We asked Dr Hamish Crerar, a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at King's College London, to answer some questions about his MND research journey so far.
What is your current role?
I am a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow in the Lab or Prof. Marc-David Ruepp at the KCL DRI. My work is supported by a Lady Edith Wolfson MND Association non-clinical fellowship and a My Name5 Doddie Foundation Catalyst Award.
What inspired you to choose a science-based career?
I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, figuring out how something is meant to operate has always helped me understand what happens when it goes wrong. I remember that my Genetics module in GCSE Biology was the one that really convinced me that a career in science was for me, and my honours research project at university confirmed that bench research was where my real interests lay.
What subjects did you take at A Level?
I took Biology, Chemistry and Maths.
Where did you go to university and what did you study?
The University of Edinburgh and Molecular Genetics.
What inspired you to get into MND research/work with people with MND?
I have personal experience of the impact that MND can have on both the person living with it and those around them. MND also remains one of the least understood conditions, with no cure. Any discoveries our work makes therefore have a real possibility of making a difference to patients, which is incredibly motivating.
What is your favourite thing about your work?
It’s a little bit cliché but genuinely the discovery and working through problems with my colleagues. There are small moments where you and your team realise you are looking at something that quite possibly no one else has and it's brilliant.
What is your biggest achievement in your career so far?
Publishing discoveries that might have changed how people think about RNA function in neurons, and securing independent funding to pursue my own ideas. Those milestones have made me feel like I was really contributing something new to the field.
What is the next step in your career?
I am in the stages of approaching institutes and applying for funding to try and establish my own research group, focussed on RNA function in neurodegeneration.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in science?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. There will almost certainly be someone nearby who knows the answer and they will almost always want to tell you it!
We would like to thank Hamish for taking the time to tell us about his career journey.
You can read more about Hamish's work on our Research We Fund page.