51cg

Professor Martin Collinson

In this section
Professor Martin Collinson
Professor Martin Collinson
Professor Martin Collinson

BA Natural Sciences (Cantab. 1991), MA (Cantab. 1994), PhD (Edinburgh 1996)

Personal Chair

51cg
Email Address
m.collinson@abdn.ac.uk
Office Address

Room 4.37, Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD

School/Department
School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition




Biography

J. Martin Collinson

Graduated in Natural Sciences (Genetics) from Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, in 1991. Obtained a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, working in the MRC Human Genetics Unit studying the roles of homeobox gene family members (Msx genes) in vertebrate embryological development.

Postdoctoral positions at the University of Edinburgh 1996-2002, studying the roles of cell adhesion molecules (Neurofascin) and transcription factors (Pax6) in vertebrate development and disease.

Appointed Lecturer at Aberdeen University, 2002.

Senior Lecturer from October 2005. Reader 2008. Personal Chair 2012

Vice-chair of the Editorial Board of the journal British Birds.

Former Chair of the British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee

FOR BIRD/DNA enquiries, contact m.collinson@abdn.ac.uk

External Memberships

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS

  • British Society for Developmental Biology
  • Genetics Society
  • Former Chair of the BOU records Committee and Convenor of the Taxonomic Committee

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP

  • Ibis 2009 - present
  • British Birds 1998 - present
Research

Research Overview

The major foci of work in the lab are:

THE GENETIC BASIS OF HUMAN BIRTH ABNORMALITIES AND DEGENERATIVE DISEASE

STEM CELL BIOLOGY IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE

We study the genetic basis of normal embryonic development (mostly eyes and limbs) and the processes that can go wrong in humans.  We also study stem cell activity in adults, focusing on degenerative disease and fertility problems.

1) The development and evolution of eyes.  There are several projects on the go. 

a) The roles of a transcription factor, Pax6, in eye development and disease . We examine how mutations in Pax6 change the cell surface properties of mutant cells, and how this may impact on the eye.

Patients with mutations in the PAX6 gene develop multiple eye abnormalities, including any or all of: aniridia (absence of iris), corneal opacity (aniridia-related keratopathy), cataract (lens clouding), glaucoma and long-term retinal degeneration. We are interested in developing new therapeutic strategies

Figure 1: The eye of a PAX6+/- aniridic patient (photograph kindly provided by Dr K, Ramaesh, University of Edinburgh). Note the corneal opacity associated with vascularisation.

b)  The development of eyes in true moles (Talpa). Moles live most of their lives underground and over evolutionary time we expect their eyes to degenerate.  We study the Iberian Mole Talpa occidentalis, in which the eyes are permanently closed, and determine how the genetic pathways that underlie eye development are breaking down in this species.

Figure 2: An adult Iberian Mole

2)  The genetic control of axon guidance and epithelial cell migration.  What pushes a cell or a growth cone from point A to point B?  We examine the relative contribution of chemical and contact mediated guidance cues in vivo.


Figure 3.  Swirling patterns of cell migration in the corneal epithelium, visualised in eyes that are mosaic for LacZ expression.

3)  The genetics and etiology of Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (clubfoot)

We study the genetic and environmental factors that underlie clubfoot - an extremely common birth abnormality (1 in 500 babies) for which virtually nothing is clear about the causes. 

Figure 4. Human bilateral clubfoot.

28th August 2011 - Interview with the Naked Scientists about the clubfoot project - see

 

 

POTENTIAL PHD STUDENT?

We are looking for motivated, funded PhD students for studies in any of the above fields, e.g.

1) Genetics and molecular biology of motor neurone development and disease

2) Eye Evolution

3) Control of cell migration and wound healing

4) Genetics of human disease

5) Adult Stem Cells

 

Research Areas

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Biomedical Sciences

Research Specialisms

  • Genetics

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is , published under the licence.

Funding and Grants

MRC Principal Applicant. The genetic basis of clubfoot. £515,000 from October 2008  

BBSRC Principal Applicant – coholders Dr Ann Rajnicek (Univ of Aberdeen), Prof Min Zhao (UC Irvine), Prof Colin McCaig (Univ of Aberdeen) The genetic control of epithelial cell migration and wound healing physiology £643,000 from February 2007  

WELLCOME TRUST Corneal dysgenesis in the Pax6-mutant mouse – shoddy workmanship or sabotage? £245,000 from 1/9/04.  

Dr James Alexander Mearns Trust Molecular basis of gene dosage effects of Pax6 mutants £51,660 from 01/10/07.  

NHS GRAMPIAN ENDOWMENT FUND Vascularisation of the cornea £2688 from 01/04/07

NEWLIFE (Birth Defects Foundation) Aetiology and therapy of congenital corneal opacity £80,000 from July 2005 

Teaching

Teaching Responsibilities

TEACHING - BSc Programmes in Biomedical Sciences, Genetics, Human Embryology and Developmental Biology.

 

Human Embryology and Developmental Biology Degrees at the 51cg

The degrees are suitable for students wanting to learn about embryology, stem cells, bioengineering, reproductive biology, wound healing, evolution and cancer.  Graduates can move on to jobs in academic and commercial jobs in embryology, clinical genetics, molecular biology and many biomedical fields.

 

'T-Club' - the Developmental Biology newsletter for 51cg.TClubDec12.pdf

 

Are you thinking about a degree in Developmental biology?  Have a look at this.

Publications

Page 1 of 2 Results 1 to 50 of 99

  • Spiral-eyes: A soft active matter model of in vivo corneal epithelial cell migration

    Kostanjevec, K., Sknepnek, R., Collinson, J. M., Henkes, S.
    eLife, vol. 14, RP106061
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Identification of lens-regulated genes driving anterior eye development

    Murcia-Belmonte, V., Liu, Y., Shamsi, S., Shaw, S., Collie-Duguid, E., Herrera, E., Collinson, J., Vargesson, N., Erskine, L.
    Developmental Biology, vol. 520, pp. 91-107
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • What is John Latham’s Rose-fronted Parrot?

    Wilson, J. J., Fisher, C., Senfeld, T., Collinson, J. M.
    Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, vol. 143, no. 4, pp. 559-563
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Integrating orientation mechanisms, adrenocortical activity, and endurance flight in vagrancy behaviour

    Snell, K. R. S., Young, R. C., Krause, J. S., Collinson, J. M., Wingfield, J. C., Thorup, K.
    Scientific Reports, vol. 12, no. 1, 22104
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • First genetic data for the critically endangered Cuban endemic Zapata Rail Cyanolimnas cerverai, and the taxonomic implications

    Brown, A. F., Lawrie, Y., Shannon, T. J., Collinson, J. M., Kirwan, G. M., Kirkconnell, A., Stervander, M.
    Journal of Ornithology, vol. 163, no. 4, pp. 945-952
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The tangled nomenclatural history of Haplopelia forbesi Salvadori, 1904: Were Forbes and Robinson right all along?

    Wilson, J. J., Fisher, C. T., Senfeld, T., Shannon, T. J., Collinson, J. M.
    Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, vol. 142, no. 1, pp. 131-137
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Pathophysiology of aniridia-associated keratopathy: developmental aspects and unanswered questions

    Latta, L., Figueiredo, F. C., Ashery-Padan, R., Collinson, J., Daniels, J., Ferrari, S., Szentmáry, N., Solá, S., Shalom-Feuerstein, R., Lako, M., Xapelli, S., Aberdam, D., Lagali, N.
    The Ocular Surface, vol. 22, pp. 245-266
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Systematic placement of the bee hummingbird (mellisuga helenae) (aves: Trochilidae) and potential consequences for nomenclature of the mellisugini

    Lawrie, Y., Shannon, T. J., Kirkconnell, A., Clark, C. J., Collinson, J. M., Kirwan, G. M.
    Ornitologia Neotropical, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 45-50
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Morphological and genetic analyses reveal the first Mediterranean occurrence of American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus

