Dr Adam Watkins

PhD, MEd, BSc.

School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine

Dr Adam Watkins
Dr Adam Watkins
Profile picture of Dr Adam Watkins
a.watkins@sheffield.ac.uk
G33, The Medical School

Full contact details

Dr Adam Watkins
School of Medicine and Population Health
G33
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

I conducted my PhD and post-doctoral research at the University of Southampton investigating the impact of mouse embryo culture and maternal diet on long-term adult health. In 2011, I was awarded a University of Nottingham Advanced Research Fellowship to pivot my research to focus on the impact of paternal nutrition on sperm quality and adult offspring cardiovascular and metabolic health in the mouse. Following this, I continued my paternal programming research under an Aston University research fellowship defining the sperm and seminal fluid-specific mechanisms linking paternal diet with offspring health. In 2017, I joined the University of Nottingham as an Assistant Professor where I continued to determine how paternal diet impacts on male reproductive fitness and post-fertilisation development. In 2024, I joined the University of Sheffield as a Senior Lecturer and continue to investigate parental lifestyle associations with reproductive health and offspring development.

Qualifications
  • Medical Biochemistry, BSc – University of Sheffield, UK
  • Med (Distinction) – Aston University, UK
  • PhD Embryology – University of Southampton, UK
Research interests

My group is interested in understanding how parental environmental factors, such as diet or smoking, shape reproductive fitness, gamete quality, embryo development, fetal growth and adult offspring health. We are fundamentally interested in understanding how parental well-being around the time of conception can have long-term impacts on the development and health of their offspring and the mechanisms through which they operate.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Morgan HL, Eid N, Holmes N, Henson S, Wright V, Coveney C, Winder C, O’Neil DM, Dunn WB, Boocock DJ & Watkins AJ (2024) . BMC Biology, 22(1).
  • Khoshkerdar A, Eid N, Batra V, Baker N, Holmes N, Henson S, Sang F, Wright V, McLaren J, Shakesheff K , Woad KJ et al (2024) . Nutrients, 16(12).
  • Morgan HL, Aljumah A, Rouillon C & Watkins AJ (2021) . Placenta, 103, 124-133.
  • Morgan HL, Paganopoulou P, Akhtar S, Urquhart N, Philomin R, Dickinson Y & Watkins AJ (2020) . The Journal of Physiology, 598(4), 699-715.
  • Watkins AJ, Dias I, Tsuro H, Allen D, Emes RD, Moreton J, Wilson R, Ingram RJM & Sinclair KD (2018) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 115(40), 10064-10069.
  • Fleming TP, Watkins AJ, Velazquez MA, Mathers JC, Prentice AM, Stephenson J, Barker M, Saffery R, Yajnik CS, Eckert JJ , Hanson MA et al (2018) . The Lancet, 391(10132), 1842-1852.
  • Watkins AJ, Sirovica S, Stokes B, Isaacs M, Addison O & Martin RA (2017) . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1863(6), 1371-1381.
  • Watkins AJ & Sinclair KD (2014) . American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 306(10), H1444-H1452.
  • Furse S, Morgan HL, Koulman A & Watkins AJ () . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(3), 1814-1814.
  • Morgan HL, Furse S, Dias IHK, Shabir K, Castellanos M, Khan I, May ST, Holmes N, Carlile M, Sang F , Wright V et al () . Communications Biology, 5(1).

