Professor Sally Roberts

Title: Professor, ISTM, Keele University
and
Director of Spinal Research, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry
Phone: +44 (0)1691 404664
Email:
Location: Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 7AG, United Kingdom
Role: ISTM Research theme: 1. Bioengineering & Therapeutics
Contacting me: By phone or email
Prof Sally Roberts

ISTM Research theme: 1. Bioengineering & Therapeutics

Areas of Interest:

  • Study of the intervertebral disc in health and pathology.
  • Understanding factors which can lead to disc cell death and dysfunction.
  • Identifying pathological pathways leading to disc degeneration, including study of inflammatory mediators which may be released from prolapsed intervertebral discs and degradative enzymes.
  • Determining factors which could control nerve growth into intervertebral discs.
  • Developing cell based treatments for disc degeneration.
  • Developing injectable nuclear replacements for patients with disc degeneration and back pain.
  • Monitoring the quality of repair tissue in cell based therapies of articular cartilage and attempting to establish standardised international assessment criteria.
  • Studying the production and expression of extracellular matrix components in ACI-treated patients.
  • Identifying biomarkers of cartilage degeneration for OA and discogenic Back pain patients.

Centre for Spinal Studies: The Centre for Spinal Studies, Oswestry

Research work on-going in the Centre for Spinal Studies within the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital addresses 2 main clinical areas:  Spinal Disorders (Clinical lead: Mr J Trivedi), including back pain and deformities, and Spinal Injuries (Clinical lead: Mr W El Masri).

Several ISTM personnel are based here including Professor Sally Roberts, Director of Spinal Research and Dr Eustace Johnson who leads the Spinal Injury research.  Dr Simon Stephan is working here on a BBSRC funded grant and several post-graduate students, including Karina Wright, Philip Jones, Stefan Bajada, Merlin Walter and Irenka Mazakova. 

 

The Centre for Spinal Studies, Oswestry.

Karina is working on identifying the mechanisms involved in bone marrow stromal cell (MSC) derived nerve growth, as many studies have shown that MSC transplantation may provide therapeutic benefits to people with spinal cord injury.  Phil is studying proteins associated with calcification of cartilages, in both normal and pathological situations.  Stefan is interested in non-union bone fractures, ie fractures which do not heal even after several different treatments. He is focusing on the isolation and characterisation of MSC from the non-union region in affected patients, to provide a better understanding of the biology which should lead to improved therapeutic options. Stefan is also trial manager for the first clinical trial of autologous expanded MSCs in the treatment of non-union.
Irena is studying the extracellular matrix molecules and their influence on innervation and vascularisation in the osteochondral tissue.  This study is part of the EU funded MyJoint project (www.myjoint.org) which has the aim of creating a tissue engineered biological joint for patients with dysfunctional or damaged joints.  Merlin is working on the development of cell transplantation and tissue engineering techniques for the treatment of pressure ulcers in skin.

In addition, within the Centre are several other researchers involved in related topics.  Funding has been from many sources, including EPRSC, BBSRC, EU, the Institute of Orthopaedics Oswestry and several Medical Research Charities including the Arthritis Research Campaign.

