Dr Amy Findlay on developing pluripotent stem cell tools to understand bovine genetics

Please tell us about your research project, research interests and how your work involves genomics or makes use of genomic technologies 

In this age of data science, we have the potential to generate unlimited genetic data – now we need the wet lab tools to fully elucidate what this data means. In my current lab, we want to use it to improve food security and animal health.  Research involving livestock animals is costly and ethically challenging.  My work focuses on the development of bovine pluripotent stem cell tools so that we can create better models for future studies - a cow in a dish.  It is part of a large collaborative effort between scientists from The University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi funded by the Gates Foundation and FCDO.  This work aims to provide the tools to investigate key genes and the consequences of genetic manipulation within phenotypically relevant cell types.  This research is of particular consequence when studying indigenous breeds in the tropics and is essential to improve both animal health and productivity. The ability to take a small skin sample – which does not harm the animal – and reprogram skin cells into pluripotent stem cells with unlimited differentiative capacity is the goal of our research.  In order to reprogram a cell, we must manipulate the genetic controls telling it to be a skin cell and force it to express pluripotency genes, effectively pushing it into an entirely new state and restore embryonic differentiation potential. This is challenging and is not well optimised in these animals – but we are making good progress!

Please summarise your previous work and career so far.

My undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences focused on developmental biology and human embryology, giving me an appreciation for stem cells and their research potential. I have spent most of my career, from my PhD within Martin Collinson’s lab at the University of Aberdeen; to my postdocs within the labs of Ian Jackson and Veronique Vitart at the Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, utilising mouse models to study genetic causes of eye disease. 

In 2023, I made the move to Roslin and worked within Joe Rainger’s lab, switching model organism to chickens. From there, I began work with Tom Burdon’s lab in 2024, making the larger switch to cows.  I am relatively new to livestock research but this last year has truly been a great experience, and trying to unpick the barriers to pluripotency has reignited my passion for developmental biology.

What inspired you to follow your career path?

I always say what inspired me to become a researcher was my Undergraduate Honours project. In a four year degree, it was my first real taste of lab-based research. Then the great mentors I’ve had along the way have inspired me to continue in research.  I’ve been extremely privileged to have encouraging and supportive supervisors throughout my career.  This has helped cultivate my joy in the work even when circumstances have been tough. 

What is the most unusual thing you have done during your career?

I used to give mice eye tests.  During my years at the human genetics unit, my job was to characterise the novel mouse models of human diseases that we produced using genome editing.  This involved assessing the visual acuity of mice with and without genetic mutations. For a lot of this work, we did not have special mouse machines – they were the exact same machines your Optometrist will use at Specsavers, but the chin rest fit the entire mouse!  Teaching the mice to read the letter chart was challenging, so we used a machine called an optokinetic drum to measure the mice’ ability to track lines.  I spent so many years doing it that I honestly forgot it was unusual until discussing this question with a friend!

Do you have any advice for people wanting to pursue a research career? What do you like best about your job? What do you like the least?

You have to have a passion for research – academic science can be a lot of work for not a lot of what other people would call rewards. Short term contracts can make career progression non-existent unless you follow the PhD > postdoc > fellowship > PI path.  I knew early on that leading a lab was not for me, so I am a long-term post-doc and have moved labs every three to four years. This counts as a relatively stable academic research career if you ask others – but I can’t lie and say it hasn’t been hard.  However, I like my job – I enjoy lab work, reading papers to try and work out the solution to the problem or the next steps, and developing new and exciting research.  I appreciate both the independence and working as part of a team within a larger project. Finally (if you ask my current boss, Tom, he’ll say this above all else!) I enjoy the opportunities to travel – I have been fortunate enough to visit some truly unbelievable places for conferences (Hawaii for one), and I have visited multiple labs to work – for example, I am currently typing this from Nairobi, Kenya, where I am spending the month working with collaborators in ILRI. So, my advice is to simply make sure you enjoy the work and are curious about the topic - find a lab that focuses on something you find yourself googling at 9pm sat on the couch because you’ve just had a thought, and you’ll never get bored. 

How do you spend your time outside of research? Is there anything else you would like to tell us about? 

Outside of research, I enjoy staying active - training for my next marathon (currently the Highland Fling Ultra), climbing my next Munro (62 down 220 to go), exploring new places (Uzbekistan is next!) - or the exact opposite and lying on my couch with my two cats planning one of these next adventures.  I don’t think I could fit much else in! 

Links

The Roslin Institute

CTLGH (external site)

Amy Findlay LinkedIn Profile (external site)