Contact information
Clarissa Coveney
BSc (Hons), DPhil (Oxon)
Post Doctoral Research Assistant
I want to change lives through translational medical research. I’m interested in finding innovative answers to today’s big diseases, using creativity and cutting-edge laboratory techniques.
My DPhil research project focussed on the primary cilium, its associated proteome and the role they play in cartilage biology and osteoarthritis (OA).
The primary cilium is a microtubule-based organelle present on the majority of cell types, including those of the joint. Research suggests that the primary cilium has many potential roles in cartilage including as a transducer of physiological stimuli in chondrocytes including mechanics.
My project investigates the role of primary cilia in adult tissue homeostasis and disease pathogenesis using molecular biology, in vitro cell models and pre-clinical models of disease. My work so far has proven that it maintains influence into adulthood and in the disease context.
During my Post-Doctoral work I am now continuing to build upon my DPhil work investigating a mechanism behind my findings. I am part of the Osteoarthritis research centre Versus Arthritis.
During my DPhil I also took advantage of the wide range of opportunities that the University of Oxford offers. Through coxing for my college and the Oxford University Women’s Boat Club in the Reserve Boat Race crew Osiris, I helped to co-found Wattson Blue, a mental health and performance platform dedicated to help elite student athletes monitor psychological metrics alongside the physiological. All University level sports teams now use this platform on a daily basis. I also maintain close ties with the Oxford University Boat Clubs assisting with the physiological testing of athletes. As such, I won my college's prestigious Nautilus Award for Services to Sport in 2018.
I’m a keen endurance athlete myself and have raised over £1300 for ARUK and St John Ambulance through marathons, half iron mans and ultra-marathons and have set up a beginners running club at the Kennedy Institute to promote fitness and encourage others to become more active in a friendly environment.
I was an editor for Polygeia, a student led think tank commissioned by Public Health bodies to conduct research into Public Health areas. My team presented at the annual Polygeia conference in 2018.
In addition to my love of fitness and the outdoors, I also have a passion for music and am a choral scholar at Brasenose College Oxford.
Recent publications
-
IFT88 maintains profound influence in the post-natal joint, through joint maturation, and during adult homeostasis acting as the cartilage mechanoeffector
Conference paper
Coveney C. et al, (2019)
-
THE PRIMARY CILIA PROTEIN IFT88, EXERTS A PROFOUND AND EVOLVING INFLUENCE IN THE POST-NATAL JOINT, THROUGH JOINT MATURATION, ADULT LIFE AND IN DISEASE
Conference paper
Coveney CR. et al, (2019), Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 27, S172 - S172
-
Journal article
Singer D. et al, (2019), Embo j, 38
-
Journal article
Coveney CR. et al, (2018), Faseb j
-
EXPLORING AND EXPLOITING A CILIOME-PROTEASE-MATRIX REGULATORY AXIS DISTURBED IN OSTEOARTHRITIS
Conference paper
Collins I. et al, (2018), Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 26, S99 - S100