My research career began with a PhD project at Glasgow Caledonian University entitled "Developing inhibitory analogs to Clostridium difficile toxins".  This involved cloning and expression of receptor binding fragments of C. difficile toxins A and B and identifying peptides with therapeutic potential in C. difficile associated disease.  Thereafter, I embarked on a Medical Research Scotland funded post doctoral research project elucidating the adaptive immune response to cariogenic bacteria in the oral cavity.

I was recently appointed as a Lecturer in food Science / Microbiology at Glasgow Caledonian University.  I have continued my research into the oral adaptive immune response to oral pathogens and I am currently investigating the link between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis in collaboration with Glasgow Dental Hospital and the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation in the University of Glasgow.