The University of Sheffield
Department of Neuroscience

Dr Ke Ning MD PhD

Non-clinical Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience

Dr Ke Ning

Academic Neurology Unit
Department of Neuroscience
Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience
University of Sheffield
Room B46
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ

Tel: +44 (0) 114 2222245
Fax: +44 (0) 114 2222290
Email: k.ning@sheffield.ac.uk

Secretary: Jo Brodie (Mon, Tue)
Tel: 0114 2222262
Email:j.brodie@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography:

I graduated in Medicine from First Military Medical University (Southern Medical University) in China in 1985. I undertook my Specialist Training in Neurosurgery at Sun Yatsen University of Medical Science in China and got a M.Sc in Neurosurgery in 1991. I obtained my PhD in neuroscience at the Third Military Medical University in China In 1996 and was promoted to an associate professor in neurosurgery at Southern Medical University in China in 1997. Since 1999, I have undertaken full time research in neuroscience in the USA, Canada and the UK. I joined the University of Sheffield as a Lecturer in Translational neuroscience in 2006 and was promoted to a Senior Lecturer in Translational neuroscience in 2011. I have been closely involved in translational neuroscience research and teaching in motor neuron diseases. 

Research Interests

The focus of my research is the use of viral vector-mediated gene therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). ALS/MND is a common adult onset neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive degeneration of motor neurones in the brainstem and spinal cord. There is no effective treatment or cure for MND/ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders. Gene therapy approaches offer a promising strategy for delivery of genes to enhance motor neuron survival. New approaches for the treatment of neurological disorders have been developed by using lentiviruses and other viruses. These vectors have been refined to a very high safety and efficiency levels. Lentiviruses are particularly advantageous for use in gene transfer to the nervous system. Numerous animal studies have now been undertaken with these vectors and correction of disease models has been obtained. Recent studies have demonstrated very good efficacy of Lentiviral-mediated gene therapy approaches in ALS, SMA and other degenerative disorders. These studies provide great optimism for the future utility of lentiviral gene delivery as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Teaching Interests:

The focus of my teaching is the use of inquiry-based learning (IBL) methods to teach (MSc lectures) or supervise undergraduate projects (SSC) and graduate (MSc and PhD) students. I am the representative ECG (The Early Career Group) committee member for the Department of Neuroscience for postdoctoral training at the University of Sheffield. I am a primary supervisor for MSc and Ph.D students and a mentor for Medical students.

Professional Activities:

I am a regular manuscript or grant reviewers for journals or funders in China, UK and Europe. I am an executive Committee Member of Chinese Life Scientists Society in the UK. I am a SOP representative and reviewer for TREAT-NMD (An European Network of Excellence addressing the fragmentation currently hindering translational research for cutting edge therapies in rare neuromuscular diseases). I am a member of Society for Neurosciences, a member of American Society of Gene Therapy and a member of British Society of Gene Therapy.

Current Projects:

Key Publications:

Kirby J*, Ning K*, Ferraiuolo L, Heath PR, Ismail A, Kuo SW, Valori CF, Cox L,Sharrack B, Wharton SB, Ince PG, Shaw P & Azzouz M. (2011) PTEN/AKT pathway linked to motor neuron survival in human SOD1-related amyotrophyic lateral sclerosis. Brain, 134(Pt 2):506-17. (*Joint first and corresponding authors)

Valori CF*, Ning K*, Wyles M, Mead R., Grierson A., Shaw P., Azzouz M. (2010). Systemic Delivery of scAAV9 expressing SMN Prolongs Survival in a Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Science Translational Medicine, 2 (35):35ra42 *Contributed equally to this work)

Ning K, Drepper C, Valori C, Wyles M, Higginbottom A, Shaw P, Azzouz M, Sendtner M (2010). PTEN depletion rescues axonal growth defect and improve survival in SMN-deficient motor neurons. Human Molecular Genetics, 19 (16):3159-68

Ning K., Miller L.C., Laidlaw H. A., Watterson K.R., Gallagher J., Sutherland C. and Ashford M.L.J. (2009) Leptin dependent phosphorylation of PTEN mediates actin restructing and actvation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 284(14):9331-40

Valori CF, Ning K., Wyles M. and Azzouz M. (2008) Applications of Lentiviral Vectors for biology and gene therapy of neurological disorders. Current Gene Therapy Dec;8(6):406-18

Li L, El-Hayek YH, Liu B, Chen Y, Gomez E, Wu X, Ning K, Li L, Chang N, Zhang L, Zhengguo W, Hu X, Wan Q. (2008) Direct-current Electrical Field Guides Neuronal Stem/progenitor Cell Migration. Stem Cells. 26(8):2193-200

Ning, K., Miller, L., Burgess, L.A., Laidlaw HA, Perera, N., Downes, C.P., Leslie, N.R.,& Ashford, M.L.J. (2006) A novel leptin signaling pathway via PTEN inhibition in hypothalamic cell lines and pancreatic ß-cells. The EMBO Journal 25(11):2377-2387

Liu, B., Liao, M., Mielke, J.G., Ning, K., Chen, Y., Li, L., EI-Hayek, Y.H., Gomez, E., Zukin, R.S., Fehlings, M.G., Wan, W. (2006) Ischemic insults direct glutamate receptor subunit 2-lacking AMPA receptors to synaptic sites. The Journal of Neuroscience 26(20):5309-5319

Mirshamsi S., Laidlaw H.A., Ning, K., Anderson E., Burgess L.A., Gray A., Sutherland C., Ashford M.L.J. (2004) Stimulation of PI3K by leptin and insulin leads to actin reognization and KATP activation in arcuate nucleus neurons. BMC Neuroscience 5, 54

Ning, K., Li, L., Liao, M., Liu, B., Mielke, J.G., Chen, Y., Duan, Y., Hayek, Y.H., Wan, Q. (2004) Circadian regulation of GABA-A receptor function by CKI in the rat suprachiasmatic nuclei. Nature Neuroscience 7(5): 489-490.

Ning K., Pei, P., Liao, M., Liu, B., Zhang, Y., Jiang, W., Mielke, J.G., Li, L., Chen, Y., Hayek, Y.H., Fehlings, M.G., Zhang, X., Liu, F., Eubanks, J., and Wan, Q. (2004) Dual neuroprotective signaling mediated by two distinct phosphatase activities of PTEN. The Journal of Neuroscience 24(16): 4052-4060

Peters, P.J.*, Ning, K.*, Palacios, F., Kazantsev, A., and Crislyn D'Souza-Schorey (2002) Arfaptin 2 regulates aggregation of mutant huntingtin protein. Nature Cell Biology 4(3):240-245 (*Peters and *Ning Contributed equally)

Muchowski, P.J., Ning, K., D'Souza-Schorey, C., and Fields, S. (2002) Requirement of an intact microtubule cytoskeleton for aggregation and inclusion body formation by a mutant huntingtin fragment. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99(2): 727-732