A-Z list of research staff

My research interests are currently focussed on the epidemiology and ecology of trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa and the health of wild raptor populations in Scotland.

Understanding the genetic control of complex traits, including responses to infectious disease, in farmed animals, primarily pigs and cattle.

Characterization of the genomes of Suina species, including domestic pigs (Sus scrofa), Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus), Bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus) and Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu).

Mechanistic studies into canine disease, specifically the focus of my research is comparative cancer biology.  This involves studies on the stem cell basis of cancer through to the translation of new therapeutics into clinical development.

Translational genomics in critical care medicine.

Defining the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin lymphoid organ development in chickens. Developing and exploiting novel gene transfer and editing technologies in order to visualise and manipulate specific chicken immune cell populations.

Animal breeding, genomics and computational biology.

The Roslin Institue shellfish team use molecular biology techniques to study bivalve molluscs, including fundamental aspects of bivalve biology, aquaculture, ecotoxicology and genetics which have direct industry and policy relevance. 

The aim of my research is to understand the interactions between large DNA viruses and their host, and translate this knowledge into clinical outcomes. My research team focuses on the three capripoxvirus species (lumpy skin disease virus, sheeppox virus and goatpox virus) which each cause severe disease in livestock in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. 

In addition to my research I am the OIE laboratory expert for capripoxviruses at the Pirbright Institute and provide advice to international agencies on the control of these viruses. I lead the European Commission funded project DEFEND which is tackling the emergence of African swine fever and lumpy skin disease in Europe in partnership with 31 other consortium members including industry partners ID-VET and Zoetis. (EU H2020 research programme 773701).

My research interests are in molecular pathways that become dysregulated in cancer and dysregulation of osteoclasts in bone. I have a particluar interest in oral tumours in cats, and how they invade the bone of the mandible as well as feline tooth resorption. Osteoclasts are my favourite cell, so anything related to osteoclasts and I am interested!

Equine cardiology: sudden cardiac death, 4D echocardiography, mitral and aortic valve function.  General Anaesthesia: haemodynamic effects of anaesthesia in horses. Factors affecting recovery quality in horses, perioperative mortality.

Prion diseases are prototypical protein-misfolding neurodegenerative disorders. Using this model we study how protein-misfolding within the brain results in activation of the supporting glia cells, impacts upon brain function and ultimately leads to loss of the connections (synapses) and death of brain cells (neurons). The goal of my research is to understand how this happens and how other infections and activation of the immune system may influence neurodegeneration. the ultimate goal of my research is to identify potential therapeutic treatments for these currently untreatable conditions.

I currently have a broad portfolio of interests including the epidemiology of foot-and-mouth disease and bovine tuberculosis and using molecular tools to understand transmission and spread at different scales in LMICs.  

To date my main research interest has been in mixed (or multilevel) models. These involve identifying and accounting for sources of variation and correlation structures in the data and offer potential advantages over conventional modelling methods including: improved efficiency, more appropriate variances and correlations, wider inference and offer the potential to overcome problems caused by missing data.

At The Roslin Institute my research will involve providing the statistical contribution to collaborative scientific research using a range of methods and developing novel statistical approaches to particular problems arising where appropriate. I expect to develop my research in mixed models further in addressing applications arising within the Institute.

• Animal behaviour and welfare
• Experience of positive affect in animals
• 'Happy-Healthy' - how positive experiences affect mental and physical health
• Role of neuroinflammation in animal health and welfare
• Human-animal interactions - in particular empathy and animal training techniques

T cell responses in infection and neurodegeneration.

Regulation of growth and differentiation of embryo derived stem cells.

Developing methods for understanding how genes are related to the development of different traits.

My main research interests focus on transcriptomics and genomics in livestock in both production animals and indigenous African breeds. I am particularly interested in functional annotation and the transcriptional control of complex traits.

• Veterinary clinical orthopaedics
• Veterinary surgical education
• The epidemiology of health aging in dog populations
• The genetic basis and functional aspects of osteoarthritis.

Molecular control of sex determination and gonadal development. Mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphisms in birds. Micro-RNA regulation of cell and tissue differentiation.

Pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying lung disease.

• Clinical farm animal veterinary medicine

• Population health and metabolic status

• Immunology and vaccinology

• Zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance  

Mitral valve disease in dogs, tissue engineered solutions to sourcing valve tissue for research.