    García Barcelona, S., Senfeld, T., Shannon, T., Collinson, J., Edelaar, P., Aldalur, A., Martín, G., García Mudarra, J. L., Juste, J.
    Revista catalana d'ornitologia = Catalan journal of ornithology, vol. 37, pp. 1-9
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Widespread tissue hypoxia dysregulates cell and metabolic pathways in SMA

    Hernandez Gerez, E., Dall'angelo, S., Collinson, J. M., Fleming, I. N., Parson, S. H.
    Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, vol. 7, no. 9, pp. 1580-1593
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Taxonomic status of the extinct Canary Islands Oystercatcher Haematopus meadewaldoi

    Senfeld, T., Shannon, T., Vangrouw, H., Paijmans, D. M., Tavares, E. S., Baker, A. J., Lees, A. C., Collinson, J. M.
    Ibis, vol. 162, no. 3, pp. 1068-1074
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Phylogeny of the Eurasian Wren Nannus troglodytes (Aves: Passeriformes: Troglodytidae) reveals deep and complex diversification patterns of Ibero-Maghrebian and Cyrenaican populations

    Albrecht, F., Hering, J., Fuchs, E., Illera, J. C., Ihlow, F., Shannon, T. J., Collinson, J. M., Wink, M., Martens, J., Päckert, M.
    PloS ONE, vol. 15, no. 3, e0230151
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Dense active matter model of motion patterns in confluent cell monolayers

    Henkes, S., Kostanjevec, K., Collinson, J. M., Sknepnek, R., Bertin, E.
    Nature Communications, vol. 11, 1405
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • British Heart Rhythm Society Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Patients Developing QT Prolongation on Antipsychotic Medication.

    Lambiase, P., de, B. J., Schilling, R., Lowe, M., Turley, A., Slade, A., Collinson, J., Rajappan, K., Harris, S., Collison, J., Carpenter, V., Daw, H., Hall, A., Taylor, D.
    Arrhythmia & electrophysiology review, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 161-165
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Geographic patterns of mtDNA and Z-linked sequence variation in the Common Chiffchaff and the ‘chiffchaff complex’

    Raković, M., Neto, J. M., Lopes, R. J., Koblik, E. A., Fadeev, I. V., Lohman, Y. V., Aghayan, S. A., Boano, G., Pavia, M., Perlman, Y., Kiat, Y., Dov, A. B., Collinson, J. M., Voelker, G., Drovetski, S. V.
    PloS ONE, vol. 14, no. 1, e0210268
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The core Planar Cell Polarity gene, Vangl2, maintains apical-basal organisation of the corneal epithelium

    Panzica, D. A., Findlay, A. S., Van Ladesteijn, R., Collinson, J. M.
    Journal of Anatomy, vol. 234, no. 1, pp. 106-119
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Limbal epithelial stem cell activity and corneal epithelial cell cycle parameters in adult and aging mice

    Sagga, N., Kuffova, L., Vargesson, N., Erskine, L., Collinson, J. M.
    Stem Cell Research, vol. 33, pp. 185-198
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Lens-regulated retinoic acid signalling controls expansion of the developing eye

    Smith, J. N., Walker, H. M., Thompson, H., Collinson, J. M., Vargesson, N., Erskine, L.
    Development, vol. 145, no. 19, dev167171
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • A conditional Pax6 depletion study with no morphological effect on the adult mouse corneal epithelium

    Dorà, N. J., Manuel, M., Kleinjan, D., Price, D. J., Collinson, J. M., Hill, R. E., West, J. D.
    BMC Research Notes, vol. 11, 705
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Computer simulation of neutral drift among limbal epithelial stem cells of mosaic mice

    West, J. D., Mort, R. L., Hill, R. E., Morley, S. D., Collinson, J. M.
    Stem Cell Research, vol. 30, pp. 1-11
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Endogenous bioelectric currents promote differentiation of the mammalian lens

    Cao, L., Liu, J., Pu, J., Collinson, J. M., Forrester, J. V., McCaig, C. D.
    Journal of Cellular Physiology, vol. 233, no. 3, pp. 2202-2212
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The developmental and genetic basis of ‘clubfoot’ in the peroneal muscular atrophy mutant mouse

