Dr Craig Beall
Senior Lecturer
c.beall@exeter.ac.uk
+44 (0)1392 408209
RILD Building 4.06
University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
Overview
The lab is open to accepting applications from self-funded postgraduate students, both Masters-by-research and PhD candidates. Email Craig for more information.
Follow on Twitter @Craig_Beall
Techniques
Glucose clamping
Electrophysiology
Western blotting
Fixed and live-cell imaging
Enzyme/kinase assays
Calcium imaging
Upcoming Talks
Invited academic talks (IAT)/media (ME), public engagement (PE) and industry engagement (IE)
• 16th Aug 2023: Hatherleigh Festival (PE)
• 6th Jul 2023: Hatherleigh Festival, West Devon (PE)
• 24th May 2023: Pint of Science Festival, Exeter (PE)
• 23rd Mar 2023: Mito Rx Therapeutics, (IE)
• 11th May 2021: Researcher Development University of Exeter ECR Career Development workshop (IAT)
• 14th Apr 2021: British Neuroscience Association Festival of Neuroscience, Symposia lecture (IAT)
• 11th Nov 2020: King’s College London, Department of Diabetes Webinar (IAT)
• 11th Mar 2020: Brain Awareness Week, Keynote lecture (PE)
• 6th June 2019: Rigel Pharmaceuticals invited guest lecture, San Francisco, USA (IE)
• 22nd May 2019: Diabetes UK Gifts in Wills event, Exeter Royal Albert Memorial Museum (PE)
• 12th Mar 2019: University of Exeter, Brain Awareness Week (PE)
• 21st Feb 2019: University of Bath, Invited guest speaker (IAT)
• 23rd Sept 2018: Vanderbilt University; Diabetes Research & Training Centre, Invited guest speaker (IAT)
• 4th Dec 2017: University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Invited guest speaker (IAT)
• Nov 2017: JDRF Patrons Event, Marshall Wace building, London, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• Oct 2017: Sidmouth Science Festival, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• May 2017: Pint of Science Festival; Exeter (PE)
• Mar 2016: Diabetes UK annual professional conference; abstract selected for oral presentation (IAT)
• Oct 2016: Diabetes UK Exeter volunteer group, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• Oct 2016: JDRF Discovery Day; Eden Project, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• Sept 2016: Diabetes UK Torbay group, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• May 2016: Diabetes UK Gifts in Wills; Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• Nov 2015: BBC Radio Devon; Hypoglycaemia awareness week radio interview (ME)
• July 2015: Diabetes UK Legacies: Plymouth Aquarium, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• Mar 2015: Diabetes UK South West Volunteering conference, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• May 2015: Pint of Science Exeter; Beautiful minds team leader and presenter (PE)
• Oct 2014: JDRF Patrons event; Armorers Hall, London, Invited guest speaker (PE)
• Apr 2012: University of Stirling; Invited guest speaker (IAT)
Honours and Awards
• 2019: University of Exeter Above and Beyond Award for Collaboration
• 2018: University of Exeter Above and Beyond Award for Challenge; Excellent student feedback in Problem-Based Learning activities
• 2017: University of Exeter Above and Beyond Award for Teaching; Problem-based learning facilitation
• 2016: University of Exeter Above and Beyond Award for Collaboration
• 2012: College of Medicine Staff Poster Prize (1st prize)
• 2011: College of Medicine Staff Poster Prize (1st prize)
• 2003: Awarded Carl Zeiss Prize for Best Laboratory-Based Honours Project and short-listed for the UK-wide Science, Engineering and Technology Student of the Year Award
• 2000: Awarded Schering Group award for Academic Excellence and Dedication to Course (Fife College)
Professional Memberships
• Physiological society (2003-)
• Diabetes UK (2011-)
• Society for Endocrinology (2011-)
• British Society for Neuroendocrinology (2011-)
• British Pharmacological Society (2014-2018)
Qualifications
- PhD
- BSc(Hons) First Class
Career
Dr Craig Beall completed his degree in Pharmacology (BSc Hons; University of Dundee) in 2003 before obtaining a Wellcome Trust Prize Studentship to undertake doctoral studies in the laboratory of Prof Mike Ashford, University of Dundee. Doctoral studies focused on mechanisms of glucose sensing in pancreatic beta cells and hypothalamic neurons, with a particular focus on AMP-activated protein kinase and ATP-sensitive K+ channels.
Following a year in at the University of Liverpool investigating the role of K+ channels in skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, Dr Beall moved back to the University of Dundee to work with Professors Rory McCrimmon and Prof Ashford to focus on mechanisms of hypoglycaemia detection. Dr Beall was a recipient of a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation postdoctoral fellowship (2010-2013) to develop and establish an in vitro model for investigating the mechanisms of hypothalamic glucose sensing.
