Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Nutrition and immune function
- Inflammation and biomarkers
- Scholarly activities
Current research
Nutrition and immune function. Dr Miles research focuses on the immunomodulatory actions of nutrients including micronutrients, probiotics, and omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. She has researched the influences of early nutrition on offspring health and development, and the influence of specific nutrients in the maternal diet on the immune development of the offspring. Early research demonstrated that the neonatal immune responses of babies who subsequently developed allergic symptoms were different from babies who did not. She is currently researching the influence of cellular fatty acid metabolism on T cell functions. She is also involved in the investigation of a novel plant source of long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (oil from a genetically modified oil seed crop plant (Camelina sativa). This seed oil could provide a sustainable source of the normally fish-derived omega 3 fatty acids for the human diet.
Maternal and infant nutrition. Dr Miles has a research interest in maternal and infant nutrition including iodine. This micronutrient is required in higher amounts during pregnancy and there is concern regarding the sufficiency of iodine in vulnerable populations in the developed world, including the UK and Europe.
Inflammation and biomarkers. Dr Miles has measured a range of biomarkers in a recent study investigating differences in the inflammatory process for virally and bacterially caused sore throats. She is also part of an investigation team measuring biomarkers in urine to allow early detection of urinary tract infections in older people who are care home residents.
Scholarly activities. Dr Miles is involved in scholarly activities investigating the impact and success of education strategy and support on student outcomes for the MSc Allergy programme.