Lecturer in Maternal & Fetal Health

Lead for Social Responsibility - Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine

Following my undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Leeds (1998-2001), I took a Research Assistant position at The Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre (MFHRC), University of Manchester, investigating infection in the placenta. I moved on to a Wellcome Trust Prize PhD Studentship within the MFHRC which began my path of research into placental development and function and how these are regulated. My PhD was awarded in 2006 and I have since continued to research this important aspect of human biology. I have also been involved in more translational research projects, working towards developing treatments for improving pregnancy outcome in cases of severe fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. In 2022 I was appointed as Lecturer with a teaching-focussed role.

Placental dysfunction is a leading cause of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and stillbirth. The pathophysiology of placental dysfunction is poorly understood and multifactorial. However, there is evidence that altered placental mitochondrial function is a contributing factor. Mitochondria are cellular organelles which generate energy in the form of ATP. Alterations to the bioenergetic capacity of mitochondria can therefore have significant effects on normal cell and tissue function.

My current research interests focus on understanding the alterations to placental mitochondrial function in FGR and explores the possibility that targeting mitochondrial dysfunction therapeutically will improve placental function and fetal growth.

- Deputy Programme Director for MSc Reproduction and Pregnancy (Research)

- Unit lead for MEDN66110 MSc Reproduction & Development Tutorial unit

- Unit lead for MEDN65521 MSc Reproduction & Pregnancy Masterclass unit

- Supervisor for MSc Reproduction & Pregnancy Research projects

- Supervisor for undergraduate MBChB students undertaking an Applied Personal Excellence Path research project

- Co-supervisor for a PhD student with Dr Mark Dilworth, Dr Lizzy Cottrell, and Dr Adam Stevens. The PhD project focusses on a candidate therapy for placental dysfunction in advanced maternal age

- Co-supervisor for a PhD student with Prof Jenny Myers, Dr Adam Stevens, and Dr Lucy Higgins. The PhD project focusses on understanding placental dysfunction in women with poor cardiometabolic health

Affiliated Staff: Dr Mark Dilworth, Dr Elizabeth Cottrell, Dr Adam Stevens, Dr Lucy Higgins, Prof Jenny Myers, Prof Alexander Heazell, Prof Melissa Westwood.

Member of The Physiological Society

Member of IFPA (International Federation of Placenta Associations)

Member of The Mitochondrial Physiology Society

Techniques used in the laboratory include:

• isolation of primary human cells & tissue, mammalian cell culture
• placental villous explant culture (human tissue)
• placental microvillous membrane preparation, placental perfusion
• amino acid transporter assays
• high resolution respirometry
• differentiation and apoptosis assays
• ELISAs
• protein detection (Western blotting) and measurement
• immunohistochemistry
• confocal microscopy
• general molecular biology
• conventional and quantitative RT-PCR
• RNA interference technologies
• competent use of recombinant adenoviruses

BSc (Hons) Microbiology with Immunology from Leeds University.

PhD in Placental Physiology from Manchester University. Thesis title 'Gestational regulation of human placental amino acid transporters and the interaction of insulin-like growth factor II'.