Selection of Publications

  • Bhosale AM, Myint P, Roberts S, Menage J, Harrison P, Ashton B, Smith T, McCall I, Richardson JB. (2007) Combined autologous chondrocyte implantation and allogeneic meniscus transplantation: A biological knee replacement. The Knee 14:361-8
  • Johnson WEB, Roberts S. (2007) “Rumours Of My Death May Have Been Grossly Exaggerated”: A Brief Review Of Cell Death In Human Intervertebral Disc Disease And Implications For Cell Transplantation Therapy.  Biochem Soc Trans 35: 680-682.
  • Knutsen G, Drogset JO, Engebretsen L, Grantvedt T, Isaksen V, Ludvigsen TC, Roberts S,  Solheim E, Strand T, & Johansen O (2007) A Randomized Trial Of Aci Versus Microfracture. The Picture At Five Years.  J Bone Joint Surg (Am) In Press
  • Wright K, El Masri W, Osman A; Roberts S; Chamberlain G; Ashton B Johnson WEB (2007), Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Stimulate Neurite Outgrowth Over Neural Proteoglycans (CSPG), Myelin Associated Glycoprotein and Nogo-A.  Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 354: 559-566
  • Yu J; Fairbank JCT; Roberts S & Urban JPG (2007) Microfibrils, elastin fibres and collagen in the Intervertebral Discs of young normal human and bovine tails. J Anat 210:460-471
  • Balain B, Eisenstein SM, Alo GO, Darby AJ, Cassar-Pullicino V, Roberts S, Jaffray DC.  (2006) Coccygectomy For Coccydynia: Case Series And Review Of Literature. Spine 31:E414-20.
  • Roberts S, Evans EH, Kletsas D, Jaffray Dc & Eisenstein SM (2006) Senescence in Human Intervertebral Discs Eur Spine J (2006)15 Suppl 3S312-6.
  • Johnson WEB, Wootton A, El Haj A, Eisenstein SM, Curtis ASG & Roberts S. (2006) Topographical Guidance of Intervertebral Disc Cell Growth In Vitro: Towards the Development of Tissue Repair Strategies for The Anulus Fibrosus. Eur Spine J (2006)15 Suppl 3S389-96.
  • Sivan S, Tsitron E, Wachtel E, Roughley PJ, Sakkee N, Van Der Ham F, Degroot J, Roberts S, Maroudas A. (2006) Aggrecan turnover in human intervertebral disc as determined by the racemization of aspartic acid. JBC 281:13009-14
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Trivedi J, Evans EH (2006) Histology and Pathology of the Human Intervertebral Disc.  J Bone & Joint Surg (Am):88A(Suppl 2):10-14
  •  E, Sivan S, Wright KT, Eisenstein SM, Maroudas A, Roberts S. (2006) Human intervertebral disc cells promote nerve growth over substrata of human intervertebral disc aggrecan. Spine 31:1187-93.
  • Akimau P, Bhosale A, Harrison PE, Roberts S, Mccall IW, Richardson JB, Ashton B (2006) Autologous chondrocyte implantation with bone grafting for osteochondral defect due to posttraumatic osteonecrosis of the hip – a case report.  Acta Orthop Scand 77:333-336
  • Johnson WEB, Caterson B, Eisenstein SM & Roberts S. (2005) Human Intervertebral Disc Aggrecan Inhibits Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Cell Migration In Vitro. Spine 30:1139-1147.
  • Yu J; Fairbank JCT; Roberts S & Urban JPG (2005) The Elastic Fibres Network of the Anulus Fibrosus of the Normal and Scoliotic Human Intervertebral Disc. Spine 16: (1815:1820).
  • Roberts S, Butler RC (2005) Inflammatory mediators as potential therapeutic targets in the spine. Current Drug Targets - Inflammation and Allergy 5:89-98.
  • Roberts S, Evans H, Menage J, Urban JPG, Bayliss MT, Eisenstein SM, Rugg MS, Milner CM, Griffin S & Day AJ. (2005) TNFα-stimulated gene product (TSG-6) and its binding protein, IαI, in the human intervertebral disc: new molecules for the disc. Eur Spine Journal 14:36-42.
  • Whittaker J-P, Smith G, Makwana N, Roberts S, Harrison PE, Laing P & Richardson JB. (2005) Early Results of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in the Talus. J Bone Joint Surg 87B:179-183.
  • Tins BJ, Mccall IW, Takahashi T, Cassar-Pullicino V, Roberts S, Ashton B & Richardson J (2004) Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in Knee Joint: MR Imaging and Histologic Features at 1-Year Follow-up. Radiology 234:501-508.
  • Knutsen G, Isaksen V, Engebretsen L, Ludvigsen TC, Drogset JO, Grøntve T, Solheim E, Strand T, Roberts S & Johansen O. (2004)  A randomized trial of autologous chondrocyte implantation versus microfracture in the knee.  J Bone Joint Surg 86A: 455-464.
  • Roberts S, McCall, IW, Darby, AJ, Menage, J, Evans, EH, Harrison PE, RI Chardson, JB (2003) Autologous chondrocyte implantation for cartilage repair: monitoring its success by magnetic resonance imaging and histology. Arthritis Research and Therapy 5, pp60-74.

