Interview with Professor Mathie

MEET AND GREET

Interview with Professor Mathie

Professor Alistair Mathie joined the University in January 2021 as Dean of the School of Engineering, Arts, Science and Technology and on a list compiled by Clarivate in December, he was named as one of the world’s most influential researchers. This list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers having a significant impact on the research community as evidenced by the rate their work is being cited by their peers.

Tell us about your background. I’ve spent all my career in academia. As a postdoctoral researcher, I was fortunate to work with some of the best people in the world in my area of research, first in London then in Seattle. I obtained teaching and research positions at University College London and Imperial College London, before moving to the University of Kent as Professor of Pharmacology where I combined academic work with a variety of leadership roles including Head of the Medway School of Pharmacy and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Sciences. Why did you choose the University of Suffolk? As a relatively new University, I was struck by Suffolk’s ambition articulated in the 10 year Strategy and Vision statement (2020–2030). I loved the look of the waterfront campus and the friendliness and enthusiasm of the people I met. In my role, I feel that I can contribute to creating something substantial here in Suffolk, so we can make significant and trustworthy contributions to quality of life and economic wellbeing, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Tell us about your research? My research centres on “bioelectricity”. In my laboratory‑based research, my team studies the properties of ion channel proteins which carry electrical signals across the membranes of nerve cells and muscle cells and their activity is regulated by various pharmacological agents and physiological mediators. Ion channels are important in a variety of clinical conditions, such as epilepsy, stroke, neuropathic pain, pulmonary hypertension and depression and they represent major, potential therapeutic targets for research. For example, my team are working with LifeArc’s Centre for Therapeutics Discovery to identify and develop new ion channel activators for the alleviation of chronic pain.

I’m also heavily involved in research projects to develop novel approaches to improve atrial fibrillation screening and detection. This research uses novel, smart mobile devices to record and interpret ECGs, which are a measure of the electrical activity of the heart. This work was the recipient of Healthcare Pioneers awards from the Atrial Fibrillation Association in 2019 and 2021, and an Excellence in General Practice, Pharmacy award from the 2019 Clinical Pharmacy Congress.

MEET AND GREET

What does the recognition of the Clarivate list mean for your work? Clarivate are a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics.

The award brings recognition to the research of myself and my collaborators and recognition to the University of Suffolk, listed in the rankings as my ‘home’ university. For example, the “Highly Cited Researcher’ ranking is one of the objective indicators for global university ranking used by ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities).

This award provides further indication of the development of internationally recognised research at the University of Suffolk.

What’s around the corner I’ve been lucky enough to form some fantastic research collaborations with colleagues around the world but, for obvious reasons, we’ve not been able to meet up properly for a couple of years.

Hopefully ‘round the corner’, is a trip to visit my great friends and colleagues in Madrid, a day or two of talking science, planning and doing experiments, and an evening or three of cervezas and tapas. The quick-fire round: „ Tea or coffee?

Coffee „ Cat or dog?

Either or both „ Football or rugby?

Football „ Summer or winter?

Summer „ Sweet or savoury?

Savoury „ Instagram or Twitter?

Twitter „ Boxset or cinema?

Boxset „ Staycation or vacation?

Vacation „ Cake or biscuit?

Cake „ Soap or sitcom?

Sitcom „ Describe yourself in three words

Hmm. I’m Scottish, and my favourite description of a Scottish person (by a non‑Scottish person) in three words was

‘passionate, classy and likes deep fried food’.

And we never stick to three words when we can use seven.