All publications

Journal articles

  • Driscoll TJ, Black S, Davies G, Gale CP, Gavalova L, Halter M, Hughes C, Munro S, Rees N, Rosser A , Snooks H et al (2025) . Heart.
  • Azizbayli Y, Tatler A, James V, Watkins A & Fairclough LC (2025) . International Journal of Translational Medicine, 5(3).
  • Scotland G, Tsehaye M, Styles C, Logue J, Sammons E, Zayed M, Emberson J, Wade R, Wallendszus K, Stevens W , Cretney R et al (2025) . Diabetic Medicine.
  • Khoshkerdar A, Morgan H, Wright V, Holmes N, Fei S & Watkins A (2025) . Human Reproduction, 40(Supplement_1).
  • Batra V, Morgan HL, Choi KK, Onion D, Croxall N, Arkill KP, Hallwood J, James V & Watkins AJ (2025) . Reproduction, 170(1).
  • Snooks HA, Akbari A, Bethell L, Carson-Stevens A, Dale J, Dixon L, Edwards A, Emery H, John A, John G , Jolles S et al (2025) . Public Health, 244, 105736-105736.
  • Humphreys I, Watkins A, Akbari A, Griffiths R, Gabe‐Walters M, Thomas M, Pike C, Williams A, Dobbs T, Gibson J , Whitaker IS et al (2025) . International Wound Journal, 22(4).
  • Short E, Adcock IM, Al-Sarireh B, Ager A, Ajjan R, Akbar N, Akeroyd MA, Alsaleh G, Al-Sharbatee G, Alavian K , Amoaku W et al (2025) . GeroScience, 47(2), 1713-1720.
  • Kingston M, Snooks H, Watkins A, Burton C, Dale J, Davies J, Dearden A, Evans B, Santos Gomes B, Jones J , Kumar R et al (2025) . BJGP Open, 9(1), BJGPO.2024.0182-BJGPO.2024.0182.
  • Marchant A, McGregor J, Del Pozo Banos M, Lloyd K, Williams D, Thapar A, Watkins A & John A (2024) . Psychological Medicine, 54(16), 4691-4703.
  • Morgan HL, Eid N, Holmes N, Henson S, Wright V, Coveney C, Winder C, O’Neil DM, Dunn WB, Boocock DJ & Watkins AJ (2024) . BMC Biology, 22(1).
  • Furse S, Martel C, Willer DF, Stabler D, Fernandez-Twinn DS, Scott J, Patterson-Cross R, Watkins AJ, Virtue S, Prescott TAK , Baker E et al (2024) . Molecular Omics, 20(9), 570-583.
  • Khoshkerdar A, Eid N, Batra V, Baker N, Holmes N, Henson S, Sang F, Wright V, McLaren J, Shakesheff K , Woad KJ et al (2024) . Nutrients, 16(12).
  • Ammar OF, Sharma K, Liperis G, Fraire-Zamora JJ, Serdarogullari M, Ali ZE, Ramasamy R, Laurentino S, Watkins A & Mincheva M (2023) . Human Reproduction, 38(8), 1649-1653.
  • Batra V, Norman E, Morgan HL & Watkins AJ (2022) . Biomolecules, 12(9).
  • Furse S, Watkins AJ, Williams HEL, Snowden SG, Chiarugi D & Koulman A (2022) . Metabolomics, 18(2).
  • Keating AF & Watkins AJ (2021) . Reproduction, 162(5), E5-E6.
  • Khoshkerdar A, Eryasar E, Morgan HL & Watkins AJ (2021) . Reproduction, 162(5), F101-F109.
  • Morgan HL & Watkins AJ (2021) . Endocrinology, 162(10).
  • Furse S, Williams HEL, Watkins AJ, Virtue S, Vidal-Puig A, Amarsi R, Charalambous M & Koulman A (2021) . Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 413(19), 4763-4773.
  • Morgan HL, Aljumah A, Rouillon C & Watkins AJ (2021) . Placenta, 103, 124-133.
  • Lanham SA, Smith SJ, Watkins AJ, Lucas ES, MacCaoilte N, Oreffo ROC, Fleming TP & Eckert JJ (2021) . Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 12(3), 384-395.
  • Aljahdali A, Airina RKRI, Velazquez MA, Sheth B, Wallen K, Osmond C, Watkins AJ, Eckert JJ, Smyth NR & Fleming TP (2020) . Human Reproduction, 35(11), 2497-2514.
  • Watkins AJ, Rubini E, Hosier ED & Morgan HL (2020) . Early Human Development, 150, 105185-105185.
  • Morgan HL, Ampong I, Eid N, Rouillon C, Griffiths HR & Watkins AJ (2020) . Reproduction, 159(5), 627-641.
  • Morgan HL, Paganopoulou P, Akhtar S, Urquhart N, Philomin R, Dickinson Y & Watkins AJ (2020) . The Journal of Physiology, 598(4), 699-715.
  • Morgan HL & Watkins AJ (2020) . Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 97, 131-137.
  • Velazquez MA, Fleming TP & Watkins AJ (2019) . Journal of Endocrinology, 242(1), T33-T49.
  • Watkins AJ, Pearce G, Unak P, Guldu OK, Yasakci V, Akin O, Aras O, Wong J & Ma X (2018) . Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, 14(11), 1979-1991.
  • Watkins AJ, Dias I, Tsuro H, Allen D, Emes RD, Moreton J, Wilson R, Ingram RJM & Sinclair KD (2018) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 115(40), 10064-10069.
