Staff Profile

Background

My original training was in bacterial genomics and gene-regulation. After moving into cancer cell biology, I became particularly interested in the mechanisms by which nutrients, and specifically short-chain fatty acids, regulate cell death pathways and how these processes are distinct from the actions of chemotherapeutics. I was appointed to the role of lecturer in nutrition at Sheffield’s Human Nutrition Unit in 2002, and through this role I developed a wider understanding of nutrition research approaches.

I joined The Human Nutrition Research Centre at Newcastle University in March 2021, continuing and expanding my focus in nutrition and cancer.

Publications

See my profile on GoogleScholar here

Trustee and Honorary Programmes Officer, Nutrition Society (elected 2017, re-elected 2020)

Editorial Board member, European Journal of Nutrition

Associate Editor, International Journal of Experimental Pathology

Research Interests

My longstanding interests are in the role of nutrition in prevention of cancers, and in particular how best to prevent progression of transformed cells and prevent recurrent neoplasms. My work is multidisciplinary in nature and includes molecular and cellular approaches, in silico, as well as human studies and secondary data analyses.

Particular areas of interest are in improving outcomes across the care pathway from screening to therapy to living beyond cancer, including improving understanding how nutrients may modify risk of recurrence.

Publications

See my profile on GoogleScholar here

PGR Supervision

I have supervised over 20 PhD/MD/MPhil to successful completion.

I am currently co-supervising several MD and PhD students:

Abeir Elmogassabi – Analysis of dietary patterns in patients with high risk adenoma

Thomas Archer – Development of educational video for improved endoscopy bowel preparation

Claire Williams – Does vitamin D supplementation improve the symptoms of IBS?

Alenka Brooks – Young people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Gloria Tun – Epitope mapping of infliximab

Sabeen Zahara – Vitamin D and musculoskeletal function in older S Asian women

Esme Tuttiett – Development of vitamin D, protein and lifestyle interventions for healthier ageing