Research themes
Our research combines the traditional disciplines of Anatomy and Physiology alongside innovative research programmes in Animal Models of Human Disease, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine. Our academic staff are experts in their fields and have provided consultancy advice to industry, research councils and charities; their research agendas are relevant to many human diseases and in areas of interest to the pharma and biotech industries. Several staff have ongoing collaborations with companies. Interactions with industry are welcomed and encouraged and they have both allowed the pursuit of new research directions and progressed translational research.
Our research comprises six interdisciplinary themes (click a title to expand further information):
This theme involves the study of cellular processes and the mechanisms by which organisms grow and develop. These complementary research areas seek to understand the genetic control and biochemical mechanisms that co-ordinate:
- the organisation of molecules within cells
- the generation of specialised cells
- interactions and signalling between cell
- embryogenesis and organ formation
Such fundamental investigation is necessary to underpin our knowledge of human biology. This understanding of such normal biological processes is required to appreciate the consequences when such processes are perturbed.
Principal Investigators:
- Professor Peter Andrews - Human embryonic stem cells, germ cell tumours.
- Professor Kathryn Ayscough - Cytoskeleton and endocytosis.
- Dr. Anne-Gaelle Borycki - Somite patterning and Sonic Hedgehog signaling.
- Dr. Vincent Cunliffe - Control of chromatin activity during vertebrate development.
- Dr. Freek van Eeden - Disease models and Sonic Hedgehog receptor function in zebrafish.
- Dr. Kai Erdmann - Membrane trafficking and signalling in polarised cells.
- Dr. Andrew Furley - Role of L1-related cell adhesion molecules in neural development.
- Dr. Jarema Malicki - Cell polarity and ciliogenesis.
- Professor Harry Moore - Molecular reproduction and development.
- Dr. Andrew Peden - Elucidating the pathways and cellular machinery of constitutive secretion.
- Professor Marysia Placzek - Neural patterning and neural differentiation.
- Dr. Penny Rashbass - Apical-basal polarity in vertebrate development and disease.
- Dr. Henry Roehl - Zebrafish musculoskeletal development.
- Professor Carl Smythe - Molecular and cell biology of the eukaryotic cell cycle.
- Professor Elizabeth Smythe - Regulation of membrane trafficking.
- Professor David Strutt - Drosophila cell polarity.
- Dr. Matthew Towers - Vertebrate limb development.
- Dr. Tanya Whitfield - Development of the fish inner ear.
- Professor Steve Winder - Dystroglycan mediated cell adhesion in muscular dystrophy and cancer.
- Dr. Martin Zeidler - JAK/STAT signalling.
In this this theme, we study the normal development and function of the vertebrate auditory and vestibular systems together with disease states. In vitro cell lines, human stem cells and in vivo animal models, including non-mammalian systems, are used to study a range of genetic forms of hearing loss and to explore potential regenerative therapies.
Principal Investigators:
- Professor Matthew Holley - Development of mammalian inner ear.
- Dr. Stuart Johnson - Signalling characteristics of cochlear hair cells.
- Dr. Jarema Malicki - Cell polarity and ciliogenesis.
- Professor Walter Marcotti - Development of mammalian cochlear hair cells.
- Dr. Marta Milo - Improving accuracy and sensitivity in the analysis of biological data.
- Professor Marcelo Rivolta - The biology of auditory stem cells.
- Dr. Tanya Whitfield - Development of the fish inner ear.
This theme embraces research into the cytoskeleton, musculoskeletal development and cardiovascular biology. In vitro and in vivo experimental animal models are used to study muscular dystrophy, cranio-facial abnormalities and diseases associated with the major developmental signalling pathways such as retinoic acid, Wnt, Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) and Hedgehog (Hh). Such models of human disease give powerful insights into the molecular, cellular and physiological basis of pathologies as well as providing assays for the identification of potential therapeutic agents.
Principal Investigators:
- Dr. Anne-Gaelle Borycki - Somite and neural tube patterning by Sonic Hedgehog signalling.
- Dr. Tim Chico - Studying arteriogenesis using the zebrafish as a model.
- Dr. Henry Roehl - Zebrafish musculoskeletal development.
- Professor Steve Winder - Dystroglycan mediated cell adhesion in muscular dystrophy and cancer.
This theme embraces:
- the development of the nervous system, from the specification, patterning and function of embryonic, adult and induced neural stem cells through to the formation and maintenance of functional neuronal networks
- the physiology and pharmacology of neuronal microcircuits devoted to sensory, motor and cognitive function
- diseases affecting the sensory, motor and cognitive aspects of the nervous system including pain syndromes, hearing disorders, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia
- development of novel nanoparticle, small molecule, genetic and brain-machine interface therapies for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases
Principal Investigators:
- Dr. Gordon Cooper - Transport of gases and urea by membrane proteins.
- Dr. Vincent Cunliffe - Development of the zebrafish central nervous system.
- Dr. Andrew Furley - Role of L1-related cell adhesion molecules in neural development in mammals.
- Professor David Grundy - Neurogastroenterology – the neural control of gut function.
- Professor Matthew Holley - Development of the mammalian inner ear.
- Professor Mikko Juusola - Neural information processing from molecules to networks.
- Dr. Jarema Malicki - Cell polarity and ciliogenesis.
- Professor Walter Marcotti - Development of mammalian cochlear hair cells.
- Dr. Mohammed Nasser - Role of sodium channels in chronic pain.
- Dr. Anton Nikolaev - Neuronal circuits responsible for information processing in the visual system.
- Professor Marysia Placzek - Ventralisation of the embryonic central nervous system.
- Dr. Penny Rashbass - Apical-basal polarity in vertebrate development and disease.
- Professor Marcelo Rivolta - The biology of auditory stem cells.
- Dr. Louise Robson - Role of ion channels in epithelial health and disease.
- Dr. Elizabeth Seward - Ion channels, receptors and regulation of exocytosis.
- Professor Elizabeth Smythe - Regulation of membrane trafficking.
- Dr. Tanya Whitfield - Development of the fish inner ear.
- Dr. Alex Whitworