51cg

Biography

2015-present: Senior Research Fellow, Rowett Institute, 51cg, Scotland, UK.

2006-2015: Research Fellow, Rowett Institute, 51cg, Scotland, UK.

2002-2005: Principal Investigator, Molecular Recognition Group, Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, Scotland, UK.

1997-2002: Investigator, Cell Physiology Group, Hannah Research Institute, Ayr, Scotland, UK.              

1992-1997: Postdoc, Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of Würzburg, Germany.

1989-1992: PhD Student, Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding, University of Munich, Germany.

Research Overview

My research interest covers two overlapping research areas, namely:

• Impact of secondary plant metabolites and toxins on metabolic health regulation, mediated by the gut microbiome and bile acid
• Impact of nutrition in early life stages on adult metabolic health and aging.

Current Research

Dietary and environmental impacts on metabolic health

The gut represents the main interface with which mammals interact with their environment. Bile acids are essential for the emulsification and uptake of dietary lipids and lipid-soluble vitamins. However, bile acids also act as signaling molecules via several nuclear receptors and G-protein coupled receptors. Many of these signaling events take place in the gut, but bile acids also circulate in serum and can also signal in other organs. Bile acids are synthesized in the liver, secreted via the gall bladder, and chemically modified by the gut microbiome to give rise to more than 20 different bile acids. We have found that dietary components can substantially alter the composition of bile acids in the gut and in serum. Environmental toxins (including mycotoxins and synthetic plastic compounds) can interact with bile acid signaling (directly or via the modulation of the microbiome) and derail the metabolic equilibrium. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms which are critical for bile acid signaling and how dietary components and toxins can influence these events. We apply this knowledge to develop cell-based assay systems to measure toxin concentrations in environmental and food samples.

Early life nutrition and metabolic health outcomes

Nutrition during early phases of life can have profound impacts on metabolic health in adulthood. Intrauterine growth restriction has been shown to alter body composition and epigenetic processes. This leads to increased susceptibility to obesity, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease and shortened lifespan. Attenuated growth after birth, in contrast, is protective against aspects of the metabolic syndrome and extends lifespan. We are using in vitro and in vivo models of post-natal attenuated growth to study the molecular events which underlie the improved metabolic health outcomes and delayed aging. We apply this knowledge to develop pharmacological interventions to improve metabolic health.

Teaching Responsibilities

Medicine

ME2511 Student Selected Components; course coordinator

ME2019 Foundations of Medicine; exam coordinator, tutor

Biomedical Sciences

G3502 Genetics; lecturer

SM2001 Foundation Skills; tutor

SM2501 Genetic Diseases lead; tutor

Nutrition

RN5502 Molecular Nutrition, lecturer

RN5503 Clinical Nutrition for Disease Prevention, lecturer

RN5504 Nutrition & Health through life stages, lecturer

RN5511 Ergogenic Aids in Sport & Exercise, lecturer

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Project supervision

MB5902 MSc project supervisor (17 students supervised)

PU5922 MSc project supervisor (6 students supervised)

SM4501 Honours project supervisor (37 students supervised)