Katherine Staines

Professor Katherine Staines is a Professor of Skeletal Biology at the University of Brighton’s School of Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on musculoskeletal system development, osteoarthritis pathogenesis, and bone/cartilage mineralization. She currently leads a research group funded by an £2M Medical Research Council grant and supervises four PhD students and three postdoctoral researchers.

• Education: BSc in Anatomical Sciences (University of Bristol, 2005–2008), PhD in Chondrocyte Matrix Mineralization (University of Edinburgh, 2008–2012)

Research interests include osteoarthritis mechanisms, secondary osteoporosis, musculoskeletal modeling, and imaging technologies. Her work spans molecular biology, biomechanics, and clinical applications. Key projects address growth plate dynamics, subchondral bone pathology, and chronic kidney disease-related bone disorders.

Recent articles highlight advancements in understanding mitochondrial dysfunction in renal osteodystrophy, sex-specific skeletal effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, and growth plate fusion mechanisms linking developmental biology to lifelong musculoskeletal health.

• Awards: Vice Chancellor’s Fellowship (Edinburgh Napier University, 2017)

Advisory roles include the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s Veterinary Advisory Committee and the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s Research Grant Panel. She edits Frontiers in Endocrinology and frequently reviews for top journals like Kidney International.

Labs/Teams: Active in interdisciplinary collaborations, including imaging joint biomechanics and omics-based disease prevention strategies under the University of Brighton’s Centre for Lifelong Health.