Members of the Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB)

Director

Name Key research interests

Professor Aniko Varadi

Centre Director and Professor of Biomedical Science

Biomedical genetics, Type 2 diabetes.

Staff members

Name Key research interests

Dr Emmanuel Adukwu

Senior Lecturer (Biomedical Science) and Employability Lead - Coordinator UWE Bristol Africa Network and Africa Week

Community acquired infections, hospital acquired infections, biofilms, antimicrobial agents, essential oils, disinfection.

Dr Joel Allainguillaume

Senior Lecturer in Molecular Genetics

Ecological risk assessment of GM crops, crop improvement, environmental monitoring and DNA barcoding.

Dr Elizabeth Anderson

Senior Lecturer, Haematology

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, bacterial bioluminescence biosensors, cell biology.

Dr Jackie Barnett

Research Fellow

Control of disease through the development of novel biosensor technologies for use in rapid point-of-care diagnostics. Particular areas of interest include development of magnetic detection technologies using paramagnetic particles and development of diagnostics for infectious diseases, cancer and Alzheimer's with novel biomarkers.

Dr Sam Bonnett

Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science

Biogeochemistry, extracellular enzyme activities, greenhouse gas production, biochar, wetlands.

Dr Carrie Brady

Microbial taxonomy.

Dr Man-Kim Cheung

Technician

Molecular biotechnology, recombinant gene expression and transformation systems, reporter gene development.

Professor Myra Conway

Professor of Biomedical Science

Clinical biochemistry, metabolic biochemistry, the role of the branched chain aminotransferase (BCAT) proteins in glutamate toxicity, a key contributor to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease.

David Corry

Laboratory Manager - Biomedical Research

Laboratory manager.

Dr Adrian Crew

Senior Lecturer - Environmental Microbiology

Bio-sensors, environmental monitoring, food analysis.

Dr Tim Craig

Senior Research Lecturer, Physiology

The role of protein SUMOylation in glucose homeostasis and type-II diabetes.  

Dr Victoria Davenport

Senior Lecturer

Mucosal immunology.

Dr Ben de Lacy Costello

Senior Research Fellow

Chemical sensors and targeted sensor arrays for disease diagnosis, biomarker identification using SPME and ATD coupled with GCMS, chemical computing using the Belousov Zhabotinsky reaction, pattern forming reactions.

Dr Sarah Dean

Senior Lecturer - Healthcare/Biomedical Science

Breast cancer and cellular pathology.
Professor Olena Doran

Associate Dean (Research) and Professor in Biomedical Research

Molecular mechanisms of food quality in relation to human health, identification of biomarkers and development of genetic tests for pathological states and food quality, lipid metabolism.

Dr David Fernandez

Lecturer

Wildlife populations, conservation threats, policy recommendations; large-scale bio-monitoring programs to remotely monitor wildlife, detect illegal human activity and identify priority areas for conservation; development of environmental education and outreach activities.

Dr Alexander Greenhough

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences

Cancer biology, tumour microenvironment, signal transduction, hypoxia, autophagy, apoptosis, drug discovery, bioinformatics.

Emeritus Professor John Greenman

Professor of Microbiology

Microbial fuel cells, oral malodour, in vitro biofilms, growth, ecology and physiology of microbes: biofilm and planktonic continuous culture.

Dr John Hancock

Professor in Cell Signalling 

The production and role of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, as well as hydrogen sulfide, in biological systems with a focus on cell signalling.

Professor John Hart

Professor in Biosensor and Electroanalytical Sciences

Disposable screen-printed electrochemical sensors and biosensors for applications in biomedicine, environmental studies and agri-food analysis; HPLC/Electrochemical detection for the determination of trace levels of vitamins, coenzymes and drugs.

Dr Antony Hill

Departmental Academic Director

Stability analyses in sustainable energy production, medicine and biology, blood flow in the microcirculation, solar ponds; nonlinear energy theory.

Dr Annabelle Hodson

Senior Lecturer

Chemistry.

Dr Kevin Honeychurch

Research Fellow

Electrochemistry, sensors, chromatography, HPLC, GC, GC-MS.

Dr Jonathon Hull

Lecturer

Radioacivity, protein biochemistry, physiology.

Professor Tony Killard

Professor of Biomedical Sciences

Development of chemical sensors, biosensors and biomedical diagnostic devices.

Dr Kris Kinsey

Senior Lecturer

Biological and cognitive markers of development related disorders such as dementia (Alzheimer's disease), autism and dyslexia.

Dr Michael Ladomery

Associate Professor Biomedical Science

Alternative splicing in cancer, regulation of alternative splicing through the SR protein kinase SRPK1, the oncogenic splice factor SFRS1, alternative splicing of VEGF, HER2, H-Ras, Insulin Receptor and ERG, role of the TMPRSS2/ERG microdeletion in prostate cancer, the tumour suppressor gene WT1 in development and disease, the stress-associated RNA-binding protein at GRP7/RBM3, identification of plant-derived compounds with splicing modulatory activity.

