David Mottershead

Biography

I joined the School of Pharmacy as a Lecturer in Biochemistry & Cell Biology at the beginning of 2016. From the beginning of 2009 until 2014 I was a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, at the University of Adelaide (Australia) heading up a group researching the oocyte-secreted factors GDF9 and BMP15. More recently (2015) I established a biotech consulting company (Mottasis Oy Ltd) based in Helsinki, Finland, specializing in the area of mammalian cell expression of recombinant proteins. My PhD research was carried out in the Biochemistry Dept. at the University of Adelaide (1990), which was followed by a number of Postdoc positions (Boston (USA), Sydney (Australia), Helsinki (Finland)). My research interests remain in particular with the growth factors GDF9 & BMP15, focussing on structure/function relationships, signal transduction mechanisms and the development of novel forms with applications for infertility treatment. 

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2593-0725

Research and scholarship

Research theme: Therapeutics

In my research I focus on two growth factors produced by oocytes and which are essential for fertility in mammals, namely growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic factor 15 (BMP15). These two proteins are members of the large transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b) family which share structural similarities and mechanisms of action. Recently, our group at the University of Adelaide demonstrated a unique mechanism of action critical for signalling by human GDF9, resulting in the production of a new form of the protein which we have called Cumulin. Following on from this work, the molecular mechanisms of action of Cumulin (a form of heterodimer of GDF9 & BMP15) need to be elucidated and forms produced for applications in the area of infertility treatment. 

Please see the web links below to media reports on the use of the protein Cumulin.

• Emerging infertility treatment could be a less invasive and cheaper alternative to IVF
• Drug-free IVF could be cheaper and faster way to get pregnant
• Infertility: Australian scientists work to eliminate hormone injections with IVM treatment
• Potent new fertility technique prevents side effects of in-vitro fertilisation for women
• Fresh hope for childless couples: Scientists develop 'potent' fertility treatment that is cheaper than IVF and 'has fewer side effects'

YouTube clip highlighting the use of Cumulin in IVM:

• Enhanced IVM - an alternative to IVF

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2593-0725

Teaching

I teach elements of the undergraduate curriculum for the Keele University MPharm in the School of Pharmacy. I am the Academic Lead for the 120 credit MPharm Stage 1 PHA-10014 module, as well as the 15 credit module PHA-40190 Development of Biopharmaceuticals. The module PHA-40190 is part of the Masters of Pharmaceutical Development with Business Management programme.