Dr Emma Blain
BSc, PhD, FHEA
Reader
- blain@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 5171
- Fax:
- +44 (0)29 2087 4594
- Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
My research elucidates the cellular and molecular events that are involved in the mechano-regulation of articular cartilage homeostasis, the mechanism/s that propagate mechanically-mediated joint degeneration and identification of therapeutic targets for intervention. I am a Co-applicant of the Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Versus Arthritis in Cardiff University and manage the mechanical loading laboratory in the School of Biosciences (Figure 1), where I have established cell, explant and animal models to investigate how mechanical load influences joint homeostasis and pathology.
Roles
Diversity, Culture and Belonging: 'Parents and Carers' committee member
Biomedicine REF Output Reviewer
Module Lead: BI3356 Musculoskeletal System: Disease, Repair and Regenerative Medicine
Module Lead: BIT001 Cellular and Molecular Biology
Personal Tutor
Interested in joining my lab as a self-funded post-graduate student or a postdoc/fellow? Please contact me by email.
Biography
1998: BSc (1st Class Hons) Biochemistry with Medical Biochemistry (Cardiff)
2002: PhD (BBSRC CASE Award with Amersham Biosciences, Cardiff)
2016: Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning (FHEA)
Honours and awards
2018 Journal of Orthopaedic Research Basic Science Award
2008: British Society for Matrix Biology Young Investigator Award
Professional memberships
British Society for Matrix Biology
Biochemical Society
Physiological Society
Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair
Academic positions
2020 - present: Reader, Cardiff University
2016 - 2020: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University
2014 – 2016: Lecturer, Cardiff University
2009 – 2014: Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics & Bioengineering Centre Academic Fellow
2007 – 2009: Senior Research Associate, Cardiff University
2002 – 2007: Research Associate, Cardiff University
Committees and reviewing
2022 - present Versus Arthritis College of Experts
2020 – 2023 NC3Rs Training Fellowship Assessment Panel member
I regularly review grants for the BBSRC, MRC, Dunhill Medical Trust and JGW Patterson Foundation. In addition, I review manuscripts for Arthritis & Rheumatism, Osteoarthritis & Cartilage and a number of other specialist journals in the field. I have acted as both internal and external examiner on a number of PhD, MD and MSc theses.
Publications
We are currently unable to retrieve the list of publications. Visit our institutional repository.Teaching
Teaching profile
BI2233 – Developmental and Stem Cell Biology
BI3356 – Musculoskeletal System: Disease, Repair and Regenerative Medicine
BI3001 – Final Year Projects (laboratory and literature)
BIT001 – Cellular and Molecular Biology (MSc Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine)
Week-long Research Experience Lead for ‘In vitro model of inflammatory arthritis’ practical.
My research interests encompass the cellular and molecular events that are involved in the mechano-regulation of articular cartilage tissue homeostasis, the mechanism/s that propagate mechanically-mediated joint degeneration i.e. osteoarthritis and identification of therapeutic targets for intervention. More specifically, my research interests are:-
- Investigating mechano-regulation of microRNAs in articular cartilage.
- Investigating why ankle osteoarthritis only develops as a result of previous mechanical trauma.
- Elucidating the role of the chondrocyte cytoskeleton, particularly the vimentin intermediate filaments (Figure 2), in sensing mechanical load, and how these intracellular networks transduce mechanical signals into a biochemical response in articular cartilage.
- Delineating the role of the canonical and non-canonical WNT pathways in transducing mechanical signals in articular cartilage.
Current funding
- NC3Rs
- BBSRC
- Versus Arthritis
- China Scholarship Council
- Botswana Government
Previous funding
MRC DPFS (in collaboration with Newcastle University), Arthritis Research UK, Dunhill Medical Trust, EPSRC DTP, Orthopaedic Research UK, Kuwait Embassy Studentship, BBSRC CASE Studentship (AstraZeneca), EPSRC Dorothy Hodgkin Studentship, AO UK, British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, SARTRE, Cardiff University Partnership Fund
Collaborators
External
Professor David Young (Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University)
Dr Chrissy Hammond (School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol)
Professor Emily Rayfield (School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol)
Internal
Professor Clare Hughes (School of Biosciences)
Professor Daniel Aeschlimann (School of Dentistry)
Dr Emyr Lloyd-Evans (School of Biosciences)
Dr Craig Boote (School of Optometry)
Current research group members
Dr Sophie Gilbert (Senior Research Associate)
Jingyi Feng (PhD student)
Lekau Dintwa (PhD student)
Supervision
Current supervision
Past projects
Previous PhD students
2020 Andrew Miller (MD)
2020 Petar Markov
2016 Paulina Stadnik
2016 Oliver Gardner (external: AO Institute, Davos)
2015 Ayesha Al-Sabah
2014 Joanna Li (with ENGIN)
2010 Rebecca Harrison
2009 Siyuan Li
Previous Masters students
2022 Henry Isherwood
2020 Helen Davies
Engagement
2018 – 2022: STEM Ambassador
2017 – 2019: Member of Personal and Public Involvement and Engagement committee for the Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre
I regularly contribute to public engagement activities involving patients with musculoskeletal diseases and school children. Recent public engagement activities have included Festival of the Mind (Dementia awareness week), Knee Education clinic (Cardiff and Vale Orthopaedic Centre) and attendance at the Genetics and Genomics for the Third Generation, 3G Conference informing the public on the research being conducted within the Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Versus Arthritis and within my lab.
