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Staff Profile

Dr Jack Roberts

Research Associate

Background

Biography

Jack studied Biology at Manchester Metropolitan University before pursuing a Master of Research degree in Medical Genetics at Newcastle University. He then went on to join Professor John Loughlin's research group (Osteoarthritis Genetics Group) as a Research Technician, where he developed an interest in musculoskeletal disease, epigenetics and transcriptional regulation. Jack continued his research career under Professor Loughlin's supervision, acquiring a PhD in Genetics in 2024. His research, focusing on transcriptional regulation of the E3 ligase gene WWP2, was the first study to demonstrate osteoarthritis risk variants can modulate gene expression in an isoform-specific manner.


Jack went on to join Dr Sarah Rice's research group where he continues to explore the complex relationship between osteoarthritis genetics, epigenetics and gene regulation. In addition, he has led on proteomic characterisation of a known yet under-characterised effector gene implicated in cartilage biology, COLGALT2. Here, Jack developed an interest in deciphering the mechanistic role that effectors of genetic risk confer upon the many tissues affected by osteoarthritis.


Qualifications

PhD in Genetics - Newcastle University, 2024

MRes Medical Genetics - Newcastle University, 2019

BSc (Hons) Biology - Manchester Metropolitan University, 2016


Research

Publications

Roberts, J. B., Rockel, J. S., Mulders, R., Capellini, T. D., Appleton, C. T., Phanstiel, D. H., ... & Kapoor, M. (2025). From mechanism to medicine: The progress and potential of epigenetics in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and cartilage open, 7(3), 100621.


Roberts, J. B., Boldvig, O. L., Aubourg, G., Kanchenapally, S. T., Deehan, D. J., Rice, S. J., & Loughlin, J. (2024). Specific isoforms of the ubiquitin ligase gene WWP2 are targets of osteoarthritis genetic risk via a differentially methylated DNA sequence. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 26(1), 78.


Roberts, J. B., & Rice, S. J. (2024). Osteoarthritis as an enhanceropathy: gene regulation in complex musculoskeletal disease. Current rheumatology reports, 26(6), 222-234.


Rice, S. J., Roberts, J. B., Tselepi, M., Brumwell, A., Falk, J., Steven, C., & Loughlin, J. (2021). Genetic and epigenetic fine‐tuning of TGFB1 expression within the human osteoarthritic joint. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 73(10), 1866-1877.

Teaching

Supervision

During my PhD studies and in my current role, I have co-supervised five undergraduate and two MRes students.

Publications