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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 Business, 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

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.

Projects and publications

Research projects

Investigating the role of oriented cell divisions in mammary epithelial morphogenesis and homeostasis using human organoids
Status: Active
Lead researcher: Doctor Salah Elias
IfLS Pilot Project: Multiplex in situ imaging and deep learning to investigate the contribution of abnormal cell divisions to breast tumour heterogeneity
Status: Not active
Lead researcher: Doctor Salah Elias
The Gerald Kerkut Charitable Trust PhD Studentship: The genetics and developmental biology of cell division in mammary stem cells
Status: Not active
Lead researcher: Doctor Salah Elias

Our people

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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