Dr Meena Balasubramanian
MBBS, DCH, FRCPCH, MD, FHEA
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
Senior Clinical Lecturer in Musculoskeletal Genetics
Clinical Director for Research, 葫芦影业 Childrens Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Executive Director, SCYPHeR (葫芦影业 Children and Young People Health Research) Initiative.
Honorary Consultant Clinical Geneticist; 葫芦影业 Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.
NIHR RDN Children's Speciality Lead, Yorkshire and Humber Region.
NIHR Clinical Academic Training Lead- Genomic Medicine, University of 葫芦影业.
Lead Consultant Bone Geneticist for the nationally-commissioned Osteogenesis Imperfecta service in England.
+44 114 215 9008
Full contact details
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
D39
Firth Court
Western Bank
葫芦影业
S10 2TN
- Profile
-
For enquiries please contact - SMPH-West-Operational@sheffield.ac.uk
Rare diseases affect over 3.5 million people in the UK and recent medical advances have provided the means to generate diagnoses for several rare diseases that have been studied to-date but have no treatment. Importantly, a large proportion of these diseases are caused by specific alterations in the genetic building blocks or DNA of affected patients. I am a Clinician Scientist and Academic Clinical Geneticist who combines clinical insights into rare diseases with excellent science on in vivo and in vitro modelling, capitalising on key strengths I have gained through my career to-date, providing a direct link to translational medicine and the independence to pursue my vision of transforming care provided for rare disease patients.
My current research programme has the following themes:
- Enabling early confirmatory diagnosis through mining genomics data and functional characterisation of novel rare disease genes.
- Understanding disease mechanism through cell-based and animal modelling.
- Natural history studies with the focus on pulling together 鈥榯rial-ready鈥 cohorts of rare disease patients with emphasis on advanced gene-directed therapies.
I hold a joint position with 葫芦影业 Children鈥檚 Hospital which is only one of three dedicated children鈥檚 hospital in the UK. I care for children and adults with rare genetic disorders. I am also the Research Director for 葫芦影业 Children鈥檚 Hospital.
Current PhD Opportunities:
PhD applications invited.
- Qualifications
-
06/2023 Fellow of Health Education Academy, Advance HE (FHEA)
10/2016 Fellow of RCPCH: Nominated by Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health (FRCPCH)
12/2012 MD (Doctor in Medicine), Dept of Human Metabolism, University of 葫芦影业 on Osteogenesis Imperfecta
07/2007 Member of Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health (MRCPCH)
06/2004 Diploma in Child Health, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (DCH)
06/2002 Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in Surgery (MBBS)
- Research interests
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My group鈥檚 main areas of research currently are in,
Rare bone genetics (NBAS therapy; Novel gene discovery in OI; OI gene therapy; Hypophosphatasia).
Rare neurodevelopmental disorders (Undiagnosed genetic disorders; HNRNPU and ASXL3-related disorder).
Rare bone genetics
1. NBAS Therapy: During studies to identify genes associated with rare osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) phenotypes, we discovered that the same mutations in NBAS (Neuroblastoma Amplified Sequence) known to be associated with acute liver failure in infants were responsible for skeletal abnormalities in patients with OI. This work was published as a novel cause of bone fragility. This discovery provided me the opportunity to use tractable animal (zebrafish) research to advance understanding of the mechanisms by which NBAS exerts its effects, having generated zebrafish models that accurately mimic human disease in order to identify potential new treatments.
2. Novel gene discovery in OI and understanding disease mechanism for non-collagen OI genes: This is a long-standing research interest of mine focused on mining genomics data for new gene discovery working alongside diagnostic colleagues from 100,000 Genomes project for which I lead the bone fragility domain as GeCIP lead and NHS whole genome sequencing. This has led me to identify novel OI genes which are being worked up. An additional area is genes linking brain and bone disease such as Sodium Channelopathies, spermine synthase and SETD5 which I am exploring the causal link and why these disorders cause a bone phenotype.
