Dr Carika Weldon

Dr Weldon is a lecturer in Biomedical Science, having joined DMU in December 2015.

She obtained her BSc (Hons) in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Leicester in 2011, and her PhD in Biochemistry from the same university in 2015.  

Dr Weldon’s doctoral work focused on alternative splicing of the apoptotic gene Bcl-X. Her work discovered that secondary structure, more specifically G-quadruples, shifts the XS/XL ratio to favour the pro-apoptotic XS isoform.  By screening over 30 G-quadruplex ligands, her work identified a suitable drug that could be used for treating cancers, based on its ability to shift the ratio almost 40-fold.  

Biomedical and Environmental Health

Alternative splicing of apoptotic genes (Bcl-X, Mcl-1)
Screening for new anti-cancer therapies
RNA secondary structure

Chemistry for the Biosciences
Biochemistry
Clinical Biochemistry
Histopathology
Physics for Clinical Measurements
Applied Physiological Measurement and Instrumentation
Immunology
Immunopathology

BSc (Hons) Medical Biochemistry (2011) University of Leicester
PhD Biochemistry (2015) University of Leicester

Biomedical Science
Advanced Biomedical Science
Audiology

RNA Society (2011-present)

2015 20th annual RNA society meeting Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America 

RNA UK meeting Lake District, United Kingdom

2014 19th annual RNA society meeting Quebec City, Quebec, Canada 

NMR Winter Retreat: (Organised by Professor Frédéric H.-T. Allain) Parpan, Switzerland 

2013 RNA UK meeting Lake District, United Kingdom

2012 1st Post-EURASNET Symposium Trieste, Italy

NMR Winter Retreat: (Organised by Professor Frédéric H.-T. Allain) Parpan, Switzerland 

Smith LD, Dickinson RL, Lucas CM, Cousins A, Malygin AA, Weldon C, Perrett AJ, Bottrill AR, Searle MS, Burley GA, Eperon IC (2014). A Targeted Oligonucleotide Enhancer of SMN2 Exon 7 Splicing Forms Competing Quadruplex and Protein Complexes in Functional Conditions. Cell Reports. 9 Oct 2014