Dr Deborah Mason
Reader
- masondj@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 4561
- Fax:
- +44 (0)29 2087 4116
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Research Overview
My research elucidates new signalling mechanisms that regulate bone and cartilage turnover, to provide therapeutic and diagnostic targets for osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This has led to the discovery of functional glutamatergic signalling in bone and synovium, and revealed new pathways that mediate cytokine- and mechanically- induced cartilage degradation. Modulation of glutamatergic signalling to enhance bone formation and inhibit pathological changes in arthritis, and delineating the role of PKR in arthritis, are current research priorities.
Research Division
After my BSc in Zoology and Genetics (1986) and my PhD in Evolutionary Genetics (1991) in Cardiff, I worked briefly in Medical Genetics at the University Hospital of Wales before moving to Bristol University. My research in Bristol revealed osteocyte gene expression in vivo and implicated glutamatergic signalling in mechanically-induced bone formation. Since my appointment as Lecturer in Cardiff University in 1996 (Senior Lecturer in 2009, Reader in 2012), I have investigated the role of glutamate transporters in bone, revealed a pathological role for glutamate in arthritis, and identified new pathways of cytokine- and mechanically- induced cartilage degradation involving PKR, ceramide and the cytoskeleton. I have secured over £12M of research funding for 30 projects. I co-ordinated Cardiff’s bid for the Arthritis Research UK-funded Centre of Excellence in Biomechanics and Bioengineering, where I act as a manager, and as the Biomechanics, Inflammation and Pain Team Leader. I have served on the Bone Research Society and the British Orthopaedic Research Committees. I have supervised 11 PhD/MD students and teach undergraduate students, co-ordinating the Molecular Biology Degree Scheme in Cardiff and acting as final year tutor for all Biomolecular Degree Schemes. I regularly contribute to public engagement activities with school children, patients and fundraisers.
2019
- Khatib, N.et al. 2019. Dynamic medial knee overloading influences inflammation and bone remodeling in the degenerative knee [Abstract]. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 27(S1), pp. S44., article number: 29. (10.1016/j.joca.2019.02.063)
- Simonovic, J., Holt, C. and Mason, D. 2019. Semantic insight and behaviour of the computational bone cell population models. Presented at: 25th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB 2019), Vienna, Austria, 7-10 July 2019. pp. -.
- Watt, F. E.et al. 2019. Towards prevention of post-traumatic osteoarthritis: report from an international expert working group on considerations for the design and conduct of interventional studies following acute knee injury. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 27(1), pp. 23-33. (10.1016/j.joca.2018.08.001)
2018
- Gilbert, S. J.et al. 2018. Inflammatory and degenerative phases resulting from anterior cruciate rupture in a non-invasive murine model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 36(8), pp. 2118-2127. (10.1002/jor.23872)
- Jähn, K.et al. 2018. Phenotype and viability of MLO-Y4 cells Is maintained by TGFβ3 in a serum-dependent manner within a 3D-co-culture with MG-63 cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19(7), article number: 1932. (10.3390/ijms19071932)
- Sanders, R.et al. 2018. Improving the standardization of mRNA measurement by RT-qPCR. Biomolecular Detection and Quantification 15, pp. 13-17. (10.1016/j.bdq.2018.03.001)
- Khatib, N.et al. 2018. How does an AMPA/KA receptor antagonist affect the metabolic profile of a bone co-culture loading model? an NMR spectroscopy approach [Abstract]. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 98(1), pp. A21. (10.1111/iep.12218)
2016
- Holt, C. A.et al. 2016. Biological changes in tibial subchondral bone following high tibial osteotomy. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 24(S1), pp. S511-S511. (10.1016/j.joca.2016.01.935)
- Felson, D. T.et al. 2016. Recommendations for the conduct of efficacy trials of treatment devices for osteoarthritis: a report from a working group of the Arthritis Research UK Osteoarthritis and Crystal Diseases Clinical Studies Group. Rheumatology 55(2), pp. 320-326. (10.1093/rheumatology/kev328)
2015
- Eastwood, S. E.et al. 2015. Osteoclastogenesis-related cytokines and peri-prosthetic osteolysis in revision metal-on-metal total hip replacements. Hip International 25(4), pp. 355-360. (10.5301/hipint.5000241)
2014
- Vazquez, M.et al. 2014. A new method to investigate how mechanical loading of osteocytes controls osteoblasts. Frontiers in Endocrinology 5, article number: 208. (10.3389/fendo.2014.00208)
