Areas of interest
The host and intestinal microbiota have co-evolved and this has resulted in intricate and integrated relationships existing between the two. My research focus is how the intestinal microbiota influences the host system in terms of the development of immune and metabolic phenotype and function, specifically the immediate and sustained effects of early-life manipulation of both composition and function of the microbiota on long-term 'programming' of host physiology. These manipulations include early-life environment, antibiotic therapy, dietary supplementation (pro/prebiotics) and nutrition, especially iron and protein.
Postgraduate supervision
- The relationship between dietary micronutrients (iron), and the gut microbiota: Can dietary micronutrients regime be exploited to support gut health? Funding: Commonwealth Scholarship (co-primary supervisor)
- Can probiotics and prebiotics reduce the impact of high protein diets on gut barrier function by modulating the microbiota in sex-dependent manners? Funding: FoodBioSystems DTP, BBSRC (primary supervisor)
- The influence of vitamin deficiency on the composition of the gut microbiota. Funding: Saudi Arabia government (second supervisor)
- Mechanistic studies on the impact of dietary protein on gut barrier function: a gatekeeper of metabolic & immune health. Funding: FoodBioSystems DTP, BBSRC (second supervisor)
- Mechanistic understanding of zinc-iron interactions in piglets – finding an alternative to Zinc Oxide supplementation at weaning. Funding: FoodBioSystems DTP, BBSRC (primary supervisor)
- In vitro approach to assess the impact of dietary iron and lactoferrin on the pre-weaning infant and adult gut microbiota. Funding: privately funding (second supervisor)
- Diet and Chronic Disease: mechanistic studies on the impact of dietary protein on gut barrier function and the microbiota. Funding: FoodBioSystems DTP, BBSRC (primary supervisor) - completed
- Effects of early-life malnutrition and iron deficiency anaemia on growth and development using a piglet model for human infants. Funder: Republic of Turkey Ministry of National Education (primary supervisor) - completed
- The relationship between dietary iron and zinc, and the gut microbiota: Can dietary iron and zinc regime be exploited to improve health? Funding: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (second supervisor) - completed
- Mechanisms to explain interactions at the ImmunoMetabolic-Microbiota interface following global malnutrition, and iron deficiency, during infancy Funding: International PhD Studentship Prize winner (primary supervisor) - completed
- Metabolic impact of high fibre diets in poultry (primary supervisor, Martin Woodward (second supervisor) - completed
Teaching
- Module convenor for FB3GUT - The Gut Microbiota and Health
- Key contributor to FB2FM2 - Food Spoilage, Preservation and Hazards
- FBMMSH - Microbes, Food Safety and Health (Contributor)
- FBMMHD - Microbes in Health and Disease (Contributor)
- FB3NMP - Nutrition in the Management and Prevention of Disease (Contributor)
- FB3LNP - Lifestyle, Nutrigenetics and Personalised Nutrition (Contributor)
- RRDP - Postgraduate research: How to write a paper and How to secure your first PostDoc position
Research centres and groups
- InGEM Hub
- Food Microbial Sciences Unit
Research projects
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (UoR PI) To develop and assess the viability of plant-based heme as an iron fortificant for fortification programs.
- Innovate UK (UoR PI) Developing clinically effective breast milk-derived microbiome supplements for infants.
- Wellcome Trust Seed Award Funding (PI) Does mechanical bowel preparation destabilise the gut microbiota, providing a window of opportunity to influence diverticular diseases?
- Food and Feed Innovation Ltd (PI) Exploring the effects of dietary protein on gut barrier function using the pig model for humans.
- Royal Society (PI) Determining the mechanisms by which early-life farm environments protect against the development of inflammatory diseases in later life.
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (PI) Modelling human Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Acute Secretory Diarrhoea: a novel piglet approach.
- Wellcome Trust Strategic Award Funding (PI) A systems approach to identify the mechanisms and pathways by which the intestinal microbiota influences host transcriptomic and proteomic phenotype.
- Nestle RY9204 (Co-I) Intervention with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (NCC2818) modulates local and systemic immune responses around.
- ARIEF (Co-Lead applicant) New equipment to create the Innovative Next-Gen Gut Model Hub.
- Faculty Campaigns and Alumni (PI) How does early-life environment predispose to autoimmune and allergic disease?
- UoR Pump Priming Award (PI) The gut microbiota and co-metabolism in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD).
Academic qualifications
- Postgraduate certificate in Academic Practice 2018, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ
- HEA Fellowship 2017, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ
- Associate HEA Fellowship 2018, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ
- PhD Molecular Microbiology 2004, University of Exeter
- BSc Molecular and Cell Biology 2000, University of Bath
Professional bodies/affiliations
- Committee B Panel member for the BBSRC
