Projects per year
Personal profile
Key Research Interests
Mitochondria are central to energy metabolism in our cells. My interests cover the molecular and bioenergetic processes that occur in mitochondria and how they relate to our health.
Mitochondrial energy transduction and the role of key membrane proteins, uncoupling proteins (UCP1-5) in particular, is a current research focus of mine.
Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is the protein in mammals that allows brown adipose tissue to burn off calories as heat in response to cold temperatures. If activated in humans, UCP1-dependent thermogenesis can contribute to energy expenditure and help combat obesity, diabetes and related disease.
Other UCPs have been linked to metabolic disorders, cancer, inflammation, ischemic shock and aging, though their exact function is not clear.
My research aims to resolve the molecular and structural mechanisms that underlie the functioning of mitochondrial proteins and processes, and, importantly, how they may be targeted to treat disease.
Career
2021- Biomedical Research Centre Director (MED), UEA
2019- Associate Professor, Norwich Medical School, UEA
2016-19 Principle Investigator/Lecturer, Norwich Medical School, UEA
2008-16 Investigator Scientist, MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Cambridge, UK
2005-08 MRC Career Development Fellow, MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Cambridge, UK
2001-04 PhD Biochemistry, University of Sussex, UK
Postgraduate Research Opportunities
We are often advertising PhD studentship positions (please see FindAPhD and jobs.ac.uk). Do get in touch if you would like to discuss PhD studentship, or any other postgraduate research study, opportunities in my lab.
Post-doc and Research Staff Opportunities
Do get in touch if you would like to discuss post-doctoral study opportunties in my laboratory. See UEA vacancies
Research Group or Lab Membership
Hannah Staggs (post-doc)
Danielle Copeman (senior technician)
Margeoux Dela Rosa (PhD student)
Mehmethan Aris (PhD student)
Past:
Camila Cotrim (post-doc)
Camila Fernandez Vidal (MRes student)
Riccardo Cavalieri (PhD student)
Bethany Hartley (BIO BSc student; Best Final Year Project Award)
Eden Joyce (MSc student)
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A Multiwavelength Analytical Centrifuge platform for Solute Characterisation
Clarke, T., Akay, A., Butt, J., Crichton, P., Gates, A., Le Brun, N., Rowley, G., Swainsbury, D. & Hall, A.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/08/24 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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The fundamental properties and interactions of mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins
1/10/23 → 30/09/27
Project: Training
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A structural context for the mechanism of Uncoupling protein 1
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/05/19 → 31/07/23
Project: Research
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BBSRC Strategic Programme in Food Innovation and Health
Mithen, R., Beraza, N. & Crichton, P.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
1/04/18 → 31/03/22
Project: Research
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Structural mechanisms of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 regulation in thermogenesis
Jones, S. A., Ruprecht, J. J., Crichton, P. G. & Kunji, E. R. S., Jun 2024, In: Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 49, 6, p. 506-519 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Citations (Scopus)5 Downloads (Pure) -
Terrestrial birth and body size tune UCP1 functionality in seals
Gaudry, M. J., Khudyakov, J., Pirard, L., Debier, C., Crocker, D., Crichton, P. G. & Jastroch, M., Apr 2024, In: Molecular Biology and Evolution. 41, 4, msae075.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Two-stage evolution of mammalian adipose tissue thermogenesis
Keipert, S., Gaudry, M. J., Kutschke, M., Keuper, M., Dela Rosa, M. A. S., Cheng, Y., Monroy Kuhn, J. M., Laterveer, R., Cotrim, C. A., Giere, P., Perocchi, F., Feederle, R., Crichton, P. G., Lutter, D. & Jastroch, M., 7 Jun 2024, In: Science. 384, 6700, p. 1111-1117 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)7 Downloads (Pure) -
Structural basis of purine nucleotide inhibition of human uncoupling protein 1
Jones, S. A., Gogoi, P., Ruprecht, J. J., King, M. S., Lee, Y., Zögg, T., Pardon, E., Chand, D., Steimle, S., Copeman, D. M., Cotrim, C. A., Steyaert, J., Crichton, P. G., Moiseenkova-Bell, V. & Kunji, E. R. S., 2 Jun 2023, In: Science Advances. 9, 22, eadh4251.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile23 Citations (Scopus)14 Downloads (Pure) -
Activating ligands of Uncoupling protein 1 identified by rapid membrane protein thermostability shift analysis
Cavalieri, R., Hazebroek, M. K., Cotrim, C. A., Lee, Y., Kunji, E. R. S., Jastroch, M., Keipert, S. & Crichton, P. G., Aug 2022, In: Molecular Metabolism . 62, 101526.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Citations (Scopus)13 Downloads (Pure)
Press/Media
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TV article (China) covering breakthrough on UCP1, the brown fat protein that promotes calorie burning
11/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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BBC Radio Norfolk interview - new protein structure discovery and obesity treatments
2/06/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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ITV Anglia news article - brown fat advance and future obesity treatments
1/06/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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>200 news/media sites - Brown fat breakthrough could lead to new obesity treatments, study suggests
31/05/23
222 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution