51³Ô¹Ïapp

Over the last 25 years I have led on research and teaching programmes coupled with delivering a number of high-profile strategic and operational based roles for De 51³Ô¹Ïapp University as Associate PVC for Research and Head of Doctoral College, as well as Associate Dean of Research, Head of the Department of Biosciences at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and senior administrative roles in the University of Warwick (UoW) including Deputy Director of Graduate Studies and Warwick Medical School (WMS) Head of Postgraduate Research Degrees.

The output from my research efforts into obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has also delivered research income from charities, UK funding agencies and commercial funding streams (GSK, AZ) leading to 100+ original publications, H-index 61 (GS), 35+ PGR students and several awards (ASO, EASO Scientific Investigator Awards) over the last 25 years. My research work has cast light on the molecular basis of body fat distribution and the inflammatory molecular mechanisms linking human abdominal obesity to its metabolic and premature ageing consequences which has clear impact of society. 

• Institute of Architecture
• Leicester Institute of Pharmaceutical Innovation for Integrated Care (LIPIIC)

My research work has cast light on the molecular basis of body fat distribution and the inflammatory molecular mechanisms linking human abdominal obesity to its metabolic and premature ageing consequences which has clear impact of society. The outcomes of such studies have highlighted the role of gut derived endotoxin on human adipocyte metabolism as well as insight on how adipose tissue and ectopic fat contributes to metabolic diseases. This work has also elucidates how diet, medication and surgery can improve metabolic health, associated with adipocyte function to reduce pre-mature ageing in humans.

The outputs of my substantive educational and research roles have led to the successful development and delivery of undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes (PGT, PGR, Degree Apprenticeship). These programmes have encompassed a broad spectrum of curricula from UG degrees in Biosciences at NTU (Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Bioinformatics), to PG (Taught and Research degrees), and MBChB programmes within UoW. These roles have included leading on quality assurance standards for review by the Office of Student Affairs (UK Government, educational agency) and General Medical Council. I have taught for many years with a continued involvement in postgraduate teaching and research. I have directly supervised more than 35 multinational scientists in my research labs working towards a Ph.D and clinical staff working towards either MD, Ph.D, MSc degrees.

• 2002-2003 Diploma PGC in Learning & Teaching at a Higher Education Institute, University of Birmingham.
• 1993-1996 Ph.D. Medicine, University of Birmingham.
• 1992-1989 University of Keele, 2(i) Bachelor of Sciences, Joint Honours Biology and Biochemistry. 

UG and PG in Biomedical Sciences, Special Study Module Obesity and T2DM, MBChB Programme

1. NTU Excellence Award 2023 (Category; Enpowering People) in development and deliver of research staff development programme, called SMART, particularly emphasise on EDI support and action.
2. NTU Excellence Award 2022 (Category: Empowering People) in Development, Deployment and Delivery of Covid 19 Service for NTU students & staff.
3. Personal Scientific Investigator Award for outstanding research in Obesity and CVD Health Award 2010, Association for the Study of Obesity.
4. PhD Student, Kirsty McGee, awarded Best Basic Science Research at UK Adipose Tissue Meeting, Surrey, UK 2007.
5. PhD Student, Christine Kusminski, awarded Best Basic Science Research Student from Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO) 2006.
6. A-level Student, Lauren Ewington, Awarded the West Midlands Gold Crest Award from the Nuffield Foundation for Lab Based Basic Science Research 2005.
7. European Association for the Study of Obesity ‘Research Investigator Award in Recognition for Outstanding Scientific Contribution to the field of Obesity’ 2004, Basic Research Award.
8. Association for the Study of Obesity, ‘Research Investigator Award for Outstanding Contribution to the field of Obesity’, 2004, Basic Research Award.
9. Novartis Award for Best abstract submission to the British Endocrine Society, 2003.
Award winning abstract. 84th American Endocrine Society Annual Meeting, 2002.
10. Lab News National Awards- Best Academic Research Group, 2001.