Selected Publications

  • Hanifi A, McCarthy H, Roberts S, Pleshko N. 2013. Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging and Infrared Fiber Optic Probe Spectroscopy Identify Collagen Type in Connective Tissues. PLOS ONE, vol. 8(5), Article UNSP e64822. link> doi>
  • Roberts S, Fuller H, Caterson B. 2013. Uphold standards for lab reagents. NATURE, vol. 496(7445), 300. link>
  • Turner S, Morgan C, Trivedi J, Roberts S. 2013. An investigation of putative progenitor cell markers in human surgical intervertebral discs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, p. A43). link>
  • Jones PN, Turner S, Menage J, Bolton D, Roberts S. 2013. Assessing viability of intervertebral disc cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, p. A26). link>
  • Wright K, Richardson JB, Fuller H, Humphrey E, Jones P, Kerr A, Roberts S. 2013. Biomarker discovery for autologous chondrocyte implantation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, p. A46). link>

Full Publications List show

Books

  • Roberts S and Caterson B. Gunzburg R, Szpalski M, Andersson G (Eds.). 2003. Biochemical Changes in Degenerative Disc Disease. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Hagerstown, USA.
  • Robert S and Menage J. Hollander AP and Hatton PV (Eds.). 2003. Microscopic Methods for Analysis of Engineered Tissues. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Urban JPG and Roberts S. Boyling JD and Palastanga N (Eds.). 2003. The Biochemistry of the Intervertebral Disc in Health and Disease. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.
  • Duance VC and Roberts S. Hazelman B (Ed.). 2003. The Intervertebral Disc. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Urban JPG and Roberts S. Herkowitz HN, Garfin S, Eismont FJ, Bell G (Eds.). 2003. The Intervertebral Disc - Normal, ageing and pathological. Elsevier Science, Philadelphia.

