Dr Anthony Taylor

After completing his PhD in Clinical Medicine at St George’s Hospital Medical School (University of London) under the supervision of the eminent endocrinologists Prof. John Jenkins FRS and Prof. Stephen Nussey Dr Taylor moved to Canada to undertake postdoctoral studies in the hormonal control of atherosclerosis at the Health Sciences Center in Calgary. He then returned to the UK to undertake postdoctoral studies into gene therapy in the uterus before obtaining a faculty appointment in the Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department at Leicester Medical School under the mentorships of Profs Steve Bell David Taylor and Justin Konje. After a very productive faculty position in the Reproductive Sciences Section at Leicester University Dr Taylor moved to a teaching post at Nottingham Trent University where he taught Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. He returned to Leicester to start teaching on the ‘MBChB’ and the ‘Biological Sciences with Foundation year’ courses in March 2016.

The role of the endocannabinoid system in reproductive disorders Perturbation of the endocannabinoid system (receptors ligands and enzymes) results in diverse disease such as anovulation and other ovarian disorders IVF and embryo implantation failure ectopic pregnancy miscarriage pre-eclampsia small for gestational age babies and preterm birth. Spermatogenesis and male fertility are also affected indicating a key role for the endocannabinoid system in male reproduction. Furthermore dysregulated endocannabinoid signalling results in gynaecological neoplasia and life-threatening cancers. Current projects typically investigate the interaction between the endocannabinoid system and the molecular mechanisms triggering disruption of these processes in reproductive diseases.

Ayakannu, T., Taylor, A.H., Marczylo, T.H., Maccarrone, M. & Konje, J.C. (2019) Identification of novel predictive biomarkers for endometrial malignancies: N-acylethanolamines. Front. Oncol. 9: 430. [Doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00430]

Ayakannu, T., Taylor, A.H., Bari, M., Mastrangelo, N., Maccarrone, M. & Konje, J.C. (2019) Expression and function of the endocannabinoid modulating enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D in endometrial carcinoma. Front. Oncol. 9: 1363. [doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01363].

Ayakannu, T., Taylor, A.H. & Konje, J.C. (2021) Expression of the putative cannabinoid receptor GPR55 is increased in endometrial cancer. Histochem. Cell Biol. 156: 449-460.

Bachkangi, P., Taylor, A.H. & Konje, J.C. (2019) The effect of ethnicity on preterm birth and its influence on the risk factors for prematurity. Cur. Op. Gyn. Obs. 2: 180-192.

Bachkangi, P., Taylor, A.H., Bari, M., Maccarrone, M. & Konje, J.C. (2019) Prediction of preterm labour from a single blood test: the role of the endocannabinoid system in predicting preterm birth in high-risk women. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynaecol 243: 1-6.

Philip, S., Taylor, A.H., Konje, J.C. & Habiba, M.A. (2019) The levonorgestrel intrauterine device induces endometrial decidualisation in women on tamoxifen. J. Obstet .Gynaecol. 39: 1117-1122.

Ayakannu, T., Taylor, A.H. Konje, J.C. (2020) Selection of endogenous control reference genes for studies on Type 1 or Type 2 endometrial cancer. Sci. Rep. 10: 8468.

El-Sharif, A., El-Sharif, S. Taylor, A.H. & Ayakannu, T. (2020) Ovarian cancer: Lifestyle, diet and nutrition. Nutr Cancer 73: 1092-1107. 

Melford, S.E., Taylor, A.H. & Konje, J.C. (2021) Nitric oxide positively affects endometrial receptivity via FAAH and NAPE-PLD in vitro. Reprod. Ferti. 2: 107-116.

Taylor, A.H.; Tortolani, D.; Ayakannu, T.; Konje, J.C. & Maccarrone, M. (2021) (Endo)Cannabinoids and gynaecological cancers. Cancers 13: 37.

Yasin, H.K., Taylor, A.H. & Ayakannu, T. (2021) A narrative review of the role of diet and lifestyle factors in the development and prevention of endometrial cancer. Cancers 13: 2149.

I teach medical students and foundation year students preparing for the MBChB medical degree and the biological sciences students who study towards the BSc in Clinical Sciences.

Human reproduction and the molecular mechanisms of gynaecological disorders particularly endometrial cancer.