Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5)

John Aplin, MA, PhD
- john.aplinmanchester.acuk
- Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5) - Professor
- FBMH Faculty Office Administration (L5) - Honorary Professor
Person: Academic
Bernadette Baker
- Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5) - Honorary Research Associate
Person: Academic
Kylie Belchamber
- Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5) - Lecturer in Maternal and Foetal Health
Person: Academic
Daimark Bennett
- Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5) - Lecturer in Developmental Biology
Person: Academic
Veronica Biga, BEng
- Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5) - Research Fellow
Person: Academic

A core outcome set for future male infertility research: development of an international consensus
Rimmer, M. P., Howie, R. A., Anderson, R. A., Barratt, C. L. R., Barnhart, K. T., Beebeejaun, Y., Bertolla, R. P., Bortoletto, P., Brannigan, R. E., Cantineau, A. E. P., Caroppo, E., Collura, B. L., Coward, K., Duncan, W. C., Eisenberg, M. L., Gellatly, S. A., Geyter, C. D., Goulis, D. G., Henkel, R. R. & Ho, V. N. A. & 38 others, Hussein, A. F., Huyser, C., Kadijk, J. H., Kamath, M. S., Khashaba, S., Khattak, H., Kobori, Y., Kopeika, J., Kucuk, T., Luján, S., Matsaseng, T. C., Mathur, R. S., McEleny, K., Mitchell, R. T., Mol, B. W., Murage, A. M., Ng, E. H. Y., Pacey, A., Perheentupa, A. H., Du Plessis, S., Rives, N., Sarris, I., Schlegel, P. N., Shabbir, M., Śmiechowski, M., Subramanian, V., Sunkara, S. K., Tarlarzis, B. C., Tüttelmann, F., Vail, A., van Wely, M., Vazquez-Levin, M. H., Lan N Vuong, Wang, A. Y., Wang, R., Duffy, J. M. N., Farquhar, C. M. & Niederberger, C., 9 Jun 2025, In: Fertility and Sterility. 123, 6, p. 1017-1028 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
A core outcome set for future male infertility research: development of an international consensus
Rimmer, M. P., Howie, R. A., Anderson, R. A., Barratt, C. L. R., Barnhart, K. T., Beebeejaun, Y., Bertolla, R. P., Bortoletto, P., Brannigan, R. E., Cantineau, A. E. P., Caroppo, E., Collura, B. L., Coward, K., Duncan, W. C., Eisenberg, M. L., Gellatly, S. A., De Geyter, C., Goulis, D. G., Henkel, R. R. & Ho, V. N. A. & 38 others, Hussein, A. F., Huyser, C., Kadijk, J. H., Kamath, M. S., Khashaba, S., Khattak, H., Kobori, Y., Kopeika, J., Kucuk, T., Luján, S., Matsaseng, T. C., Mathur, R. S., McEleny, K., Mitchell, R. T., Mol, B. W., Murage, A. M., Ng, E. H. Y., Pacey, A., Perheentupa, A. H., Du Plessis, S., Rives, N., Sarris, I., Schlegel, P. N., Shabbir, M., Śmiechowski, M., Subramanian, V., Sunkara, S. K., Tarlarzis, B. C., Tüttelmann, F., Vail, A., van Wely, M., Vazquez-Levin, M. H., Vuong, L. N., Wang, A. Y., Wang, R., Duffy, J. M. N., Farquhar, C. M. & Niederberger, C., 1 May 2025, In: Human reproduction (Oxford, England). 40, 5, p. 865-875 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
Activity-dependent regulation of cortical cell numbers: Role of neuronal activity in cortical circuit formation
Wong, F. K., 3 Sept 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Neural Regeneration Research.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activity-dependent regulation of microglia numbers by pyramidal cells during development shape cortical functions
Kumaraguru, S., Morgan, J. & Wong, F. K., 21 Feb 2025, In: Science Advances. 11, 8, eadq5842.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
Acute-onset axonal neuropathy following infection in children with biallelic RCC1 variants: a case series
Harkness, J. R., McDermott, J. H., Marsden, S., Jamieson, P., Metcalfe, K. A., Khan, N., Macken, W. L., Pitceathly, R. D. S., Record, C. J., Maroofian, R., Kleopa, K., Christodoulou, K., Sabir, A., Islam, L., Santra, S., Durmusalioglu, E. A., Atik, T., Isik, E., Cogulu, O. & Urquhart, J. E. & 43 others, Beaman, G. M., Demain, L. A., Jackson, A., Blakes, A. J. M., Byers, H. J., Bennett, H., Lin, W. H., Adamson, A., Patel, S., Yue, W. W., Taylor, R. W., Reunert, J., Marquardt, T., Buchert, R., Haack, T., Losch, H., Ryba, L., Lassuthova, P., Valkovičová, R., Haberlová, J., Lauerová, B., Trúsiková, E., Polavarapu, K., Kilicarslan, O. A., Lochmüller, H., Zamani, M., Chamanrou, N., Shariati, G., Sadeghian, S., Azizimalamiri, R., Maddirevula, S., AlMuhaizea, M., Alkuraya, F. S., Horvath, R., Gungor, S., Manzur, A., Munot, P., Matthews, R., Banka, S., Reilly, M. M., Bennett, D., O'Keefe, R. T. & Newman, W. G., Aug 2025, In: The Lancet Neurology. 24, 8, p. 667-680 14 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Not started
5 Active
9 Finished

