Angela Vincent
Encyclopedia
Angela Vincent is a professor at Somerville College
of Oxford University
. She is the head of a research group, which is located in the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and working on a wide range of biological
disciplines encompassing molecular biology
, biochemistry
, cellular immunology
and intracellular neurophysiology
. The group's research is focused on autoimmune and genetic disorder
s of the neuromuscular junction and peripheral motor nerves. The principal autoimmune diseases studied are myasthenia gravis
, the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
and acquired neuromyotonia
.
Her contributions are mainly on the roles of antibodies directed against ion channel
at the nerve
-muscle
junction in the pathogenesis of above mentioned diseases. She has demonstrated that transfer of these antibodies
across the placenta
from the pregnant woman
to the fetus
in utero
can cause developmental abnormalities. She has also worked on the principal gene mutation
s causing neuromuscular diseases.
In 2009 she presented the Leslie Oliver Oration
at Queen's Hospital
.
Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and was one of the first women's colleges to be founded there...
of Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. She is the head of a research group, which is located in the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and working on a wide range of biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
disciplines encompassing molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
, biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
, cellular immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
and intracellular neurophysiology
Neurophysiology
Neurophysiology is a part of physiology. Neurophysiology is the study of nervous system function...
. The group's research is focused on autoimmune and genetic disorder
Genetic disorder
A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes, especially a condition that is present from before birth. Most genetic disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions....
s of the neuromuscular junction and peripheral motor nerves. The principal autoimmune diseases studied are myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
, the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder that is characterised by muscle weakness of the limbs...
and acquired neuromyotonia
Neuromyotonia
Neuromyotonia , also known as Isaacs' syndrome, is a form of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability that causes spontaneous muscular activity resulting from repetitive motor unit action potentials of peripheral origin.-Causes:...
.
Her contributions are mainly on the roles of antibodies directed against ion channel
Ion channel
Ion channels are pore-forming proteins that help establish and control the small voltage gradient across the plasma membrane of cells by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. They are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells...
at the nerve
Nerve
A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...
-muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
junction in the pathogenesis of above mentioned diseases. She has demonstrated that transfer of these antibodies
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
across the placenta
Placenta
The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. "True" placentas are a defining characteristic of eutherian or "placental" mammals, but are also found in some snakes and...
from the pregnant woman
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
to the fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
in utero
In utero
In utero is a Latin term literally meaning "in the womb". In biology, the phrase describes the state of an embryo or fetus. In legal contexts, the phrase is used to refer to unborn children. Under common law, unborn children are still considered to exist for property transfer purposes.-See also:*...
can cause developmental abnormalities. She has also worked on the principal gene mutation
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
s causing neuromuscular diseases.
In 2009 she presented the Leslie Oliver Oration
Leslie Oliver Oration
The Leslie Oliver Oration is held annually at the Queen's Hospital, London. The lectures are named after Leslie Oliver who founded the Neurosurgical Unit at Oldchurch Hospital in Essex in 1945...
at Queen's Hospital
Queen's Hospital
Queen's Hospital is a new hospital in Romford, in the London Borough of Havering in London, England. It was built on the former Oldchurch Park, a short distance south of the town centre...
.