Role

Senior Lecturer in Equine and Animal Science

Course Manager for Equine undergraduate courses

Biography

I started my academic career by completing a degree in Equine Science at Aberystwyth University. The course was science-focused and sparked my interest in research, so I studied for an MSc in Physiology and then a PhD at the Royal Veterinary College with my research focusing on joint disease in the horse. I then spent 5 year working in Sheffield investigating genetic contributions in human joint disease.

Having spent time working in the banking sector and then as a groom I went to Aberystwyth to do a degree in Equine Science in 1996. The course was science-focused and sparked my interest in research. I completed my dissertation on alternative drying methods for equine feed and fecal samples in digestibility trials. I then completed a MSc in Physiology where I studied the gene expression of TNF-alpha converting enzyme in equine chondrocytes. My interest in equine joint disease continued when I moved to the Royal Veterinary College to undertake a CASE-studentship. My studies investigated the role of MAP kinase signalling pathways in equine and human cartilage. When I completed my PhD I spent 6 months in South America including working on a model organic farm and ecological reserve. On returning to the UK I spent five years as a post-doctural researcher in Sheffield where I studied epigenetic mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis.

At Writtle I teach and undertake research in a wide variety of fields. Teaching about behaviour and welfare, I am particularly interested in the genetic control of behaviour and how this impacts on welfare. I am also interested in how rider weight and symmetry effects horse welfare, which ties in with another of my teaching and research areas - biomechanics of both horse and rider.

In my spare time I am a volunteer coach at Barrow Farm RDA at Highwood and also volunteer with British Eventing as a fence judge at events throughout the UK. I also enjoy mountaineering, running, surfing and photography.

Qualifications

BSc (Hon) Equine Science, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

MSc Physiology, University of Liverpool.

PhD The functional significance of MAPKs activation in articular chondrocytes in response to interleukin-1, University of London.

Postgraduate certificate in Learning and Teaching, University of Sheffield

Subject Areas

Behaviour

Bioethics

Biomechanics

Genetics

Joint disease

Welfare

Research

Jaana Sudhoff - PhD Student - An investigation into transferability of fitness parameters in the equestrian.

Publications

Journal papers

Gowers, I.R., Walters, K, Kiss-Toth, E., Read, R.C., Duff, G.W. and Wilson, A.G. (2011) Age-related loss of CpG methylation in the tumor necrosis factor promoter Cytokine 56 792-797.

Lee, L.J., Gowers, I.R., Ellis, L. and Bellantuono, I. (2010) Well rounded postdoctoral researchers with initiative, who are not always "tied to the bench" are more successful academically. International Journal for Researcher Development. 1 4.

Maxwell, J.R., Gowers, I.R., Moore, D.J. and Wilson, A.G. (2010) Alcohol comsumption is inversely associated with risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 49 2140-2146.

Rautureau, Y., Gowers, I., Wheeler-Jones, C.P. and Baxter, G.F. (2010) C-type natiuretic peptide regulation of guanosine-3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate production in human endothelial cells. Autonomic and Autocoid Pharmacology. 30 185-192.

Conference proceedings

Farrington, J and Gowers I.R. (2011) Aggression in a Damara zebra stallion within a mixed species exhibit at Colchester zoo British and Irish Associations of Zoos and Aquariums Thirteenth Symposium on Zoo Research. 6th – 7th July, Bristol, UK.

Maxwell, J., Gowers, I.R., Moore, D.J. and Wilson, A.G. (2009) Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, 17th - 21st October, Philadelphia, USA.

Gowers, I.R., Duff, G.W. and Wilson, A.G. (2008) DNA from RA Patients shows different methylation levels at the TNF promoter compared to controls. American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, 24th – 29th October, San Francisco, USA.

Maxwell, J., Marinou, I., Gowers, I., Eyre, S., Hinks, A., Bowes, J., Worthington, J., Wilson, A.G. (2008) Expression of HEBP2 and IFNGR, but not TNFAIP3 is differentially expressed in Rheumatoid arthritis compared to healthy controls. British Society of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, 22nd - 25th April, Liverpool, UK

Maxwell, J., Marinou, I., Gowers, I., Hinks, A., Donn, R., Worthington, J. and Wilson, A.G. (2008) HEBP2 and IFNGR1, but not TNFAIP3 are differentially expressed in rheumatoid arthritis compared to healthy controls. American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, 24th – 29th October, San Francisco, USA.

Gowers, I.R., Duff, G.W. and Wilson, A.G. (2007) Differential methylation within the TNF promoter is associated with increased production of TNF mRNA in response to LPS stimulation. UK Chromatin Meeting, 12th - 13th April, Nottingham, UK.

Gowers, I.R., Duff, G.W. and Wilson, A.G. (2006) Epigenetic modification of the TNF promoter is associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis. American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting, 10th -15th November, Washington, DC, USA.

Rautureau, Y., Gowers, I., Wheeler-Jones, C.P.D. and Baxter, G.F. (2004) Guanylate cyclase expression and differential regulation of cGMP by natriuretic peptides in human endothelial cells. International Vascular Biology Meeting, 1st – 5th June, Toronto, Canada.

Gowers, I., Dudhia, J., Cruwys, S., McCormick, M., Wheeler-Jones, C.P.D. and Boughton-Smith, N. (2003) Regulation of COX-2 expression by ERK1/2 and p38mapk in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Special FEBS Meeting on Signal Transduction, 3rd – 8th July, Brussels, Belguim

Rautureau, Y., Gowers, I., Wheeler-Jones, C.P.D. and Baxter, G.F. (2003) Guanylate cyclase receptors in human endothelial cells. BPS Winter Meeting, 16th – 18th December, London, UK.

Gowers, I., Bayliss, M.T., Wheeler-Jones, C.P.D. and Dudhia, J. (2001) Activation of p42/44/46mapk and p38mapk in response to IL-1 and TNF in equine chondrocytes. BSMB, Autumn Meeting, 1st – 2nd September, Norwich, UK.