- Bonnet, C. S.et al. 2014. AMPA/kainate glutamate receptors contribute to inflammation, degeneration and pain related behaviour in inflammatory stages of arthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 74, pp. 242-251. (10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203670)
- Gilbert, S. J.et al. 2014. Deletion of P58IPK, the cellular inhibitor of the protein kinases PKR and PERK, causes bone changes and joint degeneration in mice. Frontiers in Endocrinology 5, article number: 174. (10.3389/fendo.2014.00174)
- Sanders, R.et al. 2014. Considerations for accurate gene expression measurement by reverse transcription quantitative PCR when analysing clinical samples. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 406(26), pp. 6471-6483. (10.1007/s00216-014-7857-x)
- Bonnet, C.et al. 2014. NBQX, a glutamate receptor antagonist, alleviates inflammation, pathology and gait abnormalities in a rat model of inflammatory arthritis. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 95(3), pp. A5-A6. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- Vazquez, M.et al. 2014. Development of a novel in vitro 3D osteoblast-osteocyte co-culture model to investigate mechanically-induced signalling. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 95(3), pp. A34-A35. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- Scully, N. E. E.et al. 2014. Development of a novel 3D mineralising culture system to investigate the differentiation of osteoblasts to osteocytes. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 95(3), pp. A29-A29. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- Gilbert, S. J.et al. 2014. The use of a non-invasive murine knee joint loading model to identify mechano-regulated genes in vivo. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 95(3), pp. A11-A12. (10.1111/iep.12078)
- Holt, C. A.et al. 2014. Correlating biomechanics and biological signals in subjects undergoing high tibial osteotomy. Presented at: Othopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA, USA, 15-18th March 2014.
2013
- Sanders, R.et al. 2013. Evaluation of digital PCR for absolute RNA quantification. PLoS ONE 8(9), article number: e75296. (10.1371/journal.pone.0075296)
2012
- Brakspear, K. S. and Mason, D. J. 2012. Glutamate signaling in bone. Frontiers in Endocrinology 3, article number: 97. (10.3389/fendo.2012.00097)
- Bonnet, C.et al. 2012. Intra-articular AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor antagonists alleviate inflammation, pain and pathology in rat antigen induced arthritis [Abstract]. Osteoporosis International 23, pp. S527-S527.
- Gilbert, S. J.et al. 2012. Protein kinase R plays a pivotal role in oncostatin M and interleukin-1 signalling in bovine articular cartilage chondrocytes. European Cells and Materials 23, pp. 41-57.
- Whatling, G. M.et al. 2012. Biomechanical and biological changes following high tibial osteotomy. Presented at: 18th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics., Lisbon, Portugal, 1-4 July 2012.
2011
- Vazquez, M.et al. 2011. Bone in vitro 3D osteoblast-osteocyte co-culture model. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 92(6), pp. A18-A18. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2011.00780.x)
- Parsons, P.et al. 2011. Type IX collagen interacts with fibronectin providing an important molecular bridge in articular cartilage. Journal of Biological Chemistry 286(40), pp. 34986-34997. (10.1074/jbc.M111.238188)
- Parsons, P.et al. 2011. Identification of a type IX collagen interaction with fibronectin: a molecular bridge in articular cartilage?. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 286(40), pp. 34986-34997. (10.1074/jbc.M111.238188)
- Whatling, G. M.et al. 2011. High tibial osteotomy: linking biomechanical and biological changes. Presented at: British Orthopaedic Research Society, Cambridge, 27-29 June 2011.
2010
- Mason, D. J.et al. 2010. Glutamatergic signalling in the osteoarthritic knee. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 91(2), pp. A34-A35. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2009.00690.x)
- Gilbert, S. J.et al. 2010. Knockout of P58(IPK), a known inhibitor of PKR, in mice results in a degenerative phenotype in the knee joint. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 91(2), pp. A34-A34. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2009.00690.x)
- Mason, D. J.et al. 2010. Glutamatergic signals in human arthritis: A link between mechanical, nociceptive and pathological processes. Bone 46, pp. S76. (10.1016/j.bone.2010.01.185)
- Mason, D. J.et al. 2010. Can joint realignment surgery reveal mechanically regulated signals that influence pain and pathology in humans?. Presented at: Annual Meeting of the European Research Society (EORS), Davos, Switzerland, 30 June - 2 July 2010.
