I have over 25 years research experience and have published over 120 peer-reviewed papers, primarily on plant biochemistry. I currently oversee research on assessing the bioactivity and bioavailability of phytochemicals as regards human health. Although I have worked on a range of natural phytochemicals including polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamins, recent research has focused on berry components, mainly polyphenols, and ranged from extraction of bioactive components from berry waste for efficacy against Alzheimer’s disease, linking polyphenol composition and bioactivity, to assessing their effects in vivo and their bioavailability, often through development of new high through-put LC-MSⁿ techniques.

I have become particularly interested in identifying plant phytochemicals that can influence digestive processes and can modulate calorie intake and obesity and/or glycaemic responses and diabetes. I have also worked on reformulation techniques to maintain or improve the levels of these bioactive components in novel food products, often in collaboration with businesses.