Marianne Kennedy

Dr Marianne Kennedy is a Volunteer Writer at BioNews, having originally joined the publication under the auspices of its writing scheme. She obtained her medical degree from University College London's Division of Medicine, under the auspices of its MBPhD Programme, where she divided her time between clinical training at University College London Hospital and research at the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research (now subsumed into The Francis Crick Institute). Her research focused on metabolic changes in the heart before and after birth, and has potential implications for high altitude medicine, cot death and heart failure. Her essay on this subject, 'Conquistadores and Cot Death', was shortlisted for the Max Perutz Science Writing Prize, while her story 'Freedom Through Genetics' was shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust's Science Writing Prize. Her earlier research concerned obesity, and how gut hormones and gene variations impact on eating behaviour, appetite and body weight. She also writes for the Society for Endocrinology's public information website You and Your Hormones. Previously, she studied Medicine and Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge. She is currently working a junior doctor at Southampton University Hospital. Marianne is also a singer/songwriter and a member of the all-singing, all-dancing a cappella group In the Smoke.