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Dr William Humphries

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Senior lecturer, Course Director

I am an experienced educator, holding both a PGCE and qualified teacher status (QTS) in secondary education for chemistry. I also hold a PGCert HE, which is specific to higher education. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), a fellow of the institute of biomedical science (FIBMS), a member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB and a Chartered Biologist (CBiol). I also hold membership of the Institute of Safety in Technology and Research (MISTR).

I am also a governor of ARU Peterborough, and a director of ARU Peterborough, helping to influence the future direction of our university. I also sit on the whole ARU wide human biological safety committee (HBMC) and am listed as the person designated (PD) helping ensure that Human Tissue Authority (HTA) requirements, procedures, and licence conditions are followed locally. I am also a member of the ARU wide genetic modification safety committee (GMSC), helping to review new applications for GM work and reviewing safety protocols and procedures to ensure compliance with safety legislation.

Email: [email protected]

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Faculty:
Faculty of Engineering, Agri-tech and the Environment
Location:
Peterborough
Background

I have worked at Spirogen Ltd, as a research scientist. Spirogen, a biotech company focused on antibody-drug conjugate technology for use in oncology, was acquired by AstraZeneca’s MedImmune in 2013 for an initial consideration of $200M and deferred consideration of up to $240M based on reaching predetermined development milestones. 

I also worked at Mologic Ltd as a research scientist, now known as Global Access Diagnostics (GADx): Global Access Diagnostics (GADx) is a leading developer of lateral flow and rapid diagnostic technologies, products, and services. Bringing skills together for real impact, we work with companies, researchers, and clinicians to help them deliver fast, reliable, and accurate diagnoses at the point of care. Here, in addition to internal programs of work, I also worked on several contracts for external companies and organisations, including UK and US government projects, as well industrial and academic contracts.

I have also worked as a secondary school teacher (chemistry specialism). I achieved a few things as a teacher that I am proud of, one example was that I established a flow cytometry club at a secondary school, which went on to win funding for research from the Royal Society.

I have experience with the following scientific techniques: SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, interferometry, Immunofluorescent antibody labelling of proteins, ELISA, column purification of antibodies. Flow cytometry, PCR, real time-PCR, in situ hybridization, cloning. Confocal, light microscopy- Bright-field, dark field, fluorescent, phase contrast and polarizing. Electrochemistry, micro-fluidics, point of care (PoC) devices.

Research interests

In terms of research, I have worked with plant (A. thaliana), animal (L. stagnalis) yeast (P. pastoris) and bacterial (E. coli) model organisms. I also have experience working with human cells in culture. While working in industry, I gained many skills and techniques, with an emphasis on medical device research. My goal is to grow a research group, and this could be within the fields of anti-cancer drug discovery or novel medical diagnostics.

Teaching
  • Biomedical Sciences (BSc) Hons- course director-leader of multiple modules
Qualifications
  • PhD (University of Kent)
  • MRes (Kingston University)
  • BSc(Hons) (Kingston University)
  • PGCE (Edgehill University)
  • PGCertHE (Anglia Ruskin University)
Memberships, editorial boards
  • Royal Society of Biology (MRSB)
  • Institute of Safety in Technology Research (MISTR)

Fellowships

  • Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
  • Institute of Biomedical Science (FIBMS)

Chartership

  • Royal Society of Biology (CBiol)

Professional qualification

  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS, Teacher Regulation Agency)
Selected recent publications

Saurabh Jain, Luca Aresu, Stefano Comazzi, Jianguo Shi, Erin Worrall, John Clayton, Humphries, W.A., Sandra Hemmington, Paul Davis, Euan Murray, Asmare A. Limeneh, Kathryn Ball, Eva Ruckova, Petr Muller, Borek Vojtesek, Robin Fahraeus, David Argyle, Ted R. Hupp. 2016. “The Development of a Recombinant scFv Monoclonal Antibody Targeting Canine CD20 for Use in Comparative Medicine”. PLoS ONE 11(2): e0148366. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0148366

Walker, A.J., Plows, L.D., Humphries, W.A., Cook, R.T., Davies, A.J. (2003) Dissecting the molecular basis of molluscan immunity: the effect of immune challenge on MAPK and PKC signalling in Lymnaea stagnalis haemocytes. BCPC Proceedings 80, Slugs and Snails: Agricultural, Veterinary & Environmental Perspectives 63-68.