About
I'm a veterinarian and researcher working on cattle health, welfare, and sustainable farming systems. My work combines clinical experience, physiological research, and practical farming. I own a suckler farm in North Wales where we use rotational grazing practices and out-winter the cattle - this keeps me grounded in the realities of livestock production.
Research approach:
My research spans from fundamental questions about disease mechanisms to developing practical technologies for farmers. Current projects include examining pathogen-microbiome interactions during cattle commingling (£3.2M NSF-BBSRC) and developing autonomous systems for dairy management (£3.6M Innovate UK). I also work on validating AI-powered monitoring systems and understanding how early-life management affects long-term productivity. My earlier research work on bovine pulmonary hypertension led to a range of exciting and fruitfull collaborations from epidemiological investigations on high-altitude cow-calf ranches in the Rocky Mountains through to controlled, experimental studies in collaboration with paediatric cardiovascular surgeons and researchers.
Collaboration and impact:
I've worked with a variety of academic and industry partners ranging from start-ups to established companies, and I regularly review Innovate UK applications across various programmes, including Farming Innovation Feasibility and R&D schemes. I understand what makes industry-academia partnerships effective and where they can go wrong.
Beyond research, I teach herd health rotations to final-year veterinary students, supervise graduate researchers, lead a pre-clinical course in case-based learning, and serve as External Examiner for Cambridge and Nottingham veterinary schools.
If you're interested in collaborative research - or a graduate degree - that bridges veterinary medicine, animal science, and agricultural innovation then please get in touch.