What is your current position and location?
I’m the Founder and Director of Global Proteomics Limited, based in the UK, and a Visiting Researcher at King’s College London. I also act as a scientific advisor and consultant for several organisations. My work spans target engagement studies, biomarker discovery, commercial strategy, and the broader translation of proteomic technologies into the clinical setting. Overall, my focus is on developing and applying LC-MS/MS workflows for precision medicine, particularly in oncology and complex disease.
How did you get started in the field of proteomics?
My route into proteomics began during my PhD in breast cancer research (2001–2005), where I focused on oestrogen receptor alpha (ER) phosphorylation using classic techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunoprecipitation. While powerful, these methods were often constrained by antibody specificity, and I became increasingly intrigued by how we might measure protein phosphorylation with greater accuracy and depth.
Towards the end of my PhD, I came across a 2001 JBC paper that mapped phosphorylation sites on the progesterone receptor – one of the first to apply mass spectrometry to receptor post-translational modifications. That study inspired me to attempt to do the same on ER. By sheer luck, I met Christopher Benz at a Tenovus/AstraZeneca workshop in Cardiff. After seeing my poster, he asked if I’d performed the ER immunoprecipitations myself. When I said yes, he invited me to join his lab in California for a postdoc focused on ER PTMs using LC-MS/MS, co-supervised by Birgit Schilling and Brad Gibson at the Buck Institute.
Six months later, I landed in San Francisco with a suitcase and a rucksack, ready to learn mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Over the next three years, we identified several novel phosphorylation sites on ER – including pS154, pS294, and pS559 – alongside the more established pS118 and pS167. We even made the cover of the May 2008 issue of JASMS – still my only claim to fame! That experience cemented my passion for MS-based proteomics and its potential in pharmacodynamics – especially in understanding and predicting drug sensitivity and resistance.
What does being a member of HUPO mean to you?
Being part of HUPO enables me to stay connected to what others are doing in the proteomics field, ensuring that our work remains up to date, relevant, and aligned with the direction of the community. HUPO provides a valuable platform to connect with colleagues across academia, industry, and clinical research – through conferences, meetings, training sessions, and regular email updates – so that I can stay in the loop with new ideas, technologies, and applications. It’s a great way to stay inspired and contribute to a global effort that continues to push the boundaries of proteomics.
What makes your research programme exciting and unique?
My main focus and interest is in the utility of LC-MS/MS proteomics for pharmacodynamics. This includes the development of drug target engagement assays or global signalling pathway/drug target activity measurements to help predict treatment response or resistance. I work with clients and research partners to apply these approaches in translational studies. The goal is to demonstrate how proteomics can move beyond discovery to become a practical, decision-enabling tool in precision medicine, ultimately helping clinicians select and monitor therapies based on direct protein activity rather than genetic prediction alone.
What are your interests outside the lab?
My favourite way to spend time is with my girlfriend – whether we’re exploring the countryside, trying out new restaurants, or just relaxing together. I especially love the countryside and coastline of Pembrokeshire, Wales, where I grew up. Hiking and e-biking help me stay active without triggering Long COVID flares, and I’m passionate about protecting the natural environment. I also enjoy quality ales in old country pubs, catching up with friends and family, and cheering on Wales at rugby (despite their decline in form!).
Where do you envision the field of proteomics in the next 10 years?
In the next decade, I envision LC-MS/MS proteomics becoming a cornerstone of diagnostics. With rapid advances in automation, data analytics, and standardisation, LC-MS/MS will be as ubiquitous as genetic testing is today. High-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) instruments, driven by faster scanning speeds, enhanced sensitivity, and increasingly narrow isolation windows, will push data-independent acquisition (DIA) to the forefront – surpassing traditional targeted approaches like MRM and PRM. Proteomics will be pivotal in precision medicine, not only for biomarker discovery but also for guiding therapeutic decisions and tracking treatment response in real time. Ultimately, it will bridge the divide between molecular insight and truly personalised, compassionate patient care.
A collaborative effort between academic institutions and industry partners has demonstrated that AI-powered algorithms can process complex datasets in a fraction of the time required by traditional bioinformatics tools, greatly enhancing reproducibility and discovery potential.
HUPO continues to champion these cross-disciplinary innovations that bridge computational science and proteomics — advancing the field toward more comprehensive insights into biology and disease mechanisms.