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Staff Profiles

Dr Alanna Stanley

Ph.D., MSc., B.Sc.

Contact Details

Lecturer Below The Bar
Anatomy
Human Biology Building
NUI Galway
E: alanna.stanley@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Alanna Stanley is a lecturer in both the disciplines of Anatomy and Radiology. Following graduating with  a BSc (First class Hons) in Anatomy from NUI Galway in 2004 she completed a taught MSc in Biomedical Science from the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, NUI Galway, during which time she did a research project on the Apoptotic Caspases and Myoblast Differentiation. Alanna was awarded her PhD entitled “Analysis of the role of Rho GTPases in epithelial cells” in 2014.
Alanna’s research primarily focuses on the integumentary system, with expertise in examining and quantifying structural changes. Alanna is also involved in a number of projects involving cadaver studies. Recently, Alanna has begun work in order to incorporate ultrasonography in undergraduate anatomy education.
Alanna is the Education and Outreach officer for the Microscopy Society of Ireland (MSI). In 2014, in partnership with Dr. Kerry Thompson,  acted as a team leader and coordinator in the  “Under the Microscope” programme which introduced the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) Microscope Activity Kits into Irish Primary Schools for the first time. This programme has been running very successfully since then and is now expanding to develop resources for Secondary schools. 

Research Interests

Alanna’s research primarily focuses on the integumentary system, with expertise in examining and quantifying structural changes. In addition, during her Ph.D study Alanna began to investigate how the effect of the deletion of Rac1 in epithelial cells would affect reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through NADPH oxidase complexes, in particular the impact this would have on the cytoskeleton. Alanna is also involved in a number of projects involving cadaver studies. 


Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2019) 'Cadaveric evaluation of sternal reconstruction using the pectoralis muscle flap'
O'Keeffe, N,Concannon, E,Stanley, A,Dockery, P,McInerney, N,Kelly, JL (2019) 'Cadaveric evaluation of sternal reconstruction using the pectoralis muscle flap'. ANZ journal of surgery, 89 :945-949 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Loss of RhoA promotes skin tumor formation and invasion by upregulation of RhoB'
Garcia-Mariscal, A,Li, H,Pedersen, E,Peyrollier, K,Ryan, KM,Stanley, A,Quondamatteo, F,Brakebusch, C (2018) 'Loss of RhoA promotes skin tumor formation and invasion by upregulation of RhoB'. Oncogene, 37 :847-860 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'NADPH oxidase complex-derived reactive oxygen species, the actin cytoskeleton, and Rho GTPases in cell migration'
Stanley A, Thompson K, Hynes A, Brakebusch C, Quondamatteo F (2014) 'NADPH oxidase complex-derived reactive oxygen species, the actin cytoskeleton, and Rho GTPases in cell migration'. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 20 (13):2026-2042 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Effects of Polydopamine Functionalization on Boron Nitride Nanotube Dispersion and Cytocompatibility'
Fernandez-Yague, MA,Larranaga, A,Gladkovskaya, O,Stanley, A,Tadayyon, G,Guo, YN,Sarasua, JR,Tofail, SAM,Zeugolis, DI,Pandit, A,Biggs, MJ (2015) 'Effects of Polydopamine Functionalization on Boron Nitride Nanotube Dispersion and Cytocompatibility'. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 26 :2025-2037 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Changes in dermal matrix in the absence of Rac1 in keratinocytes'
Stanley, A,Pedersen, E,Brakebusch, C,Quondamatteo, F (2016) 'Changes in dermal matrix in the absence of Rac1 in keratinocytes'. Journal Of Anatomy, 228 :826-837 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'RAC1 in keratinocytes regulates crosstalk to immune cells by Arp2/3-dependent control of STAT1'
Pedersen E, Wang Z, Stanley A, Peyrollier K, Rösner LM, Werfel T, Quondamatteo F, Brakebusch C (2012) 'RAC1 in keratinocytes regulates crosstalk to immune cells by Arp2/3-dependent control of STAT1'. Journal Of Cell Science, 125 (Pt 22):5379-5390 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'RhoA is dispensable for skin development, but crucial for contraction and directed migration of keratinocytes'
Jackson, B;Peyrollier, K;Pedersen, E;Basse, A;Karlsson, R;Wang, ZP;Lefever, T;Ochsenbein, AM;Schmidt, G;Aktories, K;Stanley, A;Quondamatteo, F;Ladwein, M;Rottner, K;van Hengel, J;Brakebusch, C (2011) 'RhoA is dispensable for skin development, but crucial for contraction and directed migration of keratinocytes'. Molecular Biology Of The Cell, 22 :593-605 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'N-WASP as a novel regulator of hair follicle cycling that controls antiproliferative TGF beta pathways'
Lefever, T., Pedersen, E., Basse, A., Paus, R., Quondamatteo, F., Stanley, A., Langbein, L., Wu, X., Wehland, J., Lommel, S. and Brakebusch C. (2010) 'N-WASP as a novel regulator of hair follicle cycling that controls antiproliferative TGF beta pathways'. Journal of Cell Science, 123 :128-140 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'A non-apoptotic role for caspase-9 in muscle differentiation'
Murray TV, McMahon JM, Howley BA, Stanley A, Ritter T, Mohr A, Zwacka R, Fearnhead HO (2008) 'A non-apoptotic role for caspase-9 in muscle differentiation'. Journal Of Cell Science, 121 (Pt 22):3786-3793 [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2019) 'Identifying Nanotoxicity at the Cellular Level Using Electron Microscopy'
Kerry Thompson, Alanna Stanley, Emma McDermott, Alexander Black, Peter Dockery (2019) 'Identifying Nanotoxicity at the Cellular Level Using Electron Microscopy' In: Toxicity of Nanomaterials. Boca Raton: Taylors and Francis. [DOI] [Details]

