Kate is a Professor in Biomedical Neuroscience. Her broad research interest is understanding how the brain controls food intake and body weight. Kate's research is focused on how different cell types in the brain (neurons, microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells) coordinate and interact to regulate these processes. She is also interested in how the function of the brain changes in response to alterations in body weight including obesity (excess body weight) and anorexia/cachexia (insufficient body weight), and how these changes in the brain contribute to the development of commonly associated diseases like diabetes. 

Kate teaches on the Medicine, Neuroscience, and Medical Sciences programmes at the University of Exeter and co-ordinates modules on Neuropharmacology and Neuroendocrinology. She is committed to mentoring students and is enthusiastic about promoting careers in research and academic medicine. Kate is a member of the board of trustees of the British Society for Neuroendocrinology and is a senior editor for the Journal of Neuroendocrinology.

Hobbies: Kate lives on Dartmoor with her family including three horses, a dog and three cats. She enjoys horse riding and baking.