Staff Profile

I am a medical statistician within the Liver Research Group, in the Translational and Clinical Research Institute. 

Google Scholar: Click here.

My main role focuses on the analysis of rich longitudinal datasets from the international, prospectively recruited “European NAFLD Registry” and NASH-DTA "ADVANCE” study cohorts (comprising deeply characterised patients representing the full disease spectrum of obesity/type 2 diabetes-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], from simple steatosis through to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer with associated biomarker and multi-omics datasets). The overall aim is the development of better diagnostics to risk-stratify, monitor chronic liver disease progression and to help identify new ways to prevent and treat cirrhosis. 

• Articles

  • Houghton D, Shannon OM, Chater PI, Wilcox MD, Pearson J, Stanforth K, Jordan C, Avery L, Blain AP, Joel A, Jeffers R, Nolan R, Nelson A, Stewart CJ, Malcomson FC. White kidney bean extract as a nutraceutical: Effects on gut microbiota, alpha-amylase inhibition, and user experiences. Gut Microbiome 2023, 4, e8.
  • Charman SJ, Blain AP, Trenell MI, Jakovljevic DG, Kunadian V. Physical activity, inactivity and sleep in older patients with coronary artery disease following percutaneous coronary intervention: a longitudinal, observational study. Coronary Artery Disease 2023, 34(6), 441-447.
  • Charman SJ, Blain AP, Okwose NC, Fuller AS, Alyahya AI, Hallsworth K, Eggett C, Luke P, Bailey K, MacGowan GA, Jakovljevic DG. Physical Activity, Inactivity and Sleep in Individuals with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. International Journal of Sports Medicine 2023, epub ahead of print.
  • Chen C, McDonald D, Blain A, Mossman E, Atkin K, Marusich MF, Capaldi R, Bone L, Smith A, Filby A, Erskine D, Russell O, Hudson G, Vincent AE, Reeve AK. Parkinson’s disease neurons exhibit alterations in mitochondrial quality control proteins. npj Parkinson's Disease 2023, 9, 120.
  • Houghton D, Ng YS, Jackson MA, Stefanetti R, Hynd P, Aogáin MM, Stewart CJ, Lamb CA, Bright A, Feeney C, Newman J, Turnbull DM, McFarland R, Blain AP, Gorman GS. Phase II feasibility study of the efficacy, tolerability and impact on the gut microbiome of a low residue (fibre) diet in adult patients with mitochondrial disease. Gastro Hep Advances 2022, 1(4), 666-677.
  • Lim AZ, Ng YS, Blain A, Jiminez-Moreno C, Alston CL, Nesbitt V, Simmons L, Santra S, Wassmer E, Blakely EL, Turnbull DM, Taylor RW, Gorman GS, McFarland R. Natural History of Leigh Syndrome: A Study of Disease Burden and Progression. Annals of Neurology 2022, 91(1), 117-130.
  • Ng YS, Lax NZ, Blain AP, Erskine D, Baker MR, Polvikoski T, Thomas RH, Morris CM, Lai M, Whittaker RG, Gebbels A, Winder A, Hall J, Feeney C, Farrugia ME, Hirst C, Roberts M, Lawthom C, Chrysostomou A, Murphy K, Baird T, Maddison P, Duncan C, Poulton J, Nesbitt V, Hanna MG, Pitceathly RDS, Taylor RW, Blakely EL, Schaefer AM, Turnbull DM, McFarland R, Gorman GS. Forecasting stroke-like episodes and outcomes in mitochondrial disease. Brain 2022, 145(2), 542-554.
  • Smith LA, Erskine D, Blain A, Taylor RW, McFarland R, Lax NZ. Delineating selective vulnerability of inhibitory interneurons Alpers' syndrome. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology 2022, 48(6), e12833.
  • Chen C, Mossman E, Malko P, McDonald D, Blain AP, Bone L, Erskine D, Filby A, Vincent AE, Hudson G, Reeve AK. Astrocytic Changes in Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Protein Levels in Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorders 2022, 37(2), 302-314.
  • Chen C, McDonald D, Blain A, Sachdeva A, Bone L, Smith ALM, Warren C, Pickett SJ, Hudson G, Filby A, Vincent AE, Turnbull DM, Reeve AK. Imaging mass cytometry reveals generalised deficiency in OXPHOS complexes in Parkinson’s disease. npj Parkinson's Disease 2021, 7(1), 39.
  • Stamp C, Whitehall JC, Smith ALM, Houghton D, Bradshaw C, Stoll EA, Blain AP, Turnbull DM, Greaves LC. Age-associated mitochondrial complex I deficiency is linked to increased stem cell proliferation rates in the mouse colon. Aging Cell 2021, 20(3), e13321.
  • Capper TE, Houghton D, Stewart CJ, Blain AP, McMahon N, Siervo M, West DJ, Stevenson EJ. Whole beetroot consumption reduces systolic blood pressure and modulates diversity and composition of the gut microbiota in older participants. NFS Journal 2020, 21, 28-37.
  • Moore HL, Blain AP, Turnbull DM, Gorman GS. Systematic review of cognitive deficits in adult mitochondrial disease. European Journal of Neurology 2020, 27(1), 3-17.