• The relationship between renal handling of salt in early diabetes mellitus and regulation of blood pressure
• Molecular mechanisms in canine myxomatous mitral valve disease
• Inheritance and genetics of cardiac accessory pathways in UK Labrador retrievers
• Endothelial dysfunction in dogs in naturally occurring risk factors for metabolic syndrome

Our current projects include:

• The embryological origin of radial aplasia
• Fate mapping the limb bud and the control of co-ordinated development of limb anatomy
• Developing novel avian transgenic tools for developmental biology
• The evolution of limb pattern in birds
• The function of TALPID3

My main research interest is to improve the understanding of infectious fish disease pathogenesis and resistance, and research in pathology morphometric approaches. I also provide pathology input on a range of collaborative research projects (e.g. squirrel leprosy, canine mast cell tumour metastasis, pulmonary hypertension models, radiation induced lung injury models, and surgical approaches to canine liver biopsy sampling).

Human and animal prion disease pathogenesis and strain characterisation.

Replication and pathogenesis of influenza viruses.

• Livestock comparative genomics, functional genomics and metagenomics.
• Tropical livestock adaptation, resilience and productivity
• Tropical agriculture and sustainable development

The Doeschl-Wilson group investigates how the genetics of individuals affects the spread of infectious disease, both within an animal and between animals. We are an interdisciplinary group of scientists aiming to effectively combine field and laboratory experiments with mathematical modelling and quantitative genetics theory, with the ultimate aim to improve livestock health and resilience.  

I lead a research group working in the areas of Stem Cell biology and Reproductive Biology in large animal species. We are interested in these species both from a veterinary perspective and as disease models.  Work in my laboratory spans from hypothesis-led studies to understand basic cell, organ and whole animal biology and physiology, all the way through to translational studies with industry to develop novel molecular diagnostics and cell-based therapies to address specific key challenges faced by the livestock (cattle) industry and companion animal sectors. My laboratory is best known for pioneering work on 1) the use of miRNAs as novel diagnostic biomarkers for cattle, and 2) the generation and application of stem cells, particularly induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), in farm species (horse, cattle, pigs). 

Using the genetics and physiology of avian reproduction allows us to develop strategies utilising traditional or marker assisted selection to tackle problems as diverse as osteoporosis in laying hens, growth and reproduction in meat type birds, antimicrobial activity of egg white and shell quality in laying hens.

Research projects:

- Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal cells (MSCs) as novel tools for combating antimicrobial resistance in companion animals (horses and dogs) and livestock (cattle)

- Developing novel stem cell approaches towards next-generation regenerative therapies

- Involvement of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal cells in Mycobacterium infection

- Exploiting stem cell and gene editing technologies towards discovery of genetic variants important for muscle development and meat production

- Isolation and characterisation of myogenic precursor cells in pigs: towards development of an in vitro model for the study of muscle growth

Identification of the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for bone and cartilage growth, development and mineralisation in health and disease.

Use of genomic and molecular tools to examine the evolution and pathogenesis of clinically important species of Staphylococci and Legionella

I am interested in the molecular pathways activated as cells adapt to various forms of stress and how these become dysregulated in disease.

My research aims to define the genetic determinants that contribute to the spread of important zoonotic diseases such as those caused by enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and Salmonella.  Current work is applying machine learning and phylogenomics to predict the source and disease threat of isolates. The other main focus of our research is to understand the expression of bacterial colonisation factors and apply this knowledge to develop vaccines to limit bacterial zoonotic diseases. 

Veterinary education, veterinary primary care, community animal health and welfare, shelter medicine, ethics, veterinary history, cross-discipline animal studies. See under Media tab for some more information.

I am interested in understanding the microbiota of livestock animals, and using functional knowledge about the microbiota to design interventions to improve host nutrition and welfare while increasing the sustainability of livestock farming

I lead the HighlanderLab that is managing and improving populations using data science, genetics, and breeding.

We are interested in:

(i) methods for genetics and breeding,

(ii) design and optimisation of breeding programs, and

(iii) analysis of data to unravel biology and to inform new ways of improving populations.

We are doing this research in collaboration with a range of private and public organisations in animal, plant, and insect breeding.

In vitro production of functional canine hepatocytes from stem cell sources.

Canine liver disease and pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. 

