The Centre for Integrated research
into Musculoskeletal Ageing
The Centre for Integrated research
into Musculoskeletal Ageing
www.cimauk.org
Photograph by Lindsay Mackenzie (2nd Runner Up - Newcastle University Student Competition)
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Introduction
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and age-related decline in function of musculoskeletal tissues
(bones, joints, tendons and muscles) are major contributors to loss of independence and poor quality
of life in older people. The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA) is a
collaboration between researchers and clinicians at the Universities of Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield
that brings together complementary and outstanding expertise in skeletal muscle, bone, cartilage
and tendon biology, ageing research, nutrition and exercise interventions and clinical excellence in
musculoskeletal disorders. The Centre is developing an integrated approach to understanding the
processes and effects of ageing in tissues of the musculoskeletal system, how ageing contributes to
diseases of the musculoskeletal system and how these processes may be ameliorated or prevented.
This Centre of Excellence brings together researchers from 3 leading UK Universities to build on current
world-leading research to understand why our bones, joints and muscles function less well as we age
and why older people develop clinical diseases of these musculoskeletal tissues, such as arthritis or
osteoporosis. The Centre is investigating new ways of preventing the deterioration of the musculoskeletal
tissues that occur as we age to help preserve mobility and independence in older people. CIMA was
funded by an initial grant of £2.5M from the Medical Research Council and Arthritis Research UK
commencing June 2012 together with substantial investment in new posts by the Universities of
Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.
The detailed Objectives of CIMA are to:
• Develop and exploit an integrated research framework
for ageing of the musculoskeletal system.
• Identify how intrinsic mechanisms of ageing
contribute to musculoskeletal dysfunction and
understand the impact of musculoskeletal ageing
on age-related wellbeing.
• Identify and share optimal techniques and approaches
(e.g. imaging, biomarkers and functional measures)
to monitor age-related changes in all musculoskeletal
tissues and provide an integrated assessment of
musculoskeletal function (e.g. using systems biology
and modelling approaches).
• Develop and test novel interventions based on
nutrition, exercise and/or pharmacology to maintain or
enhance bone, cartilage, ligament/tendon and muscle
function during ageing and to reduce age-related
deterioration of the whole musculoskeletal system.
• Build capacity by training young researchers
and clinicians with multidisciplinary skills in
musculoskeletal ageing.
• Become the foremost UK Centre for research
on musculoskeletal ageing and develop a major
international reputation for research in this
important area.
1
CIMA
2
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Contents
Introduction
1
Resources and Facilities
4
Directors and Site Directors
Prof. Malcolm J Jackson (Director)
12
Prof. Tim Cawston (Newcastle Site Director)
13
Prof. Eugene McCloskey (Sheffield Site Director)
14
Principal Investigators
Dr Ilaria Bellantuono
15
Prof. Peter Clegg
16
Prof. Richard Eastell
17
Dr Graham Kemp
18
Dr Jennifer Milner
46
Prof. Tom Kirkwood
19
Dr Peter Milner
47
Prof. John Loughlin
20
Prof. Robert J Moots
48
Prof. Anne McArdle
21
Dr Munitta Muthana
49
Prof. John Mathers
22
Prof. Jon Nicholl
50
Prof. Gerry Wilson
23
Prof. Stuart Parker
51
Dr Joao Passos
52
Prof. Hilary J Powers
53
Dr Carole Proctor
54
Dr Louise Reynard
55
Prof. Lynn Rochester
56
Prof. Drew Rowan
57
Prof. Graham Russell
58
Prof. Tim Skerry
59
Dr Falko F Sniehotta
60
Dr Simon Tew
61
Prof. Wendy Tindale
62
Dr Michael Trenell
63
Prof. Doug Turnbull
64
Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki
65
Marco Viceconti
66
Prof. John Wilding
67
Mr Mark Wilkinson
68
Dr Liz Williams
69
Prof. Steve Winder
70
Dr Lang Yang
71
Dr David A Young
72
Prof. Thomas von Zglinicki
73
Contact details
74
Investigators
Dr Rebecca Bancroft
24
Dr Karl Bates
25
Dr Fraser Birrell
26
Dr Anne-Gaëlle Borycki
27
Prof. David J Burn
28
Dr Nadine Carroll
29
Prof. Robin Huw Crompton
30
Dr Daniel Cuthbertson
31
Dr Rachel Duncan
32
Prof. Francesco Falciani
33
Prof. Alejandro F. Frangi
34
Prof. Jim Gallagher
35
Dr Alison Gartland
36
Prof. Douglas Gray
37
Prof. Richard D Griffiths
38
Prof. John Hunt
39
Prof. John Innes
40
Prof. Carol Jagger
41
Dr Jonathan Jarvis
42
Dr Nathan Jeffery
43
Dr Elizabeth Laird
44
Prof. Sue Mawson
45
Photograph above by Gobinath Murugesapillai
(Winner - Newcastle University Student Competition)
3
CIMA
Resources and Facilities
The creation of CIMA facilitates the bringing together of three Institutes
each with world class research infrastructure, facilities and resources
for research into ageing and the musculoskeletal system. Individually,
each Institute has excellent facilities for basic science research,
pre-clinical and clinical research, but together we benefit from shared
access to high-end technology and expertise, access to model systems
that cover the musculoskeletal system as a whole and clinical expertise
and resources not available in any single institute.
Many of our existing University Institutes, Centres and Laboratories are
highly regarded and recognised internationally for their contribution
to ageing and musculoskeletal research. For example, both Newcastle
and Sheffield have recently been awarded European League Against
Rheumatism Centre of Excellence status in recognition of their
contribution to the field. However, together CIMA is increasing
this profile further by focusing our research effort into addressing
fundamental questions in musculoskeletal ageing.
Examples of the some of the facilities and resources that are available
to members of CIMA through the partner institutes include:
4
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
5
CIMA
The Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis
Research Centre (MARIARC)
The Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research Centre
(MARIARC) is a core facility of the University of Liverpool,
directed by Dr Graham Kemp (CIMA co-applicant). MARIARC
has a Siemens Symphony 1.5 T and a Trio 3 T scanner,
which support MR-based whole-body composition and muscle
cross-sectional area analysis, 1H MRS (magnetic resonance
spectroscopy) measurements of muscle cellular triglyceride,
31P MRS studies of muscle bioenergetics and near-infrared
spectroscopy measurements of muscle oxygenation. The Trio
is also used for functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging
and perfusion imaging, which can be applied to muscle,
cartilage and tendon studies.
The University of Liverpool Biomechanics
Group Facility
The University of Liverpool Biomechanics Group Facility
supports full body dynamic modelling and finite element
analysis of musculoskeletal mechanics and foot-ground
interactions. It has state of the art facilities for gait analysis
including static and treadmill-based point force and pressure
measurement, integrated with free-ranging gas-exchange
measurement of energy consumption, high speed 3D motion
capture and videography, wireless electromyography, and
remote activity monitoring from combined self-contained
multiple accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope and
GPS transducer signals. Imaging facilities include microCT,
ultrasound and laser scanning, and group engineers have
developed software for whole body dynamic simulation,
topographic analysis of pressure/depth distributions over
complex landmark-free surfaces.
6
Campus for Ageing and Vitality
Newcastle University has invested heavily in world class
infrastructure to support its ageing research agenda. The
Campus for Ageing and Vitality consists of a new quadrangle
of buildings for intensively translational biomedical research into
age-related disease. The Wellcome Trust funded Biogerontology
Building housing basic research alongside the Edwardson
Building containing biomarker laboratories and the aged mouse
facility. Experimental Medicine platforms for 3TMRI, PET,
gait and exercise laboratories and bio-banking facilities are
housed in adjacent buildings. A new NIHR-funded, translational
research building (opening Nov 2011) will act as the hub for
the Biomedical Research Centre and the ground floor of this
building will host innovative purpose-designed multi-disciplinary
translational research clinics. The Campus houses the recent
RC funded Centre for Integrated Systems Biology of Ageing and
Nutrition, the MRC Centre for Brain Ageing and Vitality and the
Livewell Programme (Lifelong Health and Wellbeing).
The University of Liverpool MRC/NERC Centre
for Genomic Research (CGR)
The University of Liverpool MRC/NERC Centre for Genomic
Research (CGR) is part of the National Research Infrastructure.
In addition, the Centre has a large portfolio of specific project
grants from the BBSRC, NERC, MRC, NHIR and other
funding agencies, and has strong TSB funding with several
multinational companies. The CGR employs 16 mainly postdoctoral members of staff. It runs three next generation
sequencing platforms, LifeTechnologies’ SOLiD, Illuminas
GA2 and Roche’s 454 GS FLX platform augmented by robotic
preparative pipelines. A new Ion Torrent instrument is under
trial. It also has 3 computer clusters and 200Tb of storage,
managed by a postdoctoral infrastructure specialist.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
MRC Muscle Performance and Exercise
Training Laboratory
National Centre for Sport, Physical
Activity & Wellbeing (NCESEM)
This facility, based at Newcastle University combines state of
the art measurement equipment for physical fitness, cardiac
function, muscle strength and body composition alongside a
physical activity and exercise intervention delivery team.
As part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy Sheffield has
been selected as one of three partners in the NCESEM (the
others are Nottingham/Loughborough and UCH/UCL London).
Sheffield will receive £10m in funding from the Department
of Health to develop the Centre and establish the physical
infrastructure. Sheffield will be responsible for implementing
strategies of using physical activity to improve population
health. A state-of-the-art facility for research in sport
and exercise medicine will be built that will be used
for physiological and biomechanical studies in the
Sheffield population.
The laboratory has three main focuses:
1. Assessment of physical function with maximal exercise,
sub-maximal exercise and muscle strength testing.
2. Assessment of everyday physical activity.
3. Delivery of standardised physical activity and
exercise interventions.
Current studies are funded by the MRC, NIHR, NHS and
pharmaceutical industry. These groups use the laboratory to
provide clinical grade outcome measures for interventions
and assessment of habitual physical activity. All staff are fully
accredited by the American College of Sports Medicine.
7
CIMA
8
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Newcastle Biomedicine Clinical Ageing
Research Unit (CARU)
The University of Sheffield Mellanby Centre
for Bone Research
The primary aim of CARU is to facilitate the development of
early assessment and intervention strategies targeted at age
associated degenerative conditions. The facility was funded by
the Wellcome Trust and supported by core NIHR funding.
Based in the University of Sheffield Medical School the
Mellanby Centre was established in 2009 in recognition of
our international standing in bone research. The Centre has
created a multidisciplinary environment in which to foster
world-class research. We are one of a limited number of
institutes worldwide in which clinical research is underpinned
by world-class basic biomedical research and where our
research spans understanding normal skeletal physiology,
the age-related decline in skeletal function and in pathological
bone loss. The Mellanby Centre is home to dedicated ‘core’
facilities that support the research of the Centre. These
include ‘state of the art’ bone biochemistry laboratory with
the latest autoanalysers and a bone analsysis laboratory with
contemporary imaging equipment, including high-resolution
microCT, in vivo dynamic histomorphometry and multi-photon
imaging. Staffed by core-funded scientists these facilities
underpin collaborations with partners from across the UK and
Europe, including Universities, research institutes and the
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The Mellanby
Centre links directly with the biomedical research unit for
bone in which basic and pre-clinical research developed in
the Centre is translated directly into clinical studies for
patient benefit.
The facility is directed by David Burn and provides high
quality, patient friendly environment for Phase II-IV clinical
studies in the older patient. Translational research and clinical
trial capacity is facilitated via integration with the NIHR
Biomedical Research Centre (Ageing) where musculoskeletal
is one of the themes.
CARU is staffed by a team of experienced and well-qualified
research nurses and research professionals and is equipped
with consulting and assessment rooms, a human movement
laboratory, visual perception laboratory and a DEXA scanner
for bone density measurements.
9
CIMA
The University of Sheffield Bone Biomedical
Research Unit
Established with NIHR infrastructure funding, the Bone
Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) is a partnership between the
University of Sheffield and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust. The Unit is based in the Centre for
Biomedical Research alongside a dedicated Clinical Research
Facility. The Bone BRU Faculty comprises experienced
clinical investigators who work closely with basic scientists
at the Mellanby Centre, and statisticians, health economists
and epidemiologists from the School of Health and Related
Research, to promote world-class translational research.
The facilities include a bone-imaging suite, housing a highresolution peripheral CT scanner (XtremeCT) amongst
other non-invasive bone assessments, a Bone Biochemistry
Laboratory and the Sheffield Musculoskeletal BioBank.
The University of Liverpool Proteomics
Laboratory
The University of Liverpool Proteomics Laboratory provides
access to state-of-the-art capacity in proteomics, as well as
a home for the Protein Function Group (Prof Rob Beynon).
The laboratory is a custom user-designed space that meets
all of the needs for the support and management of the key
technology in proteomics: mass spectrometry. By creating a
visually connected and highly accessible instrument space,
the laboratory maintains the connection between the benchtop
science and the end-stage analytical handling of the samples.
A hotel model is used where guests’ laboratory work can be
completed near the instruments.
10
Musculoskeletal Research Group
The Newcastle Musculoskeletal Research Group (MRG)
consists of 75 total research staff that aim to foster strong
interactions between clinicians and laboratory scientists.
It houses the Wilson Horne Immunotherapy Centre, a
translational research facility for early phase clinical studies of
immune modulators and linked experimental medicine studies.
The expertise of individual members of the group ranges from
gene regulation through to nanotechnology, and the design and
implementation of novel immunomodulators. We have strong
research collaborations locally and nationally and represent
a strong theme of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre
for Ageing and Age-Related Disease. It hosts the Arthritis
Research-UK Tissue Engineering Centre awarded in 2010.
The Newcastle MRG forms one of 9 centres in the Office of
Life Sciences Research Capability Cluster. This is a novel
strategy to fast track novel compounds into phase I/IIa
trials. The MRG education group also have a strong influence
nationally, producing CDs to teach clinical examination skills,
which are distributed to all medical schools in the UK and,
increasingly, overseas.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
MRC Centre for Developmental and
Biomedical Genetics
The MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics
(CDBG), based at The University of Sheffield brings together
developmental geneticists with clinician scientists, creating
a focus of expertise in the development of animal models of
human disease with the aim of stimulating the translation
of findings from model systems to the development of novel
therapies and clinical practice.
Gene discovery programmes using both forward mutation
screening and gene expression profiling are being combined
with chemical genetic approaches to identify novel components
of developmental pathways and networks and unravel
their mechanisms of action. The CDBG research strategy is
supported by a number of high throughput facilities, including
the Sheffield RNAi Screening Facility which is unique in
Europe, extensive zebrafish aquaria and the CDBG Screening
Unit equipped for medium-throughput screening of small
molecules in zebrafish. A particular area of strength within
CDBG is musculoskeletal development and disease.
11
CIMA
Prof. Malcolm J Jackson, BSc, PhD, DSc, FRCPath
Professor of Cellular Pathophysiology, Head of Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease,
University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding the roles of reactive oxygen species in skeletal muscle physiology, pathology
and ageing
Professor Jackson graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry
from the University of Surrey in 1974, completed a PhD at
University College London in 1980, was awarded a DSc in
1994 and FRCPath in 1997. He was a Lecturer at University
College London in 1982, Senior Lecturer at Liverpool University
in 1984 and appointed Professor in 1994. He has served as
Head of the Department of Medicine (1997-2001), Deputy
Dean (2000-2001), Interim Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
(2001-2002) and Associate Dean for Research (2005-2009).
He was appointed Head of the
Institute of Ageing and Chronic
Disease in 2010. Malcolm
serves on the MRC Population
and Systems Medicine Board
and Interdisciplinary Expert
Group on ME/CFS, the BBSRC
Healthy Organism Strategy
Panel and Ageing Working
Group and the Joint Research
Councils Life Long Health
and Wellbeing Panel. He was
Deputy Chair of the Research
into Ageing National Scientific
12
Advisory Committee (2003-2006) and is current President of
the Society for Free Radical Research-International.