3. OI Gene therapy: We are working towards developing phenotypic assays to facilitate molecular and cellular characterisation of OI phenotype using iPSC cell lines. We hypothesise that access to disease-relevant cells with patient-specific variants will provide the most representative models of OI, thus allowing us to set up reliable assays for therapeutic discovery. We are deriving iPSCs from our existing banks of OI patients鈥 fibroblasts and differentiating these into osteoblasts. We plan to set up a phenotypic assay as a proof-of-principle for future high-throughput drug discovery efforts and in-depth mechanistic studies.
4. Family mapping in Hypophosphatasia (FAME Study): The aim of this study is to detect additional symptomatic and asymptomatic HPP patients within affected families, in order to establish a cohort of HPP patients using family mapping and predictive genotyping approach. In addition, we also want to examine the relationship between a pathogenic variant in ALPL and musculoskeletal symptoms and other aspects of general health status.
Genomic Medicine
1. Undiagnosed Genetic Disorders and functional studies This involves mining genomics data for rare phenotypic presentations and discovering candidate genes for novel neurodevelopmental and congenital disorders and identifying additional international patients through interrogation of worldwide genomic datasets using Genematcher and Matchmaker exchange programmes; undertaking functional studies for publication of a novel genes.
2. HNRNPU-related disorder HNRNPU-related disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by heterozygous, de novo, loss-of-function variants in HNRNPU. Patients with pathogenic variants in HNRNPU present with seizures, global developmental delay, early onset epilepsy, hypotonia, autistic features, and a variety of anatomical abnormalities and intellectual disability. My group has published the largest HNRNPU patient cohort (Yates et al., 2017; Durkin et al., 2021; Taylor et al., 2022) and now working to understand underlying disease mechanism and engineer therapeutic interventions for HNRNPU syndrome. Knowledge gained from this can act as a model for similar loss-of-function RNDDs and establish 葫芦影业 as a pioneer for this therapeutic approach. We now have a natural history study focused on longitudinal clinical data and sample collection for HNRNPU. We also published a Genereview chapter on clinical diagnosis and management of HNRNPU (Balasubramanian., 2022). Working with 鈥楿nique鈥 rare disease patient support group, we have published a patient guide for HNRNPU-related disorder.
3. ASLX3-related disorder, also referred to as Bainbridge-Ropers syndrome, is characterised by developmental delay and intellectual disability caused by heterozygous, de novo pathogenic variants in ASXL3 (Additional Sex Combs-Like 3). Over the last 5 years, my group has published most of the literature on this condition (Balasubramanian et al., 2017; Myers et al., 2018; Schirwani et al., 2019; Schirwani et al., 2021) and published a Genereview chapter on clinical diagnosis and management of the condition (Balasubramanian., 2020). Working with 鈥楿nique鈥 rare disease patient support group, we have published a patient guide for ASXL3. We now have a natural history study focused on longitudinal clinical data and sample collection for ASXL3.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- . Neurology, 99(14).
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
- . Archives of Disease in Childhood.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 185(11), 3446-3458.
- . Journal of Clinical Immunology, 41(8), 1781-1793.
- . European Journal of Human Genetics, 29(4), 625-636.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 182(7), 1637-1654.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics, 55(3), 158-165.
- . BONE, 94, 65-74.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics.
- . Nature Genetics, 47(11), 1363-1369.
Chapters
All publications
Journal articles
- . European Journal of Human Genetics, 1-10.
- . Rare, 2, 100052-100052.
- . Genetics in Medicine Open, 101864-101864.
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics.
- . Genetics in Medicine, 26(2), 101023-101023.
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics, 110(8), 1414-1435.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 32(1), 43-47.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 191(1), 310-310.
- . European Journal of Human Genetics.
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics.
- . Neuromuscular Disorders.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
- . Neurology, 99(14).
- . BMJ Case Reports, 15(6).
- . European Journal of Human Genetics.
- . BMJ Case Reports, 15(3).
- . Clinical Dysmorphology.
- . European Journal of Medical Genetics, 65(4).
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 188(3), 867-877.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 188(3), 931-940.
- . Bone Reports, 15.
- . Archives of Disease in Childhood.
- . Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 16(1).
