My research interests lie with the body's normal response to stress and also how chronic stress may  predispose to psychiatric conditions. A further interest involves how the stress response adapts during early development. I have characterised the role of early environmental factors on the function of central monoamine neurotransmitters and associated behaviours. 

Further work is addressing the roles played by neuropeptides in stress neurobiology. Nociceptin is an opioid-like peptide that stimulates the GPCR NOP, which is widely distributed in the brain and peripheral immune system. My research has investigated the role of nociceptin in the mammalian stress response, including regulation of basal and stress-induced HPA axis activity including inflammatory responses.  

Teaching

I am the Programme Director for the Gateway Programmes in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science which are widening participation initiatives at the University of Bristol to increase access to the clinical professional courses. I am also the Unit Lead for the Foundations in Bioscience units of the Gateway programme.

My special interests are in nervous, endocrine and reproductive systems and I deliver teaching on the functional anatomy of these systems to the MBChB programme (year 1) and BSc Applied Anatomy (year 1). I also contribute to the teaching of the intercalated BSc in Functional and Clinical Anatomy, BVSc programme and postgraduate taught courses; MSc Reproduction and Development and the MSc Molecular Neuroscience. In addition, I am the Senior Tutor for the iBSc Functional and Clinical Anatomy programme.

I am the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Officer and co-chair the Research Ethics Committee.