Keele Fetal Epigenetics Research Group

The mother's health and nutrition is critical to the wellbeing of the unborn child. The Fetal Epigenetics Group uses state-of-the-art analytical screening techniques to examine the effect of nutritional intake during pregnancy on the status of the fetal epigenome. This data will inform national policies regarding supplementation and maternal nutrition.

 

FEG Research Team

ISTM_Fetal_Epigenetics_Group_360x240   FEG academic and clinical research members:

  • William E Farrell
    Professor of Human Genomics at Keele University
  • Anthony A Fryer
    Consultant Clinical Biochemist UHNS & Professor of Clinical Biochemistry at Keele University
  • Khaled MK Ismail
    Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Birmingham
  • Peter W Jones
    Professor of Statistics at Keele University
  • William D Carroll
    Consultant Paediatrician at Derbyshire Childrens' Hospital
  • Richard D. Emes
    Associate Professor and Reader in Bioinformatics. University of Nottingham.

Other group members:

Current

  • Dr Kim Howarth – Post-doctoral Research Associate
  • Dr Christopher Duff – Pre-registration Clinical Biochemist
  • Alexandra Yates – Principal Clinical Biochemist
  • Emmeline Ezekiel – Blood Sciences MSc student
  • Angela Rooney – Research Midwife
  • Emma Hubball – Research Midwife

Previous

  • Faiza Musa – Blood Sciences MSc student
  • Mazeda Khanam – Blood Sciences MSc student
  • Harry Cifford- Pre-doctoral Research Intern
  • Neyha Aggarwal – Year 5 Medical Student
  • Hazel Borthwick – Principal Clinical Biochemist
  • Mr Tamer Nafee – Visiting Research Fellow
Bill_Farrell_and_equipment_90x90   Epigenetic study makes TV and radio headlines Posted on 02 February 2011 Groundbreaking work led by the Epigenomics team in ISTM gained wide media coverage at the start of 2011. BJOG_cover_90x90   Epigenetics group makes top ten Obs & Gynae papers Posted on 16 November 2010 Keele and UHNS's Epigenetics group has a paper published in 2008 that is now in the top ten cited publications in the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

Other FEG News Highlights and recent publications

  • Latest FEG publication in Epigenomics, February 2013: "Combined influence of gene-specific cord blood methylation and maternal smoking habit on birth weight." Haworth KE, Farrell WE, Emes RD, Ismail KM, Carroll WD, Borthwick HA, Yates AM, Hubball E, Rooney A, Khanam M, Aggarwal N, Jones PW, Fryer AA. Epigenomics. 2013 Feb;5(1):37-49. (doi: 10.2217/epi.12.72, not yet on open access.)
  • Latest FEG publication in Epilepsia, January 2013: "Antiepileptic drugs and the fetal epigenome." Read the paper here.
  • Latest FEG publication in Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, August 2012: "Make way for the 'Next Generation': Application and Prospects for Genome-Wide, Epigenome-Specific, Technologies in Endocrine Research". Read the paper here.
  • Latest FEG publication in Epigenetics January 2011: "Quantitative, high-resolution epigenetic profiling of CpG loci identifies associations with cord blood plasma homocysteine and birth weight in humans”. Read the paper here.
  • Comment on the group’s research in Epigenie – news on epigenetics – 29 November 2010.
  • Latest FEG publication in Epigenetics August 2009: “LINE-1 DNA methylation is inversely correlated with cord plasma homocysteine in man: a preliminary study.”  Read the paper here.
  • Khaled Ismail presents research to date at FIGO World Congress of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Cape Town South Africa.
  • Funding secured for three year study of fetal epigenomics from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF). Follow this link to read a summary of the project.
  • Clinical researcher Tamer Nafee awarded best oral presentation prize in the RCOG International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
  • Publication released in British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: "Epigenetic control of fetal gene expression". Follow this link to read the paper.
  • Correspondence on "Should folic acid fortification be mandatory?" published in the British Medical Journal in June 2007. Read the comments here (second response on the page).
  • Clinical Scientist position funded by Egyptian Cultural Bureau in London.
  • Funding secured for patient recruitment from the North Staffordshire Medical Institute.