Research

Single Molecule Microscopy

Our lab develops new technology across all aspects of microscopy, from the hardware e.g. building new microscope designs; software to analyse the images; and biomolecular probes and assays. A lot of our work focuses on single-molecule techniques, where we can image the individual molecules of life at work in living cells. We’re interested in how life works from a biophysical perspective – how proteins work as machines, such as in DNA replication and repair (eLife, NAR); how cells sense and respond to signals (eLife, FASEB); or how proteins self-organise and assemble into complex structures (Nature Nanotechnology) and condensates (eLife, Science Advances).

Hardware and Software we’ve developed

Biomedicine

Being based in Newcastle University Biosciences Institute in the Faculty of Medical Science means biomedical science is the core of what we do. Active projects in the lab include developing new small molecule inhibitors of complement proteins to develop treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, understanding how inflammation and cancer related transcription factor, NF-kB, works as a cluster and developing new glucose biosensors for Diabetes research.

Bionanotechnology

Nature invented nanotechnology. The proteins in our cells are nanomachines which use energy to do useful work like copying DNA, metabolising nutrients or transporting important cargo. My research has focused on trying to harness these nanomachines. I programmed natural motor proteins using DNA nanostructures to assemble a network of tracks and transport and release cargo in response to signals. It was published in Nature Nanotechnology. It was also nicknamed a ‘Nanoscale railway’ and was featured in the press, including the Guardian, Independent and Vice.