Professor Mandy Peffers BSc(Hons)MPhil PhD BVetMed FRCVS
Head of Department Musculoskeletal Ageing Sciences Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science
- +44 (0)151 795 6006
- Work email M.J.Peffers@liverpool.ac.uk
Research
Research Overview
I am Head of Department for the Department of Musculoskeletal Science and Ageing within the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences. Our group research epigenetic mechanisms of musculoskeletal ageing and disease (specifically osteoarthritis and tendon disease). I am particularly interested in the role of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) in osteoarthritis and cartilage ageing. We are also now investigating extracellular vesicles as treatments for equine osteoarthritis. This is an exciting new area of research which will be undertaken to understand the role of extracellular vesicles and snoRNAs in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy through British Heart Foundation funding as part of a LOLA entitled; 'Do snoRNAs govern genotype-phenotype interactions in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy'.
In our work we use a range of in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models. In particular we study naturally occuring osteoarthritis, tendon and ligament disease across species (horse and dog) in a 'One Medicine' approach to defining underlying mechnaisms and define novel therapeautic targets.
Defining the role and mechanisms of small nucleolar RNAs in cartilage ageing and disease
This project aims to test the hypothesis that the age-related dysregulation of the expression of a defined set of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) alters the chondrocyte phenotype through altered translational capacity which contributes to the development of osteoarthritis. We will determine what snoRNAs are altered in ageing and/or osteoarthritis, what their role is in cartilage ageing and OA and how they alter the risk of OA. Altering the expression of these snoRNAs will change disease progression and enable targets for therapeutics to be identified.
Small non-coding RNAs to stratify osteoarthritis in the horse
I have a Horse Trust funded studentship being undertaken by Catarina Castenheira. This studentship aims to identify small non-coding RNAs in synovial fluid and serum and develop an assay to diagnose early osteoarthritis in the horse. Additionally we will classify the microvesicle population in normal and OA synovial fluid and identify small non-coding RNA cross-talk between chondrocytes and synoviocytes to identify potential treatment targets for early OA
Tendon proteomics, epigenetics and transcriptomics in ageing and disease
I have undertaken a number of studies (using next generation sequencing technologies such as RNASeq, microarray, miRNASEq, mass spectrometry-based proteomics) on horse, rat and human tendon in order to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying tendon ageing and disease.
Currently I have a PhD student funded by CIMA investigating the epiegenetics of tendon ageing through the interrogation of DNA methylation and small non-coding RNAs.
Research Grants
Bench fees - Haifa Mohammed A Majali - (201773323)
ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA CULTURAL BUREAU IN LONDON (UK)
February 2024 - January 2028
Bench fees - Sabina Kussainova - (201236635)
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN (KAZAKHSTAN)
March 2024 - February 2028
Can MSC-derived extracellular vesicles rescue the joint phenotype in an advanced 3D in vitro model of equine osteoarthritis?
HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD (UK)
December 2023 - November 2024
Establishing the proteome of children's primary teeth
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND(UK)
July 2023 - May 2025
Improving the annotation of genes across the equine genome
HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD (UK)
November 2022 - February 2024
Do platelet rich plasma (PRP) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute towards rescuing the inflammatory tendon phenotype?
HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD (UK)
June 2022 - November 2023
201517866Dr Iskiil Oladehinde Oyenekan bench fees
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA (NIGERIA)
March 2022 - September 2022
Proteomic Profiling of Equine Teeth to Identify Age and Disease Related Differences
THE HORSE TRUST (UK)
November 2022 - April 2024
Bench fees for Ufuk Ersoy / 201443759
TURKISH EMBASSY (LONDON)
February 2021 - January 2025
investigation of the structure and cargo of extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells used for treatment of osteoarthritis in horses
HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD (UK)
July 2020 - September 2023
Identification of small non-coding RNAs in canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture as diagnostic and therapeutic targets
PET PLAN CHARITABLE TRUST (UK)
October 2021 - September 2024
Identifying risk factors and improving outcomes in cases of small intestinal strangulating lipoma
ARDEN AND CLAUDIA SIMS (USA)
October 2021 - October 2024
Equine Post Doctoral Fellowship - Dr Agnieszka Turlo
HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD (UK)
October 2020 - November 2023
Investigating the role and mechanisms of small non-coding RNAs in chondrosarcoma: A small RNA sequencing approach.
SARCOMA UK (UK)
September 2018 - February 2021
Small non-coding RNAs to stratify osteoarthritis in the horse
THE HORSE TRUST (UK)
June 2019 - February 2023
Bench fees - Mr Aibek Smagul
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN (KAZAKHSTAN)
September 2016 - August 2020
In-vitro study of the effects of magnesium, morphine and mepivavaine on equine joints
HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD (UK)
February 2015 - December 2016
2014 allocation - Wellcome ISSF non clinical fellowships
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
May 2015 - October 2018
Defining the role and mechanisms of small nucleolar RNAs in cartilage
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
September 2015 - December 2021
The stratification of osteoarthritis to improve equine welfare
THE HORSE TRUST (UK)
September 2015 - August 2018
Determining novel mechanisms of joint destruction as biomarker for arthropathy
LIVERPOOL HEALTH PARTNERS (UK)
June 2013 - July 2016
Research Collaborations
Dr John Collins
External: Thomas Jefferson University, USA
Oxidative stress snoRNAs in osteoarthritis.
Dr Victoria James
Project: Extracellular vesicles to treat osteoarthritis
External: University of Nottingham
Dr James is an expert in extracellular vesicles and is collaborating with us in a number of extracellular vesicle projects funded by The Horse Trust, Horserace Betting Levy Board and The Wellcome Trust,
Prof Tim Welting
Project: SnoRNAs in osteoarthritis
External: Maastricht Medical Centre
Our two groups work together on a number of snoRNA and ribosome projects in cartilage and anterior cruciate ligaments.