Dr Charlotte Hulme is a Research Associate within the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering at Keele University based at the RJAH Hospital. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Manchester in 2011, remaining at Manchester Uni. to undertake her MRC and Manchester Alumni Award funded PhD studentship, investigating placental dysfunction in pregnancies complicated by Diabetes mellitus. In 2015 she worked on the identification of molecules (called biomarkers) that can be used to predict the outcome neurology of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Since then, she has worked on several biomarker projects for orthopaedics (SCI and osteoarthritis (OA) and its’ treatments) and on developing new/optimising existing cell therapies for OA.

Charlotte applies skillsets she developed during her PhD studies to perform a highly specialised technique called proteomics to identify completely novel biomarkers to allow us to better understand the biology underlying patient recovery or their response to surgical interventions and is also assessing the potential of human juvenile chondrocytes (cartilage cells) for use in cell therapies to treat cartilage damage/early-O. Dr Hulme enjoys sharing her work at conferences, including presenting her work to policymakers in the House of Commons.

In her free time Charlotte enjoys socialising , going to music concerts, renovating her home and garden and spending time with her two daughters and their dog.

I was awarded an MSc in Biochemical Engineering in 2003, a PGCE in 2005 and finally my PhD in Biological sciences at The University of Birmingham in 2008, where I worked in research until 2011. I joined RJAH in August 2011 where I have been employed as a Research Associate for the Versus Arthritis Tissue Engineering Centre.

My research interests are based on using allogeneic cells to treat osteoarthritis (OA). Specifically specialised cells (Mesenchymal Stromal Cells) isolated from human umbilical cords with a focus on their anti inflammatory properties and how they help to heal cartilage defects and OA. I also work on the current clinical trial which looks at using the patients own cartilage cells, bone marrow cells or a combination of the two to treat OA.  We hope that by looking at a sister population of patients cells in this trial that we will be able to find the most potent cells for therapy in the future.

Dr Heidi Fuller is a senior lecturer at Keele University and research group leader within the Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease at RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital. Dr Fuller received her first degree in Biomolecular Science at the University of Wales, Bangor, and during her second year was awarded a North West Wales NHS-funded research scholarship. She then undertook an industry-sponsored PhD studentship at the University of Wales, North East Wales Institute, under the supervision of Professor Glenn Morris.

Dr Fuller researches several of the most severe muscle-wasting diseases including muscular dystrophy, and the childhood form of motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy. By using  cutting-edge proteomics and bioinformatics tools with biochemical approaches, her team aim to understand disease mechanisms and to identify novel proteins and pathways that can be modulated by drug treatment.  To find out more please visit; https://www.keele.ac.uk/pharmacy-bioengineering/ourpeople/heidifuller/ 

Outside of work, Heidi is usually found in wellies with either a pack of rescued greyhounds or a metal detector and spade! As a member of the Historical Search Society, Mold, Heidi has a keen interest in metal detecting to un-earth, research and document the past.

I began my career at the RJAH in 2006 as a Research Assistant prior to embarking on my PhD studies in the Charles Salt Centre for Metabolic Research.  I was awarded a PhD from the University of Chester in 2011. I have since been employed by Keele University as a Research Associate, based in the Centre for Spinal Studies and Cartilage Research group at RJAH. I am also a visiting lecturer for University Centre Shrewsbury.

My research interests revolve around the biology & pathology of musculoskeletal disorders:

• Developing and delivering cell-based therapies for the repair of musculoskeletal tissues, both autologous and allogeneic
• Assessing the quality of repair tissue formed following cell-based therapies of articular cartilage, including studying the production and expression of extracellular matrix components and associated cellular signalling pathways
• The role of the subchondral bone in osteoarthritis

Outside of the laboratory I am a busy mum of two girls, a Community Governor for our local village school, Chair of Friends of Holt School PTA and a volunteer Community First Responder with the Welsh Ambulance Service!

I commenced my studies at the RJAH in 2005, and in 2009, was awarded a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Keele University. Since then I have been employed as a Lecturer/Research Fellow/Research Associate at the RJAH and am also the current Keele University Stakeholder Governor for the hospital.