Dr Lynne Lawrance

Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology and Programme Leader for MSc in Biomedical Science

Moraxella cattarhalis (a pathogen of the mucous membranes such as the respiratory tract, eyes and inner ear), the molecular epidemiology of pathogenic bacteria, biomedical ethics and philosophy.

Dr Debbie Lewis

Molecular Biology/ Immunology Technician

Microbial fuel cells, microbiology, molecular biology, urinary tract.

Dr Katy Ling

Senior Lecturer

Effects of air pollution on tree health, woodlands and calcareous grasslands, impacts of trees on urban air quality, development of environmental policy within the electricity industry, use of science in environmental policy development, effect of legislation on the implementation of environmental policy, public understanding of Global Climate Change.
Dr Paul Lintott
Lecturer in Conservation Science
How modern challenges, such as urban expansion, persecution, noise pollution, and agricultural intensification, impact wildlife, and the close interaction with stakeholders, and the identification of sustainable and practical solutions being an explicit aim.

Professor Richard Luxton

Director Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology

Developing new rapid diagnostic technologies for point of care diagnostics and environmental analysis, magnetic immunoassay and whole cell impedance and imaging, working with industry and developing academic/industrial collaboration and networking.

Dr Heather Macdonald

Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology

Auxin perception; signal transduction and proteomic responses to biotic and abiotic stresses; microalgal biofuels.

Dr Jason Mansell

Associate Professor (Hard Tissue Biology)Biomedical Science

Osteoblasts, differentiation, active vitamin D3, titanium functionalisation, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and LPA analogues.

Dr Pete Maxfield

Lecturer in Environmental Chemistry

Biogeochemistry, organic geochemistry, stable isotopes, mass spectrometry.

Dr Jennifer May

Lecturer in Biomedical Science

Haematology, bone marrow, stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy.

Professor David McCalley

Professor in Bioanalyitical Science

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) to the solution of problems especially in biomedical and pharmaceutical science.

Dr Natasha McGuire

Research Support Technician

Sensor development and testing: volatile analysis, metal oxide semiconductors, electrochemical, biosensors, gas chromatography and screen-printing. Applications: detection of carbon dioxide and diagnosis of C.difficile, Norovirus, IBD and IBS.

Dr Chris Moore

Senior Lecturer, Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy, Physiology, creating e-learning resources for scientific and medical education, dental science.

Dr Ruth Morse

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Human Genetics)

The molecular biology of stem cell transplantation, the aetiology of haemopoietic malignancy.

Dr Helen Neale

Research Fellow

Molecular Genetics and Microbiology; molecular plant-microbe interactions.

Dr Shona Nelson

Senior Lecturer

Bacterial biofilms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bioluminescence as a monitor of bacterial metabolic activity, probiotics.

Dr Lyn Newton

Head of Department of Applied Sciences

Detecting stress in marine invertebrates and fish, the use of biomarkers, sub-lethal effects of oil pollution on echinoderms, the predictive capacity of toxicity tests, the effects of long-term exposure to metal contamination on marine invertebrates.

Dr Mario Orsi

Senior Lecturer

Biomolecular modelling, molecular dynamics simulation, interfaces, lipids, membranes, water, proteins, permeation

Dr Carolyn Paul

Senior Lecturer

The pharmacology of the functional and dysfunctional blood-brain barrier in response to disease and toxicological stresses, current projects relating to glutamate excitotoxicity in neurological conditions where there is a neurovascular component, namely Alzheimer's disease and Multiple Sclerosis, also the nanotoxicity of nanoparticles at the blood-brain and placental barriers.

Dr Roy Pemberton

Senior Lecturer

Developing novel biosensors by combining biological recognition elements (antibodies/enzymes) with electrodes, use of screen-printing technology to fabricate electrodes from carbon-containing inks as the basis for electrochemical sensing devices, applying enzyme biosensors to monitor cell metabolism in culture.

Dr Martina Piano

Research Fellow

Electrochemistry, Sensor, biosensor, material science, enzyme stabilisation, analytical chemistry, elisa assay, magneto immuno sensor.

Dr David Qualtrough

Senior Lecturer

Tumour invasion and metastasis, wound healing in inflammatory disease.

Professor Norman Ratcliffe

Professor in Materials and Sensors Science

Volatile analysis, sensor and device fabrication and testing of commercial sensors, aerospace industry, molecular electronics, nuclear industry.

Professor Darren Reynolds

Professor of Health and Environment

Dissolved organic matter fluorescence and water quality, biological and chemical decontamination in healthcare environments using electrochemically activated solutions, visualisation of biological and chemical processes using low light detection and imaging.

