Staff Profile

Roles and Responsibilities

School

• Senior Lecturer in Genetics, School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences
• Chair of the Biochemistry and Biomedical Genetics Curriculum Committee (2019-2024)
• SBNS MSci Lead (2024-present)
• SBNS EDI Lead (2020-2023)
• Academic Adviser for UCAS graduate Medicine/Dentistry applications (since 2014-2019)
• Pastoral tutor
• Phase II advisor (2029-2024)
• Module leader
• Member of SBNS Board of Studies and MRes Board of Studies, SBNS Board of Examiners, Biomedical Sciences Curriculum Committee, Genetics and Biochemistry Curriculum Committee, Nutrition Sciences Curriculum Committee
• Supervision of UG projects

Research

·        PGR supervision: MPhil and MRes students

·        Member of the Executive board of the Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre (HNERC).

Qualifications

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016)
• PhD: Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France- Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, IARC, WHO, Lyon, France. (Dr. P. Hainaut): Study of the metalloregulation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein: consequences in metal-related carcinogenesis.1999
• Master degree in Molecular Biology: Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France- Laboratoire INSERM U309, Institut A. Bonniot, Grenoble, France. (Dr. J. J. Lawrence) Chromatin structure of the promoter of the gene encoding histone H₁⁰.1995
• BSc Hons Cell and Molecular biology, Biochemistry and Genetics, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France, 1994

Previous positions

• Senior Research Associate, ICAMB, Newcastle University, 2003-2013
• Research Associate, Biomedical Research Centre, Ninewells Hospital. University of Dundee, UK, 2000-2002

Memberships

• Human Nutrition Research Centre/ Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre, Newcastle University, since 2003
• Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre executive committee
• NaCre (2024- present)
• Member of the European Nutrigenomics Organisation (NuGO), since 2004
• FMS Educational Research Development and Practice, Newcastle University

Faculty Role

Deputy Director of EDI (Equality, Diversity& Inclusivity)

Member of :

• Faculty EDI committee (FEDIC)
• Equality project (co-lead Taught programme work stream)
• FMS PGR committee
• Faculty Research and Innovation Committee (FRIC)
• Period dignity group

University role

• EDI lead forum member
• EDI fund review panel
• NU Women member
• Newcastle Educator working group

External Role

External examiner (MSc Human and Molecular Genetics, University of Sheffield, (2019-2023)

• Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics approach to the study of Selenium, selenoproteins and Cancer

Module Leader

• NUT1004: Fundamental principles of genetics and biochemistry for nutrition
• BGM2002: Biochemistry and Genetics of Signalling and the Cell Cycle
• BMS3020: Chronic Disease
• CMB3004: MSci 3rd year Research Project
• CMB4099: MSci 4th year Research Project

Contribution to other Modules

• BGM1004: Genetics
• NUT1004: Fundamental principles of genetics and biochemistry for nutrition
• BGM2002: Biochemistry and Genetics of Signalling and the Cell Cycle
• BMS2013: Practical and presentation skills in Biomedical Sciences
• CMB1005: Practical Skills in Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences
• BMS3010: Genetics and Human Disease 
• CMB3004: MSci 3rd year Research Project
• CMB4099: MSci 4th year Research Project

• Articles

  • Hughes, DJ, Schomburg, L, Jenab, M, Biessy, C, Méplan, C, Moskal, A, Sun, Q, Demircan, K, Fedirko, V, Weiderpass, E, Mukhtar, M, Olsen, A, Tjønneland, A, Overvad, K, Schulze, M, Haugdahl Nøst, T, Skeie, G, Standahl Olsen, K, Ricceri, F, Grioni, S, Palli, D, Masala, G, Tumino, R, Pasanisi, F, Amiano, P, Colorado Yohar, SM, Agudo, A, Sánchez, MJ, Ardanaz, E, Sund, M, Andersson, A, Perez-Cornago, A, Travis, R, Heath, AK, Dossus, L. Prediagnostic selenium status, selenoprotein gene variants and association with breast cancer risk in a European cohort study. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2023, 209(2), 381-393.
  • Fedirko V, Jenab M, Meplan C, Jones JS, Zhu W, Schomburg L, Siddiq A, Hybsier S, Overvad K, Tjønneland A, Omichessan H, Perduca V, Boutron-Ruault MC, Kühn T, Katzke V, Aleksandrova K, Trichopoulou A, Karakatsani A, Kotanidou A, Tumino R, Panico S, Masala G, Agnoli C, Naccarati A, Bueno-de-Mesquita B, Vermeulen RCH, Weiderpass E, Skeie G, Haugdahl Nøst T, Lujan-Barroso L, Quirós JR, Huerta JM, Rodríguez-Barranco M, Barricarte A, Gylling B, Harlid S, Bradbury KE, Wareham N, Khaw KT, Gunter M, Murphy N, Freisling H, Tsilidis K, Aune D, Riboli E, Hesketh JE, Hughes DJ. Association of Selenoprotein and Selenium Pathway Genotypes with Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Interaction with Selenium Status. Nutrients 2019, 11(4), 935.
  • Méplan C, Johnson IT, Polley ACJ, Cockell S, Bradburn DM, Commane DM, Arasaradnam RP, Mulholland F, Zupanic A, Mathers JC, Hesketh J. Transcriptomics and proteomics show that selenium affects inflammation, cytoskeleton, and cancer pathways in human rectal biopsies. The FASEB Journal 2016, 30(8), 2812-2825.
  • Zupanic A, Meplan C, Huguenin GVB, Hesketh JE, Shanley DP. Modeling and gene knockdown to assess the contribution of nonsense-mediated decay, premature termination, and selenocysteine insertion to the selenoprotein hierarchy. RNA 2016, 22(7), 1076-1084.
  • Hughes DJ, Fedirko V, Jenab M, Schomburg L, Méplan C, Freisling H, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Hybsier S, Becker NP, Czuban M, Tjønneland A, Outzen M, Boutron-Ruault MC, Racine A, Bastide N, Kühn T, Kaaks R, Trichopoulos D, Trichopoulou A, Lagiou P, Panico S, Peeters PH, Weiderpass E, Skeie G, Dagrun E, Chirlaque MD, Sánchez MJ, Ardanaz E, Ljuslinder I, Wennberg M, Bradbury KE, Vineis P, Naccarati A, Palli D, Boeing H, Overvad K, Dorronsoro M, Jakszyn P, Cross AJ, Quirós JR, Stepien M, Kong SY, Duarte-Salles T, Riboli E, Hesketh JE. Selenium status is associated with colorectal cancer risk in the European prospective investigation of cancer and nutrition cohort. International Journal of Cancer 2015, 136(5), 1149-1161.
  • Mistry HD, Gill CA, Kurlak LO, Seed PT, Hesketh JE, Meplan C, Schomburg L, Chappell LC, Morgan L, Poston L, SCOPE Consortium. Association between maternal micronutrient status, oxidative stress, and common genetic variants in antioxidant enzymes at 15 weeks' gestation in nulliparous women who subsequently develop preeclampsia. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2015, 78, 147-155.
  • Zupanic A, Méplan C, Grellscheid SN, Mathers JC, Kirkwood TBL, Hesketh J, Shanley D. Detecting translational regulation by change point analysis of ribosome profiling data sets. RNA 2014, 20(10), 1507-1518.
  • Méplan C, Dragstead LO, Ravn-Haren G, Tjønneland A, Vogel U, Hesketh J. Association between Polymorphisms in Glutathione Peroxidase and Selenoprotein P Genes, Glutathione Peroxidase Activity, HRT Use and Breast Cancer Risk. PLoS ONE 2013, 8(9), e73316.
  • Méplan C, Rohrmann S, Steinbrecher A, Schomburg L, Jansen E, Linseisen J, Hesketh J. Polymorphisms in Thioredoxin Reductase and Selenoprotein K Genes and Selenium Status Modulate Risk of Prostate Cancer. PLoS One 2012, 7(11), e48709.
  • Gong G, Meplan C, Gautrey H, Hall J, Hesketh JE. Differential effects of selenium and knock-down of glutathione peroxidases on TNF alpha and flagellin inflammatory responses in gut epithelial cells. Genes & Nutrition 2012, 7(2), 167-178.
  • Mathers JC, Meplan C, Hesketh JE. Polymorphisms Affecting Trace Element Bioavailability. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 2010, 80(4-5), 314-318.
  • Meplan C, Hughes DJ, Pardini B, Naccarati A, Soucek P, Vodickova L, Hlavata I, Vrana D, Vodicka P, Hesketh JE. Genetic variants in selenoprotein genes increase risk of colorectal cancer. Carcinogenesis 2010, 31(6), 1074-1079.
  • Steinbrecher A, Méplan C, Hesketh J, Schomburg L, Endermann T, Jansen E, Åkesson B, Rohrmann S, Linseisen J. Effects of selenium status and polymorphisms in selenoprotein genes on prostate cancer risk in a prospective study of European men. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention 2010, 19(11), 2958-2968.
  • Leung WC, Hessel S, Méplan C, Flint J, Oberhauser V, Tourniaire F, Hesketh JE, von Lintig J, Lietz G. Two common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding β-carotene 15,15′-monoxygenase alter β-carotene metabolism in female volunteers. FASEB Journal 2009, 23(4), 1041-1053.
  • Meplan C, Nicol F, Burtle BT, Crosley LK, Arthur JR, Mathers JC, Hesketh JE. Relative Abundance of Selenoprotein P Isoforms in Human Plasma Depends on Genotype, Se Intake, and Cancer Status. Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 2009, 11(11), 2631-2640.
  • Kipp A, Banning A, van Schothorst EM, Meplan C, Schomburg L, Evelo C, Coort S, Gaj S, Keijer J, Hesketh J, Brigelius Flohe R. Four selenoproteins, protein biosynthesis, and Wnt signalling are particularly sensitive to limited selenium intake in mouse colon. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 2009, 53(12), 1561-1572.
  • Pagmantidis V, Meplan C, Van Schothorst EM, Keijer J, Hesketh JE. Supplementation of healthy volunteers with nutritionally relevant amounts of selenium increases the expression of lymphocyte protein biosynthesis genes. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008, 87(1), 181-189.
  • Meplan C, Crosley LK, Nicol F, Horgan GW, Mathers JC, Arthur JR, Hesketh JE. Functional effects of a common single-nucleotide polymorphism (GPX4c718t) in the glutathione peroxidase 4 gene: Interaction with sex. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008, 87(4), 1019-1027.
  • Meplan C, Crosley LK, Nicol F, Beckett GJ, Howie AF, Hill KE, Horgan G, Mathers JC, Arthur JR, Hesketh JE. Genetic polymorphisms in the human selenoprotein P gene determine the response of selenoprotein markers to selenium supplementation in a gender-specific manner (the SELGEN study). FASEB Journal 2007, 21(12), 3063-3074.
  • Crosley LK, Meplan C, Nicol F, Rundlof AK, Arner ESJ, Hesketh JE, Arthur JR. Differential regulation of expression of cytosolic and mitochondrial thioredoxin reductase in rat liver and kidney. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 2007, 459(2), 178-188.

