Our group's research focuses on the regulation of cartilage and bone homeostasis in development and in disease states such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and Stickler syndrome as well as during repair and regeneration. We are particularly interested in the interplay between genes and environmental cues such as mechanical loading, diet, and metabolism. We use the zebrafish as a model because it combines excellent genetics with beautiful imaging possibilities, which allow us to study the development of the skeletal system dynamically in vivo.

We have a number of projects running in collaboration with clinicians, engineers and epidemiologists. 

Additionally, with Emma Vincent, I colead an Elizabeth Blackwell Institute research strand called 'Mechanisms to Populations' which aims to help overcome the barriers to interdisciplinary work in epidmiology and functional biological studies. For mroe information on the strand please see: 

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/blackwell/health-research/research-strands/mechanisms-to-populations/