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Contact information


katia.mattis@gtc.ox.ac.uk

Katia Mattis

Mattis K DPhil Student

Background & Research Interests

I graduated with a BSc (2011) and MSc (2013) degree in Molecular Medicine from Ulm University, Germany. In my theses, I established and optimised the multi-electrode array method to record extracellular activity patters of dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons from murine brain slices with the aim to use it as a high-throughput technique to identify the role of ion channels in the pacemaking of these neurons.

After completing my studies, I worked as a Research Technician in Prof. Ashcroft’s lab (Oxford) contributing to research investigating the effects of hyperglycaemia on the structure and function of pancreatic beta cells.

Currently I am a DPhil student based at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes Endocrinology & Metabolism, supervised by Prof. Anna Gloyn. I am interested in investigating how genetic variants found in GWAS influence Type 2 Diabetes risk. Although >90 risk loci have been identified so far, translation of genetic associations into disease mechanisms is lagging behind. Therefore the main focus of my thesis will be to functionally characterise genetic variants associated with T2D-risk identified through large scale international resequencing efforts, including the T2DGENES consortia, using molecular and cellular biology techniques. This will contribute to our understanding of how genetic variants alter disease susceptibility, and ultimately will help to drive clinical translation and develop new therapeutic strategies.

Outside of the lab, I am an active person, currently rowing with the Green Templeton Boat Club and boxing at the Oxford Boxing Academy.

Selected Publications

  • O'Connell SM, Proks P, Kramer H, Mattis KK, Sachse G, Joyce C, Houghton JA, Ellard S, Hattersley AT, Ashcroft FM, O'Riordan SM. The value of in vitro studies in a case of neonatal diabetes with a novel Kir6.2-W68G mutation. Clin Case Rep. 2015; 3:884-7.
  • Brereton MF, Iberl M, Shimomura K, Zhang Q, Adriaenssens AE, Proks P, Spiliotis II, Dace W, Mattis KK, Ramracheya R, Gribble FM, Reimann F, Clark A, Rorsman P, Ashcroft FM. Reversible changes in pancreatic islet structure and function produced by elevated blood glucose. Nat Commun. 2014;5:4639.