Our
people
Professor Jennifer Kirkham
Title
Pro Dean for Research and Innovation – Faculty of Medicine and Health
J.Kirkham@leeds.ac.uk
Phone
0113 3436156 or contact Adam Steel (PA) on 0113 3436159
Address
Oral Biology
Leeds Dental Institute
University of Leeds
Clarendon Way
Leeds
LS2 9LU
BHRC Role
BHRC Executive member
Research Interests
- Biomineralisation
- Skeletal tissue engineering
- Molecular IMaging
- Salivary diagnostics
About
Professor Kirkham chairs the Faculty of Medicine and Health Research Committee and is responsible for development of the Faculty’s research strategies in collaboration with the Academic Sub-Deans for Epidemiology & Biostatistics; Clinical Research; Health Services Research and Laboratory based Research.
Professor Kirkham is also Head of Oral Biology, Leeds Dental Institute and is an active researcher in:
Biomineralisation: Mechanisms of hydroxyapatite crystal deposition and the control of crystal growth in mammalian skeletal tissues including, the role of extracellular matrix proteins in the control of crystal deposition and growth; the relationship between underlying genetic lesions, extracellular matrix protein mutations and tissue phenotype in amelogenesis imperfecta; dentine dysplasia and dentinogenesis imperfecta; characterisation of protein-mineral interactions using AFM based technologies.
Skeletal tissue engineering: Use of biomimetic scaffolds in skeletal tissue regeneration and repair including, self-assembling peptides as bioactive scaffolds; dental pulp as a source of adult stem cells for skeletal tissue engineering; development of models for skeletal tissue engineering strategies; protein-substrate interactions and bioactivity.
Molecular imaging: AFM based strategies in biomedical research including, determination of the fate of converging polymerases during simultaneous transcription in a nested gene model (AMELX); molecular recognition mapping in bacteria; receptor-ligand interactions in mammalian cells.
Salivary diagnostics
Together with the rest of her team at Leeds , Professor Kirkham has published more than 100 papers in the field of mineralised tissue research and Oral Biology. She has previously supervised 21 postgraduate students who have all graduated successfully and is currently supervisor for 8 PhD students, including three clinical dentists.
Collaboration
- Wellcome Trust Odontogenesis: a paradigm for mammalian biomineralisation and the role of extracellular matrix proteins in control of crystal growth. (Co-Investigators include: Dr Roger Shore (Oral Biology, Leeds); Prof Alan Brook (University of Liverpool); Dr Claire Elcock (University of Sheffield); Prof Mike Dixon and Dr Adrian Shuttleworth (University of Manchester)).
- Use of self-assembling peptides as bioactive scaffolds in in situ skeletal tissue engineering With Dr Amalia Aggeli (Centre for Self-Organising Molecular Systems, University of Leeds); Dr Xuebin Yang and Miss Julie Burke (LDI).
- Understanding convergent transcription in a nested gene model. In collaboration with Dr C Gibson (University of Pennsylvania, USA); Dr Neil Thomson and Dr Bill Bonass (LDI).
- Spectroscopy in diagnostics. With: Prof Alastair Smith (Dept Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds) and Dr Steve Brookes (LDI)
- The effects of mechanical loading on articular cartilage. With: Dr Bahaa Seedhom & Dr Z Lao (Bioengineering Unit; Medicine) and Dr Bill Bonass (LDI)
- Protein interactions at surfaces. With: Prof Brian Clarkson (University of Michigna at Ann Arbor); Prof David Wood and Dr Steve Brookes (LDI)
Related Links
