Personal profile
Overview
Academic Obstetrician with a special interest in Fetal Gowth Restriction and Fetal Medicine
Overview
Head of Department University of Manchester Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre
Head of Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine
Biography
I graduated from Leeds University Medical school in 1994 and decided to specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, entering the specialist training scheme in 1999 in Yorkshire. Midway through my trainin in 2002 I was fortunate to obtain a Tommy's Clinical Research Fellow position in the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre at the University of Manchester. I spent two of my three years study at the University of Alberta, Canada, before returning to Manchester in 2005 where I obtained my PhD in trophoblast cell biology. Having completed my fellowsip I returned to Leeds where I undertook sub-specialist training in Fetal Medicine gaining my CCST in 2009. Following this I was appointed Senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine at the University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant St. Mary's Hospital. In 2016 I became Head of Department and was promoted to Chair in 2019.
Research interests
In 2009 I established the Manchester Placenta Clinic, the first of the Tommy's translational research clinics at the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre. This clinic sees women from across the North West with Fetal Growth Restriction and in conjunction with our other research clinics has established a clinical and cohort for the centre's fundamental science and clinical research. Research areas linked to this include fetal and placental imaging, trophoblast biology, air pollution effects on pregnancy outcome and post natal growth and development.
Other research
I am a Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network Division Lead and am local principle investigator for a number NIHR portfolio research studies. As part of this role at St. Mary's Research and innovation I am available for commercial research enquiries in Maternal and Fetal Health. The Maternal and Fetal Health Research centre also hold a large maternal biobank which is available for research projects on request.
Areas of expertise
- RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Lydia Becker Institute
- Christabel Pankhurst Institute
- Manchester Environmental Research Institute
- Healthier Futures
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Uncover Genes and Pathways Linking Growth Trajectories to Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Childhood
Perchard, R., Garner, T., Higgins, L. E., Murray, P. G., Roslan, A., Johnstone, E. D., Stevens, A. & Clayton, P. E., 23 Feb 2026, In: Current Issues in Molecular Biology. 48, 2Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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A functional shunt in the umbilical cord: the role of coiling in solute and heat transfer
Wan, T., Johnstone, E., Saw, S. N., Jensen, O. & Chernyavsky, I., 24 Sept 2025, In: Journal of the Royal Society. Interface. 22, 230Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A network analysis of timing and conditions present at time of death for periviable infants (22+0–23+6 weeks) admitted to neonatal intensive care after receiving survival-focused care at birth
Peterson, J., Smith, D. M., Johnstone, E. D., Harvey, K. & Mahaveer, A., 2025, In: Frontiers in pediatrics. 13, 1552352.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A structured comparison and reflection on international position statements and professional guidance for the management of periviable infants
Peterson, J., Southwood, G., Smith, D. M., Johnstone, E. D. & Mahaveer, A., 2025, In: Frontiers in pediatrics. 13, 1553033.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
A transcriptomic signature that predicts prehypertension in adolescence and higher systolic blood pressure in childhood
Perchard, R., Garner, T., Murray, P. G., Roslan, A., Higgins, L. E., Johnstone, E. D., Stevens, A. & Clayton, P. E., 8 Dec 2025, In: JCI Insight. 10, 23Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Relating Environment-use Scenarios in Pregnancy/Infanthood and Resulting airborne-material Exposures to child-health outcomes (RESPIRE)
Higgins, L. (PI), Johnstone, E. (CoI), Povey, A. (CoI), Van Tongeren, M. (CoI), Ruane, P. (CoI), Bannan, T. (CoI) & Gittins, M. (CoI)
1/11/21 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre
Stevens, A. (PI), Heazell, A. (PI), Tower, C. (PI), Brison, D. (PI), Johnstone, E. (PI), Cottrell, E. (PI), Mann, E. (PI), Ingram, E. (PI), Crocker, I. (PI), Chernyavsky, I. (PI), Myers, J. (PI), Aplin, J. (PI), Higgins, L. (PI), Harris, L. (PI), Dilworth, M. (PI), Westwood, M. (PI), Whitworth, M. (PI), Desforges, M. (PI), Brownbill, P. (PI), Ruane, P. (PI), Sturmey, R. (PI), Worton, S. (PI), Greenwood, S. (PI), Sibley, C. (PI), Belchamber, K. (PI), Palin, V. (PI), Povey, A. (PI), Ormesher, L. (PI) & Perchard, R. (PI)
1/09/18 → 31/12/35
Project: Research
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Tommy's 2024-2025 Annual Budget
Heazell, A. (PI), Aplin, J. (CoI), Brownbill, P. (CoI), Cottrell, E. (CoI), Desforges, M. (CoI), Dilworth, M. (CoI), Higgins, L. (CoI), Johnstone, E. (CoI), Myers, J. (CoI), Palin, V. (CoI), Ruane, P. (CoI), Stevens, A. (CoI), Tropea, T. (CoI), Westwood, M. (CoI) & Worton, S. (CoI)
1/04/24 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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Multi-modal studies to understand pregnancy and prevent stillbirth
Heazell, A. (PI), Brownbill, P. (CoI), Chernyavsky, I. (CoI), Cotter, S. (CoI), Duhig, K. (CoI), Higgins, L. (CoI), Jensen, O. (CoI), Johnstone, E. (CoI) & Whitfield, C. (CoI)
17/10/22 → 31/03/25
Project: Research
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To Freeze or Not to Freeze? The Placental Question.
Higgins, L. (PI), Brison, D. (CoI), Dilworth, M. (CoI), Heazell, A. (CoI) & Johnstone, E. (CoI)
1/04/20 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
Impacts
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Establishment of Tommy’s National Biobank with partners
Johnstone, E. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing
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Placenta growth factor (PlGF) blood test for pre-eclampsia recommended by NICE then rolled out more widely by NHS England speeding up diagnosis and helping determine those most at risk
Myers, J. (Corresponding participant), Ormesher, L. (Participant), Johnstone, E. (Participant) & Duhig, K. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing, Economic
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Seeking a treatment to improve heart function and reduce future cardiovascular risk for women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia during their pregnancy (Enalapril)
Ormesher, L. (Corresponding participant), Johnstone, E. (Participant), Myers, J. (Participant), Cottrell, E. (Participant) & Trafford, A. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing
Datasets
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FEMINA2
Higgins, L. (Contributor), Johnstone, E. (Contributor) & Heazell, A. (Contributor), Mendeley Data, 22 Oct 2018
DOI: 10.17632/vsxsjhp6n3.1, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/vsxsjhp6n3
Dataset
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Comparison of 2D and 3D oxygen-enhanced MRI of the placenta.
Cristinacce, P. (Creator), Naish, J. (Creator) & Johnstone, E. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 27 Feb 2024
DOI: 10.48420/25266784, https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/dataset/Comparison_of_2D_and_3D_oxygen-enhanced_MRI_of_the_placenta_/25266784
Dataset