  • Goffe L, Uwamahoro NS, Dixon CJ, Blain AP, Danielsen J, Kirk D, Adamson AJ. Supporting a healthier takeaway meal choice: creating a universal Health Rating for online takeaway fast-food outlets. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17(24), 9260.
  • Chen C, Vincent AE, Blain AP, Smith AL, Turnbull DM, Reeve AK. Investigation of mitochondrial biogenesis defects in single substantia nigra neurons using post-mortem human tissues. Neurobiology of Disease 2020, 134, 104631.
  • Hatton C, Reeve A, Lax NZ, Blain A, Ng YS, El-Agnaf O, Attems J, Taylor JP, Turnbull D, Erskine D. Complex I reductions in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in Lewy body dementia: the role of Lewy bodies. Acta Neuropathologica Communications 2020, (8), 103.
  • Smith ALM, Whitehall JC, Bradshaw C, Gay D, Robertson F, Blain AP, Hudson G, Pyle A, Houghton D, Hunt M, Sampson JN, Stamp C, Mallett G, Amarnath S, Leslie J, Oakley F, Wilson L, Baker A, Russell OM, Johnson R, Richardson CA, Gupta B, McCallum I, McDonald SAC, Kelly S, Mathers JC, Heer R, Taylor RW, Perkins ND, Turnbull DM, Sansom OJ, Greaves LC. Age-associated mitochondrial DNA mutations cause metabolic remodeling that contributes to accelerated intestinal tumorigenesis. Nature Cancer 2020, 1, 976-989.
  • Heap RE, Segarra-Fas A, Blain AP, Findlay GM, Trost M. Profiling embryonic stem cell differentiation by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry: Development of a reproducible and robust sample preparation workflow. Analyst 2019, 144(21), 6371-6381.
  • Ng YS, Martikainen MH, Gorman GS, Blain A, Bugiardini E, Bunting A, Schaefer AM, Alston CL, Blakely EL, Sharma S, Hughes I, Lim A, de Goede C, McEntagart M, Spinty S, Horrocks I, Roberts M, Woodward CE, Chinnery PF, Horvath R, Nesbitt V, Fratter C, Poulton J, Hanna MG, Pitceathly RDS, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM, McFarland R. Pathogenic variants in MT-ATP6: A United Kingdom–based mitochondrial disease cohort study. Annals of Neurology 2019, 86(2), 310-315.
  • Moore HL, Kelly T, Bright A, Field RH, Schaefer AM, Blain AP, Taylor RW, McFarland R, Turnbull DM, Gorman GS. Cognitive deficits in adult m.3243A>G- and m.8344A>G-related mitochondrial disease: Importance of correcting for baseline intellectual ability. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology 2019, 6(5), 826-836.
  • Rushton SP, Sanderson RA, Diggle PJ, Shirley MDF, Blain AP, Lake I, Maas JA, Reid WDK, Hardstaff J, Williams N, Jones NR, Rigby D, Stachan NJC, Forbes KJ, Hunter PR, Humphrey TJ, O'Brien SJ. Climate, human behaviour or environment: individual-based modelling of Campylobacter seasonality and strategies to reduce disease burden. Journal of Translational Medicine 2019, 17, 34.
  • Jimenez-Moreno AC, Nikolenko N, Kierkegaard M, Blaine AP, Newman J, Massey C, Moat D, Sodhi J, Atalaia A, Gorman G, Turner C, Lochmuller H. Analysis of the functional capacity outcome measures for myotonic dystrophy. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology 2019, 6(8), 1487-1497.
  • Manning WA, Blain A, Longstaff L, Deehan DJ. A load-measuring device can achieve fine-tuning of mediolateral load at knee arthroplasty but may lead to a more lax knee state. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2019, 27(7), 2238-2250.
  • Feeney CL, Lim AZ, Fagan E, Blain A, Bright A, Maddison J, Devine H, Stewart J, Taylor RW, Gorman GS, Turnbull DM, Nesbitt V, McFarland R. A case‐comparison study of pregnant women with mitochondrial disease – what to expect?. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2019, 126(11), 1380-1389.
  • Sanderson RA, Maas JA, Blain AP, Gorton R, Ward J, O'Brien SJ, Hunter PR, Rushton SP. Spatio-temporal models to determine association between Campylobacter cases and environment. International Journal of Epidemiology 2018, 47(1), 202-216.
  • Deehan DJ, Ghosh KM, Blain A, Longstaff L, Rushton S. Sagittal flexion arc evaluation for a modern generation single-radius femoral component design. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine 2018, 232(4), 412-417.
  • Manning WA, Ghosh KM, Blain A, Longstaff L, Rushton SP, Deehan DJ. Internal femoral component rotation adversely influences load transfer in total knee arthroplasty: a cadaveric navigated study using the Verasense device. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2018, 26(5), 1577-1585.
  • Manning WA, Ghosh K, Blain A, Longstaff L, Deehan DJ. Tibiofemoral forces for the native and post-arthroplasty knee: relationship to maximal laxity through a functional arc of motion. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2017, 25(6), 1669-1677.
