The Global Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Jane's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
About Jane
Research
Our team’s overall research interest is to understand how mitochondrial energy metabolism interacts with protein homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in conditions of muscle weakness and wasting. Such muscle dysfunction, known as sarcopenia, contributes to frailty in older people and in people with chronic kidney disease, metabolic and immunological disorders, cancer, and critical illness.
Research background
Cells require energy to perform functions such as protein synthesis and breakdown, muscle contraction, and to maintain integrity of the cell membrane. In most cell types, including muscle, this energy is provided through the activity of mitochondria. Since my PhD at Sussex University with Prof Tony Moore, I have been fascinated by the interaction between the energy demand of cells and their mitochondrial energy supply, since imbalances in this bioenergetic relationship can have profound effects on health. My research at UCL into critical illness with Prof Mervyn Singer helped highlight that muscle mitochondrial function was deranged in rodents and in patients with different clinical outcomes.
Having returned to research in 2019 thanks to a Daphne Jackson Trust Fellowship with Kidney Research UK supported by Dr Charles Affourtit, I have now secured a lectureship at the University of Plymouth where I have recently established a team to investigate muscle cell bioenergetic function in the context of sarcopenia.
Current research
Through our current research we aim to answer the question:
- do muscle mitochondrial changes seen in chronic kidney disease reflect dysfunction, or a cellular adaptation to altered energetic demand?
In sarcopenia, an imbalance of protein synthesis and breakdown results in loss of muscle mass. This atrophy occurs alongside an inability of muscle to increase glucose uptake in response to the hormone insulin, as well as changes to mitochondrial function. However, it is not clear at what stages of disease mitochondrial changes may drive muscle dysfunction, or when/if mitochondrial changes reflect an adaptation to altered muscle function. This is important to establish if attempts to target mitochondrial function through exercise, nutrition or novel therapies are to be successful in slowing or reversing functional decline in people with sarcopenia.
We grow muscle cells under different conditions to mimic sarcopenia, and analyse the bioenergetic function, protein balance and insulin sensitivity through a variety of biochemical and molecular techniques.
By building our understanding of healthy and perturbed muscle cell bioenergetics, our research will help rationalise mitochondria as therapeutic targets in chronic kidney disease and could inform research into therapeutic approaches for other clinically-relevant situations, including critical illness.
Current Collaborations
- metabolomic profiling of muscle bioenergetic health status in sarcopenic conditions – Faculty of Health-funded PhD studentship (as DoS) with Jamie Blackwell, Mike Wilde SoGees, and Charlie Affourtit, SoBS.
Mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics play a central role in co-ordinating cell metabolism in health and disease. Consequently, I contribute expertise to support other projects in this area, including:
- Assessing potential for plant-derived peptide hydrolysates as supplements to mitigate sarcopenia (UKRI-funded project with Valogen Biosciences)
- Identifying role of hexokinase II in meningioma (co-supervisor of two PhD projects with Leandro de Assis and Oliver Hanemann, Brain Tumour Research Centre)
Research Group
Jamie Blackwell, PhD candidate (DoS)
Recent BSc Biomedical Sciences placement students
Sinéad Strasser, University of Plymouth
Arwen van der Horst, University of Bath
Patricia Peters, University of Plymouth
Additional current PhD research supervision:
Charlotte Howell, University of Plymouth, Brain Tumour Research Centre (Co-supervisor)
Hanieh Samavati, University of Plymouth, Brain Tumour Research Centre (Co-supervisor)
Teaching
Teaching has featured strongly throughout my research career, from supervising BSc and MSc project and placement students, to training clinicians and graduate students in lab work. I have enjoyed teaching undergraduate students in biochemistry and across the medical sciences, using a range of innovative and traditional learning approaches.
I currently enjoy teaching biochemistry and metabolism largely in a metabolic health and nutrition context across several programmes including BSc Medical Sciences; BSc Nutrition, Exercise and Health; BSc Dietetics, BSc Dietetics Degree Apprenticeship. I find the role of personal tutor (BSc Biomedical Sciences) particularly rewarding. My curriculum development interests include assessment literacy and feedback.
Teaching roles
BHCS1011, BHCS2027, BHCS3031 - Personal Tutor
BHCS3022 – Contemporary Issues in Human Health, Module Lead
BHCS2025/DIET509 – Nutritional Sciences II: Metabolism and Immunology, Module Lead
BHCS2022/DIET508 – Nutritional Sciences I: Nutrition and Metabolism through the Lifecourse, Caretaker Module Lead
BHCS3001 – Dissertation Research Project Supervisor
BHCS1021/DIET415 – Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism, Lecturer
BHCS3024 – Diet, Exercise and Chronic Disease, Lecturer
Other academic activities:
I am an advocate for Early Career Researchers, promoting collegiality in research.
- Faculty of Health Early Career Research (ECR) Forum Committee – 2020- present; academic lead 2021-2024
- Member of Athena Swan Self Assessment Team (PDS, PMS, SoBS); research/ECR working group, 2019-present
- University Research Culture Task and Finish Group 2023-2024
Professional Membership
Fellowship of the Higher Education Authority, HEA
Current member of Biochemical Society, Physiological Society, Mitochondrial Physiology Society.
Intensive Care Society (2005-2010)
Qualifications:
2013-2015 Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Exeter.
1996-2000 DPhil, Biochemistry, University of Sussex.
1992-1996 BSc Hons, Biochemistry with European Studies, University of Sussex (Université de Bordeaux II).
Previous Positions:
2019-present Daphne Jackson Research Fellow (Kidney Research UK), School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Plymouth.
2015-2019 Career Break (Childcare).
2011-2015 Lecturer (Education) University of Exeter Medical School/Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry.
2005-2010 Senior Postdoctoral Research Associate, Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London.
2001-2005 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Biochemistry, University of Sussex.
