Dr Josephine Meade

Profile

I joined the Division of Oral Biology as Lecturer in Molecular Immunology in 2012 where I now undertake my research within the Microbiology and Cell Biology Research group.

I obtained my PhD from Cambridge University (Hughes Hall college) in 2001 having performed my doctoral research on lymphocyte signalling and development in the laboratories of the Babraham Institue with Dr Martin Turner.  I first joined the University of Leeds in 2001 as a post doctoral research assistant working in the Leeds Institute for Molecular Medicine, researching natural killer lymphocyte biology in Professor Graham Cook's group.  I continued to work in this field as a research fellow funded through a Yorkshire Cancer Research Junior Researcher award in 2010.

Responsibilities

• Module Lead

Research interests

My current research projects are focussed on investigating oral defences, including those provided by both specialist immune cells and cells comprising the mucosal tissues of our human oral cavitites.

My research interests include investigating the responses of cells of the oral mucosa to microbes and microbial biofilms that can occur in both health and disease.   

I also work on collaborative projects aimed at investigating the associations between oral and systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.  This work focusses on uncovering the mechanisms by which oral and systemic disease pathology are linked.

I also collaborate on projects with the Tissue Engineering group that relate to stem cells dervied from oral tissues and their regnerative potential, this is through my expertise in Flow Cytometry, used to identify, charaterise and quantitate these populations.  

Qualifications

• PhD B cell Signalling and Development
• BSc Biological Sciences (with Virology and Intercalated Industrial Year-Sandoz Vienna)
• Teaching Award Level 2: Fellow of Higher Education Authority

Professional memberships

• British Society of Immunology
• International Association of Dental Research (+Oral Microbiology / Immunology sub group)
• Member of Association of Basic Science Teachers in Dentistry

Student education

I am responsible for delivering undergraduate teaching related to Immunology and Cancer Biology within the School of Dentistry which spans several modules and involoves teaching in the First, Second and Third year of the BChD/MChD and the First Year of the BSc in DHDT.

I also lead and teach in a taught post graduate module in an area that reflects my research interests in the links between Oral and Systemic diseases.

I have recenly completed a 4 year term as  Assessment Lead and Mitigation Officer for the School of Dentistry and therefore have further developed my expertise in Delvering tradition and Online Higher Education Assessment.  

Research groups and institutes

• Microbiology and cell biology