Performance of Pet-side testing

My lab is interested in the role of RNA regulators and RNA binding proteins in the regulation of gene expression. Most of our research has focussed on the assembly of large macromolecular complexes, such as the yeast ribosome. However, more recently, we have also been working on understanding the role of RNA surveillance factors in the regulation of mRNA transcription and translation in both yeast and pathogenic bacteria. The goal of our research is to obtain detailed mechanistic insights into the strategies that organisms use for regulating gene expression during rapid adaptive responses. For our research we use highly innovative methodologies such as CRAC and CLASH and high-throughput structure probing methods. Our work is funded by the BBSRC, SULSA, the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council.

Identifying host pathogen interactions using systems approaches

As a RCVS recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine, I am interested in all aspects of feline internal medicine, though I have current projects on Mycobacterial infections, feline genomics and dementia.

Neuromuscular diseases in all animals, and all facets of equine neurology.

Understanding complex trait variation in humans and other species.

The use of quantitative statistical and epidemiological methods to address questions of animal/human health and disease surveillance.

Development, maintenance and repair of the skin and its appendages.

Immune responses to Mycobacterial infections in cattle.

Molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of infectious and neurological diseases of ruminant livestock.

Our research group focus on understanding the genetic basis of disease resistance in aquaculture species, and developing methods of selective breeding for improved resistance.

Molecular epidemiology of zoonotic and emerging pathogens, surveillance and disease control.

Veterinary education, the student experience, assessment and feedback, student wellbeing, e-learning, educational research methods, staff development.

Mouse models of human and animal disease

Temporal and individual variation in worm egg counts within a population.

The epidemiology of Border Disease 

Zoonotic disease in cattle in Cameroon

My research interests concern the molecular basis of quantitative traits, and ways to integrate different kinds of genomic data in animal genetics.

The equine cardiovascular system and its relationship to endocrinological disorders such as equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction.

Livestock health and livelihoods:

• Clinical population medicine. 
• Assessing the impact of parasites and co-infections. 
• Monitoring and evaluation of sustainable interventions for infectious disease control.

I am a veterinary clinical academic, with a mixed background in clinical practice, education and field-based research. The focus of my work is assessing the impact of livestock infectious diseases and implementing pragmatic health interventions to improve livestock health. In particular, I have experience in assessing the performance of diagnostic tests in naturally infected populations to understand the epidemiology and impact of infectious diseases. I am also passionate about using technology-enhanced learning to improve clinical outcomes and widen participation access in health education globally. In future, I seek to collaborate on projects to improve the health and food security of livestock rearing communities in resource-limited settings.

Solid tumours include a range of immune cells that promote tumour development such as regulatory T (Treg) cell, myeloid derived suppressor cell (MDSC), tumour-associated macrophage (TAM), and neutrophil (TAN). I am interested in their roles in metastatic tumour outgrowth and effects on anti-tumour immune reactions as well as efficacy of immunotherapy.

Cancer Research, Antibody Engineering, Immune Checkpoints, Veterinary Therapeutics

Leverage Big Genomic Data through novel computational and bionformatics approaches to dissect genetically complex traits to improve efficiency and robustness of farmed animal species  

I have concentrated my studies in Quantitative Genetics, Computing for Statistical Genetics (specially in R software), and Mixed Models. My research interests comprise Bioinformatics, Genomic Selection, Bayesian Models, Machine and Deep Learning.

The development of simple-to-use systems for handling and reformatting data for genetic analyses.

I am interested in positive psychological states in animals and understanding the wider effects of positive psychology on animal health and welfare. Our current focus is on animal play and environmental enrichment. 

Pathogen Phylodynamics - evolution and epidemiology of viruses and bacteria using bayesian and machine learning methods.

The overall interest of the Lynskey Lab is the study of virulence factor regulation and innate immune modulation by pathogenic streptococci. Our work is currently focused on two important pathogens, Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus), the causative agent of economically important infections in multiple animal hosts which has also emerged as a major human pathogen, and the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus). We seek to identify regulatory genes that enable the bacteria to switch from a benign to invasive disease state and characterise their mechanism of action and impact on host immune defences. We are also interested to use this information to better   understand and characterise the factors driving host-species adaptation of S. agalactiae, which causes significant disease in humans, cattle and fish.

Host-pathogen interactions in the mucosal immune system.

Research methodology, open science practices

Within education research: Digital education (effectiveness, utilisation and effects on experience), student learning, student experience, staff teaching experience, effective public engagement.

Within human-animal relationships: animal support, companion animal welfare, animal welfare education.