Dr Gareth Robinson

Senior Lecturer - Microbiology

The applications of bacterial bioluminescence, the transfer of genes from naturally bioluminescent bacteria to bacteria.

Dr Saliha Saad

Senior Research Fellow

Oral malodour, in vitro biofilm models, clinical trials to study the anti malodour effects of medicated formulations (malodour counteractives), microbiology of exfoliative surfaces.

Emerita Professor Vyv Salisbury

Professor of Applied Microbiology

Use of bioluminescent clinical strains of significant bacterial pathogens for evaluation of the pharmacodynamic effects of antibiotics, use of bacterial bioluminescence as an intracellular reporter, use of bioluminescent strains of food borne pathogens for evaluation of heat treatment of foods, effect of low dose macrolide antibiotics on bacterial cell signalling.

Dr Stephanie Sargeant

Senior Lecturer - Environmental Science

Environmental science.

Dr Mark Steer

Lecturer

Monitoring the impacts of conservation efforts at the landscape level. Potential of Payments for Ecosystem Services as a funding mechanism for lowland wetlands. Impact of species reintroductions on ecological function.

Dr Karina Stewart

Senior Lecturer - Physiology

Exercise physiology, exercise and health.

Dr Adam Thomas

Senior Lecturer in Human Genetics and Genomics

Genetic toxicology, DNA damage response, 3D image reconstruction, cancer stem cells.
Dr Rhian Thomas

Senior Lecturer in Human Physiology

Alzheimer's disease, antibody-based therapies, underlying mechanisms of disease, neurodegeneration, molecular neurosciences, cell biology and biochemistry.

Dr Robin Thorn

Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences

Applied microbiology.

Dr Andy Tubb

Programme Leader - Environment

Environmental research.

Dr Dann Turner

Lecturer - Molecular Biology

Bacteriophage biology and genomics.

Dr Bahareh Vahabi

Senior Lecturer-Physiology, and International Partnership Co-ordinator

Physiological and pharmacological function of lower urinary tract in health and disease. Development of isolated animal bladder models for studying the integrative physiology of the bladder.

Dr Jim Vafidis

Lecturer

Impacts of environmental change on wetland and upland ecosystems, focusing on behavior, physiology and population dynamics; data analysis and statistics, using ecological models to address applied issues in industry, wildlife management and conservation.

Dr Andy Wetten

Senior Lecturer

Plant germplasm conservation, plant virology and DNA barcoding.

Dr Trevor Whittall

Senior Lecturer in Haematology

Immunology, with subheadings of auto-immunity, vaccines and viral immunity, inflammatory diseases, macrophage biology and amyloid disease.  

Professor Neil Willey

Professor of Environmental Plant Physiology and Director of UWE Bristol Graduate School

Radionuclides, heavy metals and organics in the soil-plant system. Predicting the uptake and effects of contaminant radionuclides for food contamination studies and environmental assessments. The use of phylogenetic, ionomic and molecular techniques to understand the behaviour of toxic inorganics in plants.

Dr Ian Wilson

Senior Lecturer

Cell signalling, ethylene, re-active oxygen species.

Dr Kathryn Yuill

Senior Lecturer -Healthcare Science

Investigating changes in cardiovascular ion channel function induced by disease states and by pharmacological modulation, the relationship between ion channel function and calcium release in cells of the cardiac conduction system, and how ion channel function is altered in diseases like Diabetes.

