Personal Statement
My undergraduate degree was in Biochemistry with Industrial Experience BSc(Hons) at the University of Manchester and this included a year at Professor Renato Iozzo’s laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia studying the role of perlecan core protein in extracellular matrix homeostasis. I stayed in Manchester to begin my research career in the UK Centre for Tissue by undertaking a PhD under the supervision of Professor Tim Hardingham, investigating the mechanisms of Notch signalling regulation during the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. My established techniques in working with stem cell cultures led to a post-doctoral research associate position at the North West Embryonic Stem Cell Centre, University of Manchester. During this time, I developed a chemically-defined protocol for the directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to produce chondrogenic cell populations that could be used in the treatment of articular cartilage defects. In 2009 I moved to Newcastle University under a North East Stem Cell Initiative Fellowship to establish my independent research group focused on developing protocols for using adult and embryonic stem cell populations for therapeutic application in musculoskeletal disorders. In 2014 I moved to the University of Liverpool as a Wellcome Trust-funded Tenure-Track Fellow and was confirmed as Lecturer in 2017. My research group interests are focused on understanding how tissue-resident stem cells contribute to tissue dysfunction in ageing and disease and how both adult and pluripotent stem cells can be used therapeutically in musculoskeletal, cardiac and ocular conditions. I am also have an active clinical research programme in collaboration with Aintree Hospital, which is focused on improving diagnostic and rehabilitation pathways following lower limb injury.
I have diverse teaching, research and scholarship roles across the School of Medicine and School of Biosciences, including the Foundation System Block Lead on the MBChB Programme and Graduate Entry Medicine Programme. I am the primary and co-supervisor to seven PhD students and provide research supervision to MBChB Research and Scholarship, Masters level and International Summer Research Placement students.

Research Overview
My research interests are focused on understanding how metabolic regulation determines the reparative and immunomodulatory function of stem cells, how metabolic networks are altered in disease and ageing, and how this knowledge can be used to advance stem cell therapies. I work across multiple tissue systems, including musculoskeletal, ocular and cardiac using in vitro models from pluripotent and tissue-derived stem cell populations. I am also have an active clinical research programme in collaboration with Aintree Hospital, which is focused on improving diagnostic and rehabilitation pathways following lower limb injury. Active projects include:

Replacement of animal use in measuring cardiomyocyte response to drug safety profiling using a novel NMR metabolomics technology.

Evaluation of adult stem cell differentiation in the trabecular meshwork of the eye as a regenerative medicine approach for Glaucoma using novel polymer 3D scaffolds.

Functional analysis of bone marrow and cardiac-derived stem cells and their potential to affect cardiac repair.

Influence of underlying matrix on induced pluripotent and adult stem cell differentiation and integration of trabecular meshwork cells.

Investigating the role of mesenchymal stem cells in the pathogenesis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

The immunomodulatory properties of limbal mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) – a novel cell source for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Investigating age-related biochemical changes in the neuromuscular junction using an induced pluripotent stem cell model.

Defining the role of the mitochondria and biochemical signalling pathways in drug-induced bone toxicity.

Investigating biochemical and bioenergetic changes in stem cells in response to inflammatory disease phenotype.

Development and characterisation of a novel induced pluripotent stem culture system that models modulation of pain in musculoskeletal tissues.

Arthrometry and Clinical Tests for Diagnosing ACL Tears; Clinical Trial NCT05416632.

Reliability and Validity of Inline Dynamometry Study for Measuring Knee Extensor Torque; Clinical Trial NCT109871.

Do Patients With ACL Tears Demonstrate Weakness of the Soleus Muscle?; Clinical Trial NCT06235736.