Contact information
Research groups
Websites
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Taught MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences
Taught postgraduate course
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Green Templeton College
Research Fellow
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ICECAP Study
Inflammation and fibrosis: CausEs in adhesive CAPsulitis
Research Students
Colleges
Stephanie Dakin
PhD BVetMed MRCVS PGCert TLHE FHEA
Associate Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences
- Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellow
- DGS Taught MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences
- Research Fellow Green Templeton College
BIOGRAPHY
Stephanie graduated as a veterinary surgeon in 2003 from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), University of London. After undertaking an internship specialising in equine orthopaedics, she then spent 5 years in general practice as an equine veterinary clinician. In 2008, Stephanie commenced a PhD at the RVC researching the role of inflammation in equine tendinopathy, which was successfully completed in 2012. During this time Stephanie also worked as a clinician in an equine hospital.
Stephanie moved to NDORMS in 2013 to advance and translate her research from horses to humans. She successfully secured consecutive research Fellowships funded by Versus Arthritis (Foundation Fellowship), an Oxford-UCB Prize Fellowship in Biomedical Sciences and more recently a Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellowship. In 2020, Stephanie was appointed Associate Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences at NDORMS and a Research Fellow at Green Templeton College.
Stephanie's research focuses on identifying the mechanisms underpinning the development of chronic inflammatory fibrosis in soft tissue joint disease. The over-arching goal of her research is to discover novel therapeutic strategies to promote resolution of inflammation and fibrosis in chronically inflamed soft tissues, with a particular focus on tendinopathy and frozen shoulder. Her key collaborators in the Department are Professor Andrew Carr and Professor Christopher Buckley. View about media associated with Stephanie's work under 'Featured Research'.
Stephanie is also Director of Graduate Studies for the Taught MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences at the University of Oxford. This part time 2-year course integrating orthopaedics and rheumatology delivers an internationally renowned programme. For more information on this course see the Taught MSc in Musculoskeletal Sciences or contact the Course Administrator. Stephanie obtained PGCert TLHE qualification in 2020 and is recognised as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
DAKIN GROUP: SOFT TISSUE JOINT DISEASE
RESEARCH VISION AND OBJECTIVES
Soft tissue joint diseases present an immense global burden and significant cost to the NHS. Pathologies affecting tendons (tendinopathy), tendon–bone attachments (enthesopathy) and the joint capsule (frozen shoulder) are common causes of pain, chronic disability and reduction in life quality, which are exacerbated with ageing.
Joint soft tissues, including the synovium, capsule, tendon and entheses, are predominantly composed of mesenchymal stromal cells including fibroblasts, tissue-resident macrophages and blood and lymphatic vascular endothelial cells. Our research programme investigates the cellular and molecular processes concerned with the development of chronic inflammation and fibrosis in disorders of musculoskeletal soft tissues to:
* Identify the cellular & molecular basis of diseases affecting tendons (tendinopathy, tendon tears) and the shoulder joint capsule (frozen shoulder)
* Identify new therapeutic strategies to promote resolution of inflammation in tendinopathy and frozen shoulder
Research Impacts
Our research will generate new insights into how tissue resident cells of the joint drive chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Findings from this research will advance understanding of how musculoskeletal soft tissue disorders develop and how injured tissues heal. Our research will inform new strategies to treat common musculoskeletal diseases, helping patients keep fit for improved future health.
Free access
Inflammation activation and resolution in human tendon disease
Dakin et al. 2015
Science Translational Medicine
Increased 15-PGDH expression leads to dysregulated resolution responses in stromal cells from patients with chronic tendinopathy
Dakin et al. 2017
Scientific Reports
Chronic inflammation is a feature of Achilles tendinopathy and rupture
Dakin et al. 2017
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Pathogenic stromal cells as therapeutic targets in joint inflammation
Dakin et al. 2018
Nature Reviews Rheumatology
Recent publications
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Journal article
Gacaferi H. et al, (2020), Translational Sports Medicine
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Journal article
Thézénas M-L. et al, (2020), Scientific Reports
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Journal article
Thézénas M-L. et al, (2020), Scientific Reports
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Journal article
Kendal AR. et al, (2019)
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ERK1/2 drives IL-1β-induced expression of TGF-β1 and BMP-2 in torn tendons
Journal article
Morita W. et al, (2019), Scientific Reports