Division of Genome Biology

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.

My group researches the functional relationships between the microbiota, host and environment in various animal species, with a particular focus on avians. 

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

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

Genomics of Avian Viral Infections

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.

We are trying to understand how aquatic animals respond to challenges such as disease and environmental stressors, and the molecular regulation of those pathways to make them more resilient to those challenges. The ways in which fish and prawns respond to stressors might be shared with other animals, while many others will be unique and it’s understanding those mechanisms, and understanding how these amazing creatures respond and thrive in a dynamic marine environment, that I’m passionate about.