Research
Early in my career I recognised nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as the hepatic manifestation of obesity and the metabolic syndrome (Moore, 2010), and in 2023 after a global Delphi consensus process NAFLD was renamed to metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Diet and lifestyle are key modifiable risk factors for MASLD and underpin clinical management guidelines.
Collaborating with clinicians and computational biologists, I have led multidisciplinary work that has ranged from examining the roles of dietary nutrients in MASLD, to the development and simulation of novel in silico systems models of liver metabolism, and the characterization of the dysregulation of the enzyme glyoxalase. Much of this research has utilized genomic, proteomic, and systems biology tools, traditionally underemployed in the Nutritional Sciences. I have also led dietary and physical activity assessment and intervention trials in humans; and very practical work exposing the high sugar content of yogurt, which captured the public’s interest and worldwide media attention. Not least of all, recent strands of food policy and food systems work have related to food poverty, childhood obesity, and the triple burden of malnutrition (undernutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies), in both the UK and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Current work with collaborators in the Human Liver Research Facility and the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Liverpool, is focused on utilizing a combination of ex vivo human 3D culture models (primary hepatocyte spheroids, hepatic organoids and precision cut liver slices) and proteomic and metabolomic approaches towards understanding hepatic nutrient metabolism in MASLD and other liver diseases. Molecular mechanisms underpinning the roles of the micronutrient’s vitamin D and ergothioneine in healthy ageing of particular interest.