Personal Statement
I am a veterinary surgeon, an RCVS Specialist in Sheep Health and Welfare, and a Diplomate of the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management. My current position is in the Department of Livestock and One Health in the School of Veterinary Science, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences. In my post I teach animal welfare and sheep veterinary medicine. My research focuses on sheep lameness, neonatal lamb diseases and sheep welfare. I also co-ordinate 3 post graduate veterinary modules in sheep medicine as part of the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice courses here at Liverpool https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/vets/cpd/certavp/production-animal/sheep/ and supervise research projects in the post-graduate Diploma of Bovine Reproduction Course for vets.
I have held many interesting administrative roles in the Veterinary School, currently I have a strong interest in research ethics and I am Co-Chair of the Institute Research Ethics Committee and also sit on Central University Ethics Committee.

Research Overview
My principle area of research has been the recently emerged cause of infectious lameness in sheep, contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-veterinary-and-ecological-sciences/research/groups/codd/. My group’s research on CODD includes epidemiologic studies describing the prevalence and risk factors; descriptions of clinical and pathological findings (gross and histological); field studies on the welfare impact and control of CODD, including randomised controlled vaccine efficacy studies. Recent studies have employed an experimental induction model of CODD with molecular and -omic methodologies to elucidate the microbial aetiology, essential for future vaccine development. I work with farmers and industry bodies, such as AHDB, HCC, National Sheep Association, MSD & Sheep Veterinary Society to provide practical solutions for CODD which has resulted in demonstrable improvements in responsible antibiotic use, biosecurity, and hygiene practices on farms. My group has developed practical on farm sheep welfare assessment tools for DEFRA . I am also active in research in neonatal lamb infectious diseases . I have over 60 peer reviewed publications and have co-authored national industry guidelines on antibiotic stewardship, sheep lameness, mastitis, abortion, and neonatal lamb disease control.