Mike Clemens
Visiting Professorial Fellow

Research

My research interests have always centred around studies on the mechanism and regulation of protein synthesis (translation) in eukaryotic cells. I am particularly interested in the ways in which protein synthesis is related to the control of cell proliferation and cell death (apoptosis) by cytokines such as TRAIL and the interferons, and by certain natural plant products.

Additional areas of my research have concerned the effects of viruses (both lytic and transforming) on host cell translation, and the signal transduction processes such as protein phosphorylation that regulate polypeptide chain initiation factors during cellular responses to cytokines, interferons, viruses and cell stress conditions. In recent years I have made contributions to our understanding of the mechanisms of regulation of protein synthesis during apoptosis of tumour cells.

My research at Sussex has been funded by the Wellcome Trust and I have a collaboration with Dr Androulla Elia at St George's, University of London that is supported by the Ralph Bates Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

In addition to my scientific activities I have a very active involvement in performing music of the renaissance and baroque periods and I am a Trustee of the Brighton Early Music Festival.