- . Ultrastructural Pathology, 45(6), 414-420.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 185(11), 3446-3458.
- . Journal of Clinical Immunology, 41(8), 1781-1793.
- . Clinical Genetics, 100(4), 412-429.
- . Clinical Genetics, 100(3), 352-354.
- . American Journal of Human Genetics, 108(6), 1083-1094.
- . Clinical Genetics, 99(4), 547-557.
- . Bone, 144.
- . Nature Communications, 12.
- . European Journal of Human Genetics, 29(4), 625-636.
- . European Journal of Medical Genetics, 63(12).
- . Clinical Genetics, 98(6), 622-625.
- . Nature, 586(7831), 757-762.
- . Genetics in Medicine, 22(9), 1498-1506.
- . Genetics in Medicine, 22(9), 1567-1567.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 29(3), 155-157.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 182(7), 1637-1654.
- . Genetics in Medicine, 22(6), 1129-1129.
- . Genetics in Medicine, 22(6), 1005-1014.
- . European Journal of Medical Genetics, 63(6).
- . Human Mutation, 41(5), 1042-1050.
- . Human Genetics, 139, 575-592.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 182(4), 713-720.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 29(1), 10-16.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 182(4), 697-704.
- . Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine, 7(12).
- . Nature Communications, 10(1).
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics, 105(5), 933-946.
- . Brain, 142(9), 2631-2643.
- . Human Mutation, 40(8), 1013-1029.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 28(3), 158-161.
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics, 104(6), 1210-1222.
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics, 104(5), 948-956.
- . Bone, 121, 191-195.
- . Clinical Genetics, 95(4), 496-506.
- . Gene, 685, 50-54.
- . European Journal of Medical Genetics, 62(2), 109-114.
- . Science, 362(6419), 1161-1164.
- . Nature Communications, 9(1).
- . Epilepsy Research, 147, 121-121.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 27(4), 113-115.
- . Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Reports, 16, 12-12.
- . European Journal of Paediatric Neurology.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 176(7), 1578-1586.
- . Bone Reports, 8, 156-162.
- . Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Reports, 15, 69-70.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 176(5), 1049-1054.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 176(5), 1238-1244.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 176(4).
- . Journal of Medical Genetics, 55(3), 158-165.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 176(4), 925-935.
- . Epilepsy Research, 140, 166-170.
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics, 102(1), 175-187.
- . The American Journal of Human Genetics, 102(1), 69-87.
- . Ophthalmic Genetics, 39(2), 286-287.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 173(12), 3165-3171.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 173(11), 3003-3012.
- . Neurology, 89(10), 1035-1042.
- . Clin Dysmorphol.
- . Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
- . Nature, 542(7642), 433-438.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 26(1), 38-40.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics.
- . BONE, 94, 65-74.
- . Gene, 595(1), 49-52.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics.
- . Am J Med Genet A.
- . Am J Med Genet A.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 170(7), 1918-1923.
- . Ultrastructural Pathology, 40(2), 71-76.
- . Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 136(5), 1056-1059.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 25(1), 19-22.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 170(2), 476-481.
- . Nature Neuroscience, 18(12), 1731-1736.
- . Nature Genetics, 47(11), 1363-1369.
- . Human Mutation, 36(12), 1197-1204.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 24(4), 151-155.
- . The Lancet, 385(9975), 1305-1314.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 24(2), 45-54.
- . Journal of Human Genetics, 60(6), 313-317.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 167(3), 587-591.
- . Nature, 519(7542), 223-228.
- . Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, 17(1), 70-72.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 164(7), 1713-1733.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 164(5), 1222-1226.
- . Molecular Syndromology.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 23(4), 127-129.
- . European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 17(6), 661-665.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 161(9), 2174-2182.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 22(3), 93-101.
- . Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, 15(6), 478-486.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 155(6), 1414-1418.
- . European Journal of Medical Genetics, 54(3), 314-318.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics, 48(5), 290-298.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 20(1), 47-49.
- . Expert Review of Dermatology, 5(5), 519-523.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 152A(12), 3138-3142.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 152A(2), 340-346.
