Curriculum Vitae

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2023 - Senior Lecturer, University of Liverpool

2022 - 2023 Lecturer, University of Liverpool

2017 - Career Development Fellow Versus Arthritis, University of Liverpool

2014 - 2016 Research Fellow, University of Liverpool    

2010 - 2016        Arthritis Research UK Foundation Fellow, University of Liverpool

I have a special interest in the role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, with a focus on the regulation of metabolism and gene expression in inflammatory neutrophils. I graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2005 with a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and obtained my PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2009. In 2010 I was awarded an Arthritis Research UK Foundation Fellowship, during which I characterised neutrophils from RA patients before and after TNF inhibitor therapy using RNA-sequencing. As part of my Fellowship, I spent time at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories in New York, undertaking state-of-the-art training in bioinformatics data analysis and computer programming. More recently I have been awarded major research grants from the Wellcome Trust and Pfizer, through which I am developing protocols applying quantitative proteomics and 1H NMR metabolomics technologies to further define the activation of neutrophils in RA. My research is providing unprecedented insight into the role of neutrophils in inflammatory diseases and ageing. Working closely with clinicians the Liverpool university Hospitals Foundation Trust, I have identified and validated potential neutrophil-derived biomarkers of response and non-response to TNF inhibitor therapy. I was awarded the British Society for Rheumatology Garrod Prize for 2017, and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2018. My Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellowship will develop skills in advanced statistics and computational biology to enable me to integrate multiple –omics datasets with clinical characteristics of RA patients to provide new insight into neutrophil phenotype in RA.

2009 – 2010        Post-doctoral research associate, University of Liverpool.

Neutropenia is reported as an adverse event in a proportion of RA patients receiving the anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody therapy tocilizumab. This project focussed on role of interleukin-6 and interleukin-6 receptor signalling/trans-signalling in healthy and RA human neutrophils, and also investigated the in vitro effects of tocilizumab on neutrophils.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS

2005 – 2009        PhD, University of Liverpool. Thesis Title "Neutrophil Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis".

Neutrophils comprise the large majority of leukocytes infiltrating RA joints and have the greatest potential to inflict joint and tissue damage through the secretion of proteases. My research examined the effect of factors found within synovial fluid, such as cytokines, chemokines and immune complexes, on neutrophil activation, apoptosis and production of inflammatory mediators. A clinical study was also undertaken which examined neutrophils from patients about to start anti-TNF therapy. This study was able to show that blood neutrophils from RA patients have an activated phenotype, with enhanced NF-kappaB signalling, membrane TNF-alpha expression and delayed apoptosis.

2001 – 2005       BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Central Lancashire, First Class with Honours 

Included one year Access course at Preston College.  My honours project investigated the expression of the c-myc oncogene in human glioma, and I was able to contribute towards a review publication.

SUCCESSFUL GRANT APPLICATIONS

Metabolic regulation of aberrant neutrophil ROS and NET production in systemic lupus erythematosus

Neutrophil function in healthy ageing, inflammation and frailty

Metabolic reprogramming of human neutrophils during inflammation 

Biomarkers to predict response to biologic therapy for the stratification of patients to appropriate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

In vivo modelling of epigenetic regulation of neutrophil phenotype in musculoskeletal ageing

Computational modelling and functional investigation of neutrophil activation and plasticity in inflammatory disease

Evaluation of novel mechanisms for inhibiting rheumatoid arthritis

Biomarkers in inflammation

Multi-modal high resolution preclinical PET+SPECT+CT scanner

The effect of JAK inhibition on neutrophil killing, NETosis and metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis

Molecular properties of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Secukinumab, neutrophils and vitamin D in Psoriatic Arthritis

Role of neutrophils in inflammation induced liver cancer following liver fluke infection 

Bridging and accelerating the translation of novel scientific findings for health and wealth gain

Changes in neutrophil gene expression during active and resolved inflammation

PERSONAL AWARDS / PRIZES

Winner of the Alfred Garrod Prize, British Society for Rheumatology, 2017.

Winner of the Anne Vaughan-Thomas prize for best oral presentation at the Musculoskeletal Science Open Day, University of Liverpool 2012.

Winner of the Mike Chalk Memorial Trophy for best oral presentation at the North West Rheumatology Club, Salford 2008.

Winner of the Vice-Chancellor’s Student of the Year award at the University of Central Lancashire 2005.