Journal Articles

  • Hanifi A, McCarthy H, Roberts S, Pleshko N. 2013. Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging and Infrared Fiber Optic Probe Spectroscopy Identify Collagen Type in Connective Tissues. PLOS ONE, vol. 8(5), Article UNSP e64822. link> doi>
  • Roberts S, Fuller H, Caterson B. 2013. Uphold standards for lab reagents. NATURE, vol. 496(7445), 300. link>
  • Mennan C, Wright K, Bhattacharjee A, Balain B, Richardson J, Roberts S. 2013. Isolation and characterisation of mesenchymal stem cells from different regions of the human umbilical cord. Biomed Res Int, vol. 2013, 916136. link> doi>
  • Hanifi A, Richardson JB, Kuiper JH, Roberts S, Pleshko N. 2012. Clinical outcome of autologous chondrocyte implantation is correlated with infrared spectroscopic imaging-derived parameters. Osteoarthritis Cartilage, vol. 20(9), 988-996. doi>
  • Markides H, Morris R, Roberts S, El Haj J. 2012. Ex vivo imaging and tracking of spion labelled mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes in orthopaedic cell based therapies. JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, vol. 6, 53. link>
  • Lazary A, Ito K, Eisenstein S, Fairbank J, Roberts S, Kletsas D, Kuemin M, Brayda-Bruno M, Varga PP. 2012. Surgeons and scientists: symbiosis in spinal research?. EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL, vol. 21(9), 1681-1683. link> doi>
  • Brown S, Melrose J, Caterson B, Roughley P, Eisenstein SM, Roberts S. 2012. A comparative evaluation of the small leucine-rich proteoglycans of pathological human intervertebral discs. Eur Spine J, vol. 21 Suppl 2, S154-S159. link> doi>
  • Sato M, Uchida K, Nakajima H, Miyazaki T, Guerrero AR, Watanabe S, Roberts S, Baba H. 2012. Direct transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells into the knee joints of Hartley strain guinea pigs with spontaneous osteoarthritis. ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY, vol. 14(1), Article ARTN R31. link> doi>
  • Uchida K, Yayama T, Sugita D, Nakajima H, Guerrero AR, Watanabe S, Roberts S, Johnson WE, Baba H. 2012. Initiation and progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine in the hereditary spinal hyperostotic mouse (twy/twy). EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL, vol. 21(1), 149-155. link> doi>
  • Bara JJ, Johnson WE, Caterson B, Roberts S. 2012. Articular cartilage glycosaminoglycans inhibit the adhesion of endothelial cells. Connect Tissue Res, vol. 53(3), 220-228. link> doi>
  • Lutianov M, Naire S, Roberts S, Kuiper JH. 2011. A mathematical model of cartilage regeneration after cell therapy. J Theor Biol, vol. 289, 136-150. link> doi>
  • Uchida K, Yayama T, Sugita D, Nakajima H, Rodriguez Guerrero A, Watanabe S, ROBERTS S, Johnson WE, Baba H. 2011. Initiation and progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine in the hereditary spinal hyperostotic mouse. Eur Spine J..
  • Stephan S, Johnson WE, Roberts S. 2011. THE INFLUENCE OF NUTRIENT SUPPLY AND CELL DENSITY ON THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC CELLS IN 3D CULTURE. EUROPEAN CELLS & MATERIALS, vol. 22, 97-108. link>
  • ROBERTS S, Genever P, McCaskie A, De Bari C. 2011. Prospects of stem cell therapy in osteoarthritis. Regenerative Medicine, vol. 6, 351-356.
  • Hoemann CD, Kandel R, ROBERTS S, Saris DBF, Creemers L, Mainil-Varlet P, Methot S, Hollander AP, Buschmann MD. 2011. Recommended guidelines for histological endpoints for cartilage repair studies in animal models and clinical trials. Cartilage, vol. 2, 153-172.
  • Uchida K, Nakajima H, Hirai T, Yayama T, Chen K-B, Kobayashi S, Roberts S, Johnson WE, Baba H. 2010. Microarray analysis of expression of cell death-associated genes in rat spinal cord cells exposed to cyclic tensile stresses in vitro. BMC NEUROSCIENCE, vol. 11, Article ARTN 84. link> doi>
  • Mainil-Varlet P, Van Damme B, Nesic D, Knutsen G, Kandel R, Roberts S. 2010. A New Histology Scoring System for the Assessment of the Quality of Human Cartilage Repair: ICRS II. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE, vol. 38(5), 880-890. link> doi>
  • Starks I, Roberts S, White SH. 2009. The Avon patellofemoral joint replacement: independent assessment of early functional outcomes. J Bone Joint Surg Br, vol. 91(12), 1579-1582. link> doi>