2009
- Gilbert, S. J., Duance, V. C. and Mason, D. J. 2009. A pivotal role for protein kinase R in the oncostatin m and interleukin-1 induced catabolic phenotype in bovine articular cartilage chondrocytes. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 90(2), pp. A112-A112. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2008.00644.x)
- Brakspear, K. S., Parsons, P. and Mason, D. J. 2009. Glutamate transporter inhibitors influence osteoblast gene expression and activity. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 90(2), pp. A107-A108. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2008.00644.x)
- Brakspear, K. S., Parsons, P. and Mason, D. J. 2009. Glutamate transporter inhibitors influence osteoblast gene expression and activity [Abstract]. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 90(2), pp. A107-A108. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2009.00644.x)
- Mason, D. J.et al. 2009. Interactions between osteocytes and osteoblasts in a novel 3D co-culture system [Abstract]. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 90(2), pp. A104. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2008.00644.x)
- Gilbert, S. J., Duance, V. C. and Mason, D. J. 2009. A pivotal role for protein kinase R in the oncastatin m and interleukin-1 induced catabolic phenotype in bovine articular cartilage chondrocytes. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 90(2), pp. A112-A112.
2008
- Gilbert, S. J.et al. 2008. Sphingomyelinase decreases type II collagen expression in bovine articular chondrocytes via the ERK signalling pathway. Arthritis and Rheumatism 58(1), pp. 209-220. (10.1002/art.23172)
- Mason, D.et al. 2008. A 3D culture system to investigate osteocyte control of osteoblasts. Bone 42(Suppl), pp. S26-S27. (10.1016/j.bone.2007.12.033)
2006
- Gilbert, S. J.et al. 2006. Exogenous sphingomyelinase increases collagen and sulphated glycosaminoglycan production by primary articular chondrocytes: an in vitro study. Arthritis research & therapy 8(4), article number: R89. (10.1186/ar1961)
- Gilbert, S. J., Duance, V. C. and Mason, D. J. 2006. Protein kinase R: A novel mediator of articular cartilage degradation in arthritis. Current Rheumatology Reviews 2(1), pp. 9-21. (10.2174/157339706775697026)
2004
- Mason, D. J. 2004. Glutamate signalling and its potential application to tissue engineering of bone. European Cells and Materials 7, pp. 12-26.
- Mason, D. J. 2004. The role of glutamate transporters in bone cell signalling. Journal of Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interactions 4(2), pp. 128-131.
2003
- Gilbert, S. J., Duance, V. C. and Mason, D. J. 2003. Does protein kinase R mediate TNF-α- and ceramide-induced increases in expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases in articular cartilage by a novel mechanism?. Arthritis Research & Therapy 6(1), pp. R46-R55. (10.1186/ar1024)
- Mason, D. J. and Huggett, J. F. 2003. Elucidation of mechanically-regulated signalling pathways in bone and their application to bone tissue engineering. European Cells and Materials 5(Supp 2), pp. 26-27.
- Blain, E. J., Mason, D. J. and Duance, V. C. 2003. The effect of cyclical compressive loading on gene expression in articular cartilage. Biorheology 40(1-3), pp. 111-117.
2002
- Blain, E. J., Mason, D. J. and Duance, V. C. 2002. The effect of thymosin β4 on articular cartilage chondrocyte matrix metalloproteinase expression. Biochemical Society Transactions 30(6), pp. 879-882. (10.1042/BST0300879)
- Gilbert, S. J., Duance, V. C. and Mason, D. J. 2002. Tumour necrosis factor α up-regulates protein kinase R (PKR)-activating protein (PACT) and increases phosphorylation of PKR and eukaryotic initiation factor 2-α in articular chondrocytes. Biochemical Society Transactions 30(6), pp. 886-889. (10.1042/BST0300886)
- Huggett, J. F.et al. 2002. The glutamate transporter GLAST-1 (EAAT-1) is expressed in the plasma membrane of osteocytes and is responsive to extracellular glutamate concentration.. Biochemical Society Transactions 30(6), pp. 890-893. (10.1042/BST0300890)
- Mason, D. 2002. Glutamate transporters in bone. Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions 2(5), pp. 406-414.
