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Research Interests

Predominantly focused on the interface of molecular cytogenetics and genomics, and the understanding of chromosome behaviour in an individual, evolutionary and environmental context. ~500 publications in highly impact-driven areas, with an aim to make key breakthroughs to advance diagnostics, improve agriculture and address environmental concerns. Widespread education and public engagement, both of research findings and of the field in general. A large proportion carried out through a highly successful “PhD by distance” programme, >26,000 citations, h-index >76, i10 index >260.

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Key Interests

Human Fertility and Embryology

  • >110 academic publications including BMJ, Lancet and leading fertility journals

  • World’s first cytogenetic preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) case (1993)

  • Pioneering role in developing “Karyomapping” (2010) a universal test for the diagnosis of genetic disease in human preimplantation embryos, used to treat >30,000 patients

  • Chromosome abnormalities, nuclear organization, embryo signaling networks, morphokinetics, embryo-endometrial dialogue, spent media diagnostics, AI

  • Sperm DNA damage through commercial screening, now a mature enterprise activity.

Non-Human Fertility and Embryology

  • Built a pig and cattle IVF facility generating genotyped IVF embryos to improve food production

  • 27 academic publications including world's first non-human (cattle) Karyomapping cases

Human Disease and Gene Mapping (Non-Fertility Related)

  • Cancer, tuberous sclerosis, technology development, preterm infants, juvenile epilepsy

  • 22 academic publications

Publicity, Broadcast, Outreach, Educational Research, Science Communication

  • Publications on educational research (9), publicly facing articles (22), regular public speaker

  • >£10 million in “advertising value equivalent” (AVE), >200 broadcast media appearances

  • KMTV-made documentaries including lead presenter (including ITVX)

Enterprise Activity: Genomic Screening in Mammals

  • “CytoScreen Solutions” a cytogenomic screening service for infertility in agriculture

  • 10 customers in 15 countries, raised ~£500,000 in 10 years, 7 academic publications

Genome Construction, Evolution and Comparative Genomics of Vertebrates

  • World-leading group in avian research of this type, contributions to Science, Nature and Nature Communications

  • Highly publicized academic publications (>120) e.g. on evolution of dinosaur genomes

Genomic and Cross-Disciplinary Applications Relevant to the Poultry Industry

  • Relationships between genes, metabolism and productive traits, nutrition and microbiome in the gastrointestinal tract, non-invasive egg assessment, universal mathematics of egg shape

  • 70+ academic publications with high-profile press interest

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Publications

Here, you'll find a selection of publications that showcase Darren's commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise. You are invited to browse through these publications to gain a deeper understanding his contributions and explore some of the topics he's passionate about.

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Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) in the USA avoided nearly 15 000 miscarriages and over 6500 preterm births in 2023: an opinion

Universal preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disease (Karyomapping): diagnosis of >1000 unique disorders with no detected misdiagnoses

PGT-A can increase the number of embryos available for transfer by ‘rescuing’ morphologically poor-quality blastocysts: an analysis of nine years of data from a single centre

Scientist Using Microscope

Non-invasive selection for euploid embryos: prospects and pitfalls of the three most promising approaches

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Double vitrification and warming of blastocysts does not affect pregnancy, miscarriage or live birth rates

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Late maturing oocyte rescue in poor-prognosis patients: delayed intracytoplasmic sperm injection (DICSI) results in more viable embryos.

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Reassessing the conventional fertilisation check: leveraging PGT-A to increase the number of transferrable embryos

Abstract Crystal Burst

Can AI-guided feedback improve embryologists' selection of euploid embryos based on morphology alone?

A woman looking at charts on the screen

Opinion: contemporary insights into the efficacy of Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) by mining the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) database.

Pregnancy Test

Use of artificial intelligence embryo selection based on static images to predict first-trimester pregnancy loss.

Embryologist Adding Sperm to Egg

Preimplantation Testing for Polygenic Disease (PGT-P): Brave New World or Mad Pursuit?

Lab analysis on computer

The human embryonic genome is karyotypically complex, with chromosomally abnormal cells preferentially located away from the developing fetus.

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