Skip to main content
Emma Blain  BSc, PhD, FHEA

Dr Emma Blain

BSc, PhD, FHEA

Reader

School of Biosciences

Email
Blain@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29208 75171
Campuses
Sir Martin Evans Building, Room Division of Pathophysiology and RepairSchool of BiosciencesThe Sir Martin Evans BuildingMuseum AvenueCardiffCF10 3AX, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX
Users
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.

Publication

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Research

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
  • MRC Impact Accelerator Award
  • 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 Elaine Ferguson (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)

Jen Patterson (Intergated Masters student)

Grace Broadley (Integrated Masters student)

 

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.

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

2024 - 2027   NC3Rs Project Grant Assessment Panel Member

2022 - present    Versus Arthritis College of Experts

2023   NC3Rs Studentship Assessment Panel member

2022   NC3Rs Project Grant Assessment Panel member

2020 – 2022   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.

Supervisions

Current supervision

Jingyi Feng

Jingyi Feng

Graduate Demonstrator

Lekau Dintwa

Lekau Dintwa

Graduate Demonstrator

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.

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Osteoarthritis