Lana McClements: Molecular Biologist Dr, Senior Lecturer, School of Live Sciences, Faculty of Science
About my work
My work on preeclampsia identified two novel biomarkers for prediction and early diagnosis of preeclampsia, which are now being developed into a novel test for this condition. Preeclampsia is a dangerous cardiovascular disorder of pregnancy that kills over 70,000 women and 500,000 babies every year worldwide. It affects over 15,000 women every year in Australia. There is no treatment for this condition except for the delivery of the baby, and the placenta, which is often preterm and with complications. Inappropriate placental development and growth is the root cause of preeclampsia although the mechanisms are poorly understood.
In parallel, we are creating new 3D platforms of placenta that will help understand the causes of preeclampsia better, develop new biomarkers and assess the therapeutic potential of various medicines. This work can lead to the development of novel treatment strategies for preeclampsia, preventing maternal and foetal complications and death.
A memorable win
I am driven by creating impact, however small or big, through my teaching, research and services/engagement roles at UTS. I have been leading and contributing to various initiatives related to equity, diversity and inclusion, particularly with Women in STEM. Supporting and mentoring junior members of the Faculty of Science has been the most rewarding experience for me.
Similarly, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate student development - including supporting students for competitive Research Excellence scholarships (two of my Honours students received these in the last 2 years), prizes/awards (four HDR students received at least one prize last year) or job opportunities (Biobusiness undergraduate students through their assessment task) - is something I feel very passionate about. Being able to play an important role in students’ education and seeing them blossom into highly-respected professionals is the best part of my job.
Bio: Dr McClements is a balanced academic and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science. She developed and has been coordinating two subjects in the Bachelor of Biotechnology course, Medical Biotechnology and Biobusiness. She is also Chair of the Science Equity and Diversity Committee. Her research programme has been focused on identifying novel biomarkers and disease mechanisms, and testing novel treatment strategies for cardiovascular disease in pregnancy and beyond with a particular focus on pre-eclampsia. Innovations from her research have led to the development of novel monitoring and treatment strategies for women’s health. Having completed a Master of Pharmacy at King’s College London, Dr McClements undertook extensive clinical training as a resident pharmacist in London for 5 years. Following her clinical training, Dr McClements completed a PhD in molecular biology at the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast.
Websites
UTS profile page: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Lana.McClements
