About me:

I am Director of the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility for Experimental Medicine; Lead for the NIHR Bioresource Centre Exeter, Common Diseases; Institutional Lead for the Wellcome funded GW4-CAT-HP clinical academic training programme and Professor of Cardiovascular Research. I stood down from my role as Vice-Dean Research, University of Exeter Medical School in 2019 after 10 years in this and the Vice-Dean Research, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry role (2009-2019).

I graduated in Physiology from the University of Newcastle and was awarded a PhD for an investigation of the vascular mechanisms underlying fluid homeostasis in patients with Liver Disease. Following postdoctoral positions at the Universities of Newcastle and London, where I expanded my research into the vascular aspects of hypertension, I moved to the Postgraduate Medical School, University of Exeter to establish the clinical microvascular research unit with Professor John Tooke, funded by the Wellcome Trust. 

My work, funded from the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, European Union IMI JU and NIHR, investigates novel approaches to the identification of early micro-vascular complications of diabetes and patient stratification for cardiovascular risk.

I was appointed Professor of Cardiovascular Research in 2000. As the Vice Dean for Research and previously the Director for the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, I played a central role in the research success of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and later the University of Exeter Medical School, driving the research strategy, the appointment of new staff and the development of state of the art facilities. I also led four successful medical School RAE/REF submissions.

I am committed to interdisciplinary research and supervise PhD students in collaboration with physicists, clinicians and basic scientists across a wide range of topics.

I am actively involved in Microcirculation research worldwide. I was Treasurer, European Society for Microcirculation for 10 years and the President, British Microcirculation and Vascular Biology Society. I am currently Chairman of the research Advisory Board, Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation.

Qualifications:

PhD
BSc

Awards:

The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education 1996, Diabetes and vascular health education and research: microvascular processes and associated work.

The Malpighi Gold medal, European Society for microcirculation 2015