Cardiff University, PhD, Connective Tissue Biology

Research centres around the skeleton and in particular: Arthritis; other musculoskeletal diseases; development; and pathology; emphasis given to the biology of the synovial joint as an integrated organ in differing tissue types and how these may interact during degenerative diseases; research areas: Development of synovial joints and the cell biology of normal and osteoarthritic cartilage; structure, function and development of ligaments and tendons: a cell biological, biochemical and molecular approach; interactions of cartilage collagens and their role in matrix assembly and integrity in development and disease; biochemistry and molecular biology of collagens in bone growth and inherited skeletal diseases; modes of cell death: mechanisms of apoptosis and necrosis in cell metabolism; cell matrix interaction and role in mechanotransoluction; the identification of novel candidate genes for use in the control and diagnosis of disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis; connective tissue matrix changes in ageing; cell and molecular biological aspects of cartilage repair; structure, function and metabolism of connective tissue proteoglycans in health and disease.