Research
Metabolomics
Recently, most of my research has be directed towards volatile organic compounds and their use as biomarkers of IBS, IBD and various cancers.
The intestinal microbiome and mycobiome
My group also looks at the microbiome and mycobiome of the intestine in humans, mice and equines.
Clinical interests
I have an ongoing-interest in IBD and IBS.
Research grants
Mechanisms Affecting the Gut of Preterm Infants in Enteral feeding trials (MAGPIE)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
February 2016 - September 2019
VOID-bladder cancer
CANCER RESEARCH UK (UK)
January 2017 - April 2019
IASO: A phase II randomised placebo controlled double blind trial of Interleukin 1 blockade in Acute Severe Colitis
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
March 2017 - October 2022
Characterization of the gut mycobiome in an inception cohort of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients
GUTS (UK CHARITY)
April 2018 - March 2019
Understanding the mechanisms for the variation in beneficial effects of dietary fibre in IBS: an old concept in new light
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY (BEIS) (UK)
August 2016 - January 2021
MECNUT: Impact of dietary exposure to emulsifiers on the intestinal mucosa - implications for inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic syndrome
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2017 - September 2021
Volatile Organic compounds for the DEtection of Colorectal cAncer: VODECA
CANCER RESEARCH UK (UK)
November 2018 - July 2023
Investigation of octen-3-ol, a fungal metabolite, in faeces of people with Parkinson’s disease
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
July 2015 - August 2015
Study to determine the effect of ferric maltol on gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease patients with iron deficiency
SHIELD THERAPEUTICS PLC (UK)
January 2018 - January 2019
Peripheral blood gene expression profiling as predictors of response to biological therapy in ulcerative colitis
CROHN'S AND COLITIS UK (UK)
September 2016 - October 2021
Diarrhoea Diagnostic Device: From Bench to Bedside
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2014 - December 2015
Impact Acceleration Account - University of Liverpool 2012
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2012 - March 2017
Examination of the fungal microbiome in Crohn’s disease and an investigation of the impact of fungi on bacterial microbiota and their interaction with phagocytic leucocytes
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
September 2015 - August 2017
Evaluation of faecal volatile organic compounds in the diagnosis of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2017 - September 2020
The role of faecal and urinary Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker of colorectal cancer
SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED (UK)
May 2015 - April 2017
The role of urinary volatile organic compounds as a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
August 2015 - July 2016
Can Volatile Organic Compounds be used to detect Campylobacter infection in Poultry Houses?
ROBOSCIENTIFIC LIMITED (UK)
October 2012 - March 2013
Systems medicine of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (SysmedIBD)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
December 2012 - November 2017
Faecal Microbiota in Preterm Infants Developing Necrotising Enterocolitis (NEC) - The DOVEtail Study.
ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH (UK), BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL (UK)
September 2012 - October 2015
The role of faecal Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker of colorectal cancer (pilot study)
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
January 2014 - June 2015
Influence of iron supplementation on gut flora and the natural history of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
LIBYAN EMBASSY IN LONDON🚩
April 2013 - March 2015
Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the faeces of preterm infants as a predictor of preclinical necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).
ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH (UK)
October 2012 - February 2016
Trial of antibiotics and hydroxychloroquine in Crohn's disease
NAT ASSOC FOR COLITIS & CROHNS DISEASE (UK)
October 2013 - March 2020
Management of diarrhoea in patients with stable ulcerative colitis: multi-arm multi-stage trial of low FODMAP diet, amitriptyline, ondansetron, or loperamide. (MODULATE)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
April 2019 - December 2022
PoPSTER: Patient preferences and current practice for adults with STERroid resistant ulcerative colitis.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
November 2018 - April 2021
Investigating the effect of pelvic radiotherapy on the intestinal microbiome and metabolome to improve the detection and management of gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity
WORLD CANCER RESEARCH FUND (UK)
June 2021 - June 2024
Examining a sulphide-reducing diet as therapy in ulcerative colitis
THE GUTSY GROUP (AUS)
March 2023 - January 2025
Faecal volatile organic compounds in children with eosinophilic oesophagitis potential as non-invasive biomarkers
GUTS (UK CHARITY)
September 2023 - March 2026
A multiplatform metabolomics approach to screen for biomarker compounds of low-FODMAP diet response in the urine of IBS patients
GUTS (UK CHARITY)
April 2025 - March 2026
Urinary metabolites in IBS – can we develop a predictive test to help patients reach the right treatments faster?
THE STONEYGATE TRUST (UK), THE TERESA ROSENBAUM GOLDEN CHARITABLE TRUST (THE ROSETREES TRUST) (UK)
February 2025 - March 2026
Evaluating the role of faecal microbiome in assessing response to neoadjuvant treatment, surveillance and nutritional prehabilitation in colorectal cancer
BOWEL RESEARCH UK
July 2025 - June 2027
Utilising Stool Metagenomics to Characterise Microbial Pathways in Colorectal Cancer
ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBURGH
January 2026 - December 2026
Molecular evolution of rectal cancer and prediction of response
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST CHARITABLE FUNDS (UK)
June 2023 - March 2026