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Staff Profiles

Dr Alanna Stanley

Ph.D., MSc., B.Sc.

Contact Details

Demonstrators - Anatomy
Department of Anatomy
NUI, Galway

E: alanna.stanley@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Alanna began her current job as demonstrator of Anatomy in 2007. In 2008 she began studying for her Ph.D part-time under the supervision of Dr. Fabio Quondamatteo. Alanna was awarded her Ph.D, entitled 'Analysis of the role of Rho GTPases in epithelial cells' in 2014. This study was part of a larger project in collaboration with Prof. Brakebusch in BRIC investigating the effects of the in vivo deletion of different Rho GTPases on the skin.
During this time Alanna also completed the 2 year distance learning anatomy training programme through the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Prior to taking up her current post, Alanna received a BSc (First class Hons) in Anatomy from NUI Galway in 2004. In 2006 she completed a taught MSc in Biomedical Science from the NCBES, NUI Galway, during which time she did a research project on the Apoptotic Caspases and Myoblast Differentiation.

During her Ph.D study Alanna began to investigate how the effect of the deletion of Rac1 in epithelial cells would affect reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through NADPH oxidase complexes. This is an area of research she wishes to further develop and understand as over the last number of years it has become increasingly clear how important NADPH oxidase complexes are for regulated ROS production necessary for the oxidation of many proteins in different signalling pathways.

Alanna is also very interested in promotion of microscopy through outreach activities. Through EXPLORE funding obtained in 2014/2015 academic year; Alanna, in partnership with Kerry Thompson, acted as a team leader in the “Under the Microscope” Scheme, which brought Microscope Activity Kits from the Royal Microscopy Society (RMS) into Irish Primary Schools for the first time. Over 450 children in rural County Galway and Mayo schools gained access to a microscope on a daily basis for a minimum of four weeks. It is hoped that the team, with the support of the RMS and the MSI, can secure funding to continue the scheme in Irish schools.

Research Interests

Ultrastructural analysis of murine skin with targeted deletion of specific Rho GTPase genes

NADPH oxidase complexes, in particular developing methods to visualise these complexes in live cells and also in vivo

Public engagement and promotion of STEM activities using Microscopy in Primary School Education

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2014) 'NADPH oxidase complex-derived reactive oxygen species, the actin cytoskeleton, and Rho GTPases in cell migration'
Stanley A, Thompson K, Hynes A, Brakebusch C, Quondamatteo F (2014) 'NADPH oxidase complex-derived reactive oxygen species, the actin cytoskeleton, and Rho GTPases in cell migration'. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 20 (13):2026-2042 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'A non-apoptotic role for caspase-9 in muscle differentiation'
Murray TV, McMahon JM, Howley BA, Stanley A, Ritter T, Mohr A, Zwacka R, Fearnhead HO (2008) 'A non-apoptotic role for caspase-9 in muscle differentiation'. Journal Of Cell Science, 121 (Pt 22):3786-3793 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'RAC1 in keratinocytes regulates crosstalk to immune cells by Arp2/3-dependent control of STAT1'
Pedersen E, Wang Z, Stanley A, Peyrollier K, Rösner LM, Werfel T, Quondamatteo F, Brakebusch C (2012) 'RAC1 in keratinocytes regulates crosstalk to immune cells by Arp2/3-dependent control of STAT1'. Journal Of Cell Science, 125 (Pt 22):5379-5390 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'RhoA is dispensable for skin development, but crucial for contraction and directed migration of keratinocytes'
Jackson, B,Peyrollier, K,Pedersen, E,Basse, A,Karlsson, R,Wang, ZP,Lefever, T,Ochsenbein, AM,Schmidt, G,Aktories, K,Stanley, A,Quondamatteo, F,Ladwein, M,Rottner, K,van Hengel, J,Brakebusch, C (2011) 'RhoA is dispensable for skin development, but crucial for contraction and directed migration of keratinocytes'. Molecular Biology Of The Cell, 22 :593-605 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Rho GTPases and Nox dependent ROS production in skin. Is there a connection?'
Stanley A, Hynes A, Brakebusch C, Quondamatteo F (2012) 'Rho GTPases and Nox dependent ROS production in skin. Is there a connection?'. Histology And Histopathology, 27 (11):1395-1406 [Details]
(2010) 'N-WASP as a novel regulator of hair follicle cycling that controls antiproliferative TGF beta pathways'
Lefever, T., Pedersen, E., Basse, A., Paus, R., Quondamatteo, F., Stanley, A., Langbein, L., Wu, X., Wehland, J., Lommel, S. and Brakebusch C. (2010) 'N-WASP as a novel regulator of hair follicle cycling that controls antiproliferative TGF beta pathways'. Journal of Cell Science, 123 :128-140 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Poster

  Year Publication
(2008) Ultrastructural Organization of Collagen Fibrils in the of a11-Integrin Deficient Mice. Annual Meeting of the German Society for Matrix Biology.
Stanley A, Dockery P, Williams C, Popova S, Hallinger R, Eckes B, Gullberg D, Quondamatteo F. (2008) Ultrastructural Organization of Collagen Fibrils in the of a11-Integrin Deficient Mice. Annual Meeting of the German Society for Matrix Biology. Conference Poster [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Society for Cutaneous Ultrastructure Research Ordinary Member /
Microscopy Society of Ireland Education Officer 27-AUG-15 /
Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland Ordinary Member /