PhD students

Name Title of PhD
Hanan Alabouh Regulation of alternative splicing in leukaemia by the Splice Factor Kinase SRPK1
Layla Al Hajab Role of the GRP RNA binding proteins in stress adaptation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Sultan Almalki Optimisation of haematopoietic stem cell homing post-transplantation, using an in vitro model of the bone marrow/vasculature interface
Elizabeth Bowler The effect of hypoxia on alternative splicing in prostate cancer
Nicol Caplin NERC radioactivity and the terrestrial environment (RATE) programme studentship: the biological effects of ionizing radiation
Claire Caygill The role of pancreatic islet cell glutamate receptors in endocrine hormone secretion and in the development of diabetes
Gillian Clayton The development of off-grid water treatment technologies for the recovery of agricultural wastes
Mike Devey Investigating biomarkers of triple negative breast cancer
Julian Donald What is the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function?
Arwa Flemban Investigation of new tissue biomarkers for triple negative breast cancer
Amy Forward The use of thermal desorption techniques to establish a suitable quantitative method of analysing drugs on money
Bethany Fox The development of fluorescence sensing for monitoring microbial processes in freshwater systems
Mark Fraser Novel approaches to the detection of antifungal resistance in candida spp’
Oliver Gould The detection of trace volatiles as potential biomarkers of disease using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) techniques and selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) assessment of volatiles produced from nitric oxide producing smart dressings
Keith Hewett In vitro modelling of tongue microbial biofilms and their response to treatments
Fred Hudd Regulation of neurotransmitter synthesis in Alzheimer’s disease – potential for dietary supplements to improve cognition
Samantha Jumbe ‘Targeting the splice factor kinases SRPK1 and CLK1 in prostate cancer
Saeed Kabrah Development of a three-dimensional physiologically relevant model of the bone marrow; comparison of in-vitro functionality with bone marrow from in-vivo chemotherapy treated lymphoma and leukaemia patients
Marian Manso Fluid reabsorption across bladder urothelium
Bertrand Monnier ‘Development of a rapid and cost effective ‘on-site’ detection method for Cacao Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV)
Janet Mundy Individual differences in spatial abilities and task strategy
Kelechi Okeke Exploration of a chemotherapy induced bystander effect in the aetiology of therapy related or donor cell leukaemia
Grace Okoro The impact of alcohol and toxic metabolites on neurotransmitter synthesis and protein misfolding in neurodegenerative conditions
Joseph Payne Quantum pathogen evolution by integron-mediated effector capture
Josie Phillips Does the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function change during conversion of tropical forest to oil palm plantation?
Mai Shafei Biomarkers and therapeutic targets for solid tumours
Elisabeth Slade Biofilms in wounds; using microbial metabolomics for the rapid diagnosis of wound infection
Richard Thompson Investigating the efficacy of bacteriophage therapy for preventing the encrustation and blockage of urinary catheters
Wilasinee Triyarat Developing a regional framework for science communication activities in Thailand
Andrew Turner Development and application of gene scanning techniques for the diagnosis of a thalassaemia trait or traits
Simon Uzor Analogy of the prostate specific antigen of smokers
Kelly Westmacott Novel technology (bio-sensors) for boar taint detection to assist with projection of taint-free pork
Chigeru Wodi An investigation into the function of the splice factor kinase SRPK1

Professional doctorates

Khaled Abuzariba Vitamin D status in type 2 diabetic patients with various degrees of glycaemic control
Sephora Aquilina Development of in vitro long term cultures of erythroblasts for transfusion purposes
Emmanuel Azore Molecular characterisation and virulence determinants of research models associated Staphylococcus aureus (RMA-SA)
Elanne Christie Identifying and measuring key constraints impacting on the five Clinical Compliance Officers in the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service in achieving regulatory compliance with the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations (BSQR) through the theoretical lens of Activity Theory
Paradzai Chitongo A prospective case-control study to investigate the prothrombotic phenotype of severely obese patients
Susan Davey A novel genotyping approach to improve transfusion support for patients with HLA and/or HPA alloantibodies
Jeni Davies Developing a strategy for red cell antigen typing and matching of blood for transfusion in chronically transfused patients
James Dowds Mechanisms of tumour progression from Ductal Carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) to invasive carcinoma
Wendy Etheridge Development of a novel automated assay for the detection of antibodies to red cell antigens
Ivo Fombon Role of cystatin C in the evaluation of renal function in patients receiving fenofibrate treatment for dyslipidaemia
Matthew Griffiths Data monitoring if key performance indicators can be used to ensure quality of histological dissection performed by biomedical scientists
Noel Jereza 'The incidence of coexistent Hepcidin (HAMP)/HFE Haemochromatosis Gene Mutations and iron overload in Irish patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Zacharias Kallis Investigation of the quality of cord blood units and the isolation of progenitor cells from umbilical cord tissue processed and cryopreserved as cellular therapy products by an international family cord blood bank
Jonathan Lewis The incidence and molecular characteristics of clinical Escherichia coli Isolates producing AmpC Beta-lactamase enzymes'
Linda Matthews Exploring the implications of changing patterns of Rubella immunity in antenatal women in South Wales Valley Community
Sherina Murden The use of next generation DNA sequencing for the molecular diagnosis and characterisation of Hermansky Pudlak Syndrome
Nigel Oakes The expression of Toll like receptors on T and B Lymphocytes in Chronic Lymphocyctic Leukaemia; links with prognosis and association with autoimmune disease
Samantha Osmond 'Quantification of cannabinoids by novel HPLC methods to distinguish frequency from duration since last use
Anthony Poles Glycoprotein estimation and analysis of genes associated with inherited platelet disorders and complications of pregnancy
Janet Wells A study of regulatory T cells and clinical outcome in patients undergoing haematological transplantation

Centre for Research in Biosciences

Incorporates world-class research in the fields of biomedicine, plant science, bio-sensing technology and environmental science.

Research centres and groups

Browse UWE Bristol's portfolio of research areas, expertise, staff and publications.

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