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. Membrane proteins are fundamental to mitochondrial energy transduction and uncoupling proteins (UCP1-5), in particular, are a current research focus of mine. 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 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 UCP activity and regulation and, importantly, the function that these unusual proteins may play in pathophysiology and prevention of disease.

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

Danielle Copeman (senior technician)

Camila Cotrim (post-doc)

Riccardo Cavalieri (PhD student)

Margeoux Dela Rosa (PhD student)

Camila Fernandez Vidal (MRes student)

Past:

Bethany Hartley (BIO BSc student; Best Final Year Project Award)

Eden Joyce (MSc student)

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss PhD studentship, or any other postgraduate research study opportunities, in my lab