• Book Chapters

  • Meplan C. Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Selenoprotein Genes with Cancer Risk. In: Laurent Chavatte, ed. Selenoproteins -Methods and Protocols. Springer, 2018, pp.313-324. In Preparation.
  • Méplan C, Hesketh J. Selenium and cancer: a story that should not be forgotten-insights from genomics. In: Vincenzo Zappia, Salvatore Panico, Gian Luigi Russo, Alfredo Budillon, Fulvio Della Ragione, ed. Advances in Nutrition and Cancer. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2014, pp.145-166.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Hughes DJ, Fedirko V, Jones JS, Schomburg L, Hybsier S, Meplan C, Hesketh JE, Riboli E, Jenab M. Association of selenoprotein and selenium pathway genetic variations with colorectal cancer risk and interaction with selenium status. In: Global Advances in Selenium Research from Theory to Application - Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Selenium in the Environment and Human Health, 2015. 2015, Sao Paulo, Brazil: CRC Press/Balkema.
  • Hughes DJ, Fedirko V, Jones JS, Meplan C, Schomburg L, Hybsier S, Riboli E, Hesketh JE, Jenab M, EPIC Grp. Association of selenoprotein and selenium pathway gene variation with colorectal cancer risk and modification by selenium status. In: European Cancer Congress 2015. 2015, Vienna, Austria: Elsevier.
  • Hughes DJ, Jenab M, Meplan C, Schomburg L, Prehn J, Hesketh JE. Colorectal Cancer Risk - the Influence of Selenoprotein Gene Variants and Blood Selenium Status. In: 22nd Biennial Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research. 2012, Barcelona, Spain: Pergamon.
  • Meplan C, Crosley K, Nicol F, Arthur JR, Mathers JC, Hesketh JE. Influences of gender and genetic variation in the 3 ' untranslated region of the glutathione peroxidise 4 gene on the response to selenium supplementation in healthy volunteers. In: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2006, Aberdeen, Scotland: Cambridge University Press.
  • Meplan C, Crosley K, Nicol F, Beckett GJ, Arthur JR, Mathers JC, Hesketh JE. A polymorphism in the coding region of human selenoprotein P gene influences the response to selenium supplementation in healthy volunteers. In: Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society. 2006, Aberdeen, UK: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society: Cambridge University Press.

• Reviews

  • Bermano G, Meplan C, Merce DK, Hesketh JE. Selenium and viral infection: are there lessons for COVID-19?. British Journal of Nutrition 2021, 125(6), 618-627.
  • Meplan C, Hughes DJ. The Role of Selenium in Health and Disease: Emerging and Recurring Trends. Nutrients 2020, 12(4), 1049.
  • Meplan C. Selenium and Chronic Diseases: A Nutritional Genomics Perspective. Nutrients 2015, 7(5), 3621–3651. In Preparation.
  • Méplan C, Hesketh J. The influence of selenium and selenoprotein gene variants on colorectal cancer risk. Mutagenesis 2012, 27, 117-186.
  • van Ommen B, El-Sohemy A, Hesketh J, Kaput J, Fenech M, Evelo CT, McArdle HJ, Bouwman J, Lietz G, Mathers JC, Fairweather-Tait S, van Kranen H, Elliott R, Wopereis S, Ferguson LR, Meplan C, Perozzi G, Allen L, Rivero D, Micronutrient Genomics Project Wor. The Micronutrient Genomics Project: a community-driven knowledge base for micronutrient research. Genes & Nutrition 2010, 5(4), 285-296.