About

Biophotonics for Biomedicine @ Newcastle University Biosciences Institute

Our group develops new optical technology – microscopes, image analysis software and molecular probes – to understand cell signalling and signal transduction. This research extends from developing new chemical tools to understand and treat Alzheimer’s disease, through the fundamental biology of gene regulation by transcription factor clusters to how cells respond to signals in zero gravity. Group members include:

Adam Wollman

Adam Wollman is a group leader at the Newcastle University Biosciences Institute. He runs an interdisciplinary lab developing microscopy tools to study cell signalling. He obtained a Masters in Physics from the University of York in 2009, before obtaining his DPhil in Condensed Matter Physics at Oxford in 2014. After a postdoc back at York, he was awarded a Centre for Future Health Fellowship there in 2017 before moving to the Newcastle University Biosciences Institute to start his group in 2019 as a Newcastle University Academic Track Fellow

Zoe Catchpole

Zoe Catchpole completed her Master’s in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford, before studying for her PhD, co-supervised by Kate Harris. In her research, she develops machine learning and high-throughput imaging methods for screening new therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease.

Katherine Sanders

Katherine Sanders received her BSc in Biomedical Science from University of Sheffield before working as a Research Assistant in the Oxford Vaccine group. In 2021, she started a PhD in Biosciences in Newcastle University, supervised by Adam Wollman, developing fluorescent glucose biosensors.

Katrina Crompton

Katrina Crompton completed her Master’s in Mathematics before studying for a PhD in Biosciences at Newcastle University supervised by Adam Wollman. In her research she develops new microscopes including single-molecule fluorescence and instruments designed to work in extreme environments, including microgravity.

Dominic Alderson

Dominic Alderson received his MSc in Physics from University of Leeds. In 2022, he started a PhD in Biosciences in Newcastle University, supervised by Adam Wollman, developing new methods of imaging the complement system and explaining its impact on neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.