- C406, Portland Square, Drake Circus
- +44 1752 586840
- louise.belfield@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Dr Louise Belfield
Lecturer in Biomedical Science
Peninsula Dental School (Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences)
Role
I am a dental nurse and a lecturer in biomedical sciences. My key roles are to lead the development of the life science curriculum in our innovative BSc Dental Therapy & Hygiene programme, specifically focused on inter-professional education, and to lead research activities in both education and scientific fields.
I first became involved with Dentistry when I began working as a dental nurse in 2001, spending 3 years in general practice, followed by 4 years working as a locum in dental specialties at South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. I have always been fascinated by how bacteria in the mouth can exert effects in other sites in the body, and so both my undergraduate dissertation and my PhD focused on the role of one particular bacterium, Porphyromonas gingivalis, in modulating the host immune response. I continue to study the role of this particular bacterium in oral and systemic diseases as part of our Oral Microbiome Research group at Peninsula Dental School.
Qualifications
2001 - NEBDN National Certificate in Dental Nursing
2008 - BSc (Hons) Human Biosciences2013 - PhD "Interactions between Porphyromonas gingivalis and macrophages in oral pathology"
2014 - Post graduate Certificate in Clinical Education
Professional membership
International Association for Dental Research
British Society for Oral and Dental Research
British Microcirculation Society
General Dental Council
Roles on external bodies
Councillor: British Society for Oral and Dental Research
Committee member: Association of Science Educators in Dentistry
Trustee: National Examination board for Dental Nurses
Teaching interests
My subject specialties are:
- Biomedical Sciences including immunology, cell biology, cell signalling and microbiology.
- Dental nursing including infection control, decontamination and antimicrobial resistance.
- Inter-professional education for undergraduate dental professions.
My current roles within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry include:
- Module lead: Integrated Dental Science, BSc Dental Therapy and Hygiene
- Lecturer: Bachelor of Dental Surgery, BSc (hons) Biomedical Sciences, BSc (hons) Nutrition, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.
- Curriculum development (Science): Developing the UKs first, fully integrated DTH/BDS programme.
Research interests
Current research focuses on both scientific and educational elements required for excellence in research informed teaching. My major research interests lie in how oral bacteria can modulate the normal function of the immune system and drive conditions that lead to development of oral and systemic diseases, such as chronic periodontitis, oral cancer, and hypertension.
Current projects include:
- Modulation of osteoclast differentiation and activity by endotoxin tolerance
- Modelling single infections and dual biofilms of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus on threedimensional oral mucosal models
- Effects of mechanical strain on mesenchymal stem cell fate
- Regulation of tumour angiogenesis in response to periodontal bacteria
- Investigating the role of the oral microbiome in regulation of blood pressure
McIlwaine C, Brookes ZLS, Zahra D, Ali K, Zaric S, Jones G, Belfield LA. A novel, integrated curriculum for dental hygiene-therapists and dentists. Bdj. 2019;226:67
Zahra D, Belfield LA. Mcilwaine C, Bennett, J & Zaric S. the benefits of integrating dental and dental therapy & hygiene students in Undergraduate Curricula. European Journal of Dental Education. 2018.
Strachan A, Harrington Z, McIlwaine C, Jerreat M, Belfield LA, Kilar A, et al. Subgingival lipid A profile and endotoxin activity in periodontal health and disease. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2018.
Belfield LA, Bennett JH, Abate W, Jackson SJExposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS during macrophage polarisation leads to diminished inflammatory cytokine production. Arch. Oral. Biol. 2017 Sep;81:41-47.
Zaric, S. and Belfield, L (2015) Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with Immediate Feedback in Early (Pre-clinical) stages of the Dental Curriculum). Creative Education, 6, 585-593
Merry R, Belfield L, McArdle P, McLennan A, Crean S, Foey A. Oral health and pathology: a macrophage account.Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2012 Jan;50(1):2-7.
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
2019
'Effect of Constant versus Variable Small-Group Facilitators on Student Basic Science Knowledge in an Enquiry-Based Dental Curriculum'
European Journal of Dental Education
0,
(ja)
, DOI
PEARL
2019
'A novel, integrated curriculum for dental hygiene-therapists and dentists'
British Dental Journal
226,
67-67
PEARL
2018
'Subgingival lipid A profile and endotoxin activity in periodontal health and disease'
Clinical Oral Investigations
, DOI
PEARL
2018
'The benefits of integrating dental and dental therapy and hygiene students in undergraduate curricula'
European Journal of Dental Education
, DOI
PEARL
2017
'Exposure to Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS during macrophage polarisation leads to diminished inflammatory cytokine production'
Archives of Oral Biology
81,
41-47
, DOI
PEARL
Chapters
2016
'Dental plaque and calculus'
in Creanor S
Essential Clinical Oral Biology
John Wiley & Sons
136-143