    Collinson, J. M., Lindstrom, N. O., Neves, C., Wallace, K., Meharg, C., Charles, R., Fraser, A., Mbogo, I., Oras, K., Nakamoto, M., Barker, S., Duce, S., Miedzybrodzka, Z., Vargesson, N.
    Development, vol. 145, no. 3, dev160093
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Taxonomic status of the Liberian Greenbul Phyllastrephus leucolepis and the conservation importance of the Cavalla Forest, Liberia

    Collinson, J. M., Päckert, M., Lawrie, Y., Gatter, W., Töpfer, T., Phalan, B., Fishpool, L.
    Journal of Ornithology, vol. 159, no. 1, pp. 19-27
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • When morphology is not reflected by molecular phylogeny: the case of three ‘orange-billed terns’ Thalasseus maximus, T. bergii and T. bengalensis (Charadriiformes: Laridae).

    Collinson, J. M., Dufour, P., Hamza, A. A., Lawrie, Y., Elliott, M., Barlow, C., Crochet, P.
    Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 121, no. 2, pp. 439-445
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Multi-locus barcoding confirms the occurrence of Elegant Tern in Western Europe

    DuFour, P., Pons, J., Collinson, J. M., Gernigon, J., Dies, J. I., Sourouille, P., Crochet, P.
    Journal of Ornithology, vol. 158, no. 2, pp. 351–361
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Requirement of Pax6 for the integration of guidance cues in cell migration

    Arocena, M., Rajnicek, A. M., Collinson, J. M.
    Royal Society Open Science, vol. 4, 170625
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The taxonomic position and breeding range of Golden Nightjar Caprimulgus eximius (Caprimulgidae)

    Lawrie, Y., Swann, R., Stronach, P., Perlman, Y., Collinson, J. M.
    Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, vol. 88, no. 3, pp. 281-286
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The core planar cell polarity gene, Vangl2, directs adult corneal epithelial cell alignment and migration

    Findlay, A. S., Panzica, D. A., Walczysko, P., Holt, A. B., Henderson, D. J., West, J. D., Rajnicek, A. M., Collinson, J. M.
    Royal Society Open Science, vol. 3, no. 10, 160658
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Unusual DNA of a Western Bonelli's warbler trapped on Shetland

    Collinson, J. M., Harris, P., Harvey, P., Riddington, R., Stronach, P.
    British Birds, vol. 109, no. 10, pp. 637-638
    Contributions to Journals: Comments and Debates
  • Contact-mediated control of radial migration of corneal epithelial cells

    Walczysko, P., Rajnicek, A. M., Collinson, J. M.
    Molecular vision, vol. 22, pp. 990-1004
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Taxonomic recommendations for Western Palearctic birds: 11th report

    Sangster, G., Collinson, J. M., Crochet, P. A., Kirwan, G. M., Knox, A. G., Parkin, D. T., Votier, S. C.
    Ibis, vol. 158, no. 1, pp. 206-212
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Lineage tracing in the adult mouse corneal epithelium supports the limbal epithelial stem cell hypothesis with intermittent periods of stem cell quiescence

    Dorà, N. J., Hill, R. E., Collinson, J. M., West, J. D.
    Stem Cell Research, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 665-677
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • 'Stejneger's Stonechat' in Dorset: New to Britain

    Cade, M., Collinson, J. M.
    British Birds, vol. 108, no. 7, pp. 423-427
    Contributions to Journals: Review articles
  • 'Eastern Grasshopper Warbler' on Fair Isle: New to Britain

    Miles, W., Parnaby, D., Rosser, B., Moss, J., Collinson, J. M.
    British Birds, vol. 108, no. 4, pp. 231-235
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Första genetiskt bekräftade östlig rödstrupig sångare Sylvia cantillans i Sverige

    Menzie, S., Gil-Velasco, M., Collinson, J. M.
    Ornis Svecica, vol. 25, no. 1-2, pp. 40-44
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Water pipits: Three species rather than one?