  • Sharp CA, Roberts S, Evans H, Brown SJ. 2009. Disc cell clusters in pathological human intervertebral discs are associated with increased stress protein immunostaining. EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL, vol. 18(11), 1587-1594. link> doi>
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Sandell LJ, Evans EH, Richardson JB. 2009. Immunohistochemical study of collagen types I and II and procollagen IIA in human cartilage repair tissue following autologous chondrocyte implantation. Knee, vol. 16(5), 398-404. link> doi>
  • Neidlinger-Wilke C, Liedert A, Wuertz K, Buser Z, Rinkler C, Kaefer W, Ignatius A, Claes L, Roberts S, Johnson WEB. 2009. Mechanical Stimulation Alters Pleiotrophin and Aggrecan Expression by Human Intervertebral Disc Cells and Influences Their Capacity to Stimulate Endothelial Cell Migration. SPINE, vol. 34(7), 663-669. link> doi>
  • Sitte I, Kathrein A, Pfaller K, Pedross F, Roberts S. 2009. Intervertebral Disc Cell Death in the Porcine and Human Injured Cervical Spine After Trauma A Histological and Ultrastructural Study. SPINE, vol. 34(2), 131-140. link> doi>
  • Jones P, Gardner L, Menage J, Williams GT, Roberts S. 2009. Nucleus pulposus cells as competent phagocytes to clear apoptotic cells: mission applicable or impossible? Authors' response. ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY, vol. 11(3), Article ARTN 406. link> doi>
  • Wright KT, Masri WE, Osman A, Roberts S, Trivedi J, Ashton BA, Johnson WE. 2008. The cell culture expansion of bone marrow stromal cells from humans with spinal cord injury: implications for future cell transplantation therapy. Spinal Cord, vol. 46(12), 811-817. link> doi>
  • Sivan S-S, Wachtel E, Tsitron E, Sakkee N, van der Ham F, DeGroot J, Roberts S, Maroudas A. 2008. Collagen turnover in normal and degenerate human intervertebral discs as determined by the racemization of aspartic acid. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY, vol. 283(14), 8796-8801. link> doi>
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Sivan S, Urban JPG. 2008. Bovine explant model of degeneration of the intervertebral disc. BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, vol. 9, Article ARTN 24. link> doi>
  • Jones P, Gardner L, Menage J, Williams GT, Roberts S. 2008. Intervertebral disc cells as competent phagocytes in vitro: implications for cell death in disc degeneration. ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY, vol. 10(4), Article ARTN R86. link> doi>
  • Johnson WEB, Stephan S, Roberts S. 2008. The influence of serum, glucose and oxygen on intervertebral disc cell growth in vitro: Implications for degenerative disc disease. ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY, vol. 10(2), Article ARTN R46. link> doi>
  • Bhosale AM, Myint P, Roberts S, Menage J, Harrison P, Ashton B, Smith T, McCall I, Richardson JB. 2007. Combined autologous chondrocyte implantation and allogenic meniscus transplantation: a biological knee replacement. Knee, vol. 14(5), 361-368. link> doi>
  • JOHNSON WEB and Roberts S. 2007. Rumours of my death may have been greatly exaggerated': a brief review of cell death in human intervertebral disc disease and implications for cell transplantation therapy. Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 35(4), 680-682. doi>
  • Johnson WE, Patterson AM, Eisenstein SM, Roberts S. 2007. The presence of pleiotrophin in the human intervertebral disc is associated with increased vascularization: an immunohistologic study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), vol. 32(12), 1295-1302. link> doi>
  • JOHNSON WEB, Osman A, Roberts S, Wright KT. 2007. Bone marrow stromal cells stimulate neurite outgrowth over neural proteoglycans (CSPG), myelin associated glycoprotein and Nogo-A. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 354(2), 559-566. doi>
  • Sharma A, Wood LD, Richardson JB, Roberts S, Kuiper NJ. 2007. Glycosaminoglycan profiles of repair tissue formed following autologous chondrocyte implantation differ from control cartilage. Arthritis Res Ther, vol. 9(4), R79. link> doi>
  • Roberts S, Evans EH, Kletsas D, Jaffray DC, Eisenstein SM. 2006. Senescence in human intervertebral discs. EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL, vol. 15, S312-S316. link> doi>
