Blueprints for Healthy Animals

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).

Translational genomics in critical care medicine.

Regulation of growth and differentiation of embryo derived stem cells.

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

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.

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

Identifying host pathogen interactions using systems approaches

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

Immune responses to Mycobacterial infections in cattle.

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

Host-pathogen interactions in the mucosal immune system.

Investigating new mechanisms of bone formation and vascular calcification.

Biobanking and genome editing of avian germ cells

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

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

Genomics of Avian Viral Infections

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.

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.