Malcolm’s primary research interests are in the roles of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) in cell signaling and degeneration,
particularly relating to ageing and skeletal muscle. His
group made some of the earliest descriptions of free radical
generation by contracting skeletal muscle and of the effects
of antioxidants. He has characterised the role of ROS as
mediators of muscle damage following lengthening contractions
and was among the first to recognise the physiological roles of
ROS as mediators of adaptive responses to stress, specifically
relating to skeletal muscle. His group has also contributed new
analytical approaches to studying ROS in muscle in cell culture
models and in vivo allowing them to characterise the multiple
pathways for ROS generation in skeletal muscle. He has
also identified protein targets for oxidation in ageing skeletal
muscle. More recent work has sought to understand the role of
ROS in normal muscle physiology and ageing with translation
of the work through human biopsy and intervention studies.
Professor Jackson’s research is funded by the MRC, BBSRC,
the US National Institute on Ageing and the Wellcome Trust.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Tim Cawston, BSc, PhD, FRCP(Hon)
William Leech Professor of Rheumatology, Musculoskeletal Research Group,
Institutes of Cellular Medicine/Ageing and Health, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding how age-related changes in connective tissue lead to tissue turnover
Tim Cawston graduated with a BSc from Leeds University
and completed a PhD at Reading on secretory mechanisms
in the mammary gland. Prof Cawston undertook post doctoral
training at the Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge
where he developed his interest in the proteolytic breakdown
of connective tissue components, particularly collagen. He
moved to the Department of Rheumatology, Addenbrooke’s
Hospital Cambridge to set up his own laboratory in 1981.
He was appointed as Professor of Rheumatology at
Newcastle University in 1996 where he has established the
Musculoskeletal Research group that undertakes research
from basic mechanisms in immunology and matrix biology,
experimental medicine and educational research. Professor
Cawston is a member of the MRC PSMB board and Vice Chair
of Arthritis Research-UK programme grant committee.
at the ways in which this breakdown can be blocked using a
variety of pharmacological compounds. The aim of this work is
to find ways in which we can prevent the harmful breakdown
of cartilage and bone in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
His work has developed recently to investigate the mechanisms
of collagen breakdown in osteoarthritis particularly to
investigate how the cartilage matrix, and the chondrocytes
localised within it, change with age and how these changes
may perpetuate cartilage damage.
Professor Cawston’s research is funded by Arthritis Research-UK,
The Nuffield Foundation and Action Medical Research.
Tim’s main research interest is in understanding the
mechanisms that initiate and perpetuate the breakdown of
collagen in health and disease using cellular and molecular
techniques. His research has shown that combinations
of mediators can dramatically increase the production of
degradative enzymes. These studies have developed to look
13
CIMA
Prof. Eugene McCloskey, MB, BCh, BAO, MD, FRCPI
Professor of Adult Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Understanding risk factors for skeletal fragility and developing new approaches of combination
therapies with exercise and pharmaceutical interventions
Professor McCloskey graduated in Medicine from Trinity
College, Dublin in 1983. Having initially trained in
endocrinology, he developed an interest in the mechanisms
of malignant bone disease and has been involved in several
clinical trials of bisphosphonates in multiple myeloma and
breast cancer that have established the role of antiosteoclastic
therapy in malignant disease. He subsequently trained in
rheumatology before deciding to focus exclusively on metabolic
bone diseases. Currently, Professor in Adult Bone Diseases in
the Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism, he is also an Honorary
Consultant Physician in metabolic bone disease at the Northern
General Hospital, Sheffield. He has published over 150 peerreviewed articles, book chapters and reviews and is currently
Secretary of the Bone Research Society, Chair of the ASBMR
Ancillary Program Committee and Chair of the National
Osteoporosis Guideline Group Implementation Committee as
well as a member of the ARUK Research sub-committee, the
National Specialty Group for Musculoskeletal Diseases, the
International Osteoporosis Foundation’s Committee of Scientific
Advisors and the Board of the European Society for Clinical
and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis.
14
Eugene has been principal
investigator in a large
number of MRC and
pharmaceutical-funded
osteoporosis studies and is
acknowledged as an expert
in vertebral fracture definition
and epidemiology, as well as
non-invasive assessments of
bone strength and fracture
risk. He has been involved with writing guidelines (for the
Royal College of Physicians, the British Association of Surgical
Oncologists and the Bone Research Society) and Health
Technology Assessments. More recently, he has contributed to
the development of the FRAX tool for estimating fracture risk.
He has important collaborations with national and
international research groups such as King’s College (London),
Erasmus Medical Centre (Rotterdam), Harvard Medical
School (Boston) and the University of Queensland (Brisbane).
The main foci of Eugene’s current research include risk
factor models for osteoporosis and the potential interactions
between physical and pharmacological therapies to improve
musculoskeletal health.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Ilaria Bellantuono, MD, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Bone Biology, Department of Human Metabolism, University
of Sheffield
[email protected]
Understanding mesenchymal stem cell ageing
Dr Bellantuono graduated in 1992 with an MD degree from
the University of Pavia, Italy and completed a PhD in the
department of Experimental Haematology, Paterson Institute
for Cancer Research, University of Manchester in 1998.
She undertook post-doctoral training in the Department of
Immunology, Imperial College. In 2001, Dr Bellantuono
relocated to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital as a
team leader and was awarded an honorary lectureship in stem
cell biology at the University of Manchester in 2002. Ilaria was
appointed as a Lecturer in Bone Biology at the University of
Sheffield in 2005 and is currently Senior Lecturer.
She is now determining the pathways involved, including the
Notch/Wnt signalling pathway, using a combination of in vitro
and in vivo models. She is also using small molecules to both
understand basic mechanisms regulating stem cell fate and to
target specific pathways to delay ageing.
Ilaria’s main research is in determining the changes
mesenchymal stem cells undergo with age, identifying what are
the molecular players involved and how these impact on bone
formation. An understanding of the pathways involved in stem
cell ageing will lead to more targeted therapeutic strategies to
promote healthier bone ageing.
Ilaria is also leading the innovative Shared Ageing Research
Models (ShARM) resource funded by Wellcome Trust to
support the rapidly growing volume of research on biology
of ageing using mouse models. It combines web-based
information systems with a physical tissue bank. This is
a collaboration with members of the Centre for Integrated
Systems Biology of Ageing and Nutrition in Newcastle, the
International Centre for Mouse Genetics, MRC Harwell the
members of the Institute for Ageing and Chronic Diseases in
Liverpool, the Faculty of Life Sciences in Manchester and
The European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing
in Groeningen.
Ilaria has identified loss of proliferation and differentiation
ability in mesenchymal stem cells with age. This was
associated with shortening of telomeres in vitro and in vivo.
Ilaria’s research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council, the Leukaemia Research Fund,
Wellcome Trust and AstraZeneca.
15
CIMA
Prof. Peter Clegg, MA Vet MB PhD DipECVS MRCVS
Professor of Comparative Orthopaedics, Dept. of Musculoskeletal Biology, University
of Liverpool. Deputy Head of Institute, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease,
University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding the control of matrix turnover in cartilage and tendons in healthy ageing,
regeneration and disease
Professor Clegg graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the
University of Cambridge in 1987. After working as a veterinary
surgeon in practice, he undertook a three-year period of postgraduate clinical training in equine orthopaedics at the Royal
Veterinary College, University of London. He then moved to
the University of Liverpool on a research training scholarship
and was awarded a PhD in 1997 for studies investigating
proteinases in cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis (OA).
Subsequently, Peter was appointed Lecturer, then Senior
Lecturer in veterinary orthopaedics and combined clinical and
research duties. In 2003, he was awarded a Wellcome Trust
Research Leave Fellowship, which he undertook in Professor
Tim Hardingham’s laboratory in the Wellcome Trust Centre
for Cell-Matrix Research at the University of Manchester
investigating chondrocyte phenotype variation in both OA and
cartilage regeneration. In 2006 he was appointed to a personal
chair in comparative orthopaedics at the University of Liverpool.
His research is in human and veterinary musculoskeletal biology,
in particular cell and matrix regulation of cartilage and tendon
during healthy ageing, regeneration and disease.
16
Peter’s principle research interest is in understanding how
chondrocyte and tenocyte cell phenotype varies, and how this
is regulated during physiological and pathological states.
There is an emphasis on relating both cartilage matrix
degradation through proteinase activities, and cartilage matrix
regeneration by the action of the chondrogenic transcription
factor SOX9. This has led to a strong interest in posttranscriptional gene regulation, and the mechanisms of how
this is controlled, in musculoskeletal tissues. He has had
long-term interest in understanding the differences between
healthy ageing and pathology, and developing proteomics
approaches to quantify matrix turnover to distinguish variations
between healthy ageing and OA in cartilage. Finally, he has
a strong interest in the role of the osteochondral junction in
the development of articular pathology. In tendon, he has
developed interests in understanding tenocyte phenotypic
variation, and how this can be manipulated. He has a strong
interest in determining how tendon ages, and in particular how
tendons with different mechanical functions and injury risk,
age. Currently he is determining mechanisms of age-related
tendon failure.
Professor Clegg’s research is funded by Arthritis Research UK,
the Wellcome Trust, Horserace Betting Levy Board, BBSRC
and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Richard Eastell, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, FmedSci
Professor of Bone Metabolism, University of Sheffield; NIHR Senior Investigator; Director,
NIHR Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit
[email protected]
Understanding the causes of bone diseases and improving their treatment
Professor Eastell graduated in Medicine from Edinburgh
University in 1977 and trained as an endocrinologist in
Edinburgh, London (Northwick Park Hospital) and the USA
(Mayo Clinic) before coming to work in Sheffield in 1989.
Currently the head of the Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism,
he was awarded funding from the National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) in April 2008 to set up the Sheffield
Biomedical Research Unit (BRU) in Bone Diseases and has
since been appointed as an NIHR Senior Investigator. Professor
Eastell is also an Honorary Consultant Physician in metabolic
bone disease at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.
Richard has received several awards; these include Hospital
Doctor of the Year in the osteoporosis category (1997), the
Corrigan Medal of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
(1998), the Kohn Foundation award from the National
Osteoporosis Society (2004) and the Society of Endocrinology
Medal (2004). He has authored or co-authored over 200
papers on osteoporosis and related topics and is also Associate
Editor for the journal Bone and a member of the editorial board
of Osteoporosis International. Richard is Past President of the
European Calcified Tissue Society and Bone Research Society
and Past Chairman of the National Osteoporosis Society.
Well known for his work on biochemical markers of bone
turnover and the definition of osteoporotic vertebral fractures,
Richard’s research interests are also wide ranging. He leads
an active group that conducts research into all aspects of
osteoporosis, funded by the NIHR, MRC
and AR UK and in collaboration with
important international research groups,
such as the Universities of Kiel (Germany)
and California, San Francisco (USA) and
the Mayo Clinic (USA). The main foci
of Richard’s current research include
anabolic treatments for osteoporosis,
novel tests for bone turnover markers and
biomechanics of hip and spine fracture.
Vertebral fracture in the
lumbar spine resulting
from osteoporosis.
17
CIMA
Dr Graham Kemp, MA DM FRCPath CSci FSB
Reader (Clinical) and Director, Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research Centre
(MARIARC), University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Towards a quantitative understanding of muscle metabolism and function in vivo
Dr Kemp graduated in medicine from Merton College,
University of Oxford in 1980. After training in pathology in
Leicester and Sheffield he began his research career in 1984
working on cellular phosphate transport at the Department of
Human Metabolism and Clinical Biochemistry, University of
Sheffield. Since then he has pursued human research in vivo
by mainly magnetic resonance techniques, starting in 1989
at the MRC Biochemical & Clinical Magnetic Resonance Unit
and Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, and
continuing from 1996 at the University of Liverpool, where he
is Reader at the Department of Musculoskeletal Biology in the
Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, and Director of the
Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research Centre, a
core research facility. He holds honorary NHS consultant posts
in Chemical Pathology and Neuromuscular Science. Dr Kemp
is also Director of Postgraduate Research for the Faculty of
Health and Life Sciences, the largest of the three faculties of
the University.
Dr Kemp’s principal research interest is in the quantitative
interpretation of data acquired noninvasively in vivo,
particularly by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging
18
methods, supported by modelling approaches and techniques
such as near-infrared spectroscopy and electromyography.
He has a number of research collaborations within the UK
(notably Oxford, Cambridge, Leeds) and with important
international groups (including Eindhoven, Marseille, Nijmegen,
Sydney, Vienna). He has authored or co-authored over 180
papers, mainly on muscle and neuromuscular function and
pathophysiology and aspects of metabolic regulation, but also
including brain structure and function, endocrine, hepatic and
renal disease, and accident mechanisms. He is a member
of the Editorial Board of Clinical Science and the Editorial
Advisory Board of the Biochemical Journal, and a regular
reviewer for physiology, biochemistry, biophysics, sports
science, magnetic resonance and clinical research journals.
Dr Kemp’s research is supported by the Biotechnology
and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Engineering
and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Science and
Technology Facilities Council, the European Foundation for
the Study of Diabetes, the Diabetes Research and Wellness
Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Tom Kirkwood, CBE, PhD, FMedSci
Professor of Medicine, Newcastle University; Associate Dean for Ageing (from Oct 2011);
Scientific Director, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre on Ageing and Age-Related Diseases
[email protected]
Mechanisms, genetics and evolution of intrinsic ageing and its contribution to age-related frailty
and disease
Tom Kirkwood is Professor of Medicine (1999 -), Director
of the Institute for Ageing and Health (2004 – 2011), and
Scientific Director of the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre
on Ageing (2008 -) at Newcastle University. In October 2011
he will take up a new position as Associate Dean for Ageing
in order to provide strategic leadership for the University’s
over-arching priority theme on ageing. Educated in biology
and mathematics at Cambridge and Oxford, he worked at the
National Institute for Medical Research, where he formed and
led a new research division, until in 1993 he became the UK’s
first Professor of Biological Gerontology at the University
of Manchester.
Tom Kirkwood’s research aims to understand the basic science
of ageing including how genes as well as non-genetic factors,
such as nutrition, influence longevity and health in old age. He
led the first studies to demonstrate how intrinsic ageing affects
the functions of tissue stem cells, pioneered the development
of systems-biology approaches to ageing (including forming in
2005 the BBSRC-funded Centre for Integrative Systems Biology
of Ageing and Nutrition), and has studied population aspects
of ageing including evolutionary and epidemiological research
aimed at linking underlying mechanisms to the impacts of
ageing at the population level. He is Principal Investigator for
the MRC-funded Newcastle 85+ Study, a prospective cohort
study of biological clinical and psychosocial factors underlying
healthy ageing in a cohort of more than 1000 participants
born in 1921. He has been European President (Biology) of
the International Association of Gerontology, chaired the UK
Foresight Task Force on ‘Healthcare and Older People’, led
the Foresight project on ‘Mental Capital Through Life’, was
Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords Science & Technology
Select Committee inquiry into ‘scientific aspects of ageing’ and
has served on the Councils of BBSRC and the Academy of
Medical Sciences. He is an Editor of Mechanisms of Ageing
and Development and serves on the editorial boards of eight
other journals. He has published more than 300 scientific
papers and won several international prizes for his research.
His books include the award-winning ‘Time of Our Lives:
The Science of Human Ageing’, ‘Chance, Development and
Ageing’ (with Caleb Finch) and ‘The End of Age’ based on
his BBC Reith Lectures in 2001.
19
CIMA
Prof. John Loughlin, BSc, PhD
Professor of Musculoskeletal Research, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Genetics of osteoarthritis
Professor Loughlin completed his PhD in developmental
biology at Leeds University in 1991 and then commenced
postdoctoral research on the molecular genetic basis of
monogenic diseases of the extracellular matrix at Oxford
University, under the supervision of Professor Bryan Sykes.
In 1995 Professor Loughlin established a group at the
Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford, where
his focus became, and remains, the molecular genetics of
osteoarthritis (OA). In 1997 he was awarded a Postdoctoral
Research Fellowship from the Arthritis Research Campaign and
in 2002 he became a University Lecturer at Oxford University.