  • Johnson WE, Wootton A, El Haj A, Eisenstein SM, Curtis AS, Roberts S. 2006. Topographical guidance of intervertebral disc cell growth in vitro: towards the development of tissue repair strategies for the anulus fibrosus. EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL, vol. 15, S389-S396. link> doi>
  • Akimau P, Bhosale A, Harrison PE, Roberts S, McCall IW, Richardson JB, Ashton B. 2006. Autologous chondrocyte implantation with bone grafting for osteochondral defect due to posttraumatic osteonecrosis of the hip - a case report. Acta Orthop Scand, vol. 77, 333-336.
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Evans EH. 2006. Histology and Pathology of the Human Intervertebral Disc. journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, vol. 88A, 10-14. doi>
  • Johnson WE, Sivan S, Wright KT, Eisenstein SM, Maroudas A, Roberts S. 2006. Human intervertebral disc cells promote nerve growth over substrata of human intervertebral disc aggrecan. Spine, vol. 31, 1187-1193. doi>
  • JOHNSON WEB, Caterson B, Eisenstein SM, Roberts s. 2005. Human Intervertebral Disc Aggrecan Inhibits Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Cell Migration In Vitro. Spine, vol. 30(10), 1139-1147.
  • ROBERTS S and Butler RC. 2005. Inflammatory Mediators as Potential Therapeutic Targets in the Spine. Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy, vol. 4(2), 257-266. doi>
  • Roberts S, Evans H, Menage J, Urban JP, Bayliss MT, Eisenstein SM, Rugg MS, Milner CM, Griffin S, Day AJ. 2005. TNFalpha-stimulated gene product (TSG-6) and its binding protein, IalphaI, in the human intervertebral disc: new molecules for the disc. Eur Spine J, vol. 14(1), 36-42. link> doi>
  • ROBERTS S, Whittaker JP, Smith G, Makwana N, Harrison PE, Laing P, Richardson J. 2005. Early results of autologous chondrocyte implantation in the talus. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, vol. 87B(2), 179-183. doi>
  • Johnson WEB, Caterson B, Eisenstein SM, Roberts S. 2005. Human Intervertebral Disc Aggrecan Inhibits Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Cell Migration In Vitro. Spine, vol. 30, 1139-1147.
  • Yu J, Fairbank JCT, Roberts S, Urban JPG. 2005. The Elastic Fibres Network of the Anulus Fibrosus of the Normal and Scoliotic Human Intervertebral Disc. Spine, vol. 16, 1815-1820.
  • ROBERTS S, Knutsen G, Isaksen V, Engebretsen L, Ludvigsen TC, Drogset JO, Grontve T, Strand T, Johansen O. 2004. A Randomized Trial Comparing Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation with Microfracture. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, vol. 86A, 455-464.
  • ROBERTS S, TINS BJ, MCCALL IW, TAKAHASHI T, CASSAR-PULLICINO V, ASHTON B, RICHARDSON J. 2004. Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation in Knee Joint: MR Imaging and Histologic Features at 1-year Follow-up. Radiology, vol. 234, 501-508.
  • Roberts S and Menage J. 2004. Microscopic methods for the analysis of engineered tissues. Methods Mol Biol, vol. 238, 171-196. link>
  • Eisenstein S and Roberts S. 2003. The physiology of the disc and its clinical relevance. J Bone Joint Surg Br, vol. 85(5), 633-636. link>
  • ROBERTS S and Urban JPG. 2003. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Arthritis Research & Therapy, vol. 5(3), 120-130. doi>
  • Eisenstein S and Roberts S. 2003. Aspects of Current Management: The Physiology of the Disc and its Clinical Relevance. The Journal of bone and joint surgery, vol. 85(b), 633-636.
  • ROBERTS S, Darby AJ, McCall IW, Menage J. 2002. Autologous chondrocyte implantation for cartilage repair: monitoring its success by magnetic resonance imaging and histology. Arthritis Research & Therapy, vol. 5(1), R60-R73. doi>
  • Urban JPG and Roberts S. 2003. Cells of the Invertebral Disc: Making the best of a bad environment. The Biochemist October.
  • Mainil-Varley P, Aigner T, Brittberg M, Bullough P, Hollander A, Hunziker E, Kandel R, Nehrer S, Pritzker K, Roberts S, Stauffer E. 2003. Histological Assessment of Cartilage Repair, A report by the histological endpoint committee of the international cartilage repair society (ICRS). The Journal of bone and joint surgery, vol. 85(A), 45-57.
  • Johnson WEB and Roberts S. 2003. Human intervertebral disc cell morphology and cytoskeletal compostion: a preliminary study of regional variations in health and disease. Journal of anatomy.
