Dr Sally Clayton

• PhD in Inflammation Biology, University of Birmingham (2016-2020)
• MSci in Biochemistry, University of Cambridge (2012-2013)
• BA (Hons) in Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge (2009-2012)

Sally completed her undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge (Girton College), where she specialized in biochemistry and molecular biology. This was followed by a master’s degree in Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge.

Sally then worked in the Technology Development Team at Cambridge-based biotech company Horizon Discovery from 2013-2016. Here she focused on optimizing methods of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, including in primary T cells, and headed up the guide RNA validation service.

In 2016 Sally moved to the University of Birmingham to undertake her PhD with Prof Andy Clark as part of the Arthritis Research UK Rheumatoid Arthritis Centre of Excellence (RACE) PhD programme. Sally’s PhD project focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory therapeutics glucocorticoids, specifically their action in macrophages.

After completing her PhD in 2020 Sally took a post-doctoral research position with Prof Andy Clark (Institute of Inflammation and Ageing) and Prof Dan Tennant (Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research) at the University of Birmingham, working on the metabolic regulation of macrophages during inflammation.

In late 2023 Sally was awarded a 5-year Wellcome Trust Early Career Award to investigate mitochondrial regulation of myeloid cells during acute inflammation. She will carry this out in the Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, in collaboration with Dr Sarah Dimeloe.

Dr Clayton studies the regulation of macrophages and other myeloid cells during acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

In particular she is interested in the NDUFA4 (aka COXFA4) family of mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins. Dr Clayton identified a novel member of this family that is expressed during inflammation, and she is currently working to understand the impact of this mitochondrial pathway in cellular function and disease progression.

Current Research Themes

Immunometabolism; Mitochondrial regulation; Inflammation; Inflammatory disease; Myeloid cells

Other Research Interests

Rheumatoid arthritis; Glucocorticoids; microRNAs