In 2008 Professor Loughlin moved to Newcastle University
as chair of Musculoskeletal Research within the Institute of
Cellular Medicine.
For the past three years John has been the Principal
Investigator for arcOGEN, a consortium that was directed
toward the association mapping of osteoarthritis (OA)
susceptibility loci in 7,400 OA cases and over 11,000
population controls. This involved nine UK centres and was
funded by Arthritis Research UK, with a grant of £2.2 million.
arcOGEN has so far identified nine novel OA loci. One of John’s
20
research goals is to functionally characterize these signals,
with the aim of exploiting this information for improved patient
diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
John has presented his group’s research as an invited speaker
at international meetings in Europe, North America and Asia,
including at three Gordon Research Conferences. John sits
on a number of advisory committees, including the Arthritis
Research UK Fellowship Implementation Committee, and is
the Secretary General of OARSI, the international Osteoarthritis
Research Society.
John’s research group has expertise in a wide range of genetic,
genomic and functional techniques and I have published peerreviewed papers in a number of leading journals including
Nature Genetics, PNAS, BMJ, American Journal of Human
Genetics, Human Molecular Genetics, Journal of Biological
Chemistry and Arthritis & Rheumatism.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Anne McArdle, BSc, PhD
Head of Department of Musculoskeletal Biology II, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding the mechanisms of age-related loss of muscle mass and function and developing
new approaches to treatment
Professor McArdle graduated with a BSc (Hons) in
Biochemistry from the University of Liverpool in 1988 and
completed a PhD in the Department of Medicine in 1993.
Anne undertook postdoctoral training at the Institute of
Gerontology at the University of Michigan and was awarded
a Research into Ageing Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
Fellowship in 1998 to examine the mechanisms by which
the age-related failure of muscle to adapt to contractions
resulted in sarcopenia. Anne was appointed as Lecturer
at the University of Liverpool in 2001 and as Professor in
the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University
of Liverpool in 2007. She is currently acting Head of the
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology II. Anne is past Chair
of the British Society for Research on Ageing and the British
Council for Ageing. She is an active member of the American
Physiological Society and the UK Physiological Society and
Biochemical Society. Professor McArdle is Associate Editor
for the American Journal of Physiology, International Advisor
on the Environmental & Exercise Physiology Committee of
the American Physiological Society and a core member of
BBSRC Grant Committee A. Professor McArdle’s work on
frailty has received considerable public interest with press
releases and presentation of our applied work to the general
public at several events. As School Director of Postgraduate
Research, Anne led a complete overhaul of student monitoring
and support procedures within the School which has led to
substantial improvements in the student experience.
Professor McArdle’s research interests include the basic
processes by which cells respond and adapt to stress and
damage and in particular, the role that the age-related failure
in the stress response plays in the development of age-related
skeletal muscle dysfunction and has made key observations
in this area of research. Her research group has demonstrated
the importance of rapid induction of responses to the increased
ROS generated by contractions in maintaining muscle
viability and the role that attenuation of these ROS signals
and responses play in muscle ageing. Anne has considerable
experience of cell and molecular biological studies at the
sub-cellular level through to physiological analysis of muscle
function in a number of model systems including cell culture,
animal models and in humans. This work is funded by the
National Institutes of Health (USA), MRC, BBSRC and AgeUK.
21
CIMA
Prof. John Mathers, BSc, Dip Nutr, PhD
Professor of Human Nutrition, Newcastle University; Director of the Human Nutrition
Research Centre, Institute for Ageing and Health
[email protected]
Understanding the impact of diet and other lifestyle factors on ageing and age-related diseases
and the development of lifestyle-based interventions to enhance healthy ageing
Professor Mathers graduated with a BSc in Agricultural
Biochemistry and Nutrition from Newcastle University in 1971.
He was awarded a Diploma in Nutrition (with Distinction) from
University of Cambridge in 1973 and PhD from University of
Cambridge in 1979. Professor Mathers undertook post-doctoral
training in the Department of Applied Biology in the University
of Cambridge and in the Department of Tropical Animal
Health, University of Edinburgh. In 1983 he was appointed
as Lecturer in Human Nutrition in Newcastle University.
In 1994, he established the Human Nutrition Research Centre,
Newcastle University and was appointed Professor of Human
Nutrition in Newcastle University in 1995.
John’s major research interests are in understanding the role
of diet in the aetiology and prevention of common age-related
diseases and in the modulation of the ageing process. This
research includes studies from the molecular and cellular levels
to large-scale human intervention trials. He has a particular
interest in diet-gene interactions. His current work includes the
LiveWell Programme which is developing and piloting lifestylebased interventions to promote healthy ageing and developing
tools to measure the healthy ageing phenotype. In addition,
22
he is using post-genomic technologies to i) develop and test
biomarkers of bowel cancer risk which are modifiable by
dietary factors, ii) investigate of the effect of nutrient supply
in utero on health in later life with a particular focus on the role
of epigenetic mechanisms and iii) develop novel biomarkers
of dietary exposure using metabolomics approaches.
Professor Mathers’ research is funded by the MRC through
the LifeLong Health and Wellbeing initiative, the BBSRC
and the EU.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Gerry Wilson, MB, PhD, FRCP, DCH
Professor of Rheumatology & Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, University of
Sheffield; Department of Infection & Immunity
[email protected]
Biomarkers in inflammatory arthritis and the role of epigenetics in immunoageing
Prof Wilson graduate in Medicine from Queen’s University
Belfast in 1983 and trained as a rheumatologist in Edinburgh,
Sheffield and Oxford. He was an ARUK clinical research
fellow at the University of Sheffield (PhD 1995) and an ARUK
Copeman Travelling Fellow at the Department of Microbiology
and Immunology, Stanford University (1995-96). He is an
Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at the Royal Hallamshire
Hospital, Sheffield. Professor Wilson is also Head of the
Sheffield EULAR Centre of Excellence in Rheumatology.
His initial research interest centred on the genetics of the
tumour necrosis factor gene in inflammatory joint diseases and
determining genotype-phenotype correlations. More recently
the focus has been on the identification of diagnostic and
prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic response biomarkers,
mainly genetic and immunological, in rheumatoid arthritis.
These studies have been underpinned by the accrual of large
highly-characterised clinical research databases with linked
biological material. He also investigates the role of epigenetics
in rheumatoid arthritis and immunoageing.
Prof Wilson’s research is funded by ARUK, MRC and the
pharmaceutical industry.
23
CIMA
Dr Rebecca Bancroft, MBBCh, MRCP, MSc
Consultant Geriatrician, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS
Trust; Consultant Community Geriatrician for Care Homes Liverpool Community Health
NHS Trust
[email protected]
Ensuring high quality care homes
Dr Bancroft trained at the University of Wales College of
Medicine, Cardiff and graduated in 1998. Her passion
for the care of older people began very early in her career
whilst working for a brief period as a Senior House Officer
in London. She became a trainee in Geriatric and General
Medicine in the Mersey Deanery in 2004. She was appointed
as a Consultant Geriatrician in Liverpool in 2009. During her
Specialist registrar training Dr Bancroft undertook a Masters
degree in Geriatric Medicine at Keele University. Her thesis for
this explored the impact of bowel and bladder symptoms on
quality of life for long-term stroke survivors. Now Dr Bancroft
works as both a hospital based and community Geriatrician.
In her community work Dr Bancroft provides specialist inreach
expertise into Care Homes to support General Practice. Her
particular areas of focus are on reducing falls in Care Homes
and improving the identification of increasing frailty to predict
end of life and ensure comfort during residents’ final months
of life. She is an active member of the Relatives and Residents
Association acting as an advocate for residents to ensure high
quality care in Care Homes.
24
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Karl Bates BSc, MPhil, PhD
CIMA Research Associate
[email protected]
Experimental and computational biomechanics
Dr Bates graduated with a BSc in Geology in 2005 from the
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at
the University of Manchester, and subsequently completed an
MPhil there in 2006. He obtained his PhD in computational
biomechanics in the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University
of Manchester in 2010. Since then he has worked in a postdoctoral position in the lab or Professor Robin Crompton at
the University of Liverpool, studying human foot function
and evolution.
biomechanics. He routinely use a range of theoretical and
experimental techniques to study locomotion, ranging from
motion analysis, force and pressure platforms to 3D static
and dynamic computer simulations. Under CIMA, he will be
integrating experimental data sets (e.g. whole-body kinematics,
foot plantar pressures) with 3D multi-body dynamic computer
models to study the effects of age- and disease-related trends
in morphology on the locomotor capabilities of humans and a
range of domestic and zoo animals.
Karl’s research concentrates on the functional anatomy of
terrestrial vertebrates, with particular focus on the locomotor
system. His goal is to understand the links between hard
and soft tissue morphology and limb biomechanics in
order to better characterise how animals achieve their full
range of habitual motions. Karl is particularly interested in
the functional consequences of changing morphology and
evaluating how elements of the locomotor system interact to
facilitate or constrain the way animals stand and move. This
has led him to study a range of living tetrapods from primates
to archosaurs (birds and crocodilians) in order to further our
understanding of major evolutionary transitions in locomotor
25
CIMA
Dr Fraser Birrell, MA, Dip Clin Ed, PhD, FRCP
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, Consultant & Senior Lecturer in Rheumatology,
Northumbria Healthcare; Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist, Freeman Hospital,
Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding and Preventing Osteoarthritis Progression
Dr Birrell graduated in Medicine from Cambridge University in
1991 and trained as a Rheumatologist in the West Midlands
(Cannock Chase, Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals) & Manchester
(Arthritis Research UK Epidemiology Unit, Manchester Royal
Infirmary, South Manchester University Hospitals) before
coming to work in Newcastle in 2002. His clinical and
epidemiological research informs healthcare planning and
provision: from projecting the need for hip replacements, to
simple clinical tools for General Practitioners to predict who
is likely to need a hip replacement and a modular training
method for ultrasound guided hip injection. In 2011 the
key study demonstrating ultrasound synovitis is a biomarker
predicting response to injection in hip osteoarthritis has been
published in the top ranking rheumatology journal, Annals of
the Rheumatic Diseases: the first predictor of response
to therapy in osteoarthritis.
Within Newcastle and beyond, fruitful collaborations have
established, including those with the Newcastle 85+ Study
team; Newcastle Thousand Families study; convening the
British Society for Rheumatology Osteoarthritis Special
Interest Group; DICHOA- an international Hand OA group26
and participation in OMERACT 11. With collaborators
(especially Mike Reed & Mark Pearce) over 1200 subjects
have been recruited to portfolio adopted studies, including
Arthritis Research UK funded studies: VIDEO (103 subjects)
and arcOGEN (800 subjects). He sits on the Arthritis Research
UK Clinical Studies Group for Osteoarthritis & Related
Disorders, reviews grants for Arthritis Research UK, NIHR
HTA, Wellcome. He has contributed and reviewed proposals
for calls for research for NIHR HTA. For NICE, he has
represented the guideline development group for CG59 and
been an invited expert for Scoping Workshops & Medical
Technology Evaluation.
Dr Birrell’s research is funded by the National Osteoporosis
Society, the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ageing,
NHS R&D, local charities and the imaging and
pharmaceutical industry.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Anne-Gaëlle Borycki, BSc, PhD
Senior Lecturer, University of Sheffield, Department of Biomedical Science
[email protected]
Characterizing the satellite cell niche in young and ageing skeletal muscles
Dr Borycki graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry in 1986
and completed a MSc in Biochemistry in 1987 from the
University of Sciences Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris. She
obtained her PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of
Science Pierre and Marie Curie in Paris in 1992. After a short
post-doctoral training at the Gustave Roussy Cancer Institute
of Villejuif (France), she took a post-doctoral position in the
laboratory of Professor Charles Emerson, Jr. at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Philadelphia, USA) in 1994.
In 2000, she was appointed as a Lecturer in the department of
Biomedical Sciences at the University of Sheffield.
she has unraveled the role of the signaling pathway Sonic
hedgehog in the formation of skeletal muscles. More recently,
her research interest has been on the role of the extra-cellular
matrix in the control of muscle progenitor cell behavior both in
the embryonic and adult muscle. A particular recent focus is on
the characterization of the satellite muscle stem cell niche and
the role of the extra-cellular matrix in this context.
Anne-Gaëlle was a member of the European Union Network
of Excellence Cells into Organs (2003-2009) and MYORES
(2004-2010). She was a steering committee member and
workpackage leader within MYORES. Since 2007, she
is member of the Scientific Advisory board of Association
Francaise contre les Myopathies (AFM).
Anne-Gaëlle’s work has largely focused on the molecular
mechanisms underlying the initiation of the myogenic program
during embryonic development. Using her expertise in several
vertebrate animal models (chick, mouse, and zebrafish),
27
CIMA
Prof. David J Burn, FRCP, MD, MA, MBBS
Director of the Institute for Ageing and Health, Director of the Clinical Ageing
Research Unit and Professor of Movement Disorders Neurology, Newcastle University
Director of the Newcastle Biomedicine’s BRU in Lewy Body Dementias
[email protected]
Leading research into the predictors and treatment of dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease
David Burn is Professor of Movement Disorder Neurology at
Newcastle University and Honorary Consultant Neurologist
for Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust. He
is a Senior NIHR Investigator and Director of the Clinical
Ageing Research Unit, located on the University Campus
for Ageing and Vitality. He is the Director of the University
Institute for Ageing and Health. He successfully led Newcastle
Biomedicine’s recent £4.5M application for a Biomedical
Research Unit in Lewy body Dementia.
He qualified from Oxford University and Newcastle upon
Tyne Medical School in 1985. His MD was in the functional
imaging of parkinsonism. He runs the Movement Disorders
service in Newcastle upon Tyne which provides a large regional
service. Research interests include dementia associated with
Parkinson’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy.
He was the Royal College of Physicians’ representative on
the NICE National Guidelines writing group for Parkinson’s
disease (2004-2006). He is currently a member of Medical
Advisory Panels for the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (Europe)
Association, Multiple System Atrophy Trust and Parkinson’s UK.
28
He was a member of the Special Interest Committee Task
Force of the International Movement Disorder Society for
Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinsonian Disorders (2002-3) and
the Parkinson’s disease Dementia Task Force (2004-6).
He has been Chair of the PD Clinical Study Group of NIHRDeNDRoN since May 2008 and was appointed NIHRDeNDRoN Associate Director/National Lead for Parkinson’s
disease in July 2010. He was Clinical Reviews Editor for the
Movement Disorder Journal from January 2007 before taking
on an Associate Editorial role in January 2010. Professor
Burn was elected to the International Executive Committee
of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) in June 2009 and
is currently Chair of the MDS Congress Scientific Programme
Committee. He has published over 160 articles on movement
disorders in peer reviewed journals.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Nadine Carroll, MD, FRCP
Consultant Geriatrician, Royal Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust
[email protected]
Falls prevention and assessment
Dr Carroll graduated in Medicine from the University of
Liverpool in 1981. She worked in Liverpool and Leicester
before undertaking a Research Fellow post at the Brompton
Hospital, London in 1985. Her research work was awarded
an MD by the University of Liverpool in 1989 with her thesis
entitled “The use of protriptyline and/or nocturnal mechanical
ventilatory support for respiratory failure in patients with
chronic bronchitis and emphysema.” Whilst at the Brompton
Hospital her work involved patients with sleep disordered
breathing and respiratory failure due to musculoskeletal
chest wall disease.
Returning to Liverpool in 1989 as Englert Lecturer to the
University Department of Medicine where the research interest
was muscle disease, she found clinical and research parallels
with her previous experience. Her research involved a wide
range of conditions from Duchenne muscular dystrophy
to chronic fatigue syndrome and lead to a number of
published papers.
presenting with acute illness. She is the Trust clinical lead
for falls and introduced a falls assessment service run largely
by nurses and therapists which she supports with a weekly
medical falls clinic. A number of publications in abstract form
have been generated from this service. Since appointment
as a Consultant Geriatrician she has been actively facilitating
research between trainees in Geriatric Medicine and the
University Department of Medicine. She was Clinical Director
of Geriatric Medicine at the Trust from 2001-09.
