Our new Associate Professors have received the title in recognition of their contributions to teaching, research and citizenship at the University and beyond.
Congratulations to:
Shijie Cai, Associate Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine
Shijie Cai completed his PhD in Gene Therapy at the University of Cambridge. He was a Clinical Research Fellow in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, University of Liverpool, and is currently a member of the Global Cholangiocarcinoma Alliance Steering Committee.
Dr Cai's research focuses on studying the molecular mechanisms of the tumour microenvironment and the impact of metabolism and epigenetic regulation between stromal cells and tumour cells. The tumours investigated include colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile duct).
Constantinos Christodoulides, Associate Professor of Metabolic Medicine
Costas Christodoulides is a Senior Clinical Research Fellow funded by the British Heart Foundation. He completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge and later joined the University of Oxford as an Academic Clinical Lecturer, before progressing to a BHF Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship.
His research focuses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms that govern the development and function of adipocytes (fat cells). These processes are closely linked to the increased risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease associated with obesity. In particular, he investigates the molecular determinants that regulate adipocyte number and anatomical distribution—critical factors in the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic disorders. The ultimate aim of his work is to translate these insights into novel therapeutic strategies for cardiometabolic disease.
Sarah Howles, Associate Professor of Urology
Sarah Howles is a joint RDM / Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences Associate Professor appointment. She is a Wellcome Trust Clinical Career Development Fellow and Honorary Consultant Urological Surgeon working at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford. Sarah studied medicine at Cambridge and Oxford Universities between 1999 and 2005, trained in academic Urology in the Oxford region, and took up her current post in 2021.
Sarah aims to understand the biological basis of kidney stone disease. She has been using genomic techniques in large data sets to identify common kidney stone causing variants, and define causal pathways. Her long-term goal is to establish a precision medicine framework for the management of individuals with kidney stone disease.
Tess McPherson, Associate Professor of Paediatric and Adolescent Dermatology
Tess McPherson is a Consultant Dermatologist at Oxford University Hospitals (clinical lead for paediatric and adolescent Dermatology) as well as a Clinical Tutor at the University of Oxford (where she leads undergraduate dermatology teaching).
As one of the few dermatologists actively conducting research on children and young people, Tess plays a key role in establishing and advancing the academic specialty of Adolescent Dermatology. Skin conditions are common in adolescents and can have very significant short- and long-term impacts during a critical developmental stage. However, it is an area that has generally been neglected from a research and evidence-based practice perspective. Tess has spearheaded work and collaborations to address this.
Her dermatology training was as a Walport Clinical Lecturer at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM) studying immunological responses in patients with eczema/atopic dermatitis (AD). Tess' work has built from an initial focus on AD to now encompass all inflammatory skin conditions. Her active research activity includes study of the efficacy and safety of medications, severe cutaneous drug reactions, the psychosocial impact of skin disease and patient experiences of skin conditions and services. This translational research places a strong emphasis on patient involvement, qualitative methods enhancing diverse patient voices, public education and clinical implementation. Her work informs evidence-based national and international guidance and improved care for young people with skin conditions.
Applying for Associate Professor status
The nominations for Associate Professor status are made by the Head of Department Professor Keith Channon, and a body of evidence is assessed by the Medical Sciences Divisional Committee.
The stated eligibility criteria for the title of Associate Professor is:
- Research as a key focus of their role;
- Teaching role is comparable with that of a substantive associate professor, to include supervision;
- Teaching and administrative duties are carried out at no less a level of excellence than is expected of a substantive associate professor;
- Contribute to other departmental duties, academic and otherwise, demonstrating the level of citizenship expected of a substantive associate professor, and personal contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion actions in their group.
More information about the conferment of the title of Associate Professor can be found on the Medical Science Division webpages.
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