Monitoring of farm animal health including the links between nutrition, health and productivity in cattle and sheep.

Investigating new mechanisms of bone formation and vascular calcification.

My main research interests lie in the integration of behavioural, physiological and statistical techniques to investigate animal welfare issues, primarily with those relating to modern livestock production.

Clinical biomarkers of congestive heart failure in canine patients Novel diagnostic tools in canine mesothelioma Use of 4-D echocardiography in the dog

Equine internal medical disorders, particularly equine respiratory diseases and grass sickness.

Biobanking and genome editing of avian germ cells

Preclinical studies to evaluate safety and efficacy of vectors for respiratory gene/miRNA delivery in mice & sheep. Sheep as a large animal model for respiratory disease.

Adaptations of the neuroendocrine system: hormonal and neural regulation of reproduction and behaviour.  Animal Welfare: Neurobiology of positive welfare and behaviour.

Investigating the relationship between nutrition, inflammation and health outcomes using a comparative medicine approach

Red squirrel surveillance and infectious diseases (squirrelpox, squirrel leprosy); Scottish wildcat conservation and infectious diseases; a novel Amphibiocystidium disease in palmate newts on the Isle of Rum; Scottish raptor mortality; infectious diseases of pine martens

Research interests include investigation of T lymphocyte populations in dogs undergoing radiation therapy, comparative cytology and molecular signatures of inflammatory cells in secretory otitis media of brachycephalic dogs and children, immunohistochemical markers for reactive and neoplastic mesothelial cells in pericardium of dogs, rapid diagnosis of equine grass sickness by ganglion cytology, histopathology of recovered cases of grass sickness, the role of SOCS2 protein in maintenance of bone mass in an experimental colitis model in mice and studies on the pathology of the red squirrel with particular reference to squirrel pox infection.

My primary interest is in invasive bacterial infections – how they overcome the innate physical and immunological barriers at mucosal surfaces to invade the tissues and then how they evade systemic immune responses to establish a niche for replication. My current work focuses on malaria co-infection as a risk factor for invasive bacterial disease, specifically the role of coinfection in loss of intestinal integrity and disruption of neutrophil-mediated containment of Salmonella. This research has led to work in animal models (rodent, porcine, non-human primate) and clinical cohorts (UK and The Gambia).

The mechanisms of T cell-mediated immunity against intracellular pathogens of ruminants and how dysregulation of such responses can result in enhanced pathology.

I am interested in the infection biology of protozoan parasites of livestock. I am particularly attracted to integrated approaches where we can learn about both host and parasite processes that are key to infection/disease progression – especially in the clinically relevant host, the cow. I work primarily on African trypanosomes, but also on Theileria parva , which together are the most significant pathogens affecting livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. I also work on Cryptosporidium parvum, a worldwide enteric pathogen of humans and livestock. My work aims to identify key host-parasite interactions that determine disease outcome, further our understanding of bovine immunobiology, and identify targets for interventions (e.g. drug & vaccine development).

The genetics of atopic dermatitis; allergen specific immunology; antibiotic resistance, particularly meticillin-resistance staphylococci and multi-drug resistant E. coli; and responsible antimicrobial use and infection control.

Infectious disease models; Intervention strategies; Pathology; Veterinary diagnostics; Pigs.

I'm interested in applying machine learning methods and other computational tools to real world data. I use my computational background and software engineering skills to answer research questions from various disciplines including neuroscience, cognitive science and biology. The overarching theme of my research programme can be summarised as quantifying contribution of finely-tuned genetic regulation to emergence of complex function at the synapse using cutting edge computational tools. In the future it will also include tackling the question of the evolution of molecular etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders

Genome engineering of poultry for agricultural and biomedical purposes

My current research interests include studying the role of immune checkpoints in canine and feline cancer and inflammatory disease. I am also intereted in interactions between innate and adaptive immune system in cancer patients. 

Student learning, study skills support (including the use of Peers), student assessment, learning and assessment generally

Role of autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanisms and therapeutic approach.

Emerging infectious diseases of domestic animals and wildlife, canine adenovirus in red foxes and dogs, salmonellosis in dogs and cats, staphylococcal infections of dogs and cats, yersiniosis in domestic and zoo animals, viral pathogenesis and oncogenesis.

Aetiopathogenesis of equine airway disease and characterising the equine pulmonary innate immune response. Equine dysautonomia, primarily in relation to the investigation of aetiologic pathways.

