Team
Richard Mort — Senior Lecturer in Cell and Developmental Biology
Richard studied Experimental Pathology in Edinburgh before completing a PhD with Dr. John West on eye development. He spent eight years at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine in Edinburgh working with Prof. Ian Jackson before moving to Lancaster to establish an independent group. His research spans melanocyte development, Fucci2a biosensor development, and pigmentation genetics.
John Pooley — Postdoctoral Research Associate
John studied at the University of Manchester before completing a MSc and PhD at the University of Bristol, where he investigated glucocorticoid receptor signalling and the role of ultradian cortisol rhythms. He then spent four years at the National Cancer Institute (Maryland) applying advanced imaging approaches to interactive signalling between glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors before returning these techniques to Bristol with BBSRC support. John’s next body of research focused on AAV-mediated gene therapy, developing novel viral vectors for ocular and CNS application in collaboration with MeiraGTx in the laboratory of Dr. Colin Chu (Bristol). In 2026, he joined the Mort laboratory to investigate primary cilia and phenotype switching in melanoma.
Leah Pomfret — Postdoctoral Research Associate
Leah completed an integrated master’s degree at Lancaster University, where she went on to earn her PhD in the Mort Lab. Her doctoral research was interdisciplinary, combining biomedicine, chemistry and engineering to investigate electrically conductive biomaterials for wound regeneration. This work explored how conductive materials can be utilised to support the body’s natural healing processes and promote tissue repair. She is now working as a postdoctoral researcher within the group, investigating the roles of primary cilia in melanoma.
Marcus Preedy — Postdoctoral Research Associate
Marcus completed an integrated master’s degree in Biochemistry at the University of Manchester, where he went on to earn a PhD in Cell Biology through a joint programme with Singapore’s A*STAR institute. Under the supervision of Professor Mike White and Professor Vinay Tergaonkar, his doctoral research focused on NF-κB signalling and cell death in the TNF signalling pathway. During this time, he developed a keen interest in fluorescence live cell imaging and image analysis. He is currently investigating the genetics of pigmentation using the Dalmatian as a model system.
Aro Nugawela — Postdoctoral Research Associate
Aro completed her PhD with Prof. Paul McKean at Lancaster University before moving to a postdc in York. She’s currently working on next-generation cell cycle biosensors and expansion microscopy.
Melissa Wright — PhD Student
Melissa holds an MSc in Animal Welfare and is now pursuing her PhD in the Mort Lab investigating the genetic determinants of coat pigmentation in dairy cattle, with a focus on how different colour patterns affect heat resilience and rates of deafness. She is also interested in applying machine learning and computer vision to streamline pattern analysis.
Alumni
- Dr. Emma Wilkinson (Postdoc, Mort Lab)
- Dr. Tiernan Briggs (PhD, Mort Lab)
- Dr. Louise Brennan (PhD, Mort Lab)
- Dr. Matthew Ford (PhD, Mort Lab)
- Dr. Olivia Harrison (PhD, Mort Lab)