  • Fleming TP, Watkins AJ, Velazquez MA, Mathers JC, Prentice AM, Stephenson J, Barker M, Saffery R, Yajnik CS, Eckert JJ , Hanson MA et al (2018) . The Lancet, 391(10132), 1842-1852.
  • Lucas ES & Watkins AJ (2017) , 137-154.
  • Watkins AJ, Sirovica S, Stokes B, Isaacs M, Addison O & Martin RA (2017) . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1863(6), 1371-1381.
  • Denisenko O, Lucas ES, Sun C, Watkins AJ, Mar D, Bomsztyk K & Fleming TP (2016) . Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1859(7), 906-913.
  • Watkins AJ, Lucas ES, Marfy-Smith S, Bates N, Kimber SJ & Fleming TP (2015) . REPRODUCTION, 149(6), 563-575.
  • Fleming TP, Watkins AJ, Sun C, Velazquez MA, Smyth NR & Eckert JJ (2015) . Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 27(4), 684-684.
  • Watkins AJ & Sinclair KD (2014) . American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 306(10), H1444-H1452.
  • Fleming TP, Velazquez MA, Eckert JJ, Lucas ES & Watkins AJ (2012) . Animal Reproduction Science, 130(3-4), 193-197.
  • Fleming TP, Lucas ES, Watkins AJ & Eckert JJ (2012) . Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 24(1), 35-35.
  • Lucas ES, Watkins AJ, Cox AL, Marfy-Smith SJ, Smyth N & Fleming TP (2011) . Theriogenology, 76(3), 558-569.
  • Guerrero KL, Emery SJ, Wareham K, Ismail S, Watkins A & Lucas MG (2010) . BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 117(12), 1493-1503.
  • Watkins AJ, Lucas ES, Torrens C, Cleal JK, Green L, Osmond C, Eckert JJ, Gray WP, Hanson MA & Fleming TP (2010) . British Journal of Nutrition, 103(12), 1762-1770.
  • Watkins AJ, Lucas ES & Fleming TP (2010) . Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 1(2), 87-95.
  • Lucas ES, Finn SL, Cox A, Lock FR & Watkins AJ (2009) . The Journal of Physiology, 587(14), 3425-3426.
  • Sellayah D, Sek K, Anthony FW, Watkins AJ, Osmond C, Fleming TP, Hanson MA & Cagampang FR (2008) . Brain Research, 1237, 146-152.
  • Watkins AJ, Wilkins A, Cunningham C, Perry VH, Seet MJ, Osmond C, Eckert JJ, Torrens C, Cagampang FRA, Cleal J , Gray WP et al (2008) . The Journal of Physiology, 586(8), 2231-2244.
  • Sabit R, Griffiths TL, Watkins AJ, Evans W, Bolton CE, Shale DJ & Lewis KE (2008) . Respiratory Medicine, 102(6), 819-824.
  • Watkins A, Papenbrock T & Fleming T (2008) . Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 26(2), 175-185.
  • Watkins AJ, Ursell E, Panton R, Papenbrock T, Hollis L, Cunningham C, Wilkins A, Perry VH, Sheth B, Kwong WY , Eckert JJ et al (2008) . Biology of Reproduction, 78(2), 299-306.
  • Watkins AJ, Platt D, Papenbrock T, Wilkins A, Eckert JJ, Kwong WY, Osmond C, Hanson M & Fleming TP (2007) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(13), 5449-5454.
  • Fleming TP, Kwong WY, Porter R, Ursell E, Fesenko I, Wilkins A, Miller DJ, Watkins AJ & Eckert JJ (2004) . Biology of Reproduction, 71(4), 1046-1054.
  • Thomas M, Gabe-Walters M, Humphreys I & Watkins A () . PLOS One, 20(5), e0315314-e0315314.
  • Furse S, Morgan HL, Koulman A & Watkins AJ () . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(3), 1814-1814.
  • Morgan HL, Furse S, Dias IHK, Shabir K, Castellanos M, Khan I, May ST, Holmes N, Carlile M, Sang F , Wright V et al () . Communications Biology, 5(1).
  • Furse S, Watkins AJ, Hojat N, Smith J, Williams HEL, Chiarugi D & Koulman A () . Communications Biology, 4(1).
  • Morgan HL, Eid N, Khoshkerdar A & Watkins AJ () . Animal Reproduction, 17(3).
  • Furse S, Watkins AJ & Koulman A () . Molecules, 25(14), 3192-3192.
  • Aras O, Pearce G, Watkins AJ, Nurili F, Medine EI, Guldu OK, Tekin V, Wong J, Ma X, Ting R , Unak P et al () . PLOS ONE, 13(8), e0202482-e0202482.
  • Eckert JJ, Porter R, Watkins AJ, Burt E, Brooks S, Leese HJ, Humpherson PG, Cameron IT & Fleming TP () . PLoS ONE, 7(12), e52791-e52791.
  • Watkins AJ, Lucas ES, Wilkins A, Cagampang FRA & Fleming TP () . PLoS ONE, 6(12), e28745-e28745.

