Following my undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Leeds (1998-2001), I took a Research Assistant position at The Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre (MFHRC), University of Manchester, investigating infection in the placenta. I moved on to a Wellcome Trust Prize PhD Studentship within the MFHRC which began my path of research into placental development and function and how these are regulated. My PhD was awarded in 2006 and I have since remained committed to continuing with my research into this important aspect of human biology. I have also been involved in more translational research projects, working towards developing treatments for improving pregnancy outcome in cases of severe fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia. I am now further developing my own ideas relating to the importance of taurine in the placenta and understanding how this amino acid influences placental mitochondrial function.