  • Bailey A, Goodstone NJ, Roberts S, Hughes J, Van Niekerk L, Richardson J, Rees D. 2003. Rehabilitation after Oswestry Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: The OsCell Protocol. Journal of Sports Rehabiliation.
  • Roberts S. 2002. Disc morphology in health and disease. Biochem Soc Trans, vol. 30(Pt 6), 864-869. link>
  • Johnson WE, Caterson B, Eisenstein SM, Hynds DL, Snow DM, Roberts S. 2002. Human intervertebral disc aggrecan inhibits nerve growth in vitro. Arthritis Rheum, vol. 46(10), 2658-2664. link> doi>
  • ROBERTS S, Horner HA, Bielby R, Menage J, Evans H, Urban JPG. 2002. Cells from different regions of the intervertebral disc: Effect of culture system on matrix expression and cell phenotype. Spine, vol. 27(10), 1018-1028.
  • ROBERTS S, Yu J, Winlove CP, Urban JPG. 2002. Elastic fibre organization in the intervertebral discs of the bovine tail. Journal of Anatomy, vol. 201(6), 465-475. doi>
  • ROBERTS S, Melrose J, Smith S, Menage J, Ghosh P. 2002. Increased nerve and blood vessel ingrowth associated with proteoglycan depletion in an ovine anular lesion model of experimental disc degeneration. Spine, vol. 27(12), 1278-1285.
  • Johnson WE, Evans H, Menage J, Eisenstein SM, El Haj A, Roberts S. 2001. Immunohistochemical detection of Schwann cells in innervated and vascularized human intervertebral discs. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), vol. 26(23), 2550-2557. link> doi>
  • ROBERTS S, Caterson B, Hollander AP, Menage J. 2001. Matrix turnover in human cartilage repair tissue in autologous chondrocyte implantation. Arthritis & Rheumatism, vol. 44(11), 2586-2598. doi>
  • Johnson WE, Eisenstein SM, Roberts S. 2001. Cell cluster formation in degenerate lumbar intervertebral discs is associated with increased disc cell proliferation. Connect Tissue Res, vol. 42(3), 197-207. link>
  • Roberts S, Caterson B, Menage J, Evans EH, Jaffray DC, Eisenstein SM. 2000. Matrix metalloproteinases and aggrecanase: their role in disorders of the human intervertebral disc. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), vol. 25(23), 3005-3013. link>
  • Roberts S, Bains MA, Kwan A, Menage J, Eisenstein SM. 1998. Type X collagen in the human invertebral disc: an indication of repair or remodelling?. Histochem J, vol. 30(2), 89-95. link>
  • Eisenstein SM, Ashton IK, Roberts S, Darby AJ, Kanse P, Menage J, Evans H. 1994. Innervation of the spondylolysis "ligament". Spine (Phila Pa 1976), vol. 19(8), 912-916. link>
  • Ashton IK, Roberts S, Jaffray DC, Polak JM, Eisenstein SM. 1994. Neuropeptides in the human intervertebral disc. J Orthop Res, vol. 12(2), 186-192. link> doi>
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Eisenstein SM. 1993. The cartilage end-plate and intervertebral disc in scoliosis: calcification and other sequelae. J Orthop Res, vol. 11(5), 747-757. link> doi>
  • EXLEY C, TOLLERVEY A, GRAY G, ROBERTS S, BIRCHALL J. 1993. SILICON, ALUMINUM AND THE BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY OF PHOSPHORUS IN ALGAE. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, vol. 253(1336), 93-99. link> doi>
  • Roberts S, Ayad S, Menage PJ. 1991. Immunolocalisation of type VI collagen in the intervertebral disc. Ann Rheum Dis, vol. 50(11), 787-791. link>
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Duance V, Wotton SF. 1991. Type III collagen in the intervertebral disc. Histochem J, vol. 23(11-12), 503-508. link>
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Duance V, Wotton S, Ayad S. 1991. 1991 Volvo Award in basic sciences. Collagen types around the cells of the intervertebral disc and cartilage end plate: an immunolocalization study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), vol. 16(9), 1030-1038. link>
  • Roberts S, Menage J, Urban JP. 1989. Biochemical and structural properties of the cartilage end-plate and its relation to the intervertebral disc. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), vol. 14(2), 166-174. link>
  • Sivan S, Tsitron E, Wachtel E, Roughley PJ, Sakkee N, Van der Ham F, Degroot J, Roberts S, Maroudas A. Aggrecan turnover in human intervertebral disc as determined by the racemization of aspartic acid. JBC, vol. 281, 13009-13014.

