BSc. (Hons.) Biomedical Sciences (Biochemistry); Brunel University London (UK)

PhD. Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism; King’s College London (UK)

Obesity is a well-known risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, the deposition of fat in certain locations in the body such as the visceral cavity and liver are more strongly related to type 2 diabetes than general measures of obesity such as BMI. My research focuses on the role of body fat distribution particularly the deposition of fat within the organs, called ectopic fat, in the development of type 2 diabetes. In my research, I use magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy techniques to measure various fat deposits including visceral and subcutaneous fat as well as ectopic fat of the liver, pancreas and muscles.

During my PhD, I worked on a clinical research study called the South London Diabetes and Ethnicity Phenotyping (Soul-Deep) study, which aims to elucidate ethnic differences in the development of type 2 diabetes between white European and black west African men. In the UK, ethnic minority populations suffer disproportionately from type 2 diabetes which is driven by both environmental and biological factors. I have a keen interest in ethnic differences in body fat distribution, ectopic fat deposition and adipose tissue dysfunction and their links to metabolic disorders.

Professional member of Diabetes UK since 2016

Module Leader for Physiology and Metabolism, lecturer on Nutrition of Population Groups module