Making Sense of Cellular Senescence

In conversation with Professor Lorna Harries

Lorna Harries (née Pate, OW 1988) is Professor of Molecular Genetics at Exeter University. Lorna is also cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer of SENISCA, a company dedicated to the research and development of new approaches to reversing cellular ageing.

We spoke to Lorna about her life, work and thoughts on how to encourage greater diversity in STEM.

When did you become interested in Molecular Genetics?

I loved biology from the very start. I can trace my love of the subject back to my A Levels. Biology is endlessly fascinating; it’s elegant and intricate. I actually did my Genetics degree though, as a stepping stone into veterinary college! About three weeks in I got absolutely hooked, which completely changed my mind about what I wanted to do. I’m so glad as it’s opened up all sorts of interesting opportunities for me.

Describe your work at biotech company SENISCA and how this came about

The accumulation of senescent (old) cells drives most of the diseases of ageing. My team has basically identified a new mechanism by which cells age and discovered that we can target this to effectively turn back the ageing clock in tissues. It’s very exciting! We started SENISCA so we can explore the best ways to influence these factors and design some interventions for specific diseases that we can then start to move towards clinical trials. We’re trying to target the common, underlying causes of age-related disease, not just the symptoms, which is how they are treated at the moment. We’re currently looking at how we might be able to help people with a rare lung condition called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, that has no cure, as well as more common conditions such as osteoarthritis and age-related macular degeneration.

What do you like most about your work?

Every day is different! I can be designing new experiments, giving talks around the world, teaching undergraduates and postgraduates or analysing data all within one week! When you’re working at the very edge of what is known, there is a moment with each new discovery when you are absolutely the only person on the planet that knows that piece of information. It’s a privilege to then be able to explore that and let the world hear about it. I also love being able to help other folks in my team reach their potential and realise their own ambitions. I work with some amazing people.

Why do you think there are disproportionately fewer women in STEM/ research and how might this disparity be improved?

The path to the top in academia is a difficult one and the early stages can be very competitive. Although at undergraduate level women have great representation, as you get higher up the ladder, the gender balance becomes more and more skewed. We lose a lot of women if they take family leave – many don’t come back because it’s very hard to return if you have had a significant amount of time out. We need to do much better there with flexibility for people. The current situation means that people end up not taking the time that they want, to avoid slipping back down the ladder.

It’s possible to have both – I had five years completely out of science, returned as a technician and worked my way back up, but it was very hard! We need to make it much easier for anyone who has had time out to come back. There are some dedicated fellowships now that mean you don’t have to choose between family and career. I also think that some of the stereotypes around science and scientists doesn’t help. We need to create some really persuasive role models from all under-represented groups, so that anyone interested in science can see a place for themselves in that arena. It’s not just about lack of opportunity for women either; there are lots of really talented people from other under-represented groups that science is much poorer without. Diversity is essential for creativity and invention.

You have also undertaken work in getting more children into science, what did this entail?

I’ve been very involved with schools’ engagement since I started my group at Exeter. Young children are inherently fascinated by how the world works. As they get a bit older, they lose some of that enthusiasm - my job is to give it them back! I have worked with over 2000 Year 9 students over the years with hands-on lab activities. Several of those kids have actually come back to us as undergraduates. I think the most exciting thing I have done however is a big Citizen Science project, run over two years with 120 A Level students from all over Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. We had them designing and undertaking a real research project to look at the chemicals found in plastics, to assess whether they could take action to avoid them in their diet and see what these might do to the expression of genes. The students designed and followed an avoidance diet, gave samples and analysed and published the results. That was a whole lot of fun. They have all got two peer reviewed papers in academic journals out of that and one of them is doing a PhD in my lab!

What is next on your horizon?

I wish I knew! That’s one of the most amazing things about science: you can never tell where it will take you! I think in the long term I would like to see some of our discoveries actually in action in the clinic. That’s my ultimate ambition. Apart from that, I’m going to see where it takes me. We’re doing things now that I wouldn’t have thought possible 10 years ago!

If you could give one piece of advice (life or careerwise), what would it be?

Be curious. Follow your dream. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. You can. It’s yours for the taking.