- . Clinical Dysmorphology, 19(1), 48-50.
- . European Journal of Medical Genetics, 52(4), 234-238.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 149A(4), 793-797.
- . Chemico-Biological Interactions, 168(3), 229-236.
- . Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 89(2), 353-361.
- . Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 66(2), 154-158.
- . Science of The Total Environment, 372(1), 157-163.
- . Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 86(3), 157-161.
- . Chemico-Biological Interactions, 163(1-2), 170-175.
- . Ecotoxicology, 15(5), 469-476.
- . Chemosphere, 63(9), 1523-1531.
- Phosphomonoesterase activity in different stages of Moniezia expanza (Cestoda). Cytobios, 1999(388), 71-75.
- Influence of distillery effluent on feeding energetics of freshwater fish in relation to water temperature. Cytobios, 1999(389), 175-187.
- Impact of monocrotophos on protein and carbohydrate metabolism in different tissues of albino rats. Cytobios, 1999(389), 131-136.
- . Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 62(6), 743-748.
- . Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 60(1), 22-29.
- The toxicity of combinations of monocrotophos and ammonium chloride to Oreochromis mossambicus. Biomedical Letters, 55(219-220), 193-198.
- Individual and combined effect of copper and chromium on oxygen consumption and phosphatases of a marine edible crab, Scylla serrata. Biomedical Letters, 55(219-220), 147-152.
- . Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 59(6), 989-993.
- Effect of naphthalene on phosphatases and esterase in muscle and testes of male Scylla serrata. Biomedical Letters, 54(213), 39-43.
- . Journal of Helminthology, 58(2), 101-104.
- . Epilepsia.
- . Clinical Genetics.
- . European Journal of Human Genetics.
- . Journal of Medical Genetics.
- .
- . Bone Abstracts.
- . Bone Abstracts.
- . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
- . Bone Abstracts.
- . Bone Abstracts.
- . Endocrine Abstracts.
- . Journal of Pediatric Genetics, 01(04), 247-252.
- . Bone Abstracts.
- . Bone Abstracts.
- . Bone Abstracts.
- . Bone Abstracts.
Chapters
- , Genomic and Molecular Cardiovascular Medicine (pp. 181-189). Elsevier
- , Genomic and Molecular Cardiovascular Medicine (pp. 181-189). Elsevier
- ASXL3-Related Disorder
- (pp. 1-63). Morgan and Claypool
- , The Pediatric and Perinatal Autopsy Manual (pp. 105-119). Cambridge University Press
Conference proceedings papers
- CHD8 missense variants cause a variable neurodevelopmental disorder with incomplete penetrance. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, Vol. 32 (pp 721-721)
- ELUCIDATION OF COLLAGEN FIBRE STRUCTURE IN OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA USING SECOND HARMONIC GENERATION IMAGING ON POLYCAPROLACTONE FIBRES. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, Vol. 29(11-12) (pp 953-953)
- Systematic evaluation of EHMT1 protein altering variants uncovers unexpected insights on EHMT1 functions and Kleefstra syndrome pathogenesis. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, Vol. 31 (pp 456-457)
- Heterozygous mutations in SETD5 are associated with bone fragility. HORMONE RESEARCH IN PAEDIATRICS, Vol. 96 (pp 479-480)
- Deep phenotyping of biallelic HACE1 variants. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, Vol. 30(SUPPL 1) (pp 280-281)
- VISUALIZATION OF COLLAGEN FIBRE STRUCTURE IN OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA USING SECOND HARMONIC GENERATION IMAGING ON POLYCAPROLACTONE SCAFFOLD. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A, Vol. 28 (pp S601-S602)
- . European Journal of Human Genetics, Vol. 27 (pp 1298-1299). Gothenburg, Sweden, 15 June 2019 - 18 June 2019.
- . European Journal of Human Genetics, Vol. 27(Supplement 2) (pp 1471-1472). Gothenburg, Sweden, 15 June 2019 - 18 June 2019.
- BMP2 or not BMP2? A SMAD6-related question in craniosynostosis. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, Vol. 27 (pp 1277-1278)
- . Bone Abstracts, Vol. 7. Salzburg, Austria, 22 June 2019 - 25 June 2019.