BHF Centre for Research Excellence 2024-2029
Keavney, B. (PI), Tomaszewski, M. (CoI), Hentges, K. (CoI), Buch, M. (CoI), Ananiadou, S. (CoI), Miller, C. (CoI), Oceandy, D. (CoI), Smith, C. (CoI), Allan, S. (CoI), Cartwright, E. (CoI), Revell, A. (CoI), Frangi, A. F. (CoI), Peek, N. (CoI), Greenstein, A. (CoI), Wang, X. (CoI), Trafford, A. (CoI), Morris, A. (CoI), Newman, W. (CoI), Kontopantelis, E. (CoI), Brough, D. (CoI), Myers, J. (CoI), Mamas, M. (CoI) & Greenstein, A. (CoI)
1/10/24 → 30/09/29
Project: Research
Can plant-derived extracellular vesicles improve outcomes in pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity?
Westwood, M. (PI), Cottrell, E. (CoI), Desforges, M. (CoI), Dilworth, M. (CoI), Mann, E. (CoI), Mcbain, A. (CoI) & Stevens, A. (CoI)
1/05/24 → 30/04/27
Project: Research
A quantitative and dynamical approach to understanding cell state transitions
Papalopulu, N. (PI)
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
Relating Environment-use Scenarios in Pregnancy/Infanthood and Resulting airborne-material Exposures to child-health outcomes (RESPIRE)
Johnstone, E. (PI), Povey, A. (CoI), Van Tongeren, M. (CoI), Ruane, P. (CoI), Bannan, T. (CoI), Gittins, M. (CoI) & Higgins, L. (CoI)
1/11/21 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre
Stevens, A. (PI), Heazell, A. (PI), Tower, C. (PI), Brison, D. (PI), Johnstone, E. (PI), Cottrell, E. (PI), Mann, E. (PI), Ingram, E. (PI), Crocker, I. (PI), Chernyavsky, I. (PI), Myers, J. (PI), Aplin, J. (PI), Higgins, L. (PI), Harris, L. (PI), Dilworth, M. (PI), Westwood, M. (PI), Whitworth, M. (PI), Desforges, M. (PI), Brownbill, P. (PI), Ruane, P. (PI), Sturmey, R. (PI), Worton, S. (PI), Greenwood, S. (PI), Sibley, C. (PI), Belchamber, K. (PI), Palin, V. (PI), Povey, A. (PI), Ormesher, L. (PI) & Perchard, R. (PI)
1/09/18 → 31/12/35
Project: Research

Defining the phenotype of severe growth disorders, discovering new genes that control human growth and enhancing clinical practice
Clayton, P. (Participant), Black, G. (Participant), Read, A. (Participant), Manson, F. (Participant), Hanson, D. (Participant) & Patel, L. (Participant)
Impact: Health impacts
Establishment of Tommy’s National Biobank with partners
Johnstone, E. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing
Innovative 'mymaternity' app helps monitor blood pressure and glucose from home during pregnancy benefitting pregnant women in Greater Manchester
Myers, J. (Corresponding participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing, Technological
Placenta growth factor (PlGF) blood test for pre-eclampsia recommended by NICE then rolled out more widely by NHS England speeding up diagnosis and helping determine those most at risk
Myers, J. (Corresponding participant), Ormesher, L. (Participant), Johnstone, E. (Participant) & Duhig, K. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing, Economic
Preventing Stillbirth and Improving the Quality of Care After a Baby Dies
Heazell, A. (Participant), Jones, R. (Participant) & Sibley, C. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing

Doctoral Academy Summer Symposium 2025
Arslan, T. (Co-Organiser), Sheppard, M. (Co-Organiser), Booth, S. (Co-Organiser), Warwick, A. (Co-Organiser), Moran, K. (Co-Organiser), Doddaballapur, D. (Co-Organiser), Cottrell, E. (Co-Organiser), Hackney, J. (Co-Organiser) & Alshaikhmubarak, F. (Chair)
19 Jun 2025
Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
PROSPECT : What does it tell us ?
Reid, F. (Speaker)
31 Mar 2023
Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
Step up for Stillbirth
Higgins, L. (Chair)
9 Oct 2021
Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
International Federation of Placenta Associations Meeting 2021
Desforges, M. (Chair)
1 Sept 2021
Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
RCOG reproductive medicine clinical studies group (External organisation)
Higgins, L. (Academic expert member)
Mar 2021 → …
Activity: Membership › Membership of committee › Research

FEMINA2
Higgins, L. (Contributor), Johnstone, E. (Contributor) & Heazell, A. (Contributor), Mendeley Data, 22 Oct 2018
DOI: 10.17632/vsxsjhp6n3.1, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/vsxsjhp6n3
Dataset
Biocort
Stevens, A. (Contributor), Mendeley Data, 1 Apr 2021
DOI: 10.17632/7hc49hzzhc.2, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/7hc49hzzhc
Dataset
Early onset preeclampsia and eclampsia in low-resource settings
Ngwenya, S. (Creator), Jones, B. (Contributor), Mwembe, D. (Contributor), Mapfumo, C. (Contributor), Familusi, A. (Contributor), Nare, H. (Contributor) & Heazell, A. (Contributor), Mendeley Data, 19 Oct 2019
DOI: 10.17632/wrkvzf567k.2, https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/wrkvzf567k
Dataset
Quantitative assessment of placental morphology may identify specific causes of stillbirth
Ptacek, I. (Contributor), Smith, A. (Contributor), Garrod, A. (Contributor), Bullough, S. (Contributor), Bradley, N. (Contributor), Batra, G. (Contributor), Sibley, C. (Contributor), Jones, R. (Contributor), Brownbill, P. (Contributor) & Heazell, A. (Contributor), figshare , 6 Feb 2016
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3622058.v1, https://figshare.com/collections/Quantitative_assessment_of_placental_morphology_may_identify_specific_causes_of_stillbirth/3622058/1
Dataset
Abundant expression of somatic transposon-derived piRNAs throughout Tribolium castaneum embryogenesis
Ninova, M. (Contributor), Griffiths-Jones, S. (Contributor) & Ronshaugen, M. (Contributor), figshare , 26 Sept 2017
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3889432.v1, https://figshare.com/collections/Abundant_expression_of_somatic_transposon-derived_piRNAs_throughout_Tribolium_castaneum_embryogenesis/3889432/1
Dataset

Best iPoster award (First place), Postgraduate summer showcase, University of Manchester
Kowash, H. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
BMA Book Awards 2014 - Highly Commended in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Crosbie, E. (Recipient) & Heazell, A. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
BMA Book Awards 2017 – Best Book in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Wan, Y.-L. (Recipient), Crosbie, E. (Recipient), Kitson, S. (Recipient) & Kither, H. (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
EMBO Long-Term Fellowship
Wong, F. K. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
Gábor Than Award in Placentology
Forbes, K. (Recipient), Sept 2012
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

Podcast on "CHronic hypERtension and L-citRulline studY (CHERRY): an Early-Phase Randomised Controlled Trial in Pregnancy"
Ormesher, L.
12/12/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
The simple genetic test for newborns that can prevent profound deafness and save the NHS millions every year
Newman, W., Mcdermott, J., Body, R., Mahaveer, A., Wilson, P., Bruce, I., Booth, N., James, R., Beaman, G., Tricker, K., Turner, M., Harvey, K., Ulph, F. & Macleod, R.
29/03/22
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Pregnant women in Greater Manchester benefit from innovative new app to help monitor blood pressure and glucose from home
Myers, J.
9/12/21
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
Life-saving world-first NHS test for pregnant women
Myers, J.
25/08/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
The Guardian: Most Britons cannot name all parts of the vulva, survey reveals
Reid, F.
30/05/21
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research

Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine (L5)

Organisation profile

Organisation profile

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Profiles

Research output

Projects

Impacts

Activities

Datasets

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Press/Media