Dr Carroll has a strong interest in medical education having
been Programme Director for Geriatric Medicine (2004-7),
and latterly Programme Director for Core Medical Training in
Mersey (2007-current date) supervising medical training for
130 junior doctors.
Nadine was appointed as Consultant Geriatrician to the
Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital in 1994
where her clinical responsibilities are largely for older people
29
CIMA
Prof. Robin Huw Crompton, BSc, AM, PhD
Professor, Department of Musculoskeletal Biology II, Institute for Ageing and Chronic
Disease, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Whole body dynamic and finite elements modelling and experimental analysis of the biomechanics
and evolution of bipedalism and their significance for healthy musculoskeletal ageing
Professor Crompton graduated with a BSc in Anthropology from
University College London University College Cardiff in 1973
and went on to an AM (1975) and PhD (1980) in Biological
Anthropology at Harvard University. He then joined the newly
established Medical School at the Chinese University of Hong
Kong as an anatomist, before moving to Liverpool in 1986,
where he has remained. He was appointed to a personal Chair
in 2003. He is Editor in Chief of the ISI-cited multidisciplinary
journal Folia Primatologica, and serves on BBSRC Committee
A; NERC Peer College and EPSRC High Performance
Computing Committee.
Robin’s principal research interest is in locomotor ecology
and biomechanics, and his laboratory has a worldwide
reputation for innovation in predictive dynamic modeling of
gait. It was one of the first to establish whole-body inverse
and forwards dynamic analysis as a powerful and accurately
predictive research tool. Emphasis in their work on validation
against real-world experimental data and sensitivity testing
has contributed very substantially to acceptance of modelling
techniques as part of the core methodological inventory
for analysis of locomotor biomechanics. They have also
30
developed cutting edge techniques in gait analysis, for
example developing an unique method for pixel-by- pixel
topographical statistical analysis of foot pressure and similar
landmark-free biomechanical phenomena, pedobarographic
Statistical Parametric Mapping (worldwide patent pending).
Their research has increasingly focused on analysis of the
dynamically-tunable nature of the foot, which enables it to
transmit breaking, propulsive and balancing forces to the
ground with maximum efficiency, and on the light which the
evolution of hominin body proportions and segment inertial
properties throws on the biomechanics of ageing in human
gait, and interventions to promote safe/stable walking in older
people and the infirm.
Professor Crompton’s research has been funded by bodies
including MRC, EPSRC, NERC, BBSRC, The Leverhulme Trust
and the Royal Society.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Daniel Cuthbertson, BSc, PhD, MRCP
Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Physician, Department
of Obesity and Endocrinology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease
[email protected]
Understanding the interaction between obesity/ectopic fat deposition, insulin resistance and
human metabolism
Dr Cuthbertson graduated from the University of Liverpool in
1996 with his medical degree (MBChB with Commendation)
having completed an intercalated degree in Physiology in 1993
(Upper Second Class degree). Having achieved MRCP in 1999,
he moved to the University of Dundee to undertake his PhD
thesis with Professor Mike Rennie investigating ‘Studies on
the effects of essential amino acids and exercise on human
skeletal muscle protein synthesis in health, ageing and in type
2 diabetes’. Thereafter he continued to work as a Lecturer and
continue research on skeletal muscle metabolism, particularly
with respect to ageing and insulin resistance. In 2007,
Dr Cuthbertson took up his current position as a Clinical
Senior Lecturer in Obesity and Endocrinology at the University
of Liverpool.
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Secondly,
his research focuses on the metabolic implications of obesity
(e.g. insulin resistance) and in particular ectopic fat deposition
in liver and skeletal muscle and to what extent these defects
are reversible with physical activity.
Dr Cuthbertson’s research is funded by the European
Federation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), Diabetes
Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF), the NovoNordisk
Research Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry
(Pfizer, Ipsen, Otsuka).
Dr Cuthbertson’s research has been in two main areas. First, in
understanding the mechanisms by which muscle mass declines
with ageing and chronic disease. He has previously described
the concept of anabolic resistance as a mechanism to explain
sarcopenia and now is undertaking studies to determine if this
mechanistic defect of anabolic resistance explains accelerated
sarcopenia seen in such chronic diseases as type 2 diabetes
31
CIMA
Dr Rachel Duncan, BM, MSc, PhD, MRCP
Clinical Senior Lecturer, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding the impact of musculoskeletal disease in the oldest old and improving
management
Dr Duncan graduated in medicine from the University of
Southampton in 1993. She was awarded MRCP in 1998 and
went on to train as a Rheumatologist in the South Thames
and West Midlands deaneries. During her Specialist Registrar
training she completed an MSc in Rheumatology in 2001
at the University of Birmingham and was awarded a NIHR
Walport Clinical Lectureship in 2006.
Her PhD was undertaken at the Arthritis Research UK
Primary Care Centre at Keele University with Professor Croft
and Professor Hay, and was awarded in 2008 with a thesis
entitled “The association between symptoms and radiographic
osteoarthritis in older persons with knee pain: a populationbased study”. Following the award of her PhD, Dr Duncan
continued to work as Clinical Lecturer at Keele University,
where her research centred on the epidemiology of joint pain
and osteoarthritis of the knee, focusing on the incidence and
progression of radiological patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis.
In 2012, she was appointed as a Clinical Senior Lecturer in
the Institute of Health and Society at Newcastle University,
where her main research interest is within musculoskeletal
32
ageing in primary care, particularly the oldest old with complex
medical needs due to multimorbidity and polypharmacy.
Involvement with the MRC-funded Newcastle 85+ Study has
led her to now focus on the impact of musculoskeletal disease
in this age group and on health services research to improve
the management of common musculoskeletal problems
encountered in primary care in the oldest old.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Francesco Falciani
Professor of Integrative Systems Biology, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Systems Biology of ageing muscles
Professor Falciani trained in Molecular Immunology at the
Mario Negri Pharmacology institute in Milan. During his postdoc at the Wellcome/CRC Institute in Cambridge he developed
an interest in complex dataset integration and computational
modeling. He has extensive experience of the pharmaceutical
industry where he was Bioinformatics Team Leader at
GlaxoWelcome and Head of Target Discovery at Lorantis Ltd.
He was, until recently, Reader in Computational Biology at the
University of Birmingham where he co-chaired the Systems
Science for Health program. He has recently relocated to the
University of Liverpool where he has been appointed Professor
of Integrative Systems Biology.
evolution of molecular networks in ageing muscles. These
models have already helped identifying novel regulatory
circuits controlling muscle bioenergetics decline in ageing
and ageing-related diseases. Other areas of research include
Stem Cells differentiation towards bone and cartilage and
muscle angiogenesis.
His research is currently funded by BBSRC, NERC, DEFRA,
the European Commission and by the pharmaceutical Industry.
Francesco heads a research group at the interface between
experimental and computational biology. His research interests
range from the development of novel computational methods
to address the most important challenges in the emerging
discipline of systems biology to their application to model
complex biological systems. He is currently leading several
research projects addressing important questions in muscle
skeletal dysfunction in ageing. Of particular relevance is
the development of computational models representing the
33
CIMA
Prof. Alejandro F. Frangi, BSc/MSc, PhD, SMIEEE
Professor of Biomedical Image Computing, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Developing image-based computational physiology models for minimally invasive treatment
planning and guidance
Professor Frangi graduated with a BSc/MSc in
Telecommunications Engineering from the Technical University
of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain in 1996, and completed a PhD
at the University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
in 2001. He was an Assistant Professor at the University of
Zaragoza, Spain, from 2001-2004, Ramón y Cajal Research
Fellow (2004-2007) and subsequently Associate Professor
(2007-2011) at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. He
served as Dean of the Polytechnic School at UPF (20082011). He is Professor of Biomedical Image Computing at
the University of Sheffield since October 2011. Prof Frangi
has over 85 papers in key international journals of his
research field with an h-index 29. He is Senior Member of
IEEE and Associate Editor of IEEE Trans on Medical Imaging
and Medical Image Analysis. Prof Frangi is a recipient of the
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Early Career Award
(2006), and the ICREA-Academia Prize (2009).
He is member of the newly created INSIGNEO Institute for
in silico Medicine, a joint initiative from the University of
Sheffield and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust. His main research interests are in medical image
34
computing, image- and sensor-based computational physiology
particularly in the areas of the neuromusculoskeletal and
cardiorespiratory domains. Prof Frangi has been principal
investigator or scientific coordinator of over 20 national and
European projects, both funded by public and private bodies.
During 1/2006-3/2010 he was coordinator of the @neurIST
(www.aneurist.org), a €12.6m European Integrated Project
that first brought to the clinical arena the Virtual Physiological
Human concepts; during 1/2006-12/2009 he was scientific
co-PI for the Spanish CENIT Technology Platform CDTEAM
(www.cdteam.org) funded with €15.7m by the Spanish
Ministry of Science and Innovation through CDTI and involving
10 companies and 10 academic organizations. He currently
participates in the euHeart (www.euheart.eu) Integrated Project
led by Philips Healthcare, the Virtual Physiological Human
Network of Excellence (www.vph-noe.eu), and is Scientific
Coordinator of the CENIT Technology Platform cvREMOD
(www.cvremod.com) funded with €13.6m by the Spanish
Ministry of Science and Innovation.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Jim Gallagher, BSc, PhD
Derby Professor of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Bone and Joint Research Group,
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease,
University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Elucidating the basic mechanisms underlying human bone and joint disease
Professor Jim Gallagher obtained his BSc from the University
of Newcastle upon Tyne and MSc from the University of
Aberdeen, followed by a PhD from the University of Cambridge
where he investigated the metabolism of vitamin D, under the
supervision of Eric Lawson. He then undertook postdoctoral
research in Herbie Fleisch’s lab in Bern working on
bisphosphonates. He returned to England to work in Graham
Russell’s lab in Sheffield where along with Jon Beresford, he
developed the first techniques to culture cells expressing an
osteoblastic phenotype from human bone. In 1984 he was
appointed to a lectureship in Mineralised Tissue Biology at
University College London where he worked with Alan Boyde.
He moved to the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell
Biology, University of Liverpool in 1986 and has undertaken
short sabbaticals at the University of Melbourne with Jack
Martin working on PTHrP and Ciba-Geigy, Basle with Graeme
Bilbe on gene expression in bone. Jim has published over
100 full peer-reviewed publications (H-index 30), over 20
book chapters and 5 patents. He has a distinguished record in
academic leadership and mentorship having been the head of
a large academic department for 7 years and having supervised
22 PhD students, 7 of whom hold academic positions in
UK universities. His group pioneered research on the role
of extracellular nucleotides and P2 receptors in bone. He is
a founder member of the UK Purine Club. He collaborated
extensively with industry and is a founder and director of
PalindromX, a UoL spin-out company. Recently his laboratory
has elucidated the mechanism of joint destruction in the
inherited disease alkaptonuria (AKU). He is scientific advisor
to the AKU Society UK and a co-ordinator of FindAKUre,
a Europe-wide collaboration to develop new therapeutic
strategies for AKU.
Professor Gallagher’s research has been funded by research
councils, Wellcome Trust, ARUK, EUFP & industry.
He currently holds grants from the Big Lottery and the
AKU Society.
35
CIMA
Dr Alison Gartland, BSc, PhD, PGCert HE, FEHEA
Lecturer in Bone Biology, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Understanding the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms of musculoskeletal diseases
Cross-section through a primary chondrocyte culture in vitro
P2X7R-induced ethidium bromide uptake (red) in human osteoclasts in vitro
TRAP stained human osteoclasts (red) resorbing the surface of ivory (blue-purple)
Dr Gartland graduated with a BSc in Biomedical Technology
from Sheffield Hallam University in 1995 and completed a
PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2001. She undertook
postdoctoral training at the Institut de Génétique Moléculaire
de Montpellier, CNRS, France and in the laboratory of the late
Sandy Marks at University of Massachusetts Medical School,
USA before returning to The University of Liverpool in 2004.
Dr Gartland was appointed as Lecturer in Bone Biology at the
University of Sheffield in 2006.
Alison’s principal research interest is in understanding the
basic cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for
musculoskeletal disease and cancer, with an emphasis
on the role of extracellular ATP and P2 receptors. Current
projects include investigating the role of P2 receptors in bone
and cartilage using both in vivo and in vitro models; the
mechanisms of ATP release from osteoblasts; association of
polymorphisms in the P2X7 receptor with osteoporosis and
arthritis-induced joint destruction and bone loss; the effect
of metal ions on bone cells in vitro and determining the
bone phenotype of various knock-out mice.
36
Alison is a founder member of the European Nucleotides and
Bone Consortium, which facilitates collaboration between
leading European research groups working on ATP, P2
receptors and bone. Alison’s research is funded by Arthritis
Research UK and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical
industry. Alison is currently a committee member of the
Bone Research Society and founder and secretary of the
UK Purine Club.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Douglas Gray, BSc, PhD
Professor of Ageing Science, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding age-related changes in protein homeostasis and their impact on tissue structure
and function
Professor Gray received doctoral training as a retrovirologist at
the University of Western Ontario and postdoctoral training in
mammalian insertional mutagenesis at the Whitehead Institute,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has previously been
a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
and Professor of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunlogy
at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. Professor
Gray was the inaugural holder of the University of Ottawa
Joan Sealy Chair in Lung Cancer. He has recently relocated to
Newcastle University where he has been appointed Professor
of Ageing Science.
including the NF- KB pathway. These mice display age-related
tissue dysfunction, and together with the dominant-negative
transgenic strains are expected to provide insights into the
ageing of muscle, bones and joints.
Professor Gray’s research is funded by the Canadian Institutes
of Health Research, the Canadian Cancer Society Research
Institute, and the JGW Patterson Foundation (UK).
Doug’s interest in the ubiquitin/proteasome system arose
from the identification of deubiquitinating enzymes during
a mouse mutagenesis screen. He has created cell lines and
transgenic mice which through a dominant negative strategy
have advanced the study of protein homeostasis in vivo. He is
particularly interested in the age-related decline of proteolytic
efficiency and fidelity, and how this decline may contribute to
diseases of ageing. Most recently he has generated knockout
mice in which the loss of function of deubiquitinating
enzymes leads to dysregulation of cell signalling systems
37
CIMA
Prof. Richard D Griffiths, BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FFICM, FHEA
Professor of Medicine (Intensive Care), Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute
of Ageing & Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool and Honorary Consultant in
Intensive Care Medicine at Whiston Hospital, Prescot, U.K
[email protected]
Recovering lives: The rehabilitation of the critically ill
38
Professor Griffiths did his undergraduate training in Medicine
(MBBS) at University College London where he also obtained
a BSc in Physiology. This was followed by a research MD
studying human muscle energetics by MR spectroscopy.
On moving to Liverpool in 1984 he continued his research
interests in muscle and expanded these into nutrition
(glutamine) and the critically ill consistent with his medical
career move in 1985 into adult Intensive Care Medicine.
and cellular protection mechanisms and clinical intensive
care research on the physical, psychological and cognitive
dysfunction following ICU. A multi-centre European study
showed how an ICU diary could prevent post ICU PTSD and
won the 2011 BioMed Central 5th Annual Research Awards
(Medicine). Richard has contributed to the research evidence
for a recent UK NICE clinical guideline on rehabilitation
following intensive care.
Recognized internationally as a pioneer of the rehabilitation
of the post-ICU patient, he was involved in the first ICU
cost-effectiveness outcome study in the UK in conjunction
with the Kings Fund in 1988. In 1995 awarded The John
M Kinney International award for Nutrition and Metabolism
for the effect of passive stretch on muscle in the critically
ill. Subsequently Richard has published extensively on the
physical, psychological and cognitive problems of the post ICU
patient and led the first multi-centre study on the rehabilitation
of the critically ill patient. His current research themes include
collaborative laboratory research within musculoskeletal biology
focusing on how skeletal muscle can be preserved in the
critically ill elderly patient through effects on oxidative stress
As a clinical academic with a busy intensive care commitment
Richard was for many years council member and Chair of the
research committee of the Intensive Care Society contributing
to the evolution of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine of
which he is a founding fellow. He has also been extensively
involved over the last two decades in undergraduate curriculum
reform and as the Director of the Final Year has pioneered a
much praised portfolio based learning program and is a Fellow
of the Higher Education Academy.
