STEM Faculty

Professional biography

I graduated with a degree in Biochemistry from University of Bristol in 1989 and completed a PhD on the role of microglia in multiple sclerosis at the Institute of Neurology (UCL) in 1993. After a series of post-doctoral research positions at the Institute of Neurology, University of Kent and University of Oxford, I joined the Open University in 1999 as a research lecturer and became a senior lecturer in 2005. 

Other roles: LHCS Director of Teaching

Research interests

Educational research interests:

• closing awarding gaps
• student peer support
• assessment design

Laboratory research interests:

• oligodendrocyte and myelin biology
• CNS demyelinating conditions and neuroinflammation
• microglial cell biology
• hypoxia /ischaemia and white matter injury
• membrane lipid rafts
• using 3-dimensional tissue culture systems to model complex tissues and cellular organisation
• 3-dimensional neural cell culture models

Teaching interests

• Teaching in the areas of biochemistry and cell biology.
• Use of virtual onscreen experiments to support and enhance laboratory practicals.
• Accessibility of teaching materials and processes
• Current modules: S296 (Cell and Molecular Biology)