About
I am Professor of Cattle Health and Welfare and Lead of The Ruminant Research Group at the University of Liverpool. I am a veterinarian, an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. My research focuses on improving the health, welfare and sustainability of dairy cattle through the integration of veterinary science, genetics, genomics, microbiome research and precision livestock technologies.
After graduating in Veterinary Medicine from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, I completed a PhD investigating the genetics of energy balance and fertility in Holstein dairy cattle. I subsequently gained extensive experience in commercial dairy practice, managing the health and reproduction of a 600-cow dairy herd in Greece before joining Cornell University, where I held research appointments and contributed to studies of dairy cattle lameness, mastitis, reproductive diseases and host–microbiome interactions. As Co-Project Director on a USDA-funded programme, I investigated the dynamics of the bovine mammary microbiome during intramammary infection.
My current research aims to understand the biological mechanisms underlying lameness and other endemic diseases of dairy cattle and to develop practical strategies for their prevention. My group combines field epidemiology with quantitative genetics, genomics, microbiome science, artificial intelligence and precision livestock technologies to identify animals at risk, improve disease resistance through genetic selection, and develop novel approaches for disease detection and management. This interdisciplinary research has attracted funding from UK Research and Innovation (BBSRC and Innovate UK), the Wellcome Trust, the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Animal Welfare Foundation, and industry partners.
I work closely with veterinarians, farmers, and industry to translate research into practical solutions that improve dairy cattle health and welfare while enhancing the productivity, resilience and environmental sustainability of dairy farming. I have supervised numerous PhD students, serve on the editorial boards of leading journals, act as an expert reviewer for major national and international funding bodies, and am regularly invited to deliver keynote lectures at international conferences.
Prizes or Honours
- RCVS Fellowship (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 2023)