Advances in Biosciences Seminar Series - Dr Ellen McMullen | Neuroscience Tutor, MMU
| Dates: | 28 July 2025 |
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| Times: | 12:00 - 13:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health |
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| Who is it for: | University staff |
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| Speaker: | Ellen McMullen |
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Join the Division of Molecular and Cellular Function (MCF) for the Advances in Biosciences Seminar Series, the speaker is Dr Ellen McMullen | Neuroscience Tutor, MMU
Hosted by Professor Martin Lowe and Dr John Robert Davis.
Date: Monday 28 July 2025
Time: 12:00-13:00
Venue: Michael Smith Lecture Theatre
Title: “Improvise. Adapt. Overcome. The metabolic plasticity of the central nervous system”
Abstract: Metabolic homeostasis is essential for survival. Different tissues and organs have different metabolic requirements. This can lead to a conflict for limited resources when metabolic demand is increased during stressful or challenging periods. The brain is metabolically privileged above all, but is also highly dynamic in terms of nutrient usage. The brain is able to increase carbohydrate uptake as required and switch from glycolysis and ?-oxidation when carbohydrates are limited. However, the mechanism by which the brain performs these metabolic changes remains elusive. This work aims to uncover the key signaling mechanisms that facilitate metabolic homeostasis and conserves brain function during adverse conditions such as starvation and infection.
Bio: Ellen completed her PhD at the University of Muenster, Germany where she studied the metabolic plasticity of the Drosophila central nervous system. Following this she explored the metabolic regulation of the immune system at the University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic. While at the UoSB she was awarded an EMBO postdoctoral fellowship to investigate the inter-organ communication between the brain and immune system during infection. Ellen recently took a tutor post at MMU teaching neuroscience and physiology.
Speaker
Ellen McMullen
Role: Dr
Organisation: MMU
Travel and Contact Information
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Michael Smith Lecture Theatre
Michael Smith Building
Manchester