- Gilbert, S. J., Duance, V. C. and Mason, D. J. 2002. Tumour necrosis factor α up-regulates protein kinase R (PKR)-activating protein (PACT) and increases phosphorylation of PKR and eukaryotic initiation factor 2-α in articular chondrocyte. Biochemical Society Transactions 30, pp. 886-889. (10.1042/bst0300886)
2001
- Blain, E. J.et al. 2001. Up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression and activation following cyclical compressive loading of articular cartilage in vitro. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 396(1), pp. 49-55. (10.1006/abbi.2001.2575)
- Skerry, T.et al. 2001. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence: The shortcomings of the GLAST knockout mouse [2] [Abstract]. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 16(9), pp. 1729-1730. (10.1359/jbmr.2001.16.9.1729)
- Skerry, T.et al. 2001. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence; The shortcomings of the GLAST knockout mouse [Letter]. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 16(9), pp. 1729-1730. (10.1359/jbmr.2001.16.9.1729)
2000
- Huggett, J., Mason, D. J. and Vaughan-Thomas, A. 2000. The open reading frame of the Na+-dependent glutamate transporter GLAST-1 is expressed in bone and a splice variant of this molecule is expressed in bone and brain. FEBS Letters 485(1), pp. 13-18. (10.1016/S0014-5793(00)02175-X)
1997
- Mason, D.et al. 1997. Mechanically regulated expression of a neural glutamate transporter in bone: a role for excitatory amino acids as osteotropic agents?. Bone 20(3), pp. 199-205.
1996
- Mason, D. J., Hillam, R. and Skerry, T. 1996. Constitutive in vivo mRNA expression by osteocytes of β-actin, osteocalcin, connexin-43, IGF-I, c-fos and c-jun, but not TNF- nor tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 11(3), pp. 350-357. (10.1002/jbmr.5650110308)
1995
- Mason, D. J., RK, B. and P, G. 1995. An unusual mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in the Chorthippus biguttulus species group (Orthoptera:Acrididae). Molecular Ecology 4(1), pp. 121-126. (10.1111/j.1365-294X.1995.tb00199.x)
My research elucidates new signalling mechanisms that regulate bone and cartilage turnover, to provide therapeutic and diagnostic targets for osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This has led to the discovery of functional glutamatergic signalling in bone and synovium, and revealed new pathways that mediate cytokine- and mechanically- induced cartilage degradation. As a Team Leader in the Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre, I direct research investigating the links between pain, inflammation and pathology in human arthritis. We have developed a range of protocols and cell, explant, animal and human models to investigate how altered joint biomechanics influences biological signals.
Current research includes:
- Modulation of glutamatergic signalling to enhance bone formation and inhibit pathological changes in arthritis.
- Delineating the role of Protein Kinase R in arthritis.
- Linking biological signals to joint loading and pathology in human arthritis.
- Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to identify complex patterns of biomarkers to stratify patients with arthritis or joint pathology.
- Developing a novel, mechanically-loaded 3D co-culture system to investigate osteocyte control of osteoblasts
Glutamate Signalling: My work implicating the glutamate transporter GLAST-1 in mechanotransduction, and identifying glutamate as a potential anabolic target in bone is leading to new strategies for increasing bone formation. Our discovery that glutamate signalling mediates pathological responses in inflammatory arthritis, and that specific glutamate receptors are expressed in human inflammatory and osteoarthritis, reveals a therapeutic opportunity whereby joint destruction and pain could be prevented using specific glutamate receptor antagonists. http://www.news-medical.net/news/20130814/Osteoarthritis-research-an-interview-with-Dr-Deborah-Mason-Cardiff-University.aspx
- Cleo S Bonnet 1, Anwen S Williams 2, Sophie J Gilbert 1, Ann K Harvey 3, Bronwen A Evans 4, and Deborah J Mason AMPA/kainate glutamate receptors contribute to inflammation, degeneration and pain related behaviour in inflammatory stages of arthritis. Annals of Rheumatic Diseases - under review.
- Brakspear KS and Mason DJ (2012) Glutamate signaling in bone. Front. Endocrin. 3:97.
- Flood S, Parri R, Williams A, Duance V and Mason DJ (2007) Modulation of interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes by functional ionotropic glutamate receptors. Arthritis and Rheumatism 56(8): 2523-2534.