Professor Griffiths’ current research funding from the NIHR
and the MRC.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. John Hunt, BSc, PhD, DSc. FRSC
Professor in The Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Head of the Unit of Clinical
Engineering and director of the U.K. Centre for Tissue Engineering (UKCTE), University
of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding the generic science and delivery of interventional Medical Therapies requiring
the use of a material
Professor Hunt graduated with a BSc in Biology and Physics
from Nottingham in 1988, completed a PhD at Liverpool in
1991 and was awarded his DSc in 2006. Professor Hunt
undertook post-doctoral training in the Institute of Medical and
Dental Bioengineering at the University of Liverpool and in
1992 was awarded the Jean Leray Award from the European
Society of Biomaterials for his research. Professor Hunt then
progressed through the academic career pathway to become
Head of the Department of Clinical Engineering in 2004 and
was given a personal chair at Liverpool in 2008.
John’s research focuses on developing breakthrough therapies,
devices and technology to repair, replace, augment and in the
future regenerate diseased and damaged tissues in humans
using material interventions. These come from an in depth
generic first principles approach to understanding and directing
the patient’s cellular and molecular mechanisms and responses
related to the clinical outcome and efficacy of medical devices,
biocompatibility, inflammation and stem cell biology. Tissue
engineering processes are developed and applied, addressing
the key areas of patient treatments requiring intervention
and material implantation; the materials of choice being
researched today also include cells and within that, expertise
and intellectual property has been created relating to primary
cell sourcing, controlling cell function and phenotype through
defining and controlling extracellular matrix interactions,
angiogenesis, inflammation and tissue regeneration. From
a strong long lived generic research platform, specific
applications and knowledge has been applied to and continue
to be developed for musculoskeletal tissues, specifically
cartilage and bone, visceral and vascular tissues.
Professor Hunt’s research has been funded by the European
Commission, BBSRC, MRC and EPSRC as well as by Industry.
39
CIMA
Prof. John Innes, BVSc, PhD, DSAS(orth), MRCVS
Professor of veterinary surgery, Interim-head, Department of Musculoskeletal biology
(Leahurst and Aintree campuses) University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Animal models of osteoarthritis and ligament degeneration
Professor Innes graduated in veterinary science from
the University of Liverpool in 1991. After two years of
postgraduate training in surgery at University of Bristol, he
undertook a PhD in osteoarthritis at the Rheumatology Unit
at Bristol Royal Infirmary under the direction of Paul Dieppe.
He then spent a further five years as a clinical lecturer in
veterinary orthopaedics at Bristol, working with Allen Bailey
on collagen metabolism in canine ligament and equine bone,
before moving to a chair of veterinary surgery at Liverpool in
2001. He has also spent periods of research leave with Bruce
Caterson at Cardiff, and recently as a visiting professor at
University of Sydney with Chris Little at the Raymond Purves
Bone and Joint Laboratories.
using biomarkers, metabolomics and MRI to better understand
these translational models. In vitro modelling of cartilage
degradation in a variety of species has been used extensively
to investigate candidate structure-modifying agents, including
nutrients; a US patent was forthcoming from this work. More
recent work, building on Wellcome Trust-funded research in
Sydney, is exploring sustained-release, local-delivery siRNA
therapeutic strategies in OA in collaboration with John Hunt.
Professor Innes’s research has been funded by Wellcome Trust,
BBSRC, Horserace Betting Levy Board, Kennel Club and PetPlan
charitable trusts, and the pharmaceutical and nutrition sectors.
Professor Innes’s research is focussed on naturally-occurring
and induced models of OA and ligament failure. His work
has contributed to the understanding of age-related loss of
structural and material properties, in concert with cellular
and matrix alterations (collagen and elastin), of the anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL); this had led to new work on human
ACL degeneration and GWAS for canine cruciate failure. A
recent consortium (Innes and Clegg at Liverpool, James Cook
at Columbia, Missouri and Wayne McIlwraith at Fort Collins,
Colorado) explored three different induced canine models of OA
40
Confocal images of cells of the anterior cruciate ligament [J. Anat. (2011) 218: 600-607].
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Carol Jagger, BSc, PhD
AXA Professor of Epidemiology of Ageing, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle
University
[email protected]
Development of existing and novel cohorts for studying musculoskeletal ageing
Professor Jagger graduated with a BSc in Mathematics from
the University of Leeds in 1972. After five years of teaching
in secondary schools she returned to Leeds to complete
an MSc in Statistics and then began a PhD in Statistics at
the University of Leicester which she completed in 1983.
Professor Jagger was appointed Lecturer in Medical Statistics
in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health
at the University of Leicester in 1987, Senior Lecturer in
Epidemiology in 1994 and was awarded a personal Chair
in 2000. Between 2001 and 2004 she was Director of
the Leicester Unit of the Trent Institute for Health Services
Research. In 2010 she was awarded a five-year AXA
Professorship in Epidemiology of Ageing in the Institute for
Ageing and Health, Newcastle University.
Carol’s research crosses the interface between epidemiology
and demography of ageing, with a particular focus on healthy
active life expectancy and its use to monitor population ageing.
This work has been through major UK cohort studies of ageing.
She played a leading role in the Melton Mowbray Studies
of Ageing, which have resulted in over 50 scientific papers,
and she has subsequently been a key player in the Medical
Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study and
the Newcastle 85+ Study, multidisciplinary projects aimed
at delivering new understanding of determinants of healthy
ageing. Carol’s work on disability and ageing at the individual
level has spanned the whole disablement process, from
understanding the building blocks commonly used to assess
disability (Activities of Daily Living) and their order of loss with
ageing in order to inform better technology design, through
to the impact of changing disease patterns on disability
and the need for long term care. The latter has involved the
development of a microsimulation model based on the MRC
Cognitive Function and Ageing Study, allowing the impact
of non-fatal diseases such as arthritis and fatal diseases
(e.g. stroke) to be compared in terms of disability-free life
expectancy. This work has gained considerable interest from
government and Carol has been asked to provide evidence
to the House of Commons Work-and-Pensions and Health
Committees and the Dilnot Commission in its work planning
social care provision for older people. Carol holds a visiting
Chair in the Institute of Primary Care and Health Sciences at
Keele University and chairs the Cross-cohort Steering Group for
their Arthritis Research UK National Primary Care Centre.
Professor Jagger’s research is funded by the AXA Research Fund,
the Medical Research Council, the Economic and Social Research
Council and the European Union Public Health Programme.
41
CIMA
Dr Jonathan Jarvis, BSc PhD
Reader in Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Muscle adaptation in response to activity
Dr Jonathan Jarvis graduated BSc in Physics with Physiology
from Queen Elizabeth College London and PhD in Biochemistry
from Imperial College. He began research investigating changes
in muscle speed, force and endurance induced by increased
activity. With Stanley Salmons he developed implantable
muscle pacemakers for experimental use. Using miniature
integrated circuits, complex daily patterns of muscle activity
can now be investigated in mice.
As a Beit Memorial Fellow he pursued the concept of cardiac
assistance from skeletal muscle, exploiting the extreme
resistance to fatigue induced by chronic activation. With
BHF programme funding he demonstrated the feasibility of
transferring pumping effort from transposed skeletal muscles
to the failing cardiovascular system, establishing a successful
preclinical model.
He showed that the effects of particular patterns of activity
are scaled with body size in a similar way to the scaling of the
natural force-frequency relationships. He has thus advised on
stimulation patterns used to assist the heart in man, to activate
paralysed muscles to improve muscle bulk, and to activate
laryngeal muscles in equine neuropathy.
42
He currently measures transcriptional (PCR and microarray)
and morphological (micro-CT) responses of musculoskeletal
units to increased and decreased activity. With Jim Gallagher
and Nathan Jeffery he is investigating the integrated responses
of muscle, bone and tendon to muscle loading, and to
disuse induced by tetrodotoxin block. These experiments will
provide objective guidance in prescribing exercise or rest for
maintenance of musculoskeletal health. Once the principles of
the response to exercise and disuse are understood in model
systems, the similarities and differences across species, with
ageing and with genetic variation can be pursued.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Nathan Jeffery, BSc PhD
Senior Lecturer, Department of Musculoskeletal Biology II, Institute for Ageing and
Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Mapping the principal functional demands that underpin the morphological diversity and
evolution of mammals
Dr Nathan Jeffery completed his PhD on ontogenetic models
of skull evolution at University College London in 1999. He
was subsequently awarded a Wellcome Trust post-doctoral
fellowship to continue his work before leaving in 2002 to
take up a lectureship in anatomy at the University of
Liverpool. Nathan is presently a senior lecturer in the
Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing
and Chronic Disease.
collaborates with colleagues in applying the above ideas and
techniques to provide important insights into muscle wasting,
cardiac failure, fracture of the proximal phalanx in racehorses
as well as the initiation and progression of alkaptonuria and
other forms of degenerative joint disease. Dr. Jeffery’s research is funded by the Natural Environment
Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Research Council and various charities.
Nathan’s research focuses primarily on the ontogeny and
evolution of morphological adaptations in mammals and how
this can contextualise our understanding of development,
disease as well as ageing. He has developed several imaging
approaches to document these adaptations, including
high-resolution MRI and contrast enhanced microCT, and
employs advanced computational methods such as geometric
morphometrics and biomechanical simulations to test key
paradigms. Current core interests include evolution of the
mammalian inner ear, biomechanics of the rodent masticatory
apparatus as well as the functional anatomy of the paranasal
sinuses in carnivores and the biomechanical consequences
of monodactyl locomotion among equids. He currently
43
CIMA
Dr Elizabeth Laird, BSc, PhD
Lecturer in Orthopaedic Sciences, Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of
Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding the role of collagen synthesis and degradation in age-related musculskeletal
conditions
Dr Laird (née Canty) graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry
and Biological Chemistry from the University of Nottingham in
1997. Elizabeth was awarded the Masson-Gulland Memorial
Prize and Medal from the Department of Chemistry for
outstanding final year project work in Biological Chemistry.
Elizabeth’s PhD studies at the University of Manchester
were funded by Arthritis Research UK and investigated
the biochemical basis of an inherited form of short-limbed
dwarfism with early-onset osteoarthritis. Dr Laird undertook
postdoctoral training in the Wellcome Trust Centre for CellMatrix Research in Manchester, funded by two sequential
Wellcome Trust program grants, during which time she was
instrumental in the identification and characterisation of the
cellular mechanisms of collagen fibril alignment in tendon.
Elizabeth was awarded the Rupert Timpl prize in 2006 from
the International Society for Matrix Biology for the best paper
published in the field in the preceding 2 years. Dr Laird was
appointed to a Lectureship in Orthopaedic Sciences at the
University of Liverpool in 2010. Dr Laird’s research interests
encompass the mechanisms of collagen fibre assembly
organisation in musculoskeletal tissues and the role of collagen
synthesis and degradation in age-related musculoskeletal
44
conditions. Projects include a PhD studentship to characterise
the molecular differences between ligament and tendon and
a collaborative departmental BBRSC-funded PhD studentship
using systems biology to improve tissue engineering of cartilage
and tendon.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Sue Mawson MCSP Bsc (Hon) PhD
Director, NIHR CLAHRC for South Yorkshire
Professor of Health Services Research
[email protected]
Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies research group at the School of Health and Related
Research at the University of Sheffield
Professor Sue Mawson originally trained as a Physiotherapist in
London at the Middlesex Hospital graduating with a Bsc (Hons)
in 1991 from Sheffield Hallam University where she developed
and lead the Masters in Neurological Rehabilitation. In 1997
she completed her PhD study identifying the characteristics of
motor recovery following a stroke. In 2011 Sue was appointed
Professor of Health Services Research in the School for Health
and Related Research at the University of Sheffield, working
within the Rehabilitation and Assistive technology group and
the newly established a Centre for Assistive Technology and
Digital Healthcare. In 2011 Sue became an elected Board
member of the Health Services Research Network working
with senior research leaders to promote and develop a
research culture within the NHS.
Professor Mawson’s research focuses on improving the quality
of life of people with long term conditions, particularly through
exploration of the effectiveness of rehabilitative interventions.
Sue’s research work, funded predominantly through the
Engineering and Physical Science Research Council,
has capitalised on new innovations in sensor and digital
technologies and involves interdisciplinary work, integrating
clinical rehabilitation researchers with engineering, design,
mecatronics, informatics and digital media specialists.
www.theSmartconsortium.org. Her work has lead to a
number of publications in the field of outcome measurement,
tele rehabilitation and the use of user-centred design in the
development of innovative health technologies.
Sue is currently a partner on an EU Framework 7 bid with
colleagues in Sweden, Italy and Poland the purpose of the
research being to improve the implementation of ICT based
models for chronic disease management. Internationally Sue
is developing research links with the Veterans Administration
Medical Centre in Washington DC which she visited in
February of this year, the University of Jordan in Amman, the
Southern Cross University in New South Wales and Queensland
University in Queensland.
In 2008 Professor Mawson led the successful South Yorkshire
application to become a National Institute of Health Research
Collaboration for Leadership in applied Research and Care
(CLARHC). This multi disciplinary innovation community
is driven by the needs of people with long term conditions,
undertaking applied research, capacity development and
knowledge implementation, identifying news ways of enabling
the adoption and diffusion of evidence based practices
and services through user-centred design methods and self
management principles. www.clahrc-sy.nihr.ac.uk.
45
CIMA
Dr Jennifer Milner BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD
Arthritis Research UK Career Development Fellow
[email protected]
Understanding the role of novel serine proteases in the proteolytic pathways leading to cartilage
resorption in arthritis
Jennifer Milner graduated in BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry
from Warwick University in 1997 and MSc in Biochemical
Pharmacology from University of Southampton in 1998. She
completed her PhD studies with Professor Tim Cawston in
the Musculoskeletal Research Group, Newcastle in 2001. Dr
Milner undertook her postdoctoral training with Professors Tim
Cawston and Drew Rowan in Newcastle and was awarded an
Arthritis Research UK Career Development Fellowship in 2009.
Dr Milner’s research interest is on understanding the proteolytic
pathways that lead to cartilage resorption in arthritis in order to
identify new therapeutic targets. Her PhD studies showed that
activation of pro-collagenases is a key control point in cartilage
collagen resorption and that serine proteases are involved in
these activation cascades. Dr Milner’s postdoctoral studies
focused on profiling serine protease expression in chondrocytes
and cartilage and identifying which were elevated in arthritis.
This work led to the identification of several serine proteases
and their role in cartilage biology is under investigation. In the
last few years Dr Milner’s work has focused on a membrane
serine protease, matriptase, which is elevated in osteoarthritic
cartilage and can initiate cartilage resorption. Matriptase is
46
not just an activator of pro-collagenases but also an inducer
of collagenase expression and is a potent initiator of cartilage
resorption. This supports the emerging concept that proteases
are not just merely degradative enzymes but are key players in
modulating cell behaviour and function.
Dr Milner’s research is funded by Arthritis Research UK,
The Nuffield Foundation, Medical Research Council and JGW
Patterson Foundation.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Peter Milner BVetMed, BSc, PhD, CertES(Orth), MRCVS, FHEA
Lecturer, Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease,
University of Liverpool.
[email protected]
Cellular physiology of articular cartilage
Dr Peter Milner graduated in veterinary medicine from the
Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 1997, having
achieved an intercalated BSc in Physiology with Biomedical
Sciences (First Class) in 1994. After three years in private
practice, Dr Milner undertook postgraduate training in surgery
at the University of Cambridge, remaining at Cambridge to
complete a PhD in cellular physiology of articular cartilage.
During this work he studied the importance of mitochondrial
derived reactive oxygen species in regulating cellular function,
such as intracellular pH homeostasis and has published in a
number of journals such as Arthritis and Rheumatism, Pflugers
Archive – European Journal of Physiology and Osteoarthritis
and Cartilage. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of
Musculoskeletal Biology, University of Liverpool.