Links
Research
Research interests
The Beall laboratory is interested in the integrated physiology of glucose homeostasis and Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. This includes regulation of alpha cell function, brain-alpha cell communication, neural regulation of hepatic glucose output and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity/glucose disposal.
Working with Dr Kate Ellacott, we are also interested in astrocyte-neuron communication during energy excess, such as a high fat diet and whether astrocytes play in a role in regulating feeding behaviour.
In collaboration with Rigel Pharmaceuticals, we are examining whether brain permeable AMPK activators can influence hypoglycaemia glucose counterregulation in diabetes.
In collaboration with Prof Matt Whiteman, we are investigating the anti-hypoglycaemic actions of novel hydrogen sulfide donors in diabetes.
Current Lab Members (as DoS/line manager):
Dr Jiping Zhang (MRC funded PhD student)
Natasha MacDonald (Diabetes UK funded PhD student)
Eleanor Pearson (MRC funded PhD student)
Maisie Payne (undergraduate placement student, Society for Endocrinology summer student)
Second/Co-supervisor:
Asmaa Al-Khalidi (PhD student)
Wyn Firth (PhD student)
Alumni:
Dr Paul Weightman Potter (currently lecturer at University of Exeter)
Dr Ana Miguel Cruz (currently at Novo Nordisk, Medical Science Liaison)
Katie Partridge (PDRA, University of Exeter)
Tom Worthington (Placement student, University of Exeter)
Valentina Abba (Placement student; University of Surrey)
Cristina Lumbreras (E3 funded PhD student)
Nicole Morrissey (PhD student, currently a postdoc in Oxford)
Benjamin Hall (PhD student)
Hannah Smithers (Postdoc, Associate lecturer, University of Exeter)
Aishwarya Vaidya (PhD student)
Josephine Robb (PhD student, currently a postdoc in Canada)
Alice Pink (Final Year Research Project student, 2019-20)
Daria Shevtsova (Final Year Research Project student, 2019-20)
Brittannie Willis (BSN funding summer student 2019)
Kealan Jones (U/G final year research project, 2018-19)
Alice Crocker (U/G final year research project, 2018-19)
Lisa Logie (PhD student; University of Dundee; 2015-2018)
Dr Lydia Hanna (postdoctoral researcher)
Julia Vlachaki-Walker, P/T MPhil student/research technician (Diabetes UK)
Chloe Tredgett, professional training year student (2017-18)
Ellie Davis, summer intern (2018)
Dr Yasaman Malekizadeh, postdoctoral research associate (2017-18)
Brad Hoskin, U/G final year research project student (2017-18)
Khalid Bukhashem, U/G final year research project student (2017-18)
William Casasola, U/G final year research project student (2017-18)
Brenda Vescance Caroprese; Physiological Society funded summer student (summer 2017)
Magdalena Kowalska; Alzheimer's Society funded summer studentAimes Somes (U/G laboratory-based project student; summer 2017)
Jade Shoulder, associate researcher
Dr Ashley Nicholls (research assistant. Currently a postdoc at the University of Cambridge)
Amrinder Malhi (British Society for Neuroendocrinology funded summer studentship; 2015; currently an intern at the International Diabetes Federation, London)
Dr Amy Cameron (visiting postdoctoral research fellow; Society for Endocrinology; 2015-16)
Jennie Gabriel (Society for Endocrinology funded summer student; 2014, currently studying for a PhD studying dementia at the University of Dundee).