Chapters

  • ROBERTS S and Urban JPG. 2005. Chemistry of the Intervertebral Disc in Relation to Functional Requirements. In Grieve's Modern Manual Therapy: The Vertebral Column. Boyling J and Jull G (Eds.). (3rd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
  • ROBERTS S. 2001. Articular Cartilage. In Basic Science for FRCS. Cassar-Pullocino VN and Richardson JB (Eds.). Institute of Orthopaedics Publishing Group.
  • ROBERTS S. 2001. Osteoarthritis. In Basic Science for FRCS. Cassar-Pullocino VN and Richardson JB (Eds.). Institute of Orthopaedics Publishing Group.

Other

  • Turner S, Morgan C, Trivedi J, Roberts S. 2013. An investigation of putative progenitor cell markers in human surgical intervertebral discs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, p. A43). link>
  • Jones PN, Turner S, Menage J, Bolton D, Roberts S. 2013. Assessing viability of intervertebral disc cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, p. A26). link>
  • Wright K, Richardson JB, Fuller H, Humphrey E, Jones P, Kerr A, Roberts S. 2013. Biomarker discovery for autologous chondrocyte implantation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, p. A46). link>
  • Owen SJ, Caterson B, Roughley P, Eisenstein S, Roberts S. 2013. Deglycosylation of the keratan sulphate-containing small leucine-rich proteoglycans from diseased human intervertebral discs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, p. A37). link>
  • Mennan C, Bhattacharjee A, Wright K, Roberts S, Richardson JB. 2013. Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from different regions of the human umbilical cord. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 94, pp. A34-A35). link>
  • Bara JJ, McCarthy H, Johnson WEB, Roberts S. 2011. Equine mesenchymal stem cells lose their angiogenic properties when differentiated toward chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 92, p. A25). link>
  • Jones P, Uchida K, Wright KT, Roberts S. 2011. Influence of small proteoglycans on nerve growth in the intervertebral disc. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 92, p. A12). link>
  • Turner SA, Trivedi JM, Roberts S. 2011. Putative stem cell markers in the intervertebral disc: an immunohistochemical analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 92, pp. A17-A18). link>
  • Owen SJ, Eisenstein S, Roberts S. 2011. Fragmentation of small leucine-rich proteoglycans in pathological intervertebral disc: preliminary findings. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 92, p. A14). link>
  • Bara JJ, Roberts S, Johnson WEB. 2010. Anti-angiogenic properties of proteoglycan in cartilage explant cultures. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 91, pp. A30-A31). link>
  • Yu J, Roberts S, Evans EH, Urban JP. 2010. The elastic network in human articular cartilage: an immunohistochemical study of elastin fibres and microfibrils. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 91, pp. A43-A44). link>
  • Stephan S, Johnson WEB, Roberts S. 2009. The influence of cell seeding density on cell proliferation and apoptosis using intervertebral disc cells in vitro: implications for degenerative disc disease and using cell transplantation for tissue engineering. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 90, p. A130). link>
  • Stephan S, Johnson WEB, Roberts S. 2009. The influence of seeding density on cell proliferation and apoptosis of intervertebral disc cells in vitro: implications for degenerative disc disease and cell transplantation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 90, pp. A130-A131). link>
  • Kandel R, Roberts S, Urban JPG. 2008. Tissue engineering and the intervertebral disc: the challenges. EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL (vol. 17, pp. S480-S491). link> doi>
  • Thomas E, Wright K, Roberts S, Johnson E. 2008. Is slug slime the answer to 'discogenic' back pain?. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 89, pp. A16-A17). link>
  • Roberts S, Richardson J, Menage J, Evans EH, Jones A, Flannery C. 2008. Lubricin in biopsies of autologous chondrocyte implantation-treated patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 89, pp. A22-A23). link>
  • Sharma A, Wood LD, Richardson JB, Roberts S, Kuiper NJ. 2008. The glycosaminoglycan profiles of repair tissue formed following autologous chondrocyte implantation differs from control cartilage. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 89, p. A23). link>
  • Jones PN, Menage J, Eisenstein SM, Johnson WEB, Roberts S. 2007. Immunolocalisation of matrix proteins in the intervertebral disc and endplate in scoliosis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 88, pp. A90-A91). link>
  • Johnson E, Stephan S, Roberts S. 2007. The influence of nutrient supply on the growth of intervertebral disc cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 88, p. A90). link>
  • Sharma A, Richardson JB, Roberts S, Goodstone N. 2007. Differences in glycosaminoglycan profiles in autologous chondrocyte implantation repair tissue and age-matched cadaveric cartilage. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 88, pp. A61-A62). link>
  • Stephan S, Gilson A, Johnson WEB, Menage J, Evans EH, Urban JPG, Roberts S. 2007. Extracellular matrix protein mRNA profiles in bovine intervertebral disc cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 88, p. A70). link>
  • Morris R, Menage J, Jones P, Roberts S, Johnson WEB. 2007. The effects of serum deprivation on bovine intervertebral discs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (vol. 88, p. A66). link>