    Garner, M., Perlman, Y., Kiat, Y., Collinson, J. M.
    British Birds, vol. 108, no. 1, pp. 42-48
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Taxonomic recommendations for Western Palaearctic birds: 10th report

    Sangster, G., Collinson, J. M., Crochet, P., Kirwan, G. M., Knox, A. G., Parkin, D. T., Votier, S. C.
    Ibis, vol. 157, no. 1, pp. 193-200
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Hemizygous Le-Cre transgenic mice have severe eye abnormalities on some genetic backgrounds in the absence of LoxPSites

    Dorà, N. J., Collinson, J. M., Hill, R. E., West, J. D.
    PloS ONE, vol. 9, no. 10, pp. 1-19
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • The Expression and Roles of Nde1 and Ndel1 in the Adult Mammalian Central Nervous System

    Pei, Z., Lang, B., Fragoso, Y. D., Shearer, K. D., Zhao, L., McCaffery, P. J. A., Shen, S., Ding, Y. Q., McCaig, C. D., Collinson, J. M.
    Neuroscience, vol. 271, pp. 119-136
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • A genetic screen of the island races of Wren Troglodytes troglodytes in the North-east Atlantic

    Shannon, T. J., McGowan, R. Y., Zonfrillo, B., Piertney, S., Collinson, J. M.
    Bird Study, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 135-142
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Taxonomic recommendations for Western Palearctic birds: Ninth report

    Sangster, G., Collinson, J. M., Crochet, P. A., Knox, A. G., Parkin, D. T., Votier, S. C.
    Ibis, vol. 155, no. 4, pp. 898-907
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • CSI: Birding … barcoding the past, present and future

    Collinson, J.
    The Conversation
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles
  • Genetic analysis of migrant Siberian Chiffchaffs in Britain and Ireland

    Collinson, J. M., Shannon, T., Archer, P., Odin, N., Riddington, R., Walsh, P.
    British Birds, vol. 106, no. 2, pp. 109-113
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • 3D MRI analysis of the lower legs of treated idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)

    Duce, S. L., D'Alessandro, M., Du, Y., Jagpal, B., Gilbert, F. J., Crichton, L., Barker, S., Collinson, J. M., Miedzybrodzka, Z.
    PloS ONE, vol. 8, no. 1, e54100
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • British records of 'Eastern Yellow Wagtail'

    Collinson, M., Smith, A., Waite, S., McGowan, B.
    British Birds, vol. 106, no. 1, pp. 36-41
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Stem cells and corneal epithelial maintenance: Insights from the mouse and other animal models

    Mort, R. L., Douvaras, P., Morley, S. D., Dorà, N., Hill, R. E., Collinson, J. M., West, J. D.
    Mouse Development: From Oocyte to Stem Cells, pp. 357-394, 38 pages
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
  • Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: Eighth report

    Sangster, G., Collinson, J. M., Crochet, P. A., Knox, A. G., Parkin, D. T., Votier, S. C.
    Ibis, vol. 154, no. 4, pp. 874-883
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • What the eye doesn't see: The prevalence of fraud in ornithology

    Harrop, A. H., Collinson, J. M., Melling, T.
    British Birds, vol. 105, no. 5, pp. 236-257
    Contributions to Journals: Review articles
  • Interaction between hedgehog signalling and PAX6 dosage mediates maintenance and regeneration of the corneal epithelium

    Kucerova, R., Dorà, N., Mort, R. L., Wallace, K., Leiper, L. J., Lowes, C., Neves, C., Walczysko, P., Bruce, F., Fowler, P. A., Rajnicek, A. M., McCaig, C. D., Zhao, M., West, J. D., Collinson, J. M.
    Molecular vision, vol. 18, pp. 139-150
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
  • Effects of aberrant Pax6 gene dosage on mouse corneal pathophysiology and corneal epithelial homeostasis

    Mort, R. L., Bentley, A. J., Martin, F. L., Collinson, J. M., Douvaras, P., Hill, R. E., Morley, S. D., Fullwood, N. J., West, J. D.
    PloS ONE, vol. 6, no. 12, e28895
    Contributions to Journals: Articles
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