- Compound heterozygous variants in IFT140 as a cause of non-syndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, Vol. 26 (pp 851-851)
- PHENOTYPE AND NATURAL HISTORY IN 49 INDIVIDUALS WITH SATB2- ASSOCIATED SYNDROME. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A, Vol. 176(6) (pp 1526-1527)
- . Bone Abstracts, Vol. 6(2017). Bristol, UK, 10 June 2017 - 13 June 2017.
- Molecular mechanism underlying interstitial lung disease, nephrotic syndrome and epidermolysis bullosa. JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY, Vol. 135 (pp S59-S59)
- Referral to Clinical Genetics following post modem examination in foetal losses. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 48 (pp S58-S58)
- Blue rubber bleb naevus syndrome- severe presentation in a neonate. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 46 (pp S60-S60)
- Previously unreported feature in IMAGe Syndrome: Case discussion and review of published literature. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 46 (pp S60-S60)
- Audit on Genetics Ward Round- Wessex Experience. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 46 (pp S58-S58)
- Update of a unique case report by Tandon et al- Clefting with irido-retinochoroidal coloboma and skeletal abnormalities. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 45 (pp S37-S37)
- Cutis aplasia, cardiac anomaly and abnormalities of portal vasculature: varying presentation in Adams Oliver Syndrome. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 45 (pp S38-S38)
- Aplasia cutis congenita, terminal limb defects and bilateral closed lip schizencephaly- a variant of Adams-Oliver Syndrome. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Vol. 45 (pp S37-S37)
- . Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Vol. 63(1) (pp 141-147)
Other
Preprints
- Research group
-
My group is working on two main research areas: Rare Bone Disorders and Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorders
1. Rare Bone Disorders (RBD)
I am working on two RBDs: Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) and Hypophosphatasia (HPP). I am currently pursuing an MRC Fellowship on developing zebrafish disease models for bone fragility and developing targets for therapeutic intervention having set up 鈥楤alasubramanian lab鈥 at Bateson Centre, University of 葫芦影业.
I lead inter-disciplinary bone genetics research: deep phenotyping (first Musculoskeletal NIHR Rare Disease Translational Research collaboration grant), fracture risk prediction models; genomics in OI and awarded grants by Brittle Bone Society in their first ever research call to study OI health economics and patient diagnostic journey and BRONE Study studying brain and bone association.
2. Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorders (RNDDs)
In the area of paediatric genomic medicine, my research is focused on genotype-phenotype correlation in newly identified genes from next generation sequencing studies such as Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) study and the Genomics England, 100,000 Genomes Project. I am considered one of the world-leading experts on these disorders and have published national and international guidelines on diagnosis, management and ongoing surveillance for such disorders including ASXL3-related disorder, HNRNPU-related neurodevelopmental disorder, and SIN3A-related disorder. I am also working on developing gene therapy for rare neurodevelopmental disorders (RNDDs) and recently secured funding from The Children鈥檚 Hospital Charity and LifeArc to work on preliminary data collection for this proposal.