  • Manning WA, Ghosh KM, Blain AP, Longstaff LM, Rushton SP, Deehan DJ. Does Maximal External Tibial Component Rotation Influence Tibiofemoral Load Distribution in the Primary Knee Arthroplasty Setting: A Comparison of Neutral vs Maximal Anatomical External Rotatory States. Journal of Arthroplasty 2017, 32(6), 2005-2011.
  • Elemraid MA, Thomas MF, Blain AP, Rushton SP, Spencer DA, Gennery AR, Clark JE, North East England Pediat Resp. Risk Factors for the Development of Pleural Empyema in Children. Pediatric Pulmonology 2015, 50(7), 721-726.
  • Hunt NC, Ghosh KM, Blain AP, Rushton SP, Longstaff LM, Deehan DJ. No statistically significant kinematic difference found between a cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilised Triathlon knee arthroplasty: A laboratory study involving eight cadavers examining soft-tissue laxity. Bone & Joint Journal 2015, 97B(5), 642-648.
  • Ghosh KM, Hunt N, Blain A, Athwal KK, Longstaff L, Amis AA, Rushton S, Deehan DJ. Isolated popliteus tendon injury does not lead to abnormal laxity in posterior-stabilised total knee arthroplasty. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2015, 23(6), 1763-1769.
  • Ghosh KM, Manning WA, Blain AP, Rushton SP, Longstaff LM, Amiss AA, Deehan DJ. Influence of increasing construct constraint in the presence of posterolateral deficiency at knee replacement: A biomechanical study. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 2015, 34(3), 427-434.
  • Blain AP, Thomas MF, Shirley MDF, Simmister C, Elemraid MA, Gorton R, Pearce MS, Clark JE, Rushton SP, Spencer DA. Spatial variation in the risk of hospitalization with childhood pneumonia and empyema in the North of England. Epidemiology and Infection 2014, 142(2), 388-398.
  • Hunt NC, Ghosh KM, Blain AP, Athwal KK, Rushton SP, Amis AA, Longstaff LM, Deehan DJ. How Does Laxity After Single Radius Total Knee Arthroplasty Compare With the Native Knee?. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 2014, 32(9), 1208-1213.
  • Ghosh KM, Blain AP, Longstaff L, Rushton S, Amis AA, Deehan DJ. Can we define envelope of laxity during navigated knee arthroplasty?. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2014, 22(8), 1736-1743.
  • Firbank LG, Petit S, Smart S, Blain AP, Fuller RJ. Assessing the impacts of agricultural intensification on biodiversity: a British perspective. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 2008, 363(1492), 777-787.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Ghosh M, Blain A, Longstaff l, Rushton S, Deehan D. The effect of total knee replacement on the envelope of laxity of the knee. In: 15th European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Congress. 2012, Geneva.
  • Thomas MF, Blain AP, Shirley MDF, Simmister C, Elemraid MA, Gorton R, Pearce MS, Clark JE, Rushton SP, Spencer DA. Geographical variation in the risk of childhood pneumonia and relationships to socio-economic and health deprivation. In: European Respiratory Society Annual Congress. 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  • Davidson N, Blain A, McKean M, O'Brien C, Moss S, Spencer D. Aspergillus is now the dominant organism isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage in children with CF Children in north east England. In: European Respiratory Society Annual Congress. 2010, Barcelona, Spain: ERS Journals Ltd.
  • Davidson N, Blain A, McKean M, O'Brien C, Moss S, Spencer D. Airway microbiology in children presenting with chronic respiratory symptoms. In: European Respiratory Society Annual Congress. 2010, Barcelona, Spain: ERS Journals Ltd.
  • Blain AP, Firbank LG, Smart S, Rushton S. Modelling vegetation change in the British countryside. In: 7th IALE World Congress. 2007, Wageningen, The Netherlands: IALE.

• Letter

  • Pickett SJ, Blain A, Ng YS, Wilson IJ, Taylor RW, McFarland R, Turnbull DM, Gorman GS. Mitochondrial donation - Which women could benefit?. New England Journal of Medicine 2019, 380(20), 1971-1972.

• Reviews

  • Stefanetti RJ, Ng YS, Errington L, Blain AP, McFarland R, Gorman GS. l-Arginine in Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like Episodes. Neurology 2022, 98(23), E2318-E2328.
  • Stefanetti RJ, Blain A, Jimenez-Moreno C, Errington L, Ng YS, McFarland R, Turnbull DM, Newman J, Gorman GS. Measuring the effects of exercise in neuromuscular disorders: A systematic review and meta-analyses [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research 2020, 5(84).