Peer Reviewing Experience: Guest Editor, Nutrients, 2022; Clinical Science Act as Advisory Editor. BMC Obesity Act as first Section Editor 2013-2019. Review for Diabetes, Diabetes Care, Diabetologia, Clinical Endocrinology, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Circulation, American Journal of Physiology E&M, European Heart Journal, Obesity Research, International Journal of Obesity & Related Metabolic Disorders, Journal of Metabolic & Hormone Research, Journal of Endocrinology, British Journal of Pharmacology, Cardiovascular Diabetology, Lancet, BMC Medicine.
Grant Reviewing Experience: NIHR Senior Fellowships, BBSRC Senior Fellowships, Wellcome Trust, MRC Fellowships, BHF Project Grants, Heart UK as well as, BBSRC Project Grants, Main Board Grant Reviewing Panel for Diabetes UK, acted on the Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Fellowships Panel; Diabetes UK PhD Studentship Panel; Eli Lilly UK Research Proposals. ADA Abstract Reviewer, Telethon Peer Review System. British Endocrine Society Judge Obesity, Diabetes and CVD 2011-to date. EASD Chairman Adipose Tissue Track. Science Foundation of Ireland, Chair for Review programme Grant. Main panel reviewer for Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, (FCT), the Portuguese principal public funding agency for R&D.

American Diabetes Association, British Endocrine Society, Diabetes UK, European Association for the Study of Diabetes, European Association of Obesity, UK Association of Obesity, Biochemical Society.

1. Investigation of adipose tissue-expressed tau in cellular metabolism, metabolic healthy ageing and capacity to seed age-associated neuronal loss Funded by BBSRC as Co-I (£395K, 2024-2027).
2. Non-Invasive Method to assess metabolic and PCOS disease with bench top NMR, Funded by British Endocrine Society, as Co-I (2023-2025 10K). 

American Diabetes Association, June 2025; British Endocrine Society, March 2025

Metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes, Adipose Tissue health. Worked previously with AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly. 

I have directly supervised more than 35 multinational scientists in my research labs working towards a Ph.D and clinical staff working towards either MD, Ph.D, MSc degrees, with 23 as first supervisor and 8 as second supervisor. No current PhD students. 

1. Investigation of adipose tissue-expressed tau in cellular metabolism, metabolic healthy ageing and capacity to seed age-associated neuronal loss Funded by BBSRC as Co-I (£395K, 2024-2027).
2. Assessing Urine as a way to Predict Type 2 Diabetes Remission in Bariatric Surgery. Funded by BBSRC FTMA award (15K).
3. Non-Invasive Method to assess metabolic and PCOS disease with bench top NMR, Funded by British Endocrine Society, as Co-I (2023-2024; 10K). 

LPS as a biomarker for metabolic disease (2007). Warwick Ventures.

1. BMC paper 2023 received 300 individual pieces of news coverage 17th-24th May, 2023 – with key ones including The Guardian, Independent, BBC Radio 5 Live and Times Radio.
2. Horizon Science Programme ‘The Contraceptive Pill is it Safe’ (Shown on BBC November 2018) presenting research by the lab on how oestrogen affects weight gain.
3. Festival of Imagination Warwick Art Centre Live Stage Show entitled: Fat the Good the Bad the Ugly, with Adam Bennett, Michelin Star Chef and Philip McTernan. Nov 2015.
4. Food unwrapped: Fat diet Special (shown on Channel 4 Jan 2015) presenting the importance of metabolic rate on health.
5. CBBC 'Operation Ouch' (shown on BBC October 2013, 6-13yr plus parents), presenting the role of adipose tissue in the body.
6. Embarrassing Fat Bodies, undertook work for a focus on appetite in obesity (Channel 4, aired Jan 2013.)
7. Interviewed by Local Radio: BBC Coventry and Warwickshire (2012) and during Science Week (2013).
8. Festival of Science, Aston University (2013). Guest Talk on the role of weight gain in modern times.
9. Interviewed by Diabetes Radio (2012); accessible to download or listen.
10. Daily Mail article: ‘how gender determines our fat distribution’ (2012).
11. Men’s Health Magazine: Comments on current developments 2010, 2011, 2012.