A-Z list of Roslin staff

I hold a PhD in animal breeding and genetics since 2011. I have experience and interest in a broad range of activities related to the selective breeding and genetic improvement of performance, health and welfare of aquaculture species and livestock animals. My research interests include analyzing phenotypic and genomic data of different animal species (Fish, Pigs, Cattle, Buffalo, Sheep, Goat, and Rabbits), using Bayesian and Frequentist statistics; beside working in molecular genetics laboratories. 

My current research activities encompass the integration of social network analysis, quantitative genetics, and machine/deep learning to improve animal performance, welfare, and health. 

Understanding the genetic control of complex traits, including responses to infectious disease, in farmed animals, primarily pigs and cattle.

Characterization of the genomes of Suina species, including domestic pigs (Sus scrofa), Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus), Bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus) and Collared Peccary (Pecari tajacu).

The aim of my research is to understand the interactions between large DNA viruses and their host, and translate this knowledge into clinical outcomes. My research team focuses on the three capripoxvirus species (lumpy skin disease virus, sheeppox virus and goatpox virus) which each cause severe disease in livestock in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. 

In addition to my research I am the OIE laboratory expert for capripoxviruses at the Pirbright Institute and provide advice to international agencies on the control of these viruses. I lead the European Commission funded project DEFEND which is tackling the emergence of African swine fever and lumpy skin disease in Europe in partnership with 31 other consortium members including industry partners ID-VET and Zoetis. (EU H2020 research programme 773701).

My research interests are in molecular pathways that become dysregulated in cancer and dysregulation of osteoclasts in bone. I have a particluar interest in oral tumours in cats, and how they invade the bone of the mandible as well as feline tooth resorption. Osteoclasts are my favourite cell, so anything related to osteoclasts and I am interested!

I am a behavioural ecologist interested in within species variation in individual behaviour.  I use a combination of sensor technology, experimental design and statistical techniques to answer questions about how an individual’s environment and past experiences can influence variability, both within themselves and amongst each other as well as at a group level.

During my PhD, I used amphibian tadpoles as model organism to understand the how individual variation in behaviour is influenced by environmental factors such as competition, food availability and human disturbance. 

My post-doctoral research is on the behaviour of commercially bred Pekin ducks.  I use multiple sources of environmental, sensor, genomic and phenotypes collected on individual ducks to improve both understanding of individuals and flock performance.

To date my main research interest has been in mixed (or multilevel) models. These involve identifying and accounting for sources of variation and correlation structures in the data and offer potential advantages over conventional modelling methods including: improved efficiency, more appropriate variances and correlations, wider inference and offer the potential to overcome problems caused by missing data.

At The Roslin Institute my research will involve providing the statistical contribution to collaborative scientific research using a range of methods and developing novel statistical approaches to particular problems arising where appropriate. I expect to develop my research in mixed models further in addressing applications arising within the Institute.

• Animal behaviour and welfare
• Experience of positive affect in animals
• 'Happy-Healthy' - how positive experiences affect mental and physical health
• Role of neuroinflammation in animal health and welfare
• Human-animal interactions - in particular empathy and animal training techniques

Aquaculture

Immunology

Genomics

• Veterinary clinical orthopaedics
• Veterinary surgical education
• The epidemiology of health aging in dog populations
• The genetic basis and functional aspects of osteoarthritis.

• Clinical farm animal veterinary medicine
• Population health and metabolic status
• Immunology and vaccinology
• Zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance  

• The relationship between renal handling of salt in early diabetes mellitus and regulation of blood pressure
• Molecular mechanisms in canine myxomatous mitral valve disease
• Inheritance and genetics of cardiac accessory pathways in UK Labrador retrievers
• Endothelial dysfunction in dogs in naturally occurring risk factors for metabolic syndrome

Our current projects include:

• The embryological origin of radial aplasia
• Fate mapping the limb bud and the control of co-ordinated development of limb anatomy
• Developing novel avian transgenic tools for developmental biology
• The evolution of limb pattern in birds
• The function of TALPID3

• Livestock comparative genomics, functional genomics and metagenomics.
• Tropical livestock adaptation, resilience and productivity
• Tropical agriculture and sustainable development

Research projects:

- Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal cells (MSCs) as novel tools for combating antimicrobial resistance in companion animals (horses and dogs) and livestock (cattle)

- Developing novel stem cell approaches towards next-generation regenerative therapies

- Involvement of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal cells in Mycobacterium infection

- Exploiting stem cell and gene editing technologies towards discovery of genetic variants important for muscle development and meat production

- Isolation and characterisation of myogenic precursor cells in pigs: towards development of an in vitro model for the study of muscle growth

Use of genomic and molecular tools to examine the evolution and pathogenesis of clinically important species of Staphylococci and Legionella

Our research has been to understand how E. coli causes disease, and then based on that knowledge develop interventions including vaccines and more recently phage therapy - the killing of bacteria with viruses that predate on them.  We are striving for a 'predictive' understanding of E. coli genomes, so that based on the sequence of any E. coli we can infer where it has come from, its threat to animal or human health, and how to successfully treat it with antibiotics or phage. 

