![Megan Torvell BSc, MRes, PhD, FHEA](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/6644?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Megan Torvell
(she/her)
BSc, MRes, PhD, FHEA
Teams and roles for Megan Torvell
Overview
My PhD and post-doctoral research roles were all focused on the fascinating roles of the immune system in different types of dementia. After a decade of that, in 2023 I was lucky enough to follow my passion for teaching into my current role as a lecturer and module lead on the BSc Medical Pharmacology Programme.
I lead the Immunology modules in second and third year and contribute some lectures to the Advanced Neuroscience module. Immunology can be a real "marmite" subject - people usually either love it or hate it - so I'm always looking for new ways to make extremely complex topics accessible and engaging.
I care deeply about our students and the whole experience of being at University, as a result I've taken on several additional roles that allow me to work with students to identify areas where we can improve that experience. These include
- Student Representative Coordinator
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead
- Employability lead
- Professional Placement Year (PPY) coordinator
Publication
2025
- Byrne, R. A. et al. 2025. The schizophrenia-associated gene CSMD1 encodes a complement classical pathway inhibitor predominantly expressed by astrocytes and at synapses in mice and humans. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 127 , pp.287-302. (10.1016/j.bbi.2025.03.026)
2023
- Daskoulidou, N. et al. 2023. Complement receptor 1 is expressed on brain cells and in the human brain. Glia 71 (6), pp.1522-1535. (10.1002/glia.24355)
2022
- Rossini, L. et al., 2022. Dendritic spine loss in epileptogenic Type II focal cortical dysplasia: Role of enhanced classical complement pathway activation. Brain Pathology e13141. (10.1111/bpa.13141)
- Carpanini, S. M. et al. 2022. Terminal complement pathway activation drives synaptic Loss in Alzheimer’s disease models. Acta Neuropathologica Communications 10 99. (10.1186/s40478-022-01404-w)
2021
- Torvell, M. et al. 2021. Genetic insights into the impact of complement in Alzheimer's disease. Genes 12 (12) 1990. (10.3390/genes12121990)
- Menzies, G. E. and Torvell, M. 2021. Exciting new tools for studying TREM2 in dementia. Structure 29 (11), pp.1215-1216. (10.1016/j.str.2021.10.009)
- Byrne, R. A. J. et al. 2021. Novel monoclonal antibodies against mouse C1q: characterisation and development of a quantitative ELISA for mouse C1q. Molecular Neurobiology 58 (9), pp.4323-4336. (10.1007/s12035-021-02419-5)
- Carpanini, S. M. et al. 2021. The impact of complement genes on the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Genes 12 (3) 443. (10.3390/genes12030443)
2020
- Altmann, T. et al., 2020. Complement factor I deficiency: a potentially treatable cause of fulminant cerebral inflammation. Neurology, Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation 7 (3) e689. (10.1212/NXI.0000000000000689)
2019
- Carpanini, S. M. , Torvell, M. and Morgan, B. P. 2019. Therapeutic inhibition of the complement system in diseases of the central nervous system. Frontiers in Immunology 10 , pp.-. 362. (10.3389/fimmu.2019.00362)
Articles
- Byrne, R. A. et al. 2025. The schizophrenia-associated gene CSMD1 encodes a complement classical pathway inhibitor predominantly expressed by astrocytes and at synapses in mice and humans. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 127 , pp.287-302. (10.1016/j.bbi.2025.03.026)
- Daskoulidou, N. et al. 2023. Complement receptor 1 is expressed on brain cells and in the human brain. Glia 71 (6), pp.1522-1535. (10.1002/glia.24355)
- Rossini, L. et al., 2022. Dendritic spine loss in epileptogenic Type II focal cortical dysplasia: Role of enhanced classical complement pathway activation. Brain Pathology e13141. (10.1111/bpa.13141)
- Carpanini, S. M. et al. 2022. Terminal complement pathway activation drives synaptic Loss in Alzheimer’s disease models. Acta Neuropathologica Communications 10 99. (10.1186/s40478-022-01404-w)
- Torvell, M. et al. 2021. Genetic insights into the impact of complement in Alzheimer's disease. Genes 12 (12) 1990. (10.3390/genes12121990)
