Research overview

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The over-arching theme of this laboratory is understanding how the simple (eg an egg) can give rise to the complex (eg an adult body).

We have a particular interest in uncovering the processes of 'adaptive self-organization' that allow many relatively simple objects to use communication and feedback to organize themselves in an apparently intelligent way. Our work involves manipulation of cells and organs in culture, engineering artificial organs, and engineering cells so that they have specific self-organizing properties. The work is supported by various bioinformatic techniques, ranging from database storage to computer modelling.


The laboratory has a strong interest in the 3Rs (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement of animal studies) and for that reason makes much use of cell and organ culture instead of in vivo experimentation.

We are located in the University of Edinburgh Centre for Integrative Physiology.