I am a senior researcher at the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM), where my research is focused on the study of adipose tissue in human health and disease.

Despite obesity being strongly linked with metabolic disease risk, adipose location is actually a stronger predictor of metabolic disease than total fat mass. This observation, along with the finding that not all adipose depots function in the same way, particularly intrigues me. One of my main research goals has been to develop cell culture models that can be used to explore molecular pathways which determine where fat is stored in the human body, and to gain insight into regional adipocyte development.

I completed my Doctoral thesis in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine titled Pancreatic Fat Accumulation and Effects on Beta Cell Function. Prior to that, I did my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Bradford. Since 2013, I have been providing tutorials in Biochemistry and Cell Metabolism for first year medical students at Pembroke College, and supervising FHS research projects at OCDEM.