Biography

I initially trained as a teacher in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on qualifying taught in Newcastle and then London. While teaching in London I studied for a BSc in Biological Sciences through evening classes at Birkbeck College. I then studied for a Ph.D at the Institute of Virology in Glasgow, working with Neil Wilkie on Herpes viruses. This was followed by a lectureship and post-doctoral work on glutamine synthetase gene amplification at the Institute of Genetics in Glasgow. Arriving in Surrey on a 'New Blood' lectureship I worked on applying molecular biology techniques to cells for the production of useful therapeutic products and to modify cellular physiology. This led to research on rubella virus and the production of recombinant diagnostics.

Research Interests

• Human virology, particularly rubella virus.
• Viral involvement in chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Metabolic engineering
• Serine hydroxymethyltransferase

Departmental Duties

Chairman: SBMS BioSciences Board of Studies & the Teaching committee

Member: Student Progress and Assessment board (SPAB),Widening Participation Advisary Group (WPAG), Teaching Policy Development Committee (TPDC), Personal Tutor Liaison Group (PTLG).