Research projects
- Brain penetration of metformin: friend or foe in diabetes? Diabetes UK PhD studentship: 2023-2026
- AMPK and autoimmune type 1 diabetes: MRC funded PhD studentship: 2023-2027
- Royal Society Research Grant: 2023-2024
- The role of astroglial mitochondrial dysfunction in neurotransmitter recycling during hypoglycaemia in diabetes (European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes/Novo Nordisk Programme 2018-2020)
- Does an orally active brain permeable AMPK activator amplify the counterregulatory response to hypoglycaemia in a model of type 1 diabetes; JDRF Innovative Grant (2017-2018)
- The role of astroytes in the homeostatic control of food intake; MRC project grant (2016-2019)
- Does acute and recurrent insulin-induced hypoglycaemia alter DNA methylation in human neural cells? Novo Nordisk Research Foundation UK; (2016-2017)
- Defining the role of hypothalamic astroglia in the regulation of the homeostatic control of food intake; GW4 MRC doctoral training partnership (2016-2019)
- Targeting the hypothalamic purinergic system for the regulation of whole body energy homeostasis; Diabetes UK (2013-2018)
- Impact of diabetes glucose variability on neural signalling in human brain cells - relationship to dementia risk; Mary Kinross Charitable Trust PhD studentship; collaboration with Prof A Randall, Exeter (2015-2018)
- Mechanisms of muscle anabolic resistance in diabetes and ageing; UEMS PhD studentship; collaboration with Dr B Wall, Exeter (2016-2019)
Grants/Funding
- JDRF Innovative Grant (2020-2021)
- Novonordisk UK Research Foundation (2020-2021; PI: Weightman Potter)
- Diabetes UK PhD Studentship (2019-2022)
- Diabetes UK Early Career Small Grant (2019)
- European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (2018-2020)
- British Society for Neuroendocrinology Research Visit Grant (2017-18)
- Physiological Society summer vacation scholarship to Brenda Vescance Caroprese (2017)
- Alzheimer's Society biomedical vacation scholarship to Magdalena Kowalska (2017)
- University of Exeter Summer vacation scholarship to Brad Hoskin ((2017)
- Mary Kinross Charitable Trust PhD Studentship (2015-2018)
- British Society for Neuroendocrinology Summer Studentship (Amrinder Malhi; summer 2015)
- Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Fellowship (2013-2018)
- Society for Endocrinology Early Career Grant (2014-2015)
- Society for Endocrinology Summer Studentship (Jennie Gabriel; summer 2014)
- Anonymous Trust (PI; Co-I: Professors Ashford & McCrimmon, University of Dundee, 2014-2015)
- British Society for Neuroendocrinology (PI; 2013-2014)
- Tenovus Scotland (PI; Co-I: Professors Ashford & Mccrimmon, 013-2014)
- Anonymous Trust (2012-2013)
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010-2013)
Research networks
Collaborations:
Prof Kate Ellacott (University of Exeter; neural mechanisms of energy sensing)
Dr Simon Shaw (Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc, CA, USA).
Prof Matt Whiteman (University of Exeter)
Dr James Pearson (Cardiff University)
Prof Susan Wong (Cardiff University)
Anyone interested in working in the Beall laboratory, either undergraduate, postgraduate or postdoctoral, please get in touch with Dr Beall.
Research grants
- 2017 Medical Research Council
Title: IMPC - Understanding the role of 18kDa Translocator protein (TSPO) in the regulation of energy homeostasis in mice - 2016 Medical Research Council
Title: The role of hypothalamic astrocytes in the homeostatic regulation of feeding behaviour - 2016 Medical Research Council
GW4 MRC Doctoral Training Partnership PhD Studentship Title: Defining the contribution of hypothalamic astroglia to the homeostatic regulation of food intake - 2016 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Title: Does an orally active, brain permeable AMPK activator improve hypoglycemia counterregulation in type 1 diabetes?
Links
Publications
Journal articles
Conferences
External Engagement and Impact
Administrative responsibilities
Departmental Theme Co-Lead: Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism research theme
Committee/panel activities
2024-2028 Socierty for Endocrinology science committee member
2023-2027 Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference Programme organising committee (basic science lead)
May 2018-2022: JDRF Scientific Advisory Committee
January 2017- present: Diabetes Research Steering Group (DRSG5; Diabetes UK): Long term self-management & glycaemic control
2017-2018 University of Exeter Medical School Senate Representative (elected)
Society for Endocrinology Endocrine Ambassador
2019-2023 Society for Endocrinology Neuroendocrinology network co-convenor and scientific committee member
2019-2020 Socety for Endocrinology Leadership and Development Awards selection committee
International recognition, such as international research collaborations, visiting research posts in overseas institutions, involvement at senior levels in international research associations, acting as referee for national and international research councils.
March 2017: JDRF Strategies to Prevent and Treat Hypoglycemia Unawareness Workshop; New York.
Sept 2018: Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Course: Glucose clamping in the conscious mouse
Workshops organised
Diabetes Obesity and Metabolic Health mixer; University of Exeter; 4th October 2023
British Society for Neuroendocrinology annual conference; University of Exeter, 4-6th September 2023 (co-organiser; w/ Prof K Ellacott)
January 2017: Agilent Seahorse users workshop - University of Exeter
September 2017: Exeter Neuroscience Seminar Series: Causes and Consequences of Dementia
Supervision / Group
Postgraduate researchers
- Natasha MacDonald
- Eleanor Pearson
- Jiping Zhang
Alumni
- Jennie Gabriel (University of Dundee; 2014)
- Cristina Lumbreras
- Aman Malhi
- Ashley Nicholls
- Josephine Robb