communicate our research to the public. More details here.
Education
I realised early on that I wanted to be a scientist, so I chose Chemistry, Biology and Maths at A-level. It would have been great if I could have fitted in a creative subject too! I then went to Nottingham to do a degree in Biochemistry and genetics, and I liked my research project so much that I decided to do a PhD. It was at Oxford that I discovered Protein Misfolding and learnt all about protein structure. After I finished my PhD, I went to work in Toronto, Canada and there I specialised more in Alzheimer’s disease research. I had the opportunity to return home to Cambridge (it literally was my home!) and I started working on my own research there before moving to University of Sussex where I have been ever since.
Occupations
Various Washer upper jobs as a temp in the holidays.
Hornes mens clothes shop on Saturdays.
Cookie shop on Saturdays (I was sacked for being too slow).
Research technician at the University of Cambridge Department of pathology in the summer after my A-levels.
Research technician at the National Institute for Agricultural Botany in my gap year (6 months).
Au-Pair in my gap year in Italy (6 months).
English as a foreign language teacher in the holidays from Uni.
English with a family in Italy in holiday from Uni.
Barmaid in Oxford in the evenings during my PhD.
Scientific Achievements
I worked on Athena SWAN (gender equality charter) and I feel very strongly about the proper support and representation of women and other protected characteristics in STEMM. I believe that diversity and inclusivity are key to our work.
My research work focusses on how proteins misfold and how this can result in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. I am interested in protein structure and how protein structures are important in the functions of the protein and how, when they misfold, they can become toxic to cells.
We have worked with charities like the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK on numerous public engagement events when members of the public have been invited to hear more about our research. I feel this is essential for us to share information about how funding is used with the public and for us to learn from the public what they feel is important. In Alzheimer’s disease research, it is really important for us to remember why we are doing the research, even when we are focussed on atomic details!
Did You Know?
Life is a rollercoaster and trying to ensure that your work doesn’t overwhelm you is incredibly important. Relatively recently (late in life), I discovered distance running. I would say this is very slow distance running, but it clears my mind and helps with the stressful conditions of work. Science, as with other research areas, is fraught with judgements. It can be hard to hear the responses to your hard work on grants and papers, so it is important to keep a balanced perspective.
More recently, I have discovered the wonderful world of sea dipping. There is nothing better than a quick dip in the sea in Brighton in January followed by a cup of warm coffee on the beach!
An Inspiring Woman
From a very young age I was inspired by the story of ROSALIND FRANKLIN and her contribution to the structure of DNA. In fact, I ended up working on a similar research topic, except instead of DNA, I worked on the fibrous structure of amyloid fibrils!
Other than that, I have been very lucky to have several female role models, including Professor Sheena Radford in Leeds, who is an amazing scientist who also works on misfolding. I was also lucky enough to work with Professor Susan Lindquist, who was an incredible person and whose work on who proteins fold continues to inspire us. Sadly Susan died too young in 2016.