Dr Craig Beall

Last updated: 21/Nov/2024

About me: A translational biomedical scientist interested in understanding clinically relevant problems of relevance to people with diabetes. We study the fundamental biology of endocrine organs including brain, pancreas, muscle and immune cells, across the translational spectrum from early stage target identification, target validation and to more recently, translating our lab findings to a human study.

The lab is open to accepting applications from self-funded postgraduate students, both Masters-by-research and PhD candidates. Email Craig for more information.

Current Lab Members (as DoS/line manager):
Natasha MacDonald - Diabetes UK funded PhD student
Eleanor Pearson - MRC funded PhD student
Amani Gardner - Society for Endocrinology summer intern, research associate/science communications

Molly Evans - Graduate Research Assistant - Steve Morgan Foundation Type 1 Grand Challenge Funded

Ayesha Amerat - Professional Training Year researcher

Follow on Twitter @Craig_Beall

Upcoming Talks

28th November 2024: Exeter Early Career Research Network; Introduction to Science Communication

Invited academic talks (IAT)/media (ME), public engagement (PE) and industry engagement (IE)

• 20th Nov 2024: Beta cell therapues and root causes - Steve Morgan Foundation Type 1 Grand Challenge (IAT)
• 16th Mar 2024: Hatherleigh Science Fair (PE)

• 12th Mar 2024: Hatherleigh Science Week (PE)

• 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

• 2022-23: Educational Inspirer Award

• 2021-22: Educational Inspirer Award

• 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)

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 Prof Matt Whiteman, we are investigating the anti-hypoglycaemic actions of novel hydrogen sulfide donors in diabetes.

Second/Co-supervisor:
Asmaa Al-Khalidi (PhD student)

Alumni:
Lara Peyer (British Society for Neuroendocrinology summer student, research associate)
Dr Wyn Firth (PhD student)
Maisie Payne (undergraduate placement student, Society for Endocrinology summer student)
Dr Jiping Zhang (MRC funded PhD student)
Dr Paul Weightman Potter (currently lecturer at University of Exeter)
Dr Ana Miguel Cruz (currently at Novo Nordisk, Medical Science Liaison)
Dr 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).

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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.