Natalie Syrett

I have and always will love science, especially how the human cell works, that is what drove me to study a degree and PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology in the first place. My post-doctoral role at the University of Essex studying rhodopsin and my work at Domantis Ltd increasing binding efficiency of anti-cancer antibodies only confirmed to me how fulfilling such a career could be. Currently I am employed by Professor Chris E Cooper at the University of Essex. Prof Cooper is interested in the toxicity of haem proteins when they are released from their normal protective environments, whether it be myoglobin being released from a muscle cell after exercise or haemoglobin from a red blood cell during a sickle cell crisis. Professor Cooper’s group is keen to develop products that can prevent this damage and thus contribute to new therapies for pathologies such as sickle cell disease, malaria, rhabdomyolysis, pre-eclampsia, bacterial-induced haemoylsis and brain haemorrhage. These ideas are currently being used to develop an artificial blood substitute.