- Undergraduate studies in Biochemistry and Physiology at the University of Reading (1987-1990).
- MRC PhD studentship position at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School (University of London now Imperial College School of Medicine) (1990-1993). PhD in Biochemistry OUTPUTS.
- Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine at University College London Medical School (1993-1995). OUTPUTS.
- Research Lecturer at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in December 1995 to develop the themes of craniofacial regeneration and repair. Promoted to Senior Lecturer in July 2002, Reader in Cell Biology in July 2007.
- Appointed to a Chair in Exercise Biochemistry and Cell Biology and established the Muscle Cellular and Molecular Physiology Research Group in the Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research in Bedford in September 2009 to December 2011.
- Appointed to Head of Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Bedfordshire (September 2009 to December 2011).
- Appointed to Honorary Professor at the UCL School of Life and Medical Sciences in October 2009.
- Appointed to Visiting Professor in Musculoskeletal Biology Research Group, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University (October 2010 to December 2011).
- Appointed to Visiting Professor in Cranfield Health, Cranfield University in October 2010.
- Appointed to Professor of Musculoskeletal Biology, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University (January 2012).
- Dean of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University (August 2012 to August 2024).
- Appointed University Academic Lead for Partnerships, Loughborough University in August 2024.
Muscle cellular and molecular physiology
Biomedicine of sport and exercise
Expertise is the design and development of in vitro systems that are as much “like” the actual tissue as possible. The approaches that have been taken are those common in regenerative medicine such as cell transplantation and tissue engineering. The major area here is the musculoskeletal system esp. skeletal muscle although I have also published in ligament/tendon and bone.
In the skeletal muscle systems (muscle cellular and molecular physiology), the ability to stimulate the tissue engineered constructs either electrically or mechanically is critical. The ability to do this of course then lends itself well to studies of exercise physiology. There is a portfolio of work in this area currently studying hypertrophy, training regimes, effects of steroids, aging, responses to hypoxia, species and anatomical differences, muscle derived stem cells and interactions with the nervous system.
There is significant overlap with the work above and that in sports medicine. The musculoskeletal work is one part of that however I also work in the wider area of what I term biomedicine of sport. I have a programme of work that looks at how tissue damaged during physical activity can be effectively repaired. This includes skin and related tissues and bone. Again, tissue engineered constructs are widely used whilst application tends to be focussed on cell therapy. In this regards, I have acted as scientific consultant to three different biotechnology companies providing expert opinion on biological and technical questions relating to various regenerative medicine processes and products.
Current Research Projects and Sources of Funding
Muscle cellular and molecular physiology
- Engineering fully functional, integrated skeletal muscle
Samantha Passey (PDRA)
NC3Rs Project Grant - The HEAL Research Programme: Health, Epigenetics, Ageing and Learning
Amarjit Saini (PDRA)
HEFCE funded - Mimicking in-vivo skeletal muscle ageing in-vitro using three dimensional bioengineered constructs
Adam Sharples (PDRA)
HEFCE funded - Development of a Microfluidic Chamber for the In Vitro Study of Skeletal Muscle Innervation
TBC (PDRA)
Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research Project Grant - Peripheral vascular adaptations to low load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction
Julie Hunt (PhD)
HEFCE funded - Peripheral vascular adaptations to resistance exercise interventions; cellular & molecular
mechanisms
Emilia Thompson (PhD)
HEFCE funded - The development of a skeletal muscle model of insulin resistance: Validation from two-dimensional to three-dimensional cultures
Mark Turner (PhD)
Self-funded - Direct effect of oxygen saturation on skeletal muscle function
Carla Gallagher (PhD)
HEFCE funded - Molecular mechanisms of action of anabolic steroids
David Hughes (PhD)
HEFCE funded - Development of 3D culture systems for fish muscle cells to investigate environmental adaptability
