David Loczenski

A client facing project leader responsible for delivering high quality pre-clinical testing of novel therapeutics to treat obesity, diabetes, NASH and diabetic complications. Leading internal development of innovative methods and models to validate new treatments for metabolic disorders. Line manager and scientific advisor for in vivo pharmacologists.

Research fellow responsible for leading and developing an industry-funded target validation project aimed at enhancing accretion of lean muscle mass. Developed and employed functional genomics approaches utilising adeno-associated viruses and transgenic in vivo models, as well as small molecule inhibitors, to validate novel gene candidates in the regulation of skeletal muscle mass.

Investigated the role of microRNAs in modulating the underlying pathophysiology of sarcopenia (muscle ageing). Assessed the therapeutic potential of exogenously delivered microRNAs on muscle mass and function. Lead author on a high impact microRNA review paper.

Undertook a 6-month international internship in the Molecular Technologies department at Pfizer. Performed various cloning projects, generated stably transfected cell lines and conducted DNA sequencing. Gained valuable experience within the in vitro drug screening assay development group. Scientific advisor for Pfizer’s internal lead-seeking projects relevant to skeletal muscle biology.

BBSRC-CASE studentship (Pfizer). Thesis title: “Molecular regulation of skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms”

Achieved the highest grade in the year group Won the university award for best undergraduate dissertation project for Sport and Exercise Science