Book chapters

  • Batra V, Eid N, Morgan HL & Watkins AJ (2024) , Mastering Clinical Embryology (pp. 82-87). CRC Press
  • Morgan HL & Watkins AJ (2019) , Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology (pp. 71-89). Springer International Publishing

Conference proceedings

  • Sinclair KD & Watkins AJ (2014) . Reproduction, Fertility and Development, Vol. 26(1) (pp 99-99)
  • Lanham SA, Lock FR, Lucas ES, Watkins AJ, Fleming TP, Oreffo ROC & Harding S (2012) MATERNAL DIET ALTERS FETAL BONE DEVELOPMENT. OSTEOPOROSIS INTERNATIONAL, Vol. 23 (pp S605-S606)
  • Watkins AJ & Fleming TP (2009) . Journal of Anatomy, Vol. 215(1) (pp 52-59)

Preprints

  • Azizbayli Y, Tatler A, James V, Watkins A & Fairclough LC (2025) , MDPI AG.
  • Short E, Adcock IM, Al-Sarireh B, Ager A, Ajjan R, Akbar N, Akeroyd MA, Alsaleh G, Al-Sharbatee G, Alavian K , Amoaku W et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group
  • Dr Vipul Batra
Grants
  • BBSRC - Establishing the sperm and seminal plasma mechanisms of paternal programming (January 2022 – December 2025)
  • British Heart Foundation - Defining the mechanisms through which paternal obesity programmes offspring cardio-metabolic ill health and maternal well-being in pregnancy (October 2025 – September 2028)
Professional activities and memberships
  • Editorial board member for Reproductive Biomedicine Online (RBMO)
  • Editorial board member for Reproduction and Fertility
Current projects
  • BBSRC - Establishing the sperm and seminal plasma mechanisms of paternal programming