I contribute to teaching, learning, assessment and research across HYMS undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
I develop and deliver physiology teaching across the undergraduate curriculum. I am Module Lead for MBBS Gateway to Medicine Human Biology I. I am also a tutor for MBBS Gateway to Medicine Human Biology II and MBBS Phase I in metabolism, nutrition, reproductive biology, and physiology, including leading physiology BioPracticals. Currently, I am leading development of new interactive physiology teaching resources to support medical education nationally, supported by The Physiological Society. This is a collaboration with HYMS postgraduate and undergraduate students, so please get in touch if you are interested in contributing.
I Chair the HYMS Postgraduate Board of Examiners, and have oversight of postgraduate assessments, student progress and outcomes across HYMS postgraduate taught and research programmes.
I am Programme Director for the MSc Clinical Anatomy (and Education) programmes and led development of our route to Advance HE accreditation, launched in 2024. I lead/co-lead Embryology and Clinical Neuroanatomy, Professional Practice in Teaching and Learning in HE and Professional Practice in Anatomy Education. I am also overall lead for the 60-credit research project module shared across HYMS postgraduate taught programmes. Research projects I supervise include developing and assessing novel interactive teaching activities, laboratory and literature based research across in medicine, physiology and reproductive biology.
In 2023 I took on a new role as Academic Liaison for Medical Student Societies and Sports Clubs, working closely with Hull University Student Union and York Student Union to support medical student access and engagement with SU support and opportunities.
I completed my BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry in 2009 and a PGCE (Chemistry) in 2010 at the University of York. After teaching chemistry in a secondary school, I undertook PhD research in Metabolic Regulation During Early Embryo Development at HYMS with Prof Roger Sturmey and Prof Henry Leese, graduating in 2015.
This was followed by postdoctoral research in oocyte metabolism during ovarian follicle activation at the University of Leeds with Prof Helen Picton, going on to test the impact of novel microfluidic culture devices during in vitro embryo development with Prof Picton and Dr Virginia Pensabene. I also taught on the MSc programmes in Clinical Embryology and Assisted Reproduction Technologies and supervised several MSc projects in embryology and reproductive biology topics.
In 2019, I joined HYMS as a Lecturer in Human Physiology, as part of the Centre for Anatomical and Human Sciences based in the Loxley Building at the University of Hull. In this role I became responsible for physiology teaching across MBBS Gateway to Medicine and Phase I. I have since become programme director for the MSc Clinical Anatomy and Education (2023-present). In 2024, I became Chair of the Postgraduate Board of Examiners (progressing from Deputy Chair 2021-2024). In 2023 I was recognised by Advance HE as a Senior Fellow.
My research interests are focused on the lifelong impacts of metabolic regulation and dysregulation during preimplantation development. Using highly specialised technologies and methodologies, we can push the limits of sensitivity to examine the metabolic profile of individual mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos. This metabolic profile has been linked to outcomes, and also links to the impacts of 1) culture conditions and 2) the impact of gestational and non-gestational parent nutrition and physiology on the offspring.
Current research projects are focussed on optimising methodologies and advancing our understanding of mitochondrial metabolism during oocyte and preimplantation embryo development.
My pedagogic interests include student-centric physiology and biology curriculum design, incorporating technology enhanced active learning tools.
Current projects include student-led MBBS physiology curriculum review and development and design of new teaching tools in physiology and anatomy.
I supervise and support undergraduate, MSc, PhD and MD students to develop research skills, and am keen to continue to facilitate the development of early career researchers, having benefited from excellent support myself.
View Paul's publications on ORCID.
Selected publications
McKeegan, P.J., and Sturmey, R.G. (2019). Metabolomic screening of embryos to enhance successful selection and transfer. In: G.T. Kovacs, A.J. Rutherford and D.K. Gardner (Eds). How to Prepare the Egg and Embryo to Maximize IVF Success (pp. 295-304). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781316756744.025
Colucci F., McKeegan P., Picton H., Pensabene V. (2018) Mouse embryo assay to evaluate polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) embryo-toxicity. Conf. Proc. IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2018
R Pennock, E Bray, P Pryor, S James, P McKeegan, R Sturmey and P Genever (2015) Autonomous cell reprogramming by controlled autophagy Scientific Reports 5
JLMR Leroy, RG Sturmey, V Van Hoeck, J De Bie, PJ McKeegan and PEJ Bols (2014) Dietary Fat Supplementation and the Consequences for Oocyte and Embryo Quality: Hype or Significant Benefit for Dairy Cow Reproduction? Reproduction in Domestic Animals 49, 353–36
F Guerif, P McKeegan, HJ Leese and RG Sturmey (2013) A Simple Approach for COnsumption and RElease (CORE) Analysis of Metabolic Activity in Single Mammalian Embryos PloS ONE 8 (8)
Paul J McKeegan and Roger G Sturmey (2012) The Role of Fatty Acids in Oocyte and Early Embryo Development Reproduction, Fertility and Development 24(1) pp59-67
Please contact me regarding research project opportunities in education or reproductive biology including:
- PhD Medical Sciences
- MSc (Research) in Biomedical Sciences
- The Research Project (MSc in Clinical Anatomy and Education)
- INSPIRE MBBS Research Projects
- MBBS Phase II SSIP
- MBBS Elective Projects
Current students:
- Grace Doherty (MRes, University of Hull) Mitochondrial function during oocyte development; how much is enough?
- David Bahibanda (MBBS, HYMS) Calabash chalk consumption during pregnancy: harmless or harmful?
- Sophie Tilley (MBBS, HYMS) The impact of dietary fat intake during pregnancy on congenital heart defects
- Lara Lewis (MSc CAE, HYMS) Integrated contextualised anatomy and physiology learning in medical education
- Aisha Ahmed (MSc CAE, HYMS) Health technologies and practical physiology in medical education
External Examiner: Life Sciences International Foundational Year, Surrey International Study Centre
Active member of:
Society for Fertility and Reproduction
Physiological Society
Biochemical Society
Peer Reviewer across Biological Sciences and Reproductive Medicine Journals and Funding Bodies.