My area of research interest is regulation of inflammation, with particular focus on the recruitment and organisation of the leukocytic infiltrate. This is a broad remit because I believe it is essential to characterise physiological resolving inflammation, in order to understand chronic inflammatory disease. To facilitate studies in this area I utilise sophisticated in vitro models of vascular inflammation, including unique co-culture platforms. In addition I have developed animal models of inflammation and inflammatory disease in which to conduct translational work. I work under 3 major themes: 1) The cellular pathology of Athersclerosis: This theme has drawn long term support from the BHF, including 10 years of Personal Fellowship. Our recent work investigates the role of platelets in monocyte recruitment during atherogenesis. 2) Regulation of the inflammatory response by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3-PUFAs): The affects of n-3 PUFAs on endothelial cell biology is my niche area in this field, and we are using our in vitro modelling skills, to identify new steps in the regulation of leukocyte recruitment. 3) Regulation of the inflammatory response by a novel peptide derived from the 14.3.3. zeta/delta protein: We have identified an endogenous peptide mediated mechanism by which T cell recruitment is regulated. We believe that this unique pathway may be important in many auto-immune and/or chronic inflammatory diseases in which T cells contribute to the cellular pathology.
I am currently on the BHF projects grant committee, as well as being on the committee of the British Atherosclerosis Society. I Chaired the committee for UK Cell Adhesion Society for a number of years.