My aim is to understand fundamental questions relating to growth of the body during development in the womb:

(i) How is fetal growth regulated such that the correct body size and proportions is attained?

(ii) When fetal growth is compromised, how does this lead to a greater risk of common health conditions in later life, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and mental health disorders?

Surprisingly little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling growth despite the universal importance of birth weight as a health indicator. Certain genes are involved along with environmental factors during pregnancy, such as maternal diet and obesity. Using mouse genetic models, we have identified key growth genes and shown how they interact. In addition to body size these genes can influence development of lean and fat tissue proportions, which appears to impact metabolic health throughout life.

Initially we focused on a small group of genes regulated ‘epigenetically’ by genomic imprinting, including Grb10, Igf2 and Dlk1. Imprinted genes are expressed from only one of their two parental copies. Their reliance on this mechanism of regulation makes them unusually susceptible to environmental influence and prime candidates for the phenomenon known as developmental programming of adult health and disease. We have linked expression of the maternal Grb10 gene with fetal growth and tissue proportions that persist throughout life. In contrast, the paternal Grb10 gene influences post-natal brain growth and social behaviours that may relate to autism.

Current lab members

Dr Kim Moorwood

Meg Warden

Katarina Koziell 

I mainly teach cell signalling, developmental biology and cancer biology across all undergraduate years and to post-graduate Masters students.

I am looking for enthusiastic students and research fellows with interests in developmental biology, growth and metabolism, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Projects will involve the study of mouse and zebrafish genetic models using a variety of approaches including, microscopy, molecular and cellular biology, cell signalling, and whole animal physiology.