1. Amy Wood Curriculum Vitae 2015
Address: 75 Bunbury Way DoB: 17th January 1981
Epsom Downs
Surrey
KY17 4JP
Nationality: British
Mobile: 07557 87 44 31 Email: amywood427@hotmail.com
Personal Profile: I am an experienced and highly motivated postdoctoral research scientist with a wide range of
technical laboratory skills. I am methodical with good organization and I have the ability to work both in a team
and independently. I enjoy challenging laboratory work and my ambitions include a successful career in medical
research with applications in cancer therapy.
Education/Qualifications:
1992-1997 Alderbrook School, Solihull, West Midlands.UK
10 GCSEs: English Literature (A), English Language (A), French (A), Science (dual award)
(B/B), Religious Studies (B), Geography (B), Mathematics (C) and Latin (C)
1997-1999 Solihull Sixth Form College, Solihull, West Midlands. UK
3 A Levels: Chemistry (B), Psychology (B), Biology (C)
1999-2002 University of Wales, Cardiff. UK
2:1 Bsc in Medical Molecular Biology
Second Class Honors (First Division)
2002 - 2005 Cancer ResearchInstitute, University of Birmingham. UK
PhD in Molecular Biology/Immunology
Current Employment:
Higher Scientific Officer; Protein Production
January 2011 – Present Hit Discovery and Structural Design Team
Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey
In my role as a higher scientific officer at the ICR I have further developed my skills in protein expression and
purification as well as gaining valuable experience in molecular cloning and biophysical assay techniques such
as SPR. My role currently involves supporting two different drug discovery projects by producing high quality
target proteins and developing biophysical assays to investigate their interaction with small molecules and
fragments. This work includes molecular cloning of DNA as well as protein construct design for different
applications, protein expression in both E.coli and Baculovirus systems, protein purification using the AKTA
system and quality control analysis of each protein sample using mass spec and gel electrophoresis. I have worked
on several proteins during my time at the Institute, mainly focusing on protein kinases and histone methyl
transferases.

2. Previous Employment:
February 2007 – November 2009 Senior Scientist
Henderson Morley Plc
Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JS. UK
Before starting at the ICR I was as a senior scientist for a biotechnology company where my role focused on
research into the genetic manipulation and culture of viruses for use as vaccinations for certain types of cancer.
This involved the molecular engineering of viruses and mammalian cell culture as well as the isolation of virus
particles and the determination of the success of the vaccines using immunological assays.
My main project was based on the formulation and production of Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) from the herpes
simplex virus and genetically manipulating these particles to contain specific cancer antigens for use in potential
vaccines and immunological treatments for the disease. From this role I gained experience in the area of industria l
and pharmaceutical science as well as practical skills such as scanning electron microscopy, immuno-fluorescence
and viral culture and manipulation.
October 2005-September 2006 Post-Doctoral ResearchAssistant
Centre for Biomolecular Science
Nottingham University, Nottingham, NG7 2RD
This post-doctoral project involved the screening of selected natural products against cell lysates from a variety
of organisms for the discovery of novel drugs. This involved aspects of microbiology, molecular biology, and
protein expression and purification for eventual structural characterization by X-ray crystallography. My role
was to carry out the screening, identification and subsequent cloning and expression of selected proteins for
characterization and binding analysis. This role focused mainly on protein expression and purification for
structural analysis. I also assisted in the supervision of undergraduate project students and PhD students within
the group.
PhD Studentship
October 2002-September 2005 Institute of Cancer Studies, University of Birmingham
Thesis Title: Alloreactive Targeting of Peptide-MHC Complexes
One of the main aims to my project was to study the recognition of tumour associated antigens by allo-MHC
reactive T cells. This project was based on the idea that alloreactive, or non-self, T cells could potentially be used
to target tumour cells expressing high levels of self peptides with a much higher avidity than would self-T cells.
In order to be able to use such allorecative T cells therapeutically, the molecular basis of the TCR/allo-MHC
interaction would need to be properly defined. Ideally, it would be same as the self-TCR/MHC interactions being
both peptide specific and cytotoxic to ensure no adverse effects. The plan of my project was, therefore, to
investigate both the structural and biophysical properties of the allo-MHC reactive TCR and the interaction with
its tumour antigen and to determine ways in which to improve the affinity of the TCR. I concentrated particularly
on the structural recognition of the TCR using both X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of the
receptor and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to determine the binding recognition footprint and peptide
specificity. This involved cloning and expression of a particular allo-reactive TCR and subsequent production
and refolding of the TCR protein for binding and structural analysis to determine the affinity of the TCR to
different MHC-peptide complex. This is where I gained my initial experience in protein production and
purification.

