Dr Anna Powell

Genomics Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences

a.derrick@swansea.ac.uk

Basic Welsh Speaker

Academic Office - 107
First Floor
Institute of Life Science 1
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8581-5262

About

Anna graduated from Swansea University with a first-class Medical Genetics BSc in 2011. She joined the Molecular Neuroscience group at Swansea University completing her PhD in 2016. Anna’s research has primarily concentrated on the genetics of epilepsy and other rare neurological diseases. She has expertise in handling and analysing whole exome and whole genome sequencing data including the application of in silico genomic tools and databases. Anna also has experience in biobanking, including preparing and submitting samples into international studies and consortia. Additionally, Anna has postdoctoral research experience in cancer genetics and bacterial genetics.

Anna currently teaches on the Genetics, Medical Genetics and Population Health and Medical Sciences BSc programmes and Genomic Medicine MSc programme.

Areas Of Expertise

• Genetics and Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Epilepsy
• Cortical Malformations
• Biobanking
• Intestinal Organoids

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

PMGM00 Bioinformatics for Genome Analysis (module coordinator)

PMGM16 Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Disease (module coordinator)

PM152 Population Genomics(module coordinator)

Publications

Research Highlights

May, S., Greenow, K., Higgins, A., Powell, A., Taylor, E., Pan, P., Konstantinou, M., Nixon, C., Wooley, T., Sansom, O., Wang, L., & Parry, L. (2022). Modification of Diet to Reduce the Stemness and Tumorigenicity of Murine and Human Intestinal Cells. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 66(19), 2200234
https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202200234, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61193
Menzies, G., Fox, H., Marnane, C., Pope, L., Prabhu, V., Winter, S., Powell, A., & Lewis, P. (2014). Fourier transform infrared for noninvasive optical diagnosis of oral, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer. Translational Research, 163(1), 19-26.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2013.09.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19259
Fry, A., Marra, C., Powell, A., Pickrell, O., Higgins, A., Naude, J., McClatchey, M., Davies, S., Metcalfe, K., Tan, H., Mohanraj, R., Avula, S., Williams, D., Brady, L., Mesterman, R., Tarnopolsky, M., Zhang, Y., Yang, Y., Wang, X...., & Chung, S. (2021). Missense variants in the N-terminal domain of the A isoform of FHF2/FGF13 cause an X-linked developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 108(1), 176-185.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.10.017, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55790

All Research

Journal Articles

May, S., Greenow, K., Higgins, A., Powell, A., Taylor, E., Pan, P., Konstantinou, M., Nixon, C., Wooley, T., Sansom, O., Wang, L., & Parry, L. (2022). Modification of Diet to Reduce the Stemness and Tumorigenicity of Murine and Human Intestinal Cells. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 66(19), 2200234
https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202200234, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61193
Fry, A., Marra, C., Powell, A., Pickrell, O., Higgins, A., Naude, J., McClatchey, M., Davies, S., Metcalfe, K., Tan, H., Mohanraj, R., Avula, S., Williams, D., Brady, L., Mesterman, R., Tarnopolsky, M., Zhang, Y., Yang, Y., Wang, X...., & Chung, S. (2021). Missense variants in the N-terminal domain of the A isoform of FHF2/FGF13 cause an X-linked developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 108(1), 176-185.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.10.017, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55790
Menzies, G., Fox, H., Marnane, C., Pope, L., Prabhu, V., Winter, S., Powell, A., & Lewis, P. (2014). Fourier transform infrared for noninvasive optical diagnosis of oral, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer. Translational Research, 163(1), 19-26.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2013.09.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa19259

Taught Modules

PM-152 Population Genomics

Population genomics is the study of genetic variation within populations and involves the examination of changes in the frequency of gene and alleles across space and time. Concepts such as natural selection, genetic drift, gene pool, genetic diversity, migration and environmental diversity all contribute to create genetic diversity within sub populations. Students will be taught these key concepts along with the real life sub populations examples where genotype variation has led to the diversity in genetics. Such as, the prevalence of disease in the specific populations, the evolution of genetically distinct populations and the genomics behind genetic diversity in sport. This module will take you across the world in multidisciplinary topics and show how genomics is weaved throughout, to create the strengths, weakness, and purely, what makes us who we are.
PM-344 Capstone Project

The aim of this module is to provide a capstone experience to students¿ learning, through participating in their own enquiry-based research project, with guidance from an academic supervisor. The project may be laboratory or non-laboratory based, but it will always involve a research question that is drawn from the literature, and focused on a topic relevant to the life sciences. It will ask a research question and involve the critical analysis of research findings. Students will refine their oral and written communication skills to a graduate level through an oral presentation and dissertation on their research findings and conclusions.
PMGM00 Bioinformatics for Genome Analysis

The module will cover the fundamental principles of informatics and bioinformatics applied to clinical genomics, find and use major genomic and genetic data resources; use software packages, in silico tools, databases and literature searches to align sequence data to the reference genome, critically assess, annotate and interpret findings from genetic and genomic analyses. Theoretical sessions will be coupled with practical assignments of analysing and annotating predefined data sets.
PMGM11 Introduction to Human Genetics and Genomics

The Introduction to Human Genetics and Genomics module is a subject-specific module in the MSc Genomic Medicine programme. This unit will provide essential and contemporary knowledge relating to genetic science and genetic disease. The module will prepare participants to understand disease genetics, how genomic medicine can be utilised to elucidate disease mechanisms and biology in the context of genomic medicine. It will provide core knowledge underpinning later modules.
PMGM14 Cancer Genomics

This module covers the molecular mechanisms that underlie cancer development, growth and metastasis, and the differences between different cancers. It will explore the different molecular and cellular actions of anti-cancer treatments, the genomic factors affecting response and resistance to treatment, and the research approaches to anti-cancer drug design and development. Broad situations which confer a high cancer risk to a person and/or to other members of the same family will be discussed in the context of how genomic information may be integrated into cancer screening programmes. This module will prepare the students to interrogate the cancer data sets from the 100,000 Genomes Project as well as to interrogate cancer genomic datasets in general.
PMGM16 Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Disease

This module will provide an introduction to the clinical presentation and manifestations of rare inherited and common diseases, and considers the patient and family perspective with respect to the role and impact of genomics. It reviews traditional and current strategies and techniques used to identify genes responsible for both common multifactorial and rare inherited diseases.
PMGM17 Dissertation Project

The module is for students to build on their previous knowledge, skills and experience by undertaking a laboratory based or suitable non-laboratory based project on a specific subject related to genomics.
PMGM22 Introduction to Human Genetics and Genomics

The Introduction to Human Genetics and Genomics module is a subject-specific module in the MSc Genomic Medicine programme. This unit will provide essential and contemporary knowledge relating to genetic science and genetic disease. The module will prepare participants to understand disease genetics, how genomic medicine can be utilised to elucidate disease mechanisms and biology in the context of genomic medicine. It will provide core knowledge underpinning later modules.

Dr Anna Powell

Email address

Welsh language proficiency

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Taught Modules

PM-152 Population Genomics

PM-344 Capstone Project

PMGM00 Bioinformatics for Genome Analysis

PMGM11 Introduction to Human Genetics and Genomics

PMGM14 Cancer Genomics

PMGM16 Genomics of Common and Rare Inherited Disease

PMGM17 Dissertation Project

PMGM22 Introduction to Human Genetics and Genomics