- Mason DJ (2004) The role of glutamate transporters in bone cell signalling. Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions 4:128-131.
- Mason DJ (2004) Glutamate Signalling and its Potential Application to Tissue Engineering of bone. European Cells and Materials 7:12-26.
- Mason DJ and Huggett JF (2002) Glutamate Transporters in Bone Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions 2 (5): 406-414
- Huggett JF, Mustafa A, O’Neal L and Mason DJ (2002) The glutamate transporter GLAST-1 (EAAT-1) is expressed in the plasma membrane of osteocytes and is responsive to extracellular glutamate concentration. Biochem Soc Trans 30:890-893.
- Skerry T, Genever P, Taylor A, Dobson K, Mason D , Suva L. (2001) Letters to the Editor: Absence of Evidence is not evidence of absence. The shortcomings of the GLAST knockout mouse. JBMR 16 (9):1729-1730.
- Huggett J, Vaughan-Thomas A, Mason DJ (2000) The open reading frame of the Na(+)-dependent glutamate transporter GLAST-1 is expressed in bone and a splice variant of this molecule is expressed in bone and brain. FEBS Lett 485(1):13-18.
- Mason DJ, Suva LJ, Genever PG, Patton AJ, Steuckle S, Hillam RA, and Skerry TM (1997). Mechanically-regulated expression of a neural glutamate transporter in bone. A role for excitatory amino acids as osteotropic agents? Bone 20 (3):199-20.
PKR and ceramide in arthritis: Protein Kinase R (PKR) mediates stress and viral responses. We reported that PKR is activated in osteoarthritis and demonstrated that PKR mediates cytokine -induced degradation of cartilage. We have also shown that ceramide, a cytokine induced second messenger, influences cartilage matrix homeostasis via ERK signalling. P58IPK inhibits PKR and PERK and knockouts of this, where PKR and PERK are overactivated, have joint degeneration that resembles osteoarthritis. These new mechanisms of cytokine mediated cartilage degradation, relevant to both osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, may be targeted in treatment or diagnosis of arthritis.
- Gilbert SJ, Meakin LB, Nowell MA, Bonnet CS, Ladiges WC, Morton J, Duance VC and Mason DJ. Deletion of P58IPK, the cellular inhibitor of the protein kinases PKR and PERK, causes bone changes and joint degeneration in mice. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage – under review.
- Gilbert SJ, Blain EJ, Vaughan-Thomas A, Duance VC and Mason DJ (2012) Protein kinase R plays a pivotal role in the oncostatin M and interleukin-1 signalling in bovine articular cartilage chondrocytes. European Cells and Materials, 23:41-57.
- Gilbert SJ, Blain EJ, Duance VC and Mason DJ (2008) Sphingomyelinase decreases type II collagen expression in bovine articular chondrocytes via the ERK signalling pathway. Arthritis and Rheumatism 58:209-220.
- Gilbert SJ, Blain EJ, Jones P, Duance VC, Mason DJ (2006) Exogenous sphingomyelinase increases collagen and sulphated glycosaminoglycan production by primary articular chondrocytes: an in vitro study. Arthritis Research and Therapy 8(4):R89
- Gilbert SJ, Duance VC and Mason DJ (2006) Protein Kinase R: A novel mediator of articular cartilage degradation in arthritis. Current Rheumatology Reviews 2(1):9-21.
- Gilbert SJ, Duance VC, Mason DJ (2004) Does PKR mediate TNF alpha and ceramide induced increases in expression and activation of MMPs in articular cartilage by a novel mechanism? Arthritis Res Ther 6:46-55.
- Gilbert SJ, Duance VC and Mason DJ (2002) Tumour necrosis factor a up-regulates protein kinase R (PKR)-activating protein (PACT) and increases phosphorylation of PKR and eukaryotic initiation factor 2-a in articular chondrocytes. Biochem Soc Trans 30:886-9.
Biomechanics: Mechanical loading is a potent stimulus regulating both formation and degradation of bone and cartilage. Our studies on the effects of mechanical loading in bone and cartilage have implicated glutamatergic signalling, degradative enzymes, and the cytoskeleton in mechanotransduction. Recently, award of the Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre has allowed us to investigate the molecular signals underlying joint loading, pain and inflammation in humans with osteoarthritis or joint injury.
