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Personal profile

Research interests

Integrative and Environmental Physiology

Our research explores molecular and cellular mechanisms that impact cardiac function in response to environmental change and links these with altered organismal metabolism, locomotion and behaviour to determine the intersection of the cardiovascular system and the environment on fitness.  We investigate the interplay between temperature and hypoxia on cardiac health working across species to identify conserved and fundamental biological pathways.  Recent work has focused on the effects of air and water pollution on cardiac health using whole animal models (mice), tissue models (fish, sheep, mouse) and hiPSCs.

Biography

2021 - Present, Professor, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, UK.

2017 - 2021, Reader, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, UK.

2010 - 2017, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.

2004 - 2010, Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Faculty of Life Sciences, Universty of Manchester, UK.

2002 - 2004, NSERC Canada Post-Doctoral Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.

2001 - 2002, Post-Doctoral Associate, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine, Station, Pacific Grove, Ca., USA.

1996 - 2001, PhD Physiology, Simon Fraser University, Canada.

1994 - 1996, MSc Physiology, Simon Fraser University, Canada.

1990 - 1994, BSc (hons) Biology, University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
  • SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

External positions

Honorary President of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles

20232025

Fellow, The Physiological Society

2022 → …

Honorary Vice President, Fisheries Society of the British Isles

20212023

Director, Company of Biologists Ltd

20182028

Trustee, The Physiological Society

20152021

Fellow, Royal Society of Biology

2010 → …

Areas of expertise

  • QP Physiology
  • cardiology
  • metabolism
  • Environmental change
  • pollution
  • Thermal biology
  • QL Zoology
  • fish
  • sharks
  • environmental adaptation
  • Environmental change
  • Plastics

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Sustainable Futures
  • Lydia Becker Institute
  • Christabel Pankhurst Institute
  • Manchester Environmental Research Institute
  • Healthier Futures

Keywords

  • Environmental change
  • Pollution
  • Cardiac Physiology
  • Thermal Biology

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