Scotts currently active areas of reseach include the following:

(1) studies on equine grass sickness with a particular focus on the potential aetiological role of ingested pasture-derived mycotoxins;

(2) studies of the innate immunity of the equine airway, with a particular focus on the role of the alveolar macrophage in determining disease susceptibility;

(3) studies on the role of intestinal macrophage activation in the initiation and maintenance of gut motility disturbances following gastrointestinal surgery (post-operative ileus).

My main research interest is in the development of novel breeding methodologies and tools. This work involves a synergy between theoretical quantitative genetics and practical animal breeding. My main expertise is the application of genomic selection on big datasets for various species (pig, chicken, cattle, etc.) and various models, with emphasis on single-step genomic prediction.

Wound healing in horses and other species. Poor perforance in horses. The structure and function of the equine airway. Acute phase proteins.

I have many interests related to clinically relevant equine veterinary surgery. Studies currently underway: An investigation of the closure time of skull suture lines in horses. Cadaveric, radiographic and CT examination of the anatomy of the nasal conchal bullae of horses. Cadaveric and CT anatomy of equine cheek teeth and paranasal sinuses Surveys of equine peripheral caries Evaluation of stress affecting equids during hospital examinaion Racehorse knowledge transfer

Veterinary medical education; specifically assessment and feedback, student support and wellbeing, e-learning and curriculum development.

My clinical and research interest is neonatal brain injury and neuroprotection of the term and near-term baby, working both as a consultant neonatologist and research group lead at UCL over the past 20 years. The journey has been exciting and fast-moving, with therapeutic hypothermia (HT) for neonatal encephalopathy (NE) being a significant advance in newborn care. However, as HT is only partially protective, we are searching for adjunct therapies which can complement and synergize with HT.  We study mechanisms of brain injury using MR techniques and NIRS. With the aim to move therapies along the translational pipeline, we have studied the following neuroprotective agents: melatonin, noble gases (xenon and argon), amiloride, erythropoeitin, remote ischemic post conditioning.  We have shown that proton MRS is a robust marker of neurodevelopmental outcome in NE and we use this biomarker both in our pre-clinical models and for clinical prognosis.

I am interested in small animal gastroenterology, especially focusing of mechanisms of disease, clinical assessment and treatment of canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)/ chronic enteropathy (CE).

Applications of transgenesis in the chick, particularly in study of the development of the chick embryo and resistance to disease.

Use of deep amplicon sequencing approaches to study nematode parasite diversity and co-infections. Performance of different sheep breeds and selected lines in a harsh hill environment. Changing epidemiology of trematode parasites. Population genetics of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes. Haemonchus contotus and Teladorsagia circumcincta genomics. Train-the-trainer livestock health education.  

Genetic, genomic, and phenotyping approaches to studying the biological mechanisms that underlie canine morphology and disease.

Veterinary diagnostic imaging, in particular computed tomography

Current research interests are mainly in the wild game sector, in particular looking at Campylobacter colonisation of pheasants and E, coli STEC in venison and their relevance to public health. I  am also interested in innovative ways of teaching veterinary public health.

Comparative epidemiology of parasitic and infectious diseases and general aspects of animal health.

Genomics of Avian Viral Infections

Studies intracellular bacterial pathogens, with specific interest in the bacterial genes required for intracellular survival and evasion of innate immune responses.

Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli infections in farm animals, with emphasis on the bacterial and host factors that influence persistence, pathogenesis and protection.

Advanced imaging of equine fractures

miRNAs and osteoarthritis

miRNAs and SNPs in equine stress fractures

Understanding how genetic variation influences normal and pathological variation in humans.

Our collaborative research with Prof K Kranc is to address the precise functions of epigenetic regulators in myeloid leukaemia using in vitro, ex-vivo and in vivo models. Together with additional screening in patients for mutations in this gene, this research will enable us to develop new approaches to treat leukaemia.

Host-pathogen interactions and immunomodulation in avian species.

In vitro/ex vivo organ cultures - organoids.

I am interested in what large datasets tell us about biological function, and how we can correlate patterns in big data with phenotypes of interest in farm animal health, disease and productivity.

Development of genetically engineered livestock for biomedical and agricultural applications.

Application of population and quantitative genetic approaches to dissect the genetic basis of phenotypic traits in domesticated animal species and to analyze the processes of domestication and breed development.  

Elucidating the mechanisms underpinning neuronal development, stability and degeneration in health and disease.