Research interests My main interests are centred on oral epithelial biology and the molecular mechanisms of oral diseases and their systemic sequalae. I am particularly interested in how immune cells are recruited to diseased oral sites and how they interact with other cells/microbes within the local microenvironment. As part of this research my group has developed novel tissue engineered in vitro models of both healthy and diseased oral mucosa to investigate pathogenic mechanisms. I have a long-standing track record of developing and utilising in vitro 3D tissue constructs and zebrafish larvae as direct replacements for animal models and have used these experimental models to study the role of oral microorganisms in mucosal and systemic disease. I am also involved with projects aimed at developing novel oral patches for mucosal drug delivery (with AFYX Therapeutics) and how mathematical modelling of oral tissue can aid the development of drug delivery systems (with University of Liverpool) and non-invasive diagnostics for the detection and management of oral pre-malignant lesions (with Zilico).