PhD Students:
2023 PhD (N Supari), Variants of uncertain significance: OI
2023 PhD (D Aiyedun), HNRNPU-related disorder
2023 PhD (N Kelly), Gene therapy in OI (MRC DiMEN)
2022 MD (E Woods), ASXL3-related syndrome
2020 PhD (T Cebe), Collagen orientation in OI
- Grants
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Key Research Grants as Lead Investigator:
- Vascular-EDS zebrafish models, Annabelle鈥檚 Challenge, 2025
- Zebrafish models for HNRNPU-related disorder, BetterFuture4U Foundation, 2024
- Drug repurposing for HNRNPU, HNRNP Family Foundation, USA, 2024
- SCYPHeR Initiative, UoS Knowledge Exchange Funding, 2023
- SkelFish Study, The Children鈥檚 Hospital Charity, 2023
- HNRNPU toward developing gene therapy, The Children's Hospital Charity and LifeArc Pathfinder Scheme, 2022
- Unravelling role of NBAS in skeletal development, MRC, 2021
- Family mapping in HPP study, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, 2021
- High bone mass Osteogenesis Imperfecta Study, Charlie Veale Research Award, 2017
- Assessing the Balance of Cost and Determining the Experiences of Families in Paediatric Osteogenesis Imperfecta Healthcare (ABCD Study), Brittle Bone Society Research Grants, 2017
Complementary Analyses Proposals (Deciphering Developmental Disorders Study- Sanger Institute Cambridge)
- XPO1 as a novel cause of congenital anomaly disorder including intellectual disability [#356]
- SP4 as a novel cause of congenital anomaly disorder including intellectual disability [#346]
- TAOK1-related neurodevelopmental disorder [#347]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in USP7 (Hao-Fountain Syndrome) [#336]
- ZFHX4-Related Developmental Disorder [#337]
- SIN3A: Genotype-phenotype correlation [#282]
- Expanding the phenotype of TAB2 variants [#279]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in NSDHL [#268]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in YWHAG [#267]
- Study of patients with Joubert syndrome and CC2D2A variants [#263]
- Expansion of the movement disorder phenotype in SCN2A-related disease [#262]
- Study of patients with MAN1B1 mutations [#249]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in ASXL3 (Bainbridge-Ropers syndrome) [#130]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in NBAS [#143]
- Cole-Carpenter syndrome CRTAP [#96]
- Novel mechanisms causing Osteogenesis Imperfecta [#12]
- Hypophosphatasia and ALPL mutations [#213]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in ATP1A3 [#135]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in HNRNPU [#204]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in IQSEC2 [#267]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in VLDLR [#2197]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in SRPX2 [#221]
- Genotype-phenotype correlation in LAMP2 [#228]Co-Investigator:
- Gene therapy for Syngap1 (CI: Prof Azzouz, University of 葫芦影业)
- Osteostem study (CI: Prof Barbaric, University of 葫芦影业).
- Sensory profiles in genetic syndromes associated with autism (CI: Dr Freeth, University of 葫芦影业).
- 葫芦影业 PI for PregCare Study (CI: Prof Goriely and Prof Wilkie, University of Oxford); Additional findings study (CI: Prof Chitty and Dr Hill, UCL); Patient experience in WGS (CI: Dr Lewis, UCL); Splicing study (CI: Prof Baralle, University of Southampton).
- Teaching interests
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Postgraduate University Courses/ Teaching:
MSc Teaching:
- MMedSci Advance Clinical Practice: Genetics session
- MSc Workplace modules (MED680)
- MSc Endocrinology lecture on rare disease genetics
- MSc in Human and Molecular Genetics (Module on Genetics in Human Disease)
- University of 葫芦影业 MSc Genomic Medicine lectures (MED670)
MSc Project Supervision:
2024 MSc Molecular Medicine
2024 MSc Reproductive and Developmental Medicine
2023/24 MSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
2023 MSc Neuroscience and Advanced Therapies
2023 MSc Scientist Training Programme
2022 Summer Internship, University of Applied Sciences, Germany
2020 MSc Genomic Medicine, UoS
2020 MSc Genomic Medicine, UCLUndergraduate Teaching:
I am the MBChB Medical Careers Theme Lead (Aug鈥23 onwards). In this role, I am providing strategic oversight to develop the careers strategy for AUME and ensure this aligns with the University pillars. I am leading on a project embedding mySkills into the MBChB curriculum and working with the Medical Education Directors and core group to ensure career theme is implemented consistently
My formal teaching also includes,
- 1st and 3rd year University of 葫芦影业 medical students鈥 Paediatric lectures
- ILA Facilitator, Phase 1 MBChB
- I participate in MBChB formative and summative assessments and clinic teaching.
- I participate in the Medical Student interviews (MMI)
- Assessor for SSC History of Medicine
- I contribute regularly to Phase 2a MBChB SBA question banks
- 3-week Clinical Genetics placements for MBChB students with excellent feedback with most returning to do projects with me.