My research interests are musculoskeletal injuries, spinal cord injuries and pressure sores, focussing on:

• Understanding their biology and pathology
• Improving their diagnosis and prognosis
• Developing and delivering cell-based therapies

Outside of the laboratory I am a busy mum of four, life doesn’t allow for any other interests!

I completed a 2-year Laboratory based apprenticeship at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in 2015. Followed by undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science at Keele University with summer placements at two contract research organisations. After graduating I was employed by a genetic toxicology contract research organisation.

Current position:
I am currently a PhD student based within Keele, Life Science and RJAH research group. The project involves analysing RNA sequencing data from clinical trial patients who have undergone cell-based therapies to treat cartilage defects. I am also a demonstrator in the undergraduate biochemistry laboratory practical session at Keele and I have just become the PGR health and safety representative for the Life Science building at Keele.

I am also a keen cake baker and eater!

Dr Naomi Dugard is a Post Doctoral Researcher with a specialist interest in bone health and disease and the preservation of cartilage, with previous experience including the development and application of novel markers of bone resorption and clinical research investigating skeletal health in the ageing population.

Naomi received her first degree in Microbiology from The University of Liverpool, before studying for her PhD at the Charles Salt Centre, RJAH Hospital in Oswestry researching bone loss associated with metabolic diseases.  She continued her post-doctoral research experience at the Charles Salt Centre managing the study titled “A Bio-assay for inhibitors of osteoclastogenesis in serum” before moving onto a research project investigating fractures and peripheral bone mineral density in a population of women >50yr in a community setting. 

In 2010, Naomi joined a team of scientists at the RJAH working in the field of Regenerative Medicine. Here she managed the “REACT Study” for five years, investigating the long-term effectiveness and potential adverse effects of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) for the treatment of cartilage defects.

Naomi is currently employed as a Consenting Research Officer  at RJAH as one of the main interfaces between the research staff, hospital clinicians, clinic staff and patients attending pre-operative clinics at the hospital.

Naomi’s interests include many family orientated outdoor activities. Particular favourites are camping and walking in the hills of North Wales and the Lake District.

I hold a Masters degree in Systems Engineering, I have 25 years I.T. experience including 10 running my own business specialising  in Data Migration and Test Management. Since 2016 I have been employed by the University of Keele as a Data Analyst at the RJAH.

My role involves maintenance and development of the OsCell database and providing data extracts and information for the Researchers and PhD students.

Outside of work I enjoy Golf, Pub Quizzes and following the Welsh Rugby team.

Achieving a degree in Biomedical Science from the University of Sheffield in 2017, I was accepted into a DCT programme between Keele, Loughborough and Nottingham Universities in the field of Regenerative Medicine.  This education has built the foundation of my research knowledge, which includes research items such as exploring the rate of vesicular transport, characterising cell behaviour on synthetic polymer brush surfaces and the characterisation of collagen VI from human cartilage.

Now undertaking my PhD as part of the Rheumatology Research Group. Here, I am exploring extracellular vesicles (EVs), small lipid-bound molecules that are released from cells, that typically govern cell-cell signalling in their natural capacity.

In my spare time, I enjoy baking and sitting down with the resulting baked goods with a cup of tea and a good book. After too many baked goods, I like to go swimming, and am currently teaching myself to play the ukulele.

Dr Sharon Owen is a Research Associate. After starting a family, she returned to education and obtained a BSc in Biochemistry from Liverpool University. In 1997, she embarked on a PhD based in the Charles Salt Centre at the RJAH, under the supervision of Dr Christopher Sharp investigating the biomechanical and biochemical properties of osteoarthritic bone.

Following completion of her PhD Sharon started working on a project investigating the stress response of cells from the intervertebral disc and has been involved in various projects based in the Spinal Studies group with Prof Sally Roberts. In 2014, Sharon was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship enabling her to learn specific microscope techniques to investigate the structural integrity of the human intervertebral disc/vertebral body junction.

Currently, Sharon is working with Dr Heidi Fuller investigating the proteomic profile of cells from different clinical types of Spinal Muscular Atrophy patients.

Sharon has lived in the Oswestry area all her life, and when not at work enjoys spending time with her family, although mostly this time is spent travelling to various sporting venues for football, cricket or tennis games!