- Menzies, G. E. and Torvell, M. 2021. Exciting new tools for studying TREM2 in dementia. Structure 29 (11), pp.1215-1216. (10.1016/j.str.2021.10.009)
- Byrne, R. A. J. et al. 2021. Novel monoclonal antibodies against mouse C1q: characterisation and development of a quantitative ELISA for mouse C1q. Molecular Neurobiology 58 (9), pp.4323-4336. (10.1007/s12035-021-02419-5)
- Carpanini, S. M. et al. 2021. The impact of complement genes on the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Genes 12 (3) 443. (10.3390/genes12030443)
- Altmann, T. et al., 2020. Complement factor I deficiency: a potentially treatable cause of fulminant cerebral inflammation. Neurology, Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation 7 (3) e689. (10.1212/NXI.0000000000000689)
- Carpanini, S. M. , Torvell, M. and Morgan, B. P. 2019. Therapeutic inhibition of the complement system in diseases of the central nervous system. Frontiers in Immunology 10 , pp.-. 362. (10.3389/fimmu.2019.00362)
Teaching
Level 5 - Infection, Immunity and Haematology module
Example timetable
| Introduction to the module and introduction to pathogens | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Bacteria and antibiotics | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Viruses and antivirals | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Where is the immune system? Cells, organs and molecules | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Cytokines | Guest lecturer |
| Innate immunity - Cells, Receptors, Processes | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Complement | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Complement practical | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Tutorial/formative assessment | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Microbiology practical | Dr Brad Spiller |
| Overview of antigen presentation to T cells | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Antigen presentation and the T-cell receptor | Guest lecturer(s) |
| Antibodies and B cells | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Allergy and treatment | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Autoimmunity and treatment | Guest lecturer |
| Immunoassays | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Immunisation/vaccination | Dr Brad Spiller and Dr Megan Torvell |
| Blood groups | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Blood groups practical | Dr Megan Torvell |
| RBCs and anaemia | Guest lecturer |
| Haemostasis | Guest lecturer |
| Haemophilia and thrombosis | Guest lecturer |
I lead two awesome Level 6 immunology modules which couldn't function without contributions from wonderful colleagues in the Division of Infection and Immunity.
Advanced Immunology - Example timetable
| Complement | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Pattern Recognition Receptors / cytokines | Prof Ian Humphreys |
| Phagocytic cell function / Receptors and signalling in phagocytosis | Dr Eamon McGreal |
| NK Cells/Mechanisms of Cytotoxic Function by Lymphocytes/Viral immunity | Prof Edward Wang |
| Antigen Presentation | Dr Eamon McGreal |
| Stages in the Life History of a T-cell | Dr James McLaren |
| Regulatory T Cells | Prof Awen Gallimore |
| Antibodies | Dr Megan Torvell |
| B-cells | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Mucosal immunity | Dr Carly Bliss |
| Interaction of viruses with the immune system/Immune evasion by viruses | Dr Ceri Fielding |
Immunopathologies and Immunotherapeutics - Example timetable
| Therapeutic Antibodies | Dr Megan Torvell |
| Complement Therapies | Dr Timothy Hughes |
| Pathologies associated with neutrophils | Dr Eamon McGreal |
| Transplantation, Immunosuppression | Dr Keith Wilson, |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis Immunotherapy | Prof Simon Jones |
| Vaccine development | Prof Brad Spiller |
| Viral gene delivery/editing? | Prof Alan Parker |
| Tumour immune-surveillance | Prof Awen Gallimore |
| T-cell therapies | Dr Mat Clement |
As module lead I organise all in-course assessments, I write all end of module exams, again with valuable contributions from colleagues in I&I.