Dr Milner’s work has been supported by the Wellcome Trust,
BBSRC, Horserace Betting Levy Board and PetPlan Charitable
Trust and has recently been awarded a Wellcome Trust
Research Leave Fellowship to pursue work in the role of antioxidant systems in osteoarthritis and the ageing joint with
Professor Malcolm Jackson.
Peter’s research interests lies in the link between alterations in
the physiochemical environment of the joint (such as oxygen
and pH) and the effects on cellular function, in particular
regulation of chondrocyte activity by the mitochondrion. He
has a diversity of research and clinical interests ranging from
pain pathways involving puringergic P2X receptors in chronic
disease to MRI and biomechanics of the equine hoof.
47
CIMA
Prof. Robert J Moots, PhD, FRCP
Professor of Rheumatology, Department of Musculoskeletal Biology,
Institute of Chronic Diseases and Ageing, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding the role of inflammation in musculoskeletal diseases: driving the development of
new therapies from bench to bedside
After qualifying in Medicine in London UK and undertaking
junior medical posts at Northwick Park Hospital, London,
Professor Moots earned his PhD in immunology at the Institute
for Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford. He then
completed his training in rheumatology at the University of
Birmingham before leaving the UK to continue his research at
Harvard Medical School, USA, in 1995. On his return to the
UK he joined the University of Liverpool, initially as Senior
lecturer in Rheumatology and consultant Rheumatologist at
University Hospital Aintree and in 2002, full Professor of
Rheumatology, the youngest person appointed to such a post
in the UK.
Professor Moots’ research interests lie in clinical and basic
science aspects of rheumatic diseases from bench to bedside,
focused on the role of inflammation. He has published
extensively in both clinical and laboratory science, receives
research funding from research councils, charities and the
pharmaceutical industry, has won many awards for research
(including the Michael Mason Prize in 1997) and plays
leading roles as Chairman or Board member on major scientific
bodies and research committees in the UK and internationally.
48
Professor Moots has extensive experience in drug development working with the pharmaceutical industry globally and acting
as medical advisor to the UK National Institute for health and
Clinical Excellence (NICE). He is Medical Advisor to a number
of major patient associations and each year receives invitations
to lecture on every continent. In 2009, he became Editor-inChief of the journal, Rheumatology.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Munitta Muthana, PhD
Lecturer in Academic Unit of Rheumatology
[email protected]
Understanding the role of inflammatory cells in arthritis
Munitta’s principal research interest is in understanding the
basic cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the
recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells in rheumatoid
arthritis (RA). A classical feature of RA is the massive influx
and activation of inflammatory cells particularly ‘macrophages’
resulting in inadequate oxygen supply that can’t keep pace
making the joint hypoxic (oxygen-deficient). Similar to cancers,
where hypoxic macrophages contribute to tumour growth and
spread, Munitta believes that RA is sustained by macrophages
that adopt an abnormal function in hypoxia and participate in
the perpetuation of the disease and in the destruction of joint
tissues. By studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms
through which macrophages respond to hypoxia in the joint,
new ways to target these cells and their products will be
identified. Current research projects in Munitta’s team include
identifying the distinct macrophage subtypes within hypoxic RA
joints and investigating the key hypoxia-regulated mechanisms
promoting their recruitment and activation and using an
exciting ‘nanomagnetic’ approach developed in Munitta’s
laboratory to stop the affects of these macrophages and arrest
or even reverse disease progression and joint damage in preclinical RA models. This research builds on Munitta’s previous
research interests on targeting macrophage subsets in the
hypoxic tumour microenvironment. Since the proliferative
and invasive nature of the RA synovium has frequently led
to comparisons with growing tumours and both these diseases
are exacerbated by macrophages, Munitta is in a unique
position to adapt previous expertise to develop novel
therapeutic strategies that block macrophage uptake and/or
activity in rheumatoid joints.
49
CIMA
Prof. Jon Nicholl, DSc, FFPH
Professor of Health Services Research and Dean of the School of Health and Related
Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Developing methods for the evaluation of treatments and services
Professor Nicholl trained as a statistician and after working
as a research associate at University College London carrying
out road traffic accident research, moved to the University of
Sheffield as statistician to the Medical Care Research Unit.
He was appointed Director of the MCRU in 1994. He is an
NIHR Senior Investigator, a fellow of the Faculty of Public
Health, and also a Chartered Statistician and Fellow of the
Royal Statistical Society.
He was Deputy Chair of the MRC Health Services and Public
Health Research Board and the MRC Clinical Trials CrossBoard. He was also Chair of both the NIHR Health Technology
Assessment Programme Commissioning Boards. He is currently
Director of the NIHR national School of Public Health Research
and Chair of the Public Health, Health Services and Primary
Care panel for the 2014 Research Excellence Framework.
His main research interests lie in the evaluation of health
care and health policy, particularly in the field of emergency
and urgent care. He has a long standing interest in accident
research, and the management of trauma. He has been
Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on over 20 major
50
Randomised Controlled Trials, and has been instrumental in
developing the Sheffield Clinical Trials Research Unit. He has
published a wide range of both trial and non-trial evaluation
studies and methods papers on innovative and mixed methods
approaches to evaluation. Professor Nicholl’s current research
is mainly focused on the use of large observational datasets,
created by linking bespoke clinical datasets and routine health
service data, for the evaluation of treatments and services.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Stuart Parker, MD, FRCP
Professor of Health Care for Older People, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Organising and delivering effective health services for older people
Professor Stuart Parker graduated in Medicine from the
University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1980. He trained in
Medicine and Geriatric Medicine in Newcastle upon Tyne,
and gained his MD in 1990. Stuart was awarded a Nuffield
Foundation/ British Geriatrics Society travelling fellowship to
pursue post-doctoral research training in Gerontology in the
Netherlands, before returning to the UK to take up a Senior
Lectureship at the University of Leicester. Stuart came to
Sheffield in 2000 to take up a chair in Health Care for Older
People in the Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing. He is an
honorary consultant physician at Barnsley Hospital, where he
is director of Research and Development.
director. This is a major programme of applied health research
which directly addresses the “second gap” in translation
from campus to clinic. During 2010/11 this programme
had 84 active projects (11 of which were completed), 45
peer-reviewed publications and over 250 people working on
CLAHRC SY projects across South Yorkshire.
Stuart is a health services researcher and his interests focus
on the organisation and delivery of effective health services
for older people including acute care, care transitions, case
management, the assessment of health status, intermediate
care and rehabilitation.
Stuart is part of a team that was awarded the NIHR
Collaboration for leadership in Applied Health Research and
Care (CLAHRC) for South Yorkshire, of which he is associate
51
CIMA
Dr Joao Passos, BSc, MRes, PhD
BBSRC David Phillips Fellow, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding the role of signalling pathways leading to telomere and mitochondrial dysfunction
in cellular ageing
Dr Joao Passos graduated with a degree in Biochemistry from
the University of Porto, Portugal in 2002 having spent a year
conducting research on stress response in bacteria at the
Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology in Porto. He then
integrated in 2002 the highly competitive graduate program
from Porto University, GABBA and conducted his PhD between
2003-2006 at Newcastle University with Tom Kirkwood and
Thomas von Zglinicki investigating the role of mitochondrial
dysfunction in cellular ageing. He remained in Newcastle
University as a Research Associate at the BBSRC-funded
Centre for Integrate Systems Biology of Ageing and Nutrition
(CISBAN) and temporarily at the Max Planck Institute for Stem
Cell ageing in Ulm, Germany. During that time he investigated
signalling pathways involved in cellular ageing.
In November 2010 Joao took up a David Phillips Fellowship
and is now leading a team at the Institute for Ageing and
Health of 4 PhD students, 1 research technician and several
undergraduate and MRes students.
52
Work in his laboratory combines mathematical modelling,
functional networks and both in vitro and in vivo experimental
systems to understand the role of signalling pathways leading
to telomere dysfunction and mitochondrial dysfunction in
cellular ageing.
Joao’s research was the first to demonstrate a link between
telomeres and mitochondrial dysfunction during cellular
ageing and his research is now focussing on identifying the
signalling pathways involved in the process. Recently, his team
has shown that stress-induced damage to telomeres occurs
irrespectively of length and is an important factor in the ageing
process. This work was published in Nature Communications
in 2012.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Hilary J Powers, BSc, PhD, RNutr, FSB
Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry, Head of Human Nutrition Unit, University
of Sheffield
[email protected]
Understanding the role of micronutrients in optimising function and modulating disease risk
Professor Powers graduated in biological sciences from the
University of Leicester in 1971 and with a PhD in Nutritional
Biochemistry from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine, University of London, in 1979. She was on the
scientific staff of the MRC Dunn Nutrition Laboratory at The
University of Cambridge for 10 years, following which she
moved to Sheffield University to help establish the Centre for
Human Nutrition. In 2000 she was appointed Head of the
Centre for Human Nutrition and in 2004 she was appointed to
a chair in nutritional biochemistry.
Hilary’s research career has focussed on the metabolism
and functional importance of micronutrients, including their
roles in the pathophysiology of chronic disease and the
mechanisms underpinning their function, including roles in
minimising oxidative damage and DNA instability. Her research
embraces study at the molecular level, employing cell models
of depletion or of disease states, and at the whole body level.
She has extensive experience of conducting randomised trials
of micronutrients, with various functional outcomes in settings
worldwide and across the human lifespan. She also has
interest and expertise in the development, optimisation and
validation of functional biomarkers of nutritional status relevant
to disease outcome.
Hilary continues to serve on national and international bodies
engaged in furthering understanding of the importance of
nutrients as determinants of disease risk, and establishing
dietary recommendations. She currently sits on the
Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
(SACN) and on the Department of Health’s Project Board for
the National Diet and Nutrition Surveys. She has recently been
appointed to chair the Department of Health Working Group
on Vitamin D, which will report and make recommendations
in 2014.
Hilary’s research has largely been supported by BBSRC, World
Cancer Research Fund International, and the Department of
Health (Food Standards Agency).
53
CIMA
Dr Carole Proctor, BSc, MSc, DPhil
Senior Research Associate
[email protected]
Development of computer simulation models of the molecular mechanisms of ageing in relation
to musculoskeletal diseases
Dr Proctor graduated from the Open University in 1995 with
a BSc in Mathematics and completed an MSc in applied
stochastic processes at the University College London in 1997
followed by a DPhil in biomathematical modelling at the
University of Sussex in 2000. She then moved to Newcastle
University and carried out postdoctoral research with
Professor Tom Kirkwood at the Institute for Ageing and Health
investigating molecular mechanisms of ageing by the use of
stochastic mathematical models. She has worked on a number
of projects including the BBSRC-funded Biology of Ageing
e-Science Integration and Simulation system which involved
the development of web-based tools to build and simulate
systems-biology models of ageing. In 2008, Dr Proctor
obtained a Research Fellowship with Alzheimer Scotland and
Alzheimer’s Research UK to investigate the role of protein
aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases using a systems
biology approach.
Carole’s principal research interest has been developing
and using computer simulation models to investigate the
key molecular mechanisms involved in maintaining protein
homeostasis and how these are disturbed in ageing. Carole
54
worked closely with experimental scientists in the development
of the models and for testing model predictions. Her
collaborators included groups at the Ottawa Hospital Research
Institute, Southampton University, and King’s College London.
Her current research is to develop systems biology models of
osteoarthritis and cartilage metabolism. The aim of the models
will be to establish which pathways are involved in cartilage
homeostasis and how these are compromised as the tissue
ages. The same pathways will also be examined in bone,
muscle and tendon.
In 2006, Carole was elected to the Executive committee of the
British Society for Research on Ageing and served as editor of
their online journal and newsletter.
Dr Proctor’s research is funded by the Medical Research
Council and Arthritis Research UK.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Louise Reynard, MA Cantab, PhD
Newcastle University Research Fellow
[email protected]
Functional characterisation of Osteoarthritis susceptibility loci
Louise Reynard graduated from the University of Cambridge
with a MA Cantab in Natural Sciences, specialising in
Genetics. She completed her PhD studies in Developmental
Genetics at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research.
Louise joined Newcastle University in 2009 when she began
her postdoctoral training with Professor John Loughlin. She has
now been promoted to Research Fellow status
Dr Reynard’s research is focused on the functional
characterisation of OA susceptibility loci that have been
identified by the arcOGEN consortium. Elucidating the
molecular mechanisms that underlie the susceptibility
mediated by these genes will increase our understanding of
OA etiology, potentially aid diagnosis and treatment, and will
suggest relevant targets for therapeutic investigation. Louise
is also interested in the molecular interplay between genetics
and epigenetics in OA susceptibility, in particular, how DNA
methylation can modulate the effect of genetic variation on
disease penetrance and severity. She is currently looking at
the effect DNA methylation has on the expression of the OA
susceptibility gene GDF5 in different synovial joint tissues.
Louise has presented her work at international meetings,
including the OARSI world congress, the OARSI OA biomarkers
Global Initiative, and the Nature winter symposium on
Epigenetics in Development and Disease. As a STEMNET
Ambassador, Louise has spoken about her research at
several public events including two events at the Centre for
Life museum in Newcastle organised by the Xplore Health
consortium funded by the European commission. She
supervises several PhD students and postdoctoral scientists
within Professor Loughlin’s group. Louise’s research is funded
by Arthritis Research UK, the Dr William Harker Foundation,
and the JGW Patterson Foundation.
55
CIMA
Prof. Lynn Rochester, MCSP, PhD
Professor of Human Movement Science, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding the mechanisms of gait and the impact of ageing and disease
Professor Lynn Rochester holds a BRC-funded Chair in Human
Movement Science. She graduated as a physiotherapist in
Newcastle, specialising in neuro-rehabilitation before completing
her PhD in muscle physiology in 1992. She joined Newcastle
University in 2008 and is a member of the Institute of Ageing and
Health. She is Vice-Chair of the Scientific Trust of the Chartered
Society of Physiotherapy; a member of the Research Advisory Panel
of Parkinson’s UK and a member of the International Movement
Disorders Society Scientific Conference Programme Committee.
Lynn leads a research programme in gait and mobility disorders in
age and age associated conditions. Lynn and her team are based
in the Clinical Ageing Research Unit which houses state of the art
equipment for movement analysis. The research is informed by 3
core themes: mechanisms of gait dysfunction; measurement of gait
and activity; and intervention development to improve mobility.
These themes form distinct yet overlapping and integrated bodies
of work. Her main research interests are concerned with motor
control of gait, impact of ageing, and the complex interactions
of non-motor and motor symptoms and their consequences for
independent mobility.
56
Examples of current work include the evaluation of gait as a
biomarker for cognitive decline and use of neurophysiological
techniques to explore the pathology of gait impairment in
Parkinson’s; the use of technology such as virtual reality and
computer gaming systems to address gait and mobility disorders,
and use of external sensory cueing for rehabilitation. Outcome
measurement is also a key area of research and includes the
validation of novel outcome measures derived from tri-axial
accelerometers to measure gait and activity and exploring their
diagnostic and predictive validity for falls and cognitive impairment.
Studies include a range of conditions such as neurodegenerative
disorders, older adults and musculoskeletal disorders.
Lynn has published seminal translational studies defining and
optimising methods to improve gait in Parkinson’s which changed
clinical practice worldwide following adoption into clinical
guidelines. A key research aim is to maximise impact through
timely translation of findings into clinical practice and an academic
physiotherapy service has been developed and integrated into the
Regional Movement Disorders Service to facilitate this aim.
Lynn receives funding from the Medical Research Council, Michael J
Fox Foundation, Parkinson’s UK, Welcome Trust, European Union FP7,
National Institute for Health Research BRU in Lewy Body Dementia.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Drew Rowan, BSc, PhD
Professor of Molecular Rheumatology, Deputy Head of the Musculoskeletal Research
Group, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding the mechanisms of cartilage destruction in arthritis and developing new
approaches to treatment
Professor Rowan graduated with a BSc in Biological Sciences
in 1983 and completed his PhD at the world-renowned
Strangeway’s Research Laboratories, Cambridge, in 1989.
