GROUP LEADER

I trained as a veterinary anaesthesia specialist before developing a parallel research career in somatosensory neuroscience. My interest in pain mechanisms grew directly from clinical practice and the challenge of measuring and treating pain in animals that cannot report it.

My PhD focused on the spinal circuits that carry pain and itch signals to the brain. I now hold a Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellowship, leading a group investigating how dorsal horn neuron identity shapes pain processing across species.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

I received my Bachelor’s degree from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and my Master of Philosophy degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

I moved to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2019 to conduct my PhD in Health and Medical Science, studying the mechanisms of fibrous dysplasia-induced bone. After my PhD, I completed a postdoctoral research project on the role of netrin-1 in cancer-induced bone pain.

I moved to Glasgow in January 2026 to join the Bell Lab, investigating the transcriptomic profile of projection neurons. Additionally, I contribute to early-career researcher initiatives, as well as patient and public outreach initiatives.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

HONORARY RESEARCH FELLOW

I qualified in Medicine (1979) and obtained a PhD in Neuroscience (1983), both in London. I then moved to Glasgow and have spent the last 40 years investigating the functional anatomy of the rodent spinal cord, with particular emphasis on neuronal circuits in the dorsal horn that are involved in the perception of pain and itch. Our work has identified several populations among both the interneurons and projection neurons, and has begun to reveal their roles in sensory processing.

PHD STUDENT

I qualified as veterinary surgeon graduated and worked as an equine veterinary surgeon before completing a MScR in Integrative Neuroscience in Edinburgh, where I conducted proteomics and in silico analysis to understand pathophysiology of equine grass sickness (an equine neurodegenerative disease). I then worked as a Clinician at the Equine Practice of the University of Edinburgh and obtained a Certificate as Advanced Veterinary Practitioner. In September 2023 I moved to Glasgow to start my PhD. 

My project focuses on transcriptomic analysis and cell culture of the canine dorsal root ganglia. My PhD project focuses molecular characterisation of pain sensory neurons and understanding the role of DRG immune cells a that could then be of interest for therapeutic purposes in the dog.

My main interest is to strengthen and hone the translation between human and veterinary diseases.  

PHD STUDENT

I completed a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience at University College Dublin and subsequently completed an MRes in Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh. During my master's dissertation, I contributed to the development of a rodent model of Everyday Memory and co-authored a publication with Dr Francesco Gobbo and Professor Richard Morris arising from this work.

I am a second-year Pain Relief Foundation-funded PhD researcher at the University of Glasgow, characterising the nociresponsive region of Brodmann Area 3a in rodents using advanced histological techniques, with the aim of improving non-invasive neuromodulation approaches for chronic pain. My research focuses on locating this area and investigating its potential as a target for non-invasive treatments for chronic neuropathic pain.

In my spare time, I enjoy a variety of dance styles, including Greek traditional dancing, Sean-nós dancing, and salsa.

PHD STUDENT

I completed my BSc in Medical Laboratory Sciences at Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia, where I am currently a faculty member. I then completed an MSc in Human Anatomy at the University of Dundee in 2022, where my research focused on Vascular Causes of Equine Cauda Equina Syndrome

I started my PhD at the University of Glasgow in 2026. My research focuses on the spinal cord dorsal horn, with an interest in characterising and understanding the neuronal populations and circuits involved in sensory processing and pain.

My research interests include neuroanatomy, spinal cord organisation, sensory processing, and the neural mechanisms underlying pain.

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN