Following a BSc and PhD in biology, carried out postdoctoral research in the field of enzymology of antigen processing at University College London. Then, moved into the field of intestinal stem cell differentiation for the next ten years at CRUK. A period of eight years in the private sector followed and included experience in large scale monoclonal antibody production and in managing teams involved in radiopharmaceutical production and in drug selection for Diagnostic Imaging agents at Amersham International plc - before the latter became GE Healthcare in 2004. Within these roles, have been a classified radiation worker, Radiological Protection Supervisor, Biological Safety Officer and Designated Individual for a Research HTA Licence.

Collagen 1V synthesis is restricted to the enteroendocrine pathway during multilineage differentiation of human colorectal epithelial stem cells. Susan C. Kirkland and Karen Henderson. Journal of Cell Science 2001 114:2055-2064 Multilineage differentiation of cloned HRA-19 cells in serum-free medium: A model of human colorectal epithelial differentiation. Karen Henderson and Susan C. Kirkland. Differentiation 1996 60: 259-268 Characterisation of cultured cell lines. Karen Henderson and Susan Kirkland. Chapter 6 In 'Clinical Gene Analysis and manipulation'. Cambridge University Press, 1996 Microbial Contamination. Karen Henderson Chapter 21 In 'Clinical Gene Analysis and manipulation'. Cambridge University Press, 1996 Morphological analysis of gastro-esophageal diseases by molecular cell techniques. Review. Jankowski J, Henderson K, Viaene A, Baert J, Long LQ. Microsc. Res Tech. 1995 Jun 15;31(3):184-92 Organisation and gel contraction by human colonic carcinoma (HCA-7) sublines grown in 3-dimensional collagen gel. Susan Kirkland, Karen Henderson, Dan Liu and Massimo Pignatelli. Int.J.Cancer 1995 60:877-882. Endocrine and mucous differentiation by a cloned human rectal adenocarcinoma cell line (HRA-19) in vitro: inhibition by TGF-β1. Susan C. Kirkland and Karen Henderson. Journal of Cell Science 1994 107: 1041-1046. Antigen Processing for presentation by class 11 major histocompatibility complex requires cleavage by cathepsin E. Karen Henderson (nee Bennett), Timothy Levine et al. Eur.J.Immunol 1992 22:1519-1524.