Professor Rowan performed his early post-doctoral training
in the Joint Diseases Laboratory at the Shriner’s Institute in
Montreal, followed by a post at Addenbrooke’s hospital in
Cambridge. In 1996 he took up a lecturership at Newcastle
University, helping Tim Cawston establish the Musculoskeletal
Research Group. In 2007, Drew was appointed Professor of
Molecular Rheumatology.
Drew has two main and interlinked research interests which
focus on the molecular mechanisms underpinning cartilage
breakdown in arthritic diseases. Firstly, his enzymologist
training now focuses on the diverse proteinases that collectively
drive cartilage breakdown. Despite a strong emphasis on
the metalloproteinases, especially matrix metalloproteinases
(MMPs), we now know other enzyme classes also have
important roles in arthritis. Indeed, several novel enzymes
have been identified, and Drew’s early interest in protein
structure:function relationships has been rekindled towards
this. The development of inhibitors towards such enzymes
is a major research interest, and experimental models of
both rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis are enabling this. Drew’s
early arthritis studies focused on the concept of cytokine
synergy, especially in the context of inflammatory arthritis.
Studies have shown that several cytokines associated with the
inflammation of arthritis are able to synergise, with a marked
increase in the expression of the collagenolytic MMPs. Such
interactions are clearly relevant to disease, and Drew has
more recently focused on cell signaling pathways such as Akt
and PKC, as well as the molecular mechanisms that mediate
this synergistic expression. Finally, Drew has begun studying
cartilage enzymes that themselves initiate cell signaling via
proteolytic cleavage of receptors such as PAR-2 which lead to
the expression of proteinases that drive cartilage destruction. A
detailed understanding of such mechanisms will highlight new
therapeutic targets for further investigation.
Professor Rowan’s research is funded by Arthritis Research UK,
the Medical Research Council and local charities.
57
CIMA
Prof. Graham Russell, PhD, DM, FRCP, FRCPath. FMedSci, FRS
Professor of Musculoskeletal Pharmacology, and Botnar Research Centre,
University of Oxford,; Mellanby Centre for Bone Research, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Understanding the causes of bone and joint diseases and the pharmacology of drugs to improve
their treatment
58
Graham Russell graduated in Biochemistry from the University
of Cambridge in 1962 and gained his PhD from the MRC
Mineral Metabolism Unit at the University of Leeds. In 1965, he
joined Dr Herbert Fleisch in Davos, Switzerland, and their work
led to the discovery of the biological effects of bisphosphonates.
He completed his medical degree at Oxford University in 1971,
while continuing research based at the Nuffield Department
of Orthopaedic Surgery. Working with Roger Smith, this led to
the first and successful clinical applications of bisphosphonates
in Paget’s disease of bone. He held the Medical Research
Fellowship at St Peter’s College from 1972-76, and was
awarded his DM at Oxford in 1976. During the 1970s, he also
held appointments in the University of Berne, Harvard University
and at the Massachusetts General Hospital, before moving in
1976 to the Department of Chemical Pathology in the University
of Sheffield Medical School. He became Professor and Head of
Department of Human Metabolism and Clinical Biochemistry
in 1977. In 2001 he moved to the University of Oxford as the
Norman Collisson Chair of Musculoskeletal Sciences, became
Head of the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the
first Director of the Oxford University Institute of Musculoskeletal
Sciences (the Botnar Research Centre), from 2002-7.
After “retirement” he became Professor of Musculoskeletal
Pharmacology and works at the Botnar Research Centre and
the Mellanby Centre in Sheffield.
Graham was Heberden Orator of the BSR in 1993, recipient of
the John B. Johnson award of the Paget’s Foundation in 1997,
and the Kohn award of the NOS in 2000. He received the W
F Neuman award of the American Society of Bone and Mineral
Research in 2000, the Pieter Gaillard Founders award of the
IBMS in 2007 and in 2008 was elected a Fellow of the Royal
Society of London.
Graham is author of more than 500 publications on topics
related to calcium metabolism and bone diseases. His interests
include bone cell biology, cytokines, pathogenic mechanisms
in bone and joint diseases such as arthritis, myeloma, bone
metastases, and osteoporosis, and the evaluation of new
therapeutic agents and their modes of action. Throughout he has
played a central role in studying bisphosphonates, and in their
clinical development and evaluation for the treatment of skeletal
diseases. During the 1990s, Michael Rogers and others within
his group in Sheffield elucidated the molecular mechanisms
of action of bisphosphonates. His current research focuses on
understanding their structure activity relationships, the design of
novel compounds, and the detailed mechanisms of their actions
on the skeleton and other systems.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Tim Skerry, BVet.Med, PhD, Cert.SAO, FRCVS
Professor of Orthopaedic Biology, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Regulation of the skeleton by humoral and mechanical factors in health, disease and ageing
Section showing new bone formation shown by incorporation of fluorescence
Fossil tibia of an iguanodon (c. 150M years old)
Professor Tim Skerry graduated from the Royal Veterinary
College in London in 1980 and worked for 4 years in clinical
practice. In 1984 he was awarded a Wellcome Veterinary
Training Fellowship, studied for a PhD with Lance Lanyon and
was a visiting worker at the Kennedy Institute after which he
took up a lectureship at the University of Bristol. In 1992 he
was awarded a Wellcome Research Leave Fellowship and in
1995 was appointed as Professor of Biology at the University
of York in 1995. In 2001 he was recruited to the Royal
Veterinary College as Head of Basic Sciences and in 2003,
was promoted to the position of Vice Principal for Research.
In 2005, Tim relocated to his current position in Sheffield
where as well as his academic position, he is now Chief
Scientific Officer of Medella Therapeutics, a University spinout
company with IP in cancer therapeutics.
similar studies led to a focus on the role of receptor activity
modifying proteins in cell signalling and the exciting discovery
that receptor activity modifying protein can alter the G-protein
activation responses of a single receptor to a single hormone.
This work is now leading to translational studies in bone
and cancer where blockade of RAMPs may have therapeutic
benefits. Tim is still interested in the interactions of loading/
exercise and other osteotropic stimuli in order to identify
simple lifestyle interventions to increase bone mass in youth or
preserve it in older people.
Tim’s research is funded by BBSRC, EPSRC and commercial
collaborators.
Tim’s primary research interest in bone biology has been the
mechanism of bone’s response of bone to mechanical loading
and the identification of therapeutic targets for anabolic bone
therapies. Tim has been involved in the use of arrays and
other subtractive techniques to identify potential mediators of
the effects of loading in bone and as a result of this identified
glutamate as a signalling molecule in bone. More recently,
59
CIMA
Dr Falko F Sniehotta, Dipl-Psych, PhD
Reader in Health Psychology, Head of Health Psychology Group in the Institute of Health
and Society, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding behaviour change in patients and health professionals and developing
interventions to improve health
Dr Sniehotta completed his PhD in Psychology (2004) at the
Free University in Berlin. After six years as Lecturer (20042008) and Senior Lecturer (2008-2010) at the University of
Aberdeen, he joined Newcastle University in 2010 as Reader
in Health Psychology.
Dr Sniehotta’s research aims to understand the health-related
behaviour of health professionals (e.g., provision of evidence
based care, implementation of guidelines), patients (e.g.,
adherence) and healthy individuals (e.g., lifestyle behaviours)
across the lifespan. This work involves the development and
application of psychological theory. His theoretical work
focuses on how people translate health-conducive intentions
into sustained behaviour change, inspired by compelling
evidence showing that knowledge and motivation alone are
not enough to achieve widespread reduction of behavioural
risk factors. His applied work focuses on the development and
evaluation of complex interventions following MRC guidance
for a range of behaviours and populations across the lifecourse. This work is interdisciplinary in nature, informed by
evidence, theory and user involvement. Dr Sniehotta is a
senior investigator in Fuse, the Newcastle-based UK Clinical
60
Research Collaboration Centre of Excellence for Translation
Research in Public Health, which has recently become one of
the first provisional members of the NIHR School for Public
Health Research in the North East. Dr Sniehotta’s research is
committed to evidence-based public health science, knowledge
translation and public involvement and dissemination.
Dr Sniehotta is president-elect of the European Health
Psychology Society and associate editor of Health Psychology
Review. His research is funded by the Medical Research
Council and the National Institute of Health Research.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Simon Tew, BSc, PhD
Lecturer in Orthopaedic Sciences, Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of
Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding gene regulation in age related joint disorders
Dr Tew graduated in 1996 with a BSc in Biochemistry from
Cardiff University. Remaining in Cardiff he went on to obtain a
PhD, working in the Department of Anatomy on the responses
of articular cartilage to injury. He subsequently moved to the
University of Manchester where he spent seven years as a
post-doctoral research fellow at the Wellcome Trust Centre
for Cell Matrix Research. During this time he maintained his
interest in the biology of cartilage tissues, through a series of
projects supported by the cross research council funded UK
Centre for Tissue Engineering. He was appointed Lecturer in
Orthopaedic Sciences at the University of Liverpool in 2010.
In 2011 Dr Tew was appointed Deputy Director of the MRes
in Clinical Sciences and has recently been involved
in implementing a number of developments to the course,
which include the introduction of a musculoskeletal biologyspecific pathway.
Simon’s main research focuses on the mechanisms that
control gene expression in tissues within the diarthrodial joint,
with particular emphasis on processes relevant to age-related
degenerative diseases and to strategies which improve the
regeneration of joint tissues. He supervises a range of projects,
examples of which include investigations of post-transcriptional
gene control in osteoarthritis and the employment of systemsbased approaches to examine in vitro adaptation of cartilage
and tendon cells. Arthritis Research UK, BBSRC, MRC and
industrial partners have funded recent projects.
61
CIMA
Prof. Wendy Tindale, MSc, PhD, FIPEM, ARCP
Professor of Medical Physics, University of Sheffield and Scientific Director of Medical
Imaging & Medical Physics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
[email protected]
Developing technologies for an ageing population
Professor Wendy Tindale trained as a medical physicist at the
Universities of Leeds and Sheffield. During her career she has
gained experience in imaging and image processing, software
design and modelling, physiological measurement and medical
device development. She was appointed Scientific Director
of Medical Imaging & Medical Physics at Sheffield Teaching
Hospitals in 2005 and, as Consultant Clinical Scientist, she
leads one of the largest NHS centres of medical technology
in the UK. She holds a Chair at the University of Sheffield
and has a national role as Clinical Director of the ‘Devices for
Dignity’ Healthcare Technology Co-operative, an NIHR/TSB/
research council funded national research and technology
transfer programme. Its focus is on identification of unmet
clinical needs and development of technology solutions which
enable independent living; assistive technologies which support
the ageing population is part of its remit. She has an interest
in combining clinical academic excellence with business
opportunities through commercial translation of innovative
medical technologies and has worked with both public and
private sectors to facilitate successful collaborations.
62
Professor Tindale has over 120 publications, from imaging to
bioengineering, and since 2006 she has received grant funding
of £4.5M. She is currently supporting the development of
an NHS-based 3D Clinical Imaging Laboratory, for improved
clinical decision making. She has contributed to national and
international committees, including Royal College Working
Parties and Government advisory bodies and acts as advisor
to several research programmes. She is an editorial board
member of an international journal and is external examiner
for the University of London (Kings College). In 2011 she was
honoured with a Beacon Award for outstanding contribution
to healthcare.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Michael Trenell, BSc, MSc, PhD
NIHR Senior Research Fellow, Director of MoveLab, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding the role of physical activity, physical inactivity and exercise in ageing and age
related diseases
Dr Trenell completed undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
in applied science in Leeds in 1997 and 1999. Dr Trenell
was then awarded an overseas scholarship from Sydney
University, Australia, to complete a PhD in Biochemistry
and Neurogenetics on the role of exercise as a therapy in
neuromuscular disease. He completed research internships
in respiratory medicine at the Woolcock Medical Research
Institute and metabolic disease at the Garvan Institute. He
then returned to the UK and to Newcastle University where he
was awarded the RD Lawrence postdoctoral fellowship from
Diabetes UK. He was appointed a Senior Research Fellowship
from the NIHR in 2011 and is Director of MoveLab, one of the
UK’s leading clinical physical activity and exercise laboratories.
Mike’s research looks at how metabolism can be improved in
different metabolic disorders. The focus is on how physical
activity and exercise can be used as clinical therapy in metabolic
disorders, neuromuscular disease, ageing, and in promoting
lifelong health and wellbeing. Mike has a strong background
in multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging
techniques and use these to investigate metabolism.
In January 2009 he established MoveLab with funding from
the Medical Research Council with clinical colleagues in
Newcastle. The laboratory provides a complete translational
research platform; building both the evidence base of
movement as a clinical therapy and a pathway for delivery
into care. At a basic science level, he has a program of
studies investigating the interaction of physical inactivity,
physical activity, and exercise upon molecular, genetic and
metabolic function. At an intermediate level, he is addressing
two key questions: what type of activity is best and how
much is needed to use physical activity and exercise as a
therapy? These studies are identifying the dose response of
both resistance and aerobic exercise upon clinical outcomes.
At a clinical delivery level, he is working with clinicians and
patient groups to move these findings into clinical care. He is
developing the UK’s first accredited professional and patient
development pathway for physical activity and exercise for use
as a clinical therapy in primary care.
Dr Trenell’s research is funded by the Medical Research
Council, the National Institute for Health Research, the NHS,
Research Councils UK, European Union FP7, Diabetes UK and
pharmaceutical industry.
63
CIMA
Prof. Doug Turnbull, MBBS, MD, PhD, FRCP, FMedSci
Professor of Neurology and Director of Newcastle University Centre for Brain Ageing and
Vitality, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Mitochondrial disease
Dr Turnbull qualified in medicine in 1976 and completed
his MRCP in June 1978. He was awarded an MRC Clinical
Training Fellowship from 1980 to 1983 and a Lectureship
in Experimental Neurology from 1983 to 1988 at Newcastle
University. He became Senior Lecturer in Experimental
Neurology in 1988 in the same University and Professor
of Neurology in 1990.
64
He developed his interest in mitochondrial oxidative
phosphorylation disorders during his PhD and initially was
interested in establishing a clinical, biochemical and genetic
diagnosis in patients. His more recent studies of mitochondrial
disorders have been based on developing large cohorts
of patients (currently funded by MRC as part of the MRC
Centre for Neuromuscular diseases), understanding disease
mechanisms, and developing methods to prevent transmission
of mitochondrial DNA disease. He also led a successful effort
to establish the NHS Highly Specialised Service for Rare
Mitochondrial Disorders of Adults and Children, which has
additional centres in London and Oxford. This service provides
specialist diagnostic testing and multidisciplinary care for
our patients throughout the UK and has made a tremendous
difference to the lives of patients and families
with mitochondrial disease.
He also has a major interest in the ageing process with a
particular emphasis on the effects on neurons and muscle.
He successfully led a bid for a Centre for Lifelong Health and
Wellbeing (funded by BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC and MRC). He is
currently Director of this Centre – Newcastle University Centre
for Brain Ageing and Vitality.
He is a passionate believer in the training of young clinicians
and scientists and has supervised 35 clinical and basic PhD
students. He currently sponsors two Wellcome Trust Senior
Fellows, one Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow
and one Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellow.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki, BSc, PhD
Research into Ageing Fellow, University of Liverpool
[email protected]
Understanding the causes of failed muscle regeneration during ageing and developing new
approaches to treatment
Dr Aphrodite Vasilaki graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Molecular
Biology from Liverpool John Moores University in 1999 and
completed a PhD in the Department of Medicine and School
of Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool in 2003.
The aim of her PhD study was to characterise the extent and
time course of production of antioxidant defence enzymes and
heat shock proteins (HSPs) in adult and aged skeletal muscle
following non-damaging isometric contractions and to examine
the mechanisms responsible for the attenuation of the stress
response in skeletal muscle during ageing. The completion of
her PhD project led to a poster presentation at the Biochemical
Society meeting in London where she was awarded first prize.
