I use systems and network biology approaches to understand human growth and development. My work on age-related gene networks in human development was recognised as an editor’s choice publication by Science in September 2013 [Zahn,L.M. Growing Pains. Science 341, 1321 (2013)]. The success of my current work is reflected by invitations to present my work at industry symposia and in the number of oral presentations awarded at international meetings (oral presentations at the American ENDO conference as well as the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology conference 2011 – 2015, with my first oral presentation as last author in 2013).

I have a range of collaborations at the University of Manchester, for example: age-related omic analysis of Congenital Hyperinsulinism/Diabetes with Professor Dunne [FLS]; acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with Dr S. Meyer [MHS]; Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis/Obesity with Dr. R. Donn (MHS) along with evolutionary approaches to the analysis of omic time-series with Dr. C. Knight in [FLS], Dr. A. Dowsey [MHS] & Dr. J. Koskinen [social science].

Aug 2015 – Present

Research Fellow in Human Development, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester.

May 2007 - July2015                                                                                            

Senior Research Associate, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Visiting Scientist AstraZeneca.

Jan 2004 - April 2007                                                                                         

Senior Research Bio-scientist, Pathways Capability, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park 

Jan 2000 - Dec 2003

Research Associate, Dept. Medicine, University of Manchester

I have focussed my research career on addressing key issues in human development, correlating the phases of human growth and development with gene expression and associating these changes with disease states, drug treatment and the future development of disease. My current research on the pharmacogenomics of growth hormone therapy has enabled me to combine my background in genetics and molecular endocrinology with the analysis of different ‘omic datasets.

In order to investigate the significance of my findings surrounding age-related gene expression changes in children I have developed approaches using network biology that allow the analysis of gene expression data in the context of models of all known human protein:protein interactions (the “Interactome”). I have also pioneered the use of multiple “–omic” datasets (metabolomic, genetic, transcriptomic) to increase confidence in observed functional associations by taking an integrated approach to data analysis. Such approaches carry great potential in understanding the effect of disease mechanism on development as well as the efficacy and safety of drugs.

BSc (hons), MSc, PhD.