Krishan Vishnolia (PhD)
Overseas industry funded - Molecular mechanisms underlying deterioration of muscular performance with age
Paul Davies (PhD)
HEFCE funded - Response of the Heat shock protein system to manipulation by external physiological factors
James Tuttle (PhD)
HEFCE funded - An In Vitro Model for Skeletal Muscle Adaptation Following Exercise Related Physiological Cues
Darren Player (PhD)
HEFCE funded - Cellular and molecular determinants of skeletal muscle hypertrophic potential
Neil Martin (PhD)
HEFCE funded
Biomedicine of sport and exercise
- In-Vitro 3D bone tissue modelling: insights into Ameloblastoma pathogenesis
- Claire Raison (PhD)
- Driving oral mucosal epithelial cells towards a corneal phenotype for therapeutic transplantation
- Anna O’Callaghan (PDRA)
- Fight for Sight (Project Grant)
- NHS National Institute of Health Research
- Invention for Innovation (i4i) Early Stage Research Award
Completed Research Projects and Sources of Funding
Muscle cellular and molecular physiology
- Motoneuron innervation of 3D skeletal muscle organoids
Alec Smith (PhD)
MRC Studentship
PhD awarded 2012 - Optimising training programmes for developing, strength, power and speed
Iain Fletcher (PhD)
PhD awarded 2011 - Comparative molecular and physical analysis of bone produced from muscle and bone marrow derived adult stem cells
EPSRC Studentship
Karin Karlqvist (PhD)
PhD awarded 2010 - Soluble glass fibres as a scaffold for regenerating masseter muscle
Rishma Shah (PhD)
PhD awarded 2010 - Masseter muscle gene expression in relation to various craniofacial deformities: A genotype
phenotype study
British Orthodontic Society Foundation Award
Hadwa Moawad (PhD)
PhD awarded 2009 - The effects of diabetes mellitus on bone regeneration potential on the temporal sequence of healing events following guided bone regeneration
Maria Retzepi (PhD)
PhD awarded 2009 - From Muscle to Tendon: Muscle Derived Stem Cells for the engineering of new fascia
UCLH CRDC Project Grant
2006 to 2008 - Tissue engineering of human neo-muscle organoid using mechanical stimulation
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital PhD Studentship
Mariea Brady (PhD)
PhD awarded 2008 - Gene therapy applications for muscle repair & muscular dystrophy using IGF-1 isoforms
MRC Studentship
Kenan Ates (PhD)
PhD awarded 2007
Biomedicine of sport and exercise
- The use of dielectrophoresis in oral cancer
Hayley Mulhall (PhD)
PhD awarded 2011 - Dielectrophoresis as a prognostic tool for potentially malignant and malignant disease of the mouth
National Institute of Health Research (Research for Innovation, Speculation and Creativity)
2007 to 2008 - Phenotypic differences between the ability of oral and dermal fibroblasts to repair dermal lesions
Batool Kazmi (PhD)
PhD awarded 2009 - Phenotypic differences between the ability of oral and dermal fibroblasts to repair dermal lesions
UCLH CBRC (New Initiative Funding)
Industrial PhD Studentship (Isolagen Europe Ltd.)
2005 to 2008
- Visiting Professor, Institute of Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR) Bedford, University of Bedfordshire.
- Visiting Professor, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University College London.
- Visiting Professor, Cranfield Health, Cranfield University.
- Executive Editor (2010 to current), Biotechnology Letters.
- Reviewer for 28 journals.
- Elected member of the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society Management Committee (Treasurer, 2008 to date).
- Elected member of the EPSRC Peer Review College.
- Grant Review for BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, SFI (Science Foundation, Ireland), EFFORT, NC3Rs, British Lung Foundation, Action Medical Research, European Orthodontic Society, Scottish Executive Health Department and The Wellcome Trust.
- External examiner for the MSc Exercise Physiology, University of Chichester (2010 to 2014).
Selected Invited Conference Keynote and Speaker Presentations
- Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES), Leeds University, UK (2011) From Jaws to Jumpers: Bioengineered skeletal muscle and its applications from surgery to exercise physiology – Keynote Presentation.
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) ExPhys 2.0: New ways of looking at fatigue in vitro – keynote at BASES 2011 (Essex) symposium “Molecular cell biological approaches to fatigue”
- Leeds Metropolitan University, Carnegie Seminar Series, UK (2011) – ExPhys 2.0: biotechnology "meats" exercise science.
- The School of Clinical Dentistry, Seminar Series, The University of Sheffield, UK (2010) – From Jaws to Jumpers: bioengineered skeletal muscle and its applications from surgery to exercise physiology.