About
I am a Lecturer in Anatomy in the Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science at the University of Liverpool, and an early career researcher with a strong interest in the extracellular matrix, particularly within calcified cartilage. My research focuses on the rare metabolic disorder alkaptonuria (AKU), in which deficiency of a liver and kidney enzyme leads to accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA), causing pigmentation and severe degeneration of connective tissues.
A key feature of AKU is severe, early-onset osteoarthritis. Unlike more common forms of osteoarthritis, AKU pathology originates in the deepest layer of articular cartilage, within the calcified region. My research aims to determine where HGA binds within the extracellular matrix and how this interaction drives connective tissue degeneration, with the broader goal of identifying mechanisms relevant to more common musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis.
In parallel, my work also focuses on the pre-clinical development of therapeutic strategies for AKU. This includes investigating novel approaches such as gene therapies and compounds targeting tyrosine metabolism, with the aim of reducing hypertyrosinaemia and improving disease outcomes. These studies combine in vivo mouse models with molecular and biochemical approaches to better understand both disease mechanisms and therapeutic potential.
I completed my BSc in Anatomy and Human Biology (2015) and integrated Master’s in Biological Sciences (2016) at the University of Liverpool, before undertaking a PhD in Musculoskeletal Biology (2016–2020) under the supervision of Professor James Gallagher, Professor George Bou-Gharios and Professor Lakshminarayan Ranganath. Funded by the AKU Society, my doctoral research characterised a novel conditional mouse model of AKU, defining both metabolic and connective tissue phenotypes and demonstrating that dietary restriction of phenylalanine and tyrosine can reduce drug-induced tyrosinaemia in AKU.
Following my PhD, I was appointed Lecturer in Anatomy at Edge Hill University (2021–2023), where I taught across undergraduate and postgraduate medical programmes and contributed to curriculum development and leadership in anatomy education. I returned to the University of Liverpool in 2023 as a Lecturer in Anatomy (Teaching and Research), where I lead teaching on the BSc Anatomy and Human Biology programme, including as module organiser for Human Systems Anatomy, and contribute to teaching across medical and postgraduate programmes.