Murray A. Francis
Lonza Cologne AG (formerly amaxa AG),
Nattermannallee 1,
50829 Köln
+49(0) 221-99199-424

e-mail: murray@francis.com
web site: murray.francis.com





EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT:
(2004 - to present)
International Scientific Support
amaxa AG / Lonza AG, Köln, Germany

(2001-2004)
Post Doctoral Fellowship
Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

(completed 2000)
Ph. D. - Biology
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Thesis title: CHARACTERISATION OF DNA DAMAGE INDUCIBLE AND REPAIR
PATHWAYS IN HUMAN FIBROBLASTS USING RECOMBINANT ADENOVIRUS VECTORS

Summary of Thesis Work:
(publications listed below)

- construction of recombinant Adenovirus (Ad) vectors expressing DNA repair genes
- development of a virus-mediated reporter reactivation assay in order to easily examine repair of an active gene in primary cells.
- examination of the effects of cellular exposure to UV on reactivation of a UV-damaged reporter
- first indication of inducible DNA repair processes in primary human cells
- implication of a role for p53 in UV-induced reporter reactivation
- examination of the ability of the DNA damage specific glycosylase, T4 endonuclease V (T4N5 or denV), to complement the repair deficiencies of XP and CS cells
- examination of UV-induced expression of a reporter gene driven by the CMV-IE promoter
- examination of roles for p53 and pRb family members in UV-induced reporter gene expression



B.Sc. - Honours Biochemistry (Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering option)
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Fourth year project with Dr. R. A. Rachubinski,
involved library screening, cloning and DNA sequencing.







SPECIFIC SKILLS/INTERESTS:

Scientific skills:
cell culture, level II virus work (including construction, purification and characterisation of recombinant Ad viruses),
plasmid manipulations, transfections, radioisotope work, library screening, cloning, gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing,
transmission electron microscopy, DNA and RNA extraction, Southern and Northern blotting.

Personal skills:
adaptable, creative, organised, excellent writing and communication skills, a team player,
geographic mobility, show initiative, problem-solving, teaching experience.

Languages:
English (native tongue), French (fluent), German, Spanish, Serbo-Croatian (conversational)

Computer:
MS Word, WordPerfect, MS Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus Approach, ImageQuant, familiar with HTML and JAVAscript.

Sports:
member of McMaster varsity fencing team (1991-92), certified scuba diver, active member on recreational hockey and soccer teams

Personal Information: 
D.O.B.: 04/03/69
marital status: married
health: excellent








PUBLICATIONS

RECOMBINANT ADENOVIRUSES AS EXPRESSION VECTORS AND AS PROBES FOR DNA REPAIR IN HUMAN CELLS.
A.J. Rainbow, B.C. McKay, and M.A. Francis.
Gene Therapy and Molecular Biology
Manuscript in press.





UV-ENHANCED EXPRESSION OF A REPORTER GENE IS INDUCED AT LOWER UV FLUENCES IN TRANSCRIPTION-COUPLED REPAIR DEFICIENT COMPARED TO NORMAL HUMAN FIBROBLASTS, AND IS ABSENT IN SV40-TRANSFORMED COUNTERPARTS.
M.A. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
Photochemistry and Photobiology 72(4): 554-561 (2000)






PARTIAL COMPLEMENTATION OF THE DNA REPAIR DEFECT IN XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM GROUP A, C, D, AND F BUT NOT G CELLS BY THE DENV GENE FROM BACTERIOPHAGE T4.
M.A. Francis, P.S. Bagga, R.S. Athwahl and A.J. Rainbow.
Photochemistry and Photobiology 72(3): 365-373 (2000)





UV-ENHANCED REACTIVATION OF A UV-DAMAGED REPORTER GENE SUGGESTS TRANSCRIPTION-COUPLED REPAIR IS UV-INDUCIBLE IN HUMAN CELLS.
M. A. Francis and A. J. Rainbow.
Carcinogenesis 20 (1):19-26 (1999)





USE OF REPLICATION DEFICIENT RECOMBINANT ADENOVIRUS REPORTER GENE CONSTRUCTS TO ASSESS REPAIR OF UV DAMAGED DNA IN MAMMALIAN CELLS.
B.C. McKay, M.A. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
In Methods in Molecular Biology, Transgene Delivery and Expression in Mammalian Cells, Ed. R.E. Aubin.
In press.  (invited review)





WILDTYPE p53 IS REQUIRED FOR HEAT-SHOCK AND ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ENHANCED REPAIR OF A UV-DAMAGED REPORTER GENE.
B. C. McKay, M.A. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
Carcinogenesis 18 (2): 245-249 (1997).





INCOMPLETE COMPLEMENTATION OF THE DNA REPAIR DEFECT IN COCKAYNE SYNDROME CELLS BY THE DENV GENE FROM BACTERIOPHAGE T4 SUGGESTS A DEFICIENCY IN BASE EXCISION REPAIR.
M.A. Francis, P.S. Bagga, R.S. Athwahl and A.J. Rainbow. 
Mutation Research, 385:59-74 (1997).





PREFERENTIAL EXCISION REPAIR IN THE TRANSCRIBED STRAND OF ACTIVE GENES IS UV-INDUCIBLE IN HUMAN CELLS.
M. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
Proceedings 10th International Congress of Radiation Research 2: 427-430 (1995).





TIME-DEPENDENT ALTERATIONS OF EXPRESSION FROM CYTOMEGALOVIRUS PROMOTER BY DNA DAMAGING AGENTS.
M. Francis and A.J. Rainbow.
Manuscript in preparation.