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Research group

Developmental Biology

A woman in a lab holding a test bottle.

We look into basic processes in reproduction and early development, and their relevance to postnatal diseases from cancer to osteoporosis.

Part of Biological sciences

About

We also explore how the periconceptional environment such as diet is thought to influence embryo development and ultimately affect adult health.

Our research areas of interest include:

  • epigenetic processes
  • oocyte meiotic maturation
  • preimplantation development
  • oriented cell division and polarity in mammary epithelial tissue
  • bone development
  • extracellular matrix and stem cell biology
  • the role of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in tumour invasion

Research highlights

A simulated close-up image of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Helping diagnose and treat COVID-19 more quickly

Health and wellbeing
When COVID-19 hit in late 2019, a worldwide fight to beat it began. Our biomedics have taken on the challenge to diagnose it quicker and treat it better - with promising early successes.

People, projects and publications

People

Doctor Claire Clarkin

Assoc Prof in Develpmtl & Skeltl Biology

Connect with Claire

Email: c.e.clarkin@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Miss Dianne Lopez

Senior Research Assistant

Connect with Dianne

Doctor Neil Smyth

Reader

Connect with Neil

Email: n.r.smyth@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD (View in Google Maps)

Doctor Salah Elias

Associate Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Salah

Email: s.k.elias@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

ORCID

Doctor Yihua Wang

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Cell Signalling in Disease
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Crosstalk

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Yihua

Email: yihua.wang@soton.ac.uk

Address: B85, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

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Our lab is discovering the mechanisms underlying the interaction between environmental factors, genetic and epigenetic processes and their influence on disease risk across the life course.
Professor Karen Lillycrop
Professor of Epigenetics
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