Staff Profile

In Leeds, I established an international reputation in the field of nutritional genetics in relation to genes coding for proteins involved in folate and B-vitamin metabolism and function. I have authored a list of almost 100 publications including several reviews in high impact journals and books. In the years preceding my move to Australia in July 2003, I held around $500,000 AUD in funding including grants of $160,000 AUD from the British Heart Foundation, $145,000 AUD from Kelloggs and $85,000 AUD from the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. I am also an elected Fellow of the Society of Biology (London), and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (London). My research interests cover the chemistry, nutritional biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics of B-vitamins, especially folate, and their role in the metabolism of homocysteine, which is now an acknowledged risk factor for many degenerative diseases. In particular, my research efforts are focused on common allelic variants of genes (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) that code for folate dependent enzymes and carriers. My contribution in this area has led to improved understanding of how folate nutrition and genetics interact to modulate disease development. This work has shed light on how folate metabolism, status, nutrition and genetics impact on several disorders such as spina bifida, other serious conditions affecting pregnancy outcome, vascular disease, cancer, and neurological disorder. Two such papers for example look at the effect of folate SNPs and status on the efficacy of antifolate cancer chemotherapy in colon cancer cells. My publications span this area of interest and range from nutrient analysis and nutrient-gene interactions to the role of B-vitamins in human evolutionary processes. My publications show considerable collaboration with British and International colleagues. Since arriving to teach in the Bachelor of Food Science & Human Nutrition program in the School of Environmental & Life Sciences (SELS) on the Ourimbah Campus of the University of Newcastle in July 2003, I have set up a well-equipped PC2 laboratory directed to molecular nutrition which includes real-time PCR equipment, LC-MS, an imaging platform and other key technologies. I have re-established my research and am now co-supervising several PhD/Honours students working in collaboration with Dr Martin Veysey (Gosford Hospital), Dr Paul Roach (SELS) and Dr Zoe Yates. Most of these students are working in the area of B-vitamin nutrient-gene interactions and adenoma. I am the Chief facilitator for the Nutrition, Food & Health Research Group at Ourimbah. Through the School, the University and my collaborations, I have been able to access over $450,000 in set up and research funds, and am a CI on a large ARC grant with Drs Veysey and Roach. I also have an active interest in the issues associated with mandatory fortification of grain at source with synthetic folic acid. This is an area on which I have published extensively, including a recent Nature-Reviews Genetics article looking at the genetic and health implications of fortification. I am a member of the Folate Scientific Advisory Group of FSANZ looking at the implementation of mandatory folate fortification in Australia. Additionally, I have written an academic text book (July 2007) titled; Molecular Nutrition and Genomics: Nutrition & the Ascent of Humankind. This is a single author book, designed for students and researchers.