Professor David Evans BSc, PhD (Wales)
Associate Dean Research and Knowledge Exchange
Email: deevans@brookes.ac.uk
Profile
David leads on research and knowledge exchange across this wide-ranging faculty. As well as a faculty management role, David is an active researcher and a founder member of international research consortia.
Research interests and expertise
David is currently researching a family of nuclear envelope associated proteins (NEAPs). His work uses a variety of techniques for protein-protein interaction and live cell imaging, including generation of mutants and fluorescent constructs of nuclear proteins. The nuclear envelope (NE) is of key importance in regulating the function of the nucleus. The role of the NE is being explored to enhance transformation of plant material and to enhance disease and drought resistance.
Areas of expertise
- Plant cell and molecular biology
- Plant cell and tissue culture
- Plant nuclear architecture and regulation
- Plant biotechnology
Dr Patrick Esser PhD
Senior Lecturer, Research Lead Movement Science Group
Email: pesser@brookes.ac.uk
Profile
Patrick has a background in engineering applied to health sciences. He acts as a link between engineering and clinicians as a data scientist, creating algorithms and bespoke programmes providing clinicians and researchers with the outputs required for the own relevant expertise.
Research interests and expertise
His PhD involved the creation of a single sensor gait analysis methodology applied in the field of clinical biomechanics whereby he has identified functional markers preceding the development of a clinical condition. He and his colleagues are developing this further as a monitoring tool to empower patient groups to monitor and alter their lifestyle based on a short-term walking test. He is also researching physical activity in both adults and children and developing clinical scales with regards to on-road driving.
Dr Sarah Irons BSc (Hons), PhD
Bioinnovation Hub Manager
Faculty Biological Laboratory Safety Officer
Email: sarahirons@brookes.ac.uk
Profile
Sarah holds a PhD in plant cell biology. She has worked with a number of groups within the university, researching pharmaceutical protein production in plants, non-targeted effects in cells exposed to low levels of radiation and most recently looking at the baculovirus-cell interactions during insect cell infection. She has acquired and developed skills in different imaging techniques in the course of this work. She now manages the university’s Bioinnovation Hub.
Research interests and expertise
As manager of the Bioinnovation Hub Sarah supports the groups and companies working within the hub laboratories. With over 15 years of experience in supervising students she continues to deliver training in fundamental techniques, such as protein expression, SDS-PAGE and western blotting to the trainee scientists working within the hub.
Areas of expertise
- Plant, insect and mammalian cell culture
- Microscopy
- Protein expression
Dr Verena Kriechbaumer
Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow in Biology
Email: vkriechbaumer@brookes.ac.uk
Profile
Verena is a plant cell biologist and protein biochemist with expertise in the structure and function of the plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER), membrane proteins and auxin biosynthesis using biochemical techniques as well as high-resolution live cell imaging.
Research interests and expertise
She researches in the structure and function of the plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER), membrane proteins, and auxin biosynthesis, using biochemical techniques and high-resolution live cell imaging. She has developed a research pathway in auxin biosynthesis going back to her degree and PhD.
Her interests also include subcellular protein localisation, bioinformatics, and mathematical modelling. Her independent research on ER localisation and splicing in auxin biosynthesis showed for the first time ER-localisation for an auxin biosynthetic protein. In 2012 she began work investigating the role of reticulon proteins in ER tubulation and viral trafficking, developing her international reputation in ER research and advanced imaging.
Verena is committed to linking academia and industry and is part of the Innovation Forum Oxford as an Oxford Brookes representative.
Areas of expertise
- Protein biochemistry and membrane targeting, protein-membrane interactions, protein expression and purification, enzymology, organelle purification in plant, yeast and bacterial systems
- High-resolution confocal live cell imaging and image analysis
- Bioinformatics
Dr David Meredith, BA (Hons) DPhil FHEA
Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry & Biomedical Science
Knowledge Exchange Lead, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences
Email: dmeredith@brookes.ac.uk
Profile
David holds a BA (Hons) and DPhil in Physiological Sciences, with expertise in membrane transport proteins and their role in drug absorption. He also helps co-ordinate knowledge exchange activities within the faculty and beyond.
Research interests and expertise
David’s main interests are in membrane transport proteins, researching both their structure-function relationships and in exploiting endogenous transporters for drug delivery, especially across the intestinal epithelium. To facilitate this, he collaborates with medicinal chemists in prodrug design projects, and performs biological testing on the novel compounds synthesised, with the aim of improving oral drug uptake for otherwise non-absorbable drugs.
Areas of expertise
- Cellular membrane transport protein expression
- Molecular biology
- Analytical techniques, including HPLC and electrophysiology