- JB Catterall, S Dewitt, DJ Mason, Wilson C, K Fagerlund, JM Halleen, B Caterson. CTx-II is a marker of cartilage destruction and reflects cartilage metabolism. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage - under review
- D J Mason, 1K Brakspear, 2C Wilson, 2R Williams, 2R S Kotwal (2010). Glutamate, a signal that links mechanical loading, pain and pathology in human arthritis. Invited paper, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Porto. ISBN: 978-9562121-0-8.
Research Funding 2008-2012 (from £12M total grant funding)
Wilde (Avanticell Science Ltd), Evans BA and Mason DJ (Cardiff University) (2013-2014) A Cell-Based Analysis Platform to Screen Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods against Osteoporosis TSB £99,889
Mason DJ, Bonnet CS, Williams AS and Walsh D (2013-2016) Investigating the mechanism of the protective role of glutamate receptor antagonists in osteoarthritis. Arthritis Research UK £200,000
John A and Mason DJ (Mentor) (2012-2015)AHSC Clinical Research Time Competition. Investigate biological mechanisms and biomarkers underlying early events in adverse reactions to MoM hip implants, NISCHR £70,762
John A and Mason DJ (2012-2015) MD Investigate biological mechanisms and biomarkers underlying early events in adverse reactions to MoM hip implants, Self-funded £8,000
Nowell M, Mason DJ, Aeschlimann D, Evans B, Choy E. (2012) 384-capacity Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) facility. Arthritis Research UK, £ 131,115
Mason DJ andHuggett JF. (2010-2014) PhD sudentship: Development and evaluation of new standardisation methods for RNA measurement in connective tissue diseases. LGC , £84,000
Evans B, Mason DJ, Sloan A, Ralphs, Gregory. Hadwen Trust (2010- 2012) Development of new methodologies for the 3-D in vitro study of bone disease £83,000
Duance, Mason, Holt, Evans, Riccardi, Denyer, Jones, Williams, Evans, Aeschlimann, Van Deursen and Wise. Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre. Arthritis Research UK 2009-2014, £2.5M, matched with £7.5M from Cardiff University.
Mason DJ, Evans BAE, Riccardi, (2009-2013) PhD sudentship: Investigating the roles of adenosine, glutamate and calcium signalling in mechanically-induced bone formation. Cardiff University, £84,000
Evans BAE and Mason DJ (2010-2014) PhD sudentship: Investigating the response to load of human osteocytes from different anatomical sites in health and disease, Cardiff University, £84,000
Mason DJ, Roberts H, Paisey S, Wilson C, Fairhurst S, Bagley M, Jones G. Using NMR for synovial fluid biomarkers. Cardiff and Vale Orthopaedics Centre,Dept Orthopaedics and School of Physics, Cardiff University (2009 – 2013) £20,000
Mason DJ and Parsons P, Modulating glutamate transporters for fracture repair. BBSRC CASE with Smith and Nephew as industrial partner, 2007-2010, £77,000.
Collaborators
External:
- Prof David Walsh (Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre, Nottingham).
- Dr Lee Meakin (Bristol University)
- Prof Ladiges and Dr John Morton (Dept Comparative Medicine, University of Washington)
- Dr Jim Huggett (Nucleic Acid Metrology Molecular & Cell Biology LGC, Middlesex)
- Prof Mark Bagley (University of Sussex)
- Prof Chris Wilson (Consultant Orthopaedic Knee surgeon in Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust)
- Mr Alun John (Consultant Orthopaedic hip surgeon in Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust)
Cardiff University:
- School of Engineering: Dr Cathy Holt, Prof Sam Evans, Dr Gemma Whatling
- School of Medicine: Dr Bronwen Evans, Dr Anwen Williams, Dr Ann Harvey
- School of Physics: Dr Stephen Fairhurst
- School of Healthcare Studies: Dr Val Sparkes, Dr Nicky Phillips
- School of Dentistry: Dr Alistair Sloan, Dr Sharon Dewitt
- School of Biosciences: Prof Victor Duance, Dr Sophie Gilbert, Professor Daniela Riccardi and Dr Jim Ralphs
Current Research Group Members
Post Doctoral Research Associates
PhD students
Nicole Scully
Ahmed Almansour