Abstract

  Year Publication
(2014) Keratinocyte restricted deletions of Rho A and Rac1 do not substantially alter the ultrastructure of the interfollicular epidermis in mice.
Stanley, A,Brakebusch, C,Quondamatteo, F (2014) Keratinocyte restricted deletions of Rho A and Rac1 do not substantially alter the ultrastructure of the interfollicular epidermis in mice. Abstract [Details]
(2014) Keratinocyte restricted deletions of Rho A and Rac1 do not substantially alter the ultrastructure of the interfollicular epidermis in mice.
Stanley, A,Brakebusch, C,Quondamatteo, F (2014) Keratinocyte restricted deletions of Rho A and Rac1 do not substantially alter the ultrastructure of the interfollicular epidermis in mice. Abstract [Details]
(2013) Dermal-epidermal junction analysis in a dermatitis model and the role of Rac1.
Stanley, A,Pedersen, E,Brakebusch, C,Quondamatteo, F (2013) Dermal-epidermal junction analysis in a dermatitis model and the role of Rac1. Abstract [Details]

Conference Poster

  Year Publication
(2008) Ultrastructural Organization of Collagen Fibrils in the of a11-Integrin Deficient Mice. Annual Meeting of the German Society for Matrix Biology.
Stanley A, Dockery P, Williams C, Popova S, Hallinger R, Eckes B, Gullberg D, Quondamatteo F. (2008) Ultrastructural Organization of Collagen Fibrils in the of a11-Integrin Deficient Mice. Annual Meeting of the German Society for Matrix Biology. Conference Poster [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2014) NADPH Oxidase Complex-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species, the Actin Cytoskeleton, and Rho GTPases in Cell Migration.
Stanley, A,Thompson, K,Hynes, A,Brakebusch, C,Quondamatteo, F (2014) NADPH Oxidase Complex-Derived Reactive Oxygen Species, the Actin Cytoskeleton, and Rho GTPases in Cell Migration. Reviews [DOI] [Details]
(2012) Rho GTPases and Nox dependent ROS production in skin. Is there a connection?.
Stanley, A;Hynes, A;Brakebusch, C;Quondamatteo, F (2012) Rho GTPases and Nox dependent ROS production in skin. Is there a connection?. MURCIA: Reviews [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Microscopy Society of Ireland Education Officer 27-AUG-15 /
Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland Ordinary Member 01-JAN-08 /

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
School of medicine research committee Member 01-JAN-20 /
SoM Taught Postgraduate Committe Committee Member 01-FEB-17 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
National University of Ireland Galway Demonstrator of Anatomy 16-APR-07 / 31-JUL-19
National University of Ireland Galway Lecturer in Radiology 01-AUG-18 / 31-JUL-19
National University of Ireland Galway Lecturer in Anatomy & Radiology 01-AUG-19 /

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach Under the Microscope 01-NOV-14 /
Outreach Galway Science and Technology Festival Volunteer /
Teaching (e.g. Service learning / comunity based learning) Transition year student mentoring /

Teaching Interests

Gross Anatomy
Radiological Anatomy
Image Analysis
Continued professional development programmes with Biomedical science companies.

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2018 Adetunji Adeyanju Y

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2007- Basics of body structure/musculoskeletal system MD1101 Anatomy
2007- Cardiovascular system MD121 Anatomy
2007- Renal System MD123 Anatomy
2007- Gastrointestinal System MD124 Anatomy
2014- Introduction to Radiological Science MD6101 Radiology
2015- Research Project AN444 Anatomy
2016- Introduction to Medicine MD103 Anatomy
2017- Chest, Cardiovascular and Breast Imaging MD1561 Radiology
2017- Genitourinary and Gastrointestinal Imaging MD1560 Radiology
2017- Muscloskeletal (MSK) System Imaging MD6105 Radiology
2017- Central Nervous System (CNS) and Head & Neck (H&N) MD6106 Radiology
2018- Gross Anatomy III: Posterior abdominal wall, Retroperitoneal space, Pelivs, Peri AN4101 Anatomy
2019- Health & Applied Biosciences 1 NU1107
2019/2020 Microscopy and Imaging AN4103

Internal Collaborators

  Name Description of Collaboration
Dr Kerry Thompson
Investigations into Rho GTPases, ROS, EMT, actin cytoskeleton and junctional reorganisation in cancer and non-cancerous cells.
Dr Michel Dugon
Effects of Of Venom Of The Noble False Widow Spider Steatoda Nobilis On Keratinocytes
Aaron Hannon & Dr. Barbara Oliveira
Anatomical study of blood supply of the scalp and its variations as part of start-up Lily Devices which aims to eliminate chemotherapy-induced hair loss

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Prof Cord Brakebusch Biotech Research & Innovation Centre University of Copenhagen DENMARK
Ultrastructural analysis of murine skin with targeted deletion of specific Rho GTPase genes
Prof Jack Kelly University Hospital Galway IRELAND
Comparison of dermal composition at tissue defect and donor sites in order to assess most the similar tissue for reconstruction