Research expertise is centred around UV/visible and vibrational mid-infrared spectroscopies, together with a range of biochemical, biophysical and electrochemical methods with both basic and translational applications.
Basic research in centred upon biochemical and biophysical studies of biological electron transfer processes, particularly those of the mitochondrial respiratory chain with particular attention to the basic factors that are important for coupled electron and proton transfer within proteins. Our major focus is cytochrome c oxidase, and we have developed as a model system a His-tagged form of yeast mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, a system which allows for the first time the genetic manipulation of both nuclear and mitochondrially-encoded subunits.
Translational projects, in collaborations with clinicians at UCH, Hammersmith and Royal Free Hospitals, are aimed at exploiting the rapid technical advances of mid-infrared spectroscopy to provide new medical diagnostic tools. One major project is screening of urine samples for various kidney diseases that are difficult or expensive to diagnose with current clinical methods.  This has already led to our installing an experimental IR spectrometer in the Urology clinic of RFH for a three year data collection programme. A second major programme is development of methods for rapid, automated screening of biopsy samples for cancer stage diagnoses.