3. Summary of laboratory techniques:
Molecular Biology: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
RNA/DNA Extraction
DNA Sequencing
DNA Purification
Primer Design
Site Directed Mutagenesis (SDM)
Agarose gel electrophoresis
DNA Ligation and transformation
Vector preparation and molecular cloning
Cell Biology: Cell culture in mammalian and insect cells
Cell counting and viability calculating
Growth and maintenance of mammalian stable cell lines
Virus production and maintenance of virally infected cells
Separation of virus like particles by density gradient
Immunoassays/ ELISA
Analysis: Western Blotting
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Protein Production: Bacterial plasmid transformation
Protein expression and purification in e.coli and baculovirus using bacterial and
insect cells
Protein purification using AKTA purification systems
Quality control analysis of protein samples via mass spectrometry and SDS PAGE
Production of high quality large scale protein for X-ray crystallography and
biochemical assays
Protein denaturation and refolding from inclusion bodies
Binding Experiments: Detection of low affinity binding using Surface Plasmon
Resonance (SPR) to measure binding affinity and kinetics
Introduction to Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and initial binding experiments
Crystallisation Techniques: Sitting/hanging Drop Vapourisation
Protein condition screening
Visit to ESRF Sychrotron, Grenoble, France
Protein crystallization and data collection
Data Processing using crystallographic software
Solving of TCR structure using Molecular Replacement

4. Publications:
Structural and energetic evidence for highly peptide-specific tumor antigen targeting via allo-MHC-
restriction
Amy A Simpson, Fiyaz Mohammed, Mahboob Salim, Amy Tranter, Alan B Rickinson, Hans J Stauss, Paul A
H Moss, Neil M Steven and Benjamin E Willcox.
PNAS, December 27 2011, vol 108 no.52 21176-21181
Naturally occurring mutations in the MPS1 gene predispose cells to kinase inhibitor drug-resistance
Mark Gurden, Isaac Westwood, Amir Faisal, Sebastien Naud, Jack Cheung, Craig McAndrew, Amy Wood,
Jessica Schmitt, Kathy Boxall, Grace Mak, Paul Workman, Rosemary Burke, Swen Hoelder, Julian Blagg, Rob
Van Montfort, and Spiros Linardopoulos
Manuscript# CAN-14-3272R-A accepted in Cancer Research
Courses Completed:
 ‘Fundamentals of Modern Methods in Biocrystallography’ Biocrys 2004, Portugal
 AKTA Maintenance 1 day course GE Healthcare
 Protein Production Roads how 1 day course GE Healthcare
 Introduction to ITC informal 1 day training GE Healthcare
Poster Presentations:
"Structural Basis of Alloreactive Tumour Antigen Targeting"
Wood, A., Mohammed, F., Salim, M., Tranter, A., Steven, N., Moss, P.A.H.,
Willcox, B.E.
Presented at:
2005 Medical Research Council Immunity and Infection Showcase (National Institute for Medical Research,
London). Short listed in the "Best Science" category.
Also presented at the 2006 16th European Congress of Immunology in Paris.
References:
Dr Christopher Hartley
Principal Scientist
Henderson Morley Plc
2 Salisbury Road
Moseley, Birmingham
B13 8JS, UK
0044 121 422 4600
Email: ch5503@googlemail.com
Dr B E Willcox (PhD Supervisor)
Institute of Cancer Studies
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
0044 121 414 9533
b.willcox@bham.ac.uk

5. Professor Paul Moss (Secondary PhD supervisor)
Head of Institute of Cancer Studies
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
0044 121 414 2824
P.Moss@bham.ac.uk