In the same year, Aphrodite presented her PhD work at the
Annual British Society for Research on Ageing Conference in
London where she won a prize for best oral presentation.
Aphrodite undertook a five year postdoctoral position at the
School of Clinical Sciences in the University of Liverpool
investigating extracellular ROS generation in adult and old
muscles from mice with deficient or enhanced antioxidant
systems. This grant was funded by the US National Institutes
of Health (NIH) and involved a collaboration between the
University of Liverpool, University of Michigan, University
of Texas and Emory University in the USA.
In 2006, Aphrodite was elected to the Executive committee of
the British Society for Research on Ageing and served as the
treasurer of the Society.
In 2009, Aphrodite was awarded a Personal Research
Fellowship funded by Research into Ageing. The overall aim of
this work is to determine whether the defective skeletal muscle
regeneration that occurs during ageing is mediated through
abnormal reactive oxygen species (ROS) activities in motor
neurons and/or muscle cells which result in defective re-growth
and interactions of motor neurons with immature regenerating
muscle fibres. Her work involves in vitro studies to determine
(i) the generation of specific ROS at defined sub-cellular sites
in muscle cells and motor neurons during the normal process
of myogenesis and (ii) the effects of modification of ROS
generation in neurons or muscle on skeletal muscle regeneration
and innervation. Her work also involves in vivo studies to
identify the recovery of motor neuron occurring in young mice
following a physiologically relevant form of skeletal muscle
damage and the extent of failure in muscles of old mice.
65
CIMA
Marco Viceconti
Professor of Biomechanics at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University
of Sheffield and Scientific Director of the Insigneo/Sheffield Research Institute
[email protected]
Development and validation of medical technology, primarily in relation to musculoskeletal
diseases
Marco Viceconti is Scientific Director of the Insigneo Institute
for in silico Medicine and full Professor of Biomechanics at
the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of
Sheffield. Before he was the Technical Director of the Medical
Technology Lab at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute in Bologna,
Italy. Prof. Viceconti has a Mechanical Engineering degree
from the University of Bologna and a PhD from the University
of Firenze. He started his research career under the guidance
of Prof. Alì Seireg, first at the University of Florida-Gainesville,
and then at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is
currently President of the European Alliance of Biomedical
Engineering (EAMBES). His main research interests are related
to the development and validation of medical technology,
especially that involving simulation, and primarily in relation to
musculoskeletal diseases. He has published over 200 papers,
mostly indexed in Medline, and serves as reviewer for many
international funding agencies and peer-reviewed journals.
Marco Viceconti is one of the key figures in the emerging
Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) community. Co-author
of the first white paper on VPH, scientific co-ordinator of the
seminal VPH research roadmap, “VPH ambassador” for the
66
VPH Network of Excellence, Co-ordinator of one the VPHOP
integrated project, he is also currently chairing the Board of
Directors of the VPH Institute.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. John Wilding, DM FRCP
Professor of Medicine, Head of Department of Obesity and Endocrinology, University of
Liverpool & Honorary Consultant Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
[email protected]
Understanding obesity and diabetes
John Wilding is Head of the Department of Obesity and
Endocrinology at the University of Liverpool, UK. He graduated
in medicine from Southampton University in 1985, where
he continued his clinical training until moving to the Royal
Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital,
London where he undertook specialist training in Diabetes and
Endocrinology, and three years laboratory-based research into
the neurobiology of obesity and diabetes. He has been clinical
academic at the University of Liverpool, with a clinical base at
Aintree Hospitals since 1996, initially as Senior Lecturer, then
Reader and as Professor of Medicine since 2005.
His clinical and laboratory research focuses on the
pathophysiology of obesity and its complications, especially
diabetes, and evaluation of new treatments. This encompasses
evaluation of novel therapeutic agents in animal models
through to early and late phase clinical trials in humans and
detailed physiological studies including measurements of
appetite and metabolism including glucose clamp studies to
evaluated insulin resistance in muscle and liver, and studies of
the metabolic effects of obesity-associated respiratory disease
such as sleep apnoea and asthma. His work has been funded
by the British Heart Foundation, Asthma UK, Diabetes UK,
and the pharmaceutical industry.
He has published over a hundred and eighty papers, chapters
and review articles related to his clinical and laboratory
research interests in type 2 diabetes and obesity. He is a
member of the editorial boards of the International Journal
of Obesity, and of Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism and an
Associate Editor of Diabetic Medicine. He is Chair of the UK
National Clinical Research Network Metabolic and Endocrine
Speciality Group and a past Chair of the UK Association for
the Study of Obesity.
67
CIMA
Mr Mark Wilkinson, MB ChB, PhD, FRCS (Orth)
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Orthopaedics, University of Sheffield; Honorary Consultant
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
[email protected]
Understanding the causes of bone diseases associated with prosthetic joints and developing new
approaches to their treatment
X-ray of hip joint prosthesis
Mark Wilkinson graduated in Medicine from Sheffield
University in 1991 and trained as an orthopaedic surgeon in
North Trent and Wrightington. Whilst a specialist registrar in
orthopaedics he received Clinical Research Fellowship awards
from the Arthritis Research Campaign and from The Royal
College of Surgeons of England and completed his PhD in
2001. Following a period in clinical practice he returned to
Sheffield University upon receipt of a 5-year Clinical Senior
Lectureship Award from HEFCE/UKCRC in 2007. Mark is
also an honorary consultant in Orthopaedics with a specialist
interest in hip and knee arthroplasty at the Northern General
Hospital, Sheffield.
Mark’s principal research interests are in the field of joint
replacement and its associated bone diseases from a genetic
and metabolic standpoint. His previous work has shown that
genetic polymorphism influences osteolysis and heterotopic
ossification risk after hip replacement, and the first ‘in-man’
study to show that bisphosphonates may suppress bone
loss after hip replacement. He is a member of the arcOGEN
consortium that has recently identified 9 novel risk alleles for
hip and knee osteoarthritis. His other areas of active research
68
include the identification of novel biomarkers and imaging
techniques for detecting osteolysis, exploration of the molecular
mechanisms that underpin its development and novel
pharmacological strategies for its treatment, and the systemic
health effects of metal ion exposure after hip resurfacing.
Mark has received young investigator awards from the
Orthopaedic Research Society (2002 USA) and the National
Osteoporosis Society (2000), The British Orthopaedic
Association Robert Jones Gold Medal and Association Prize
(2003), The British Hip Society McKee Prize (2001, and
2008) and the William Harris Award from the Orthopaedic
Research Society (2007). He has co-authored more than 50
papers, and is a member of the Research Committee of the
British Orthopaedic Association Arthritis Research UK, and
is Orthopaedic Editor for the journal Surgery. His sources of
research funding include HEFCE, Arthritis Research UK, the
Cavendish Hip Foundation, and industry.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Liz Williams, BSc, PhD, RNutr
Senior Lecturer in Human Nutrition, Human Nutrition Unit, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Understanding the role of nutrition in healthy ageing
Dr Williams graduated with a BSc in Physiology from the
University of Sheffield in 1992, and completed her PhD in the
Department of Paediatrics in 1996. She spent three years as
a postdoctoral researcher at the MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit in
Cambridge prior to appointment as a lecturer in the Human
Nutrition Research Centre at the University of Newcastle
in 1999. In 2003 she returned to Sheffield as a lecturer in
Human Nutrition and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2010.
Liz’s research focus is the role of diet in healthy ageing and
diet in the prevention of chronic disease. She has particular
interests in gastrointestinal health, immune function in older
adults, and dietary assessment in older adults. Her longstanding research interest in diet and intestinal health has
included work in collaboration with Professors Powers and
Mathers on the ageing bowel, and has had a particular focus
on colorectal cancer. This research has included investigation
of proteomic and methylation biomarkers of colorectal cancer,
and the role of butyrate and folate on colorectal carcinogenesis.
She has considerable experience of designing and conducting
randomised-controlled dietary/micronutrient intervention trials,
including a number of studies with older adults. More recently
Liz has been working with a multidisciplinary team to develop
a sensitively designed technology to improve assessment of
nutrition, physical function, cognitive function and mental
health in older adults, including measures commonly used to
define a physically frail phenotype.
Liz’s research is funded by the ESRC-led cross Research
Council, New Dynamics of Ageing Programme, the UK
Technology Strategy Board and by the former UK Food
Standards Agency.
69
CIMA
Prof. Steve Winder, BSc, PhD
Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Deputy Head of Department of Biomedical Science,
University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Cell and molecular mechanisms of muscular dystrophies
Professor Winder graduated with a BSc in Applied Biology
from Brunel University in 1984 and completed a PhD
at the University of Reading in 1988. Professor Winder
undertook post-doctoral training in the Department of Medical
Biochemistry at the University of Calgary, Canada and in the
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Awarded
a four-year Welcome Trust Fellowship in 1995 Professor
Winder relocated to the University of Edinburgh, Institute
of Cell and Molecular Biology. Following a move to the
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the
University of Glasgow he was promoted to Reader and then
in 2003 moved to the Department of Biomedical Science at
the University of Sheffield. He was promoted to Professor of
Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Sheffield in 2005
and since 2006 has also been Deputy Head of the
Department of Biomedical Science.
Steve’s principal research interest is in understanding the
cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for muscular
dystrophies, particularly those associated with the dystrophin
glycoprotein complex of which dystroglycan is an essential
core component. We are using classical cell biological
approaches to dissect the functions of dystroglycan as a
70
cell adhesion molecule and demonstrated the importance of
tyrosine phosphorylation in regulating dystroglycan function
and degradation in myoblasts and myotubes in culture. We
have generated knock-in mice carrying mutations in tyrosine
phosphorylation sites in dystroglycan and crossed these mice
with an established mouse model of muscular dystrophy – the
mdx mouse. Dystroglycan knock-in:mdx mice show a reduced
muscular dystrophy phenotype, demonstrating the importance
of tyrosine phosphorylation of dystroglycan in the aetiology
of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The identification
of signalling pathways involved in DMD has provided new
therapeutic targets for the treatment of DMD for which we
are currently screening to identify new combinatorial therapies
using zebrafish. The combination of molecular cell biology
with zebrafish and mouse models of disease provides a
powerful approach to examine the roles of cell adhesionmediated signalling and the contribution of the dystrophin
glycoprotein complex in muscle integrity both in normal
and dystrophic muscle.
Professor Winder’s research is funded by the Medical Research
Council, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, Association Française
contres les Myopathies and Yorkshire Cancer Research.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Dr Lang Yang, BSc, MSc, PhD, CSci, MIPEM
Lecturer in Biomechanics, University of Sheffield
[email protected]
Understanding the biomechanics of healthy and diseased bone and how treatment affects it
Dr. Yang graduated from the Chongqing University, China
with a BSc in Applied Mechanics in 1982 and MSc in
Biomechanics in 1985. He obtained PhD in Bioengineering
at the University of Strathclyde in 1988 and completed
postdoctoral trainings at the University of Edinburgh, University
of Dundee and University of Strathclyde. In 1996 Dr. Yang
was appointed as non-clinical lecturer at the University
of Sheffield.
Dr. Yang is a charted scientist through the Institute of Physics
and Engineering in Medicine and a member of the American
Society for Bone and Mineral Research and European Calcified
Tissue Society.
Dr. Yang’s research is funded by the MRC, NIHR and Arthritis
Research UK.
Dr. Yang’s current research interests are quantifying the
effects of osteoporosis and its treatment on bone geometry,
bone tissue distribution and structure, and bone mechanical
strength, with particular focus on the proximal femur and
vertebra. Development of image processing and analysis
methods for medical images is an essential part of his
research, so does the structural engineering models generated
from medical images. This has resulted in two streamlined
analysis software, one for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
and another for quantitative computer tomography of the hip.
He also interested in understanding how whole body vibration
transmits in the body and how mechanical environment at
fracture site modulates biological processes of fracture healing.
71
CIMA
Dr David A Young, BSc, PhD
David Young, Senior Lecturer, Musculoskeletal Research Group, Institute of Cellular
Medicine, Newcastle University
[email protected]
Cartilage Cell Biology, Osteoarthritis and Ageing
Dr Young graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from University
of Sheffield in 1992 and completed a PhD at the world
famous plant institute, the John Innes Centre, Norwich working
on plant mitochondrial transcription. Dr Young undertook
post-doctoral training in the Wellcome-Trust Centre for Cell
Matrix Research at the University of Manchester working with
Professors Gillian Wallis, Ray Boot-Handford and Michael
Grant funded by the then arthritis research campaign working
on chondrocyte gene expression and gene regulation. This was
followed by several years of post-doctoral work with Professor
Ian Clark, University of East Anglia. Dr Young joined Newcastle
University in 2004 as a Lecturer and was appointed Senior
Lecturer in 2010. In 2009 Dr Young was appointed Deputy
Programme Director (projects), overseeing the placement and
progression of around 130 MRes students/annum.
David’s research focus is around cartilage cell biology and
the role of the sole cell type in cartilage, the chondrocyte in
osteoarthritis (OA) and cartilage ageing. David’s expertise is
in the area of cell signalling and gene regulation. Much of his
work is focussed upon epigenetic changes in chondrocytes in
72
ageing, OA and in development (chondrogenesis). His group
use in vivo and ex vivo models of cartilage destruction to
replicate events occurring during OA.
Dr Young’s research is funded by Arthritis Research UK,
JGW Patterson Foundation and the Nuffield Foundation.
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
Prof. Thomas von Zglinicki, PhD, Dr nat.habil
Professor of Cell Gerontology, Institute for Ageing and Health,
Newcastle University
[email protected]
Understanding the mechanisms of cell senescence and its impact on mammalian ageing
Professor von Zglinicki graduated with a Diploma in Physics
from Leipzig University in Germany in 1973 and completed
a PhD in Biophysics at the same University in 1975. He
undertook post-doctoral training in the Institute of Pathology
at the Humboldt University in Berlin and received a Dr nat.
habil. in Biophysics and Medical Physics there in 1987. In
2000, he relocated to Newcastle as Senior Lecturer to become
a founding member of the basic biology branch of the Institute
for Ageing and Health. He was appointed Professor of Cell
Gerontology at Newcastle University in 2002.
Thomas’ principal research interest is in understanding
the cellular and molecular signaling networks causing and
maintaining cell senescence, and how these contribute to
ageing at the level of tissues and organisms. He was the first to
discover oxidative stress and resulting DNA damage as a major
cause of telomere shortening, and the interactions between
mitochondrial dysfunction and telomeres in senescence have
been a focus of his work for many years. His recent work,
combining classic reductionist biology with a systems biology
approach, concentrates on the mechanistic understanding of
the pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory senescent phenotype
beyond the proliferation arrest. His group discovered clear
evidence for the existence of such a phenotype as part of
the ageing process in postmitotic cells including neurons
and muscle cells, which may lead to novel approaches in
understanding muscular ageing.
Thomas is or was Editorial Board member on five of the most
influential journals in the Ageing Biology field. He chaired
the 2004 Gordon Research Conference on Biology of Ageing
and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Robert
and Arlene Kogod Center on Ageing of the Mayo Clinic (USA)
and other ageing research institutions. He has authored or
co-authored over 160 papers on cell and molecular biology of
ageing, some of which have been cited well over 400 times,
resulting in an h-index of 40.
Thomas collaborates with major international groups, for
instance in Germany (Ulm University), USA (Mayo Clinic) and
the UK (Cambridge University). His work is funded by BBSRC,
MRC, Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation.
73
CIMA
Contact details
Professor Malcolm J. Jackson PhD DSc FRCPath
Head, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease
Faculty of Health & Life Sciences
University of Liverpool
Duncan Building
Daulby Street
Liverpool L69 3GA
T: +44 151 706 4072
F: +44 151 706 5802
E: [email protected]
74
The Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing
75
CIMA
Notes
76
Photograph by Lindsay Mackenzie (2nd Runner Up - Newcastle University Student Competition)
The Centre for Integrated research
into Musculoskeletal Ageing
The Centre for Integrated research
into Musculoskeletal Ageing
www.cimauk.org