I lead the HighlanderLab, which focuses on managing and improving populations using data science, genetics, and breeding.

We focus on populations used for food, feed, and fibre production with some spillover into other populations.

 We are particularly interested in:

(i) methods for genetics and breeding,

(ii) design and optimisation of breeding programmes, and

(iii) analysis of data to unravel biology and to find new ways of improving populations.

My primary role is working with Prof Eddie Clutton (https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/prof-eddie-clutton) in the Wellcome Critical Care Laboratory for Large Animals.

We develop, refine and utilise large animal models for translational research. Our expertise lies in prolonged anaesthesia and intensive care. We have worked with models of acute kidney injury, acute liver failure, acute lung injury (ARDS), cardiogenic shock, ventricular fibrillation and resuscitation.

I have also published clinical research on management of portosystemic shunts in dogs and hypotension under general anaesthesia in dogs.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1XQ8crbJhjG5X/bibliography/public/

Understanding complex trait variation in humans and other species.

Research methodology, open science practices

Within education research: Digital education (effectiveness, utilisation and effects on experience), student learning, student experience, staff teaching experience, effective public engagement.

Within veterinary sciences: human-animal interactions, human behaviour change for animal welfare, animal support, companion animal welfare, animal welfare education.

Assessment of competencies in veterinary education

Novel diagnostic tools in veterinary cardiology

Management of congenital heart diseases in canine patients

Pacemaker implantation in dogs with symptomatic bradycardia

Biobanking and genome editing of avian germ cells

I am currently working under Dr Mark Gray at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and Roslin Institute. Using different models, we are investigating the cellular susceptibility of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) infection and ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) development. 

Aetiopathogenesis of equine airway disease and characterising the equine pulmonary innate immune response. Equine dysautonomia, primarily in relation to the investigation of aetiologic pathways.

Scotts currently active areas of reseach include the following:

(1) studies on equine grass sickness with a particular focus on the potential aetiological role of ingested pasture-derived mycotoxins;

(2) studies of the innate immunity of the equine airway, with a particular focus on the role of the alveolar macrophage in determining disease susceptibility;

(3) studies on the role of intestinal macrophage activation in the initiation and maintenance of gut motility disturbances following gastrointestinal surgery (post-operative ileus).

Dr. Regan's lab is concerned with exploring immune systems of invertebrate aquaculture species in the context of industry relevant diseases. This includes interactions with host-associated microbiomes, environmental stressors and environmental microbiota.

In the foreseeable future, much of this work will focus on how host genetics and environmental stressors affect blue mussel immunology using a whole range of molecular biology and –omics technologies.

The Sutton lab is dedicated to delving into the intricate workings of the chicken's immune system. Leveraging state-of-the-art transgenic technologies pioneered at the Roslin Institute, our research hones in on elucidating the pivotal roles played by innate immune cells, specifically macrophages and dendritic cells, in host responses. Employing a blend of cutting-edge in vivo and in vitro models, our objective is to comprehensively grasp how these cells orchestrate immune responses to infections and vaccines within mucosal tissues. Using this knowledge we can devise more effective strategies to control disease and to enhance poultry health and productivity. 

The research in the Sutton lab is geared towards not only deepening our understanding of the chicken's immune system but also translating this knowledge into practical applications that can significantly benefit the poultry industry, promoting healthier and more productive poultry farming.

Advanced imaging of equine fractures

miRNAs and osteoarthritis

miRNAs and SNPs in equine stress fractures

Application of population and quantitative genetic approaches to dissect the genetic basis of phenotypic traits in domesticated animal species and to analyze the processes of domestication and breed development.  

Have you ever wondered how the bacteria that live on and inside of us influence how our bodies function? That is the question that the Williams lab aims to answer, with a specific focus on the female reproductive tract and the mammary gland. By identifying the mechanisms by which the microbiome influences female reproductive health and fertility, and how this is altered during disease, our aim is to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to combat the most common and debilitating mammalian reproductive health issues and disorders of lactation.

In a complementary theme, our lab also investigates the social and political factors influencing infant feeding in the UK, and the barriers that women face when it comes to feeding their babies. 

My postdoctoral project examines the resilience of wild birds to climate change, where I study their genomics and genetics using transcriptomic/epigenetic approaches to understand seasonality.

My Ph.D. project focuses on functional genomics in chicken, including the genotype-phenotype mapping, population genetics of human-mediated introgression, comparative genomics, and transcriptomics.

Experience in whole-genome sequence data, RNA-seq data, and genome editing techniques (CRISPR-Cas9 in zebrafish).

My passion and interest are growing in bioinformatics to develop computational tools; understanding the function of the genome, and using genomics to study the demography and evolution of populations.