- SSC placements and BSc Intercalating student supervision
Specialist Courses:
- I deliver at least 6-7 invited lectures every year for post-graduate students/ doctors on Osteogenesis Imperfecta and rare bone genetics (National Genetics Trainee Day/ All Wales Genetics Service Training Day/ Pan Thames Skeletal Dysplasia Teaching/ Yorkshire and Humber Teaching Day to name a few)
- I provide national and international teaching for Genetics trainees on 鈥極steogenesis Imperfecta鈥 and 鈥楢typical Bone Fragility鈥 (Belgian Rheumatology Association)
- I provide post-graduate genetics teaching to paediatric trainees (STEPP teaching) for Yorkshire and Humber Deanery and invited by several sub-specialities to give lectures on their organised study days on Genomic medicine (this includes Paediatric Endocrinology, Ophthalmology, and Paediatrics in peripheral hospitals)
- I am actively involved in teaching Paediatric trainees for MRCPCH and DCH examinations
- Deliver lectures in India at the International Birth Defects Conference, JSS University, Mysuru and Apollo Institute, New Delhi
- Professional activities and memberships
-
International
- Rare Bone Disease European Reference Network Working Group 1 (Diagnostic Challenges) Co-leader (BOND ERN)- 2017-2021. Steering group member for BOND ERN- 2017-2021
- 2018: I set out & presented White Paper on current status of OI diagnosis & improving patient pathways at European Parliament
National
- Clinical Genetics Society (UK) - Secretary
- British Society of Genomic Medicine
- Skeletal Dysplasia Group
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- General Medical Council
Patient support groups Medical Advisory Board (MAB)
- Medical and Scientific Advisory Board Member, HNRNP international support group (2022-)
- Medical Advisory Board Member, Brittle Bone Society (2019-)
- Scientific Advisory Committee member, 葫芦影业 Children's Hospital Charity (2018-)
I set up and lead the 鈥楴orth East and Yorkshire Genomic Research Network鈥 with inaugural meeting in June 22 to encourage genomics research across the NEY region in collaboration with academic universities (University of Newcastle, 葫芦影业, Leeds, York and Bradford), Genomic Laboratory Hubs and Genomics Medicine Service Alliance working with Genomics England.
NHS Genomic Medicine Service Alliance North East Yorkshire (NEY) Research Director (2020-) The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) Research Collaborative has been brought together as part of the NHS Long Term Plan aim to support research and development by facilitating genomic research on a national scale and ensure alignment with national research aims to deliver better outcomes for patients both now and in the future. The NHS GMS Research Collaborative is a partnership between the NHS GMS, Genomics England and the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).
A key aim of the NHS GMS is to support research and development, including the development of a single genomic knowledgebase to allow research on a national scale, and ensure alignment with national research aims. The NHS GMS Research Collaborative provides a forum through which NHS England and NHS Improvement, NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs, NHS GMS Alliances, Genomics England and the National Institute for Health Research work in partnership to facilitate high-quality genomic research on a national scale.
I am the NEY NHS GMSA Research Director with my role focused on promoting genomic research in our region across the academic institutions in the region (University of Newcastle, Leeds, 葫芦影业, York and Bradford) and NHS organisations across the region.
Leadership Activities
2024 - Section Deputy Head, Clinical Sciences, Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, UoS
2024 - Mellanby Executive Committee Member, UoS
2023 - Clinical Director of Research, SCH
2023 - Founding Director, 葫芦影业 Children & Young People Health Research (SCYPHeR) Initiative between 葫芦影业 Children鈥檚 Hospital, 葫芦影业 Hallam University and University of 葫芦影业
2022 - Impact Lead, Division of Clinical Medicine, UoS
2023 - REF Reviewer, Oncology & Metabolism, UoS -
2022 - Athena SWAN SAT Committee Member, Athena SWAN Organisation and Culture sub-group Committee Member
2021-2023 - Research Director, NHS North East Yorkshire (NEY),Genomic Medicine Service Alliance
- Patient information leaflets
2020-21: Genetics in OI; pregnancy in OI leaflets
2019-20:
2013-20: Unique guides for these genetic disorders- , , , , ; & deletion syndrome (); NORD guides for ,
Links