About MORF®

MORF® was created as a tool for the DETOX project: an interdisciplinary project with partners across the UK, each contributing complex multi-omics data and needing easy access to the results. Originally known as ‘DETOXbase’, we built this web-based platform so the whole team could interrogate the data securely through their browser. When we started using it for other international projects we realised our tool could be used far beyond our own studies, and hence rebranded to MORF® – our Multi Omics Research Factory.

MORF® is now available either for existing data or to be written into academic grants for future projects. We can also help you plan your omics experiment to ensure the investment delivers the insights you need. As well as helping to analyse the data, MORF® can be part of your dissemination strategy by making data available to the community to support a publication and promote the FAIR policies of data sharing.

Please contact us to find out how you can get MORF® from your data!

Our Team

Co-Founders

Prof. Gavin Thomas

Chief Scientific Officer

As the mastermind behind MORF® and with over 20 years of experience of studying microbial physiology through the era of genomes and multi-omics analysis, Prof. Thomas has unique insight into the research needs of bench scientists who want to be able to easily analyse their own data or present it for others to use in the future. Gavin uses MORF® on a daily basis for the research in his group at York and advises on improvements in features and useability.

Dr. Joyce Bennett

Business Manager

Dr Joyce Bennett is leading the MORF® business strategy, guiding the transition from an academic tool to a commercial enterprise. Joyce has previous experience as the DETOX project manager and was recently awarded an Enterprise Fellowship from the BBSRC High Value Biorenewables NIBB to connect with the market and develop MORF® for the future.

Dr. Vicki Springthorpe

Lead Bioinformatician

Dr. Vicki Springthorpe is the lead developer and creator of MORF® combining her skills in coding (including Python, R and JavaScript) with those in omics analysis and database design. She leads feature developent and software demostrations.

Bioinformaticians

Dr. Sandy Macdonald

Bioinformatician

Dr. Sandy Macdonald joined the MORF® team in April 2020 and brings wide ranging bioinformatics experience to MORF®. He works on maintaining and adding features to the databases and websites that are part of the MORF® project, and on analysing and adding new datasets.

Javeria Mehboob

Bioinformatician

Javeria Mehboob is a current PhD student at the University of York and is working on MORF® as a part of her PhD project. She aims to implement protein aggregation propensity determining tools in MORF® by utilising her knowledge of Python and R.

Evelyn Smith

Bioinformatician

Evelyn Smith is a current PhD student who joined MORF® for a 3 month placement. Evelyn has contributed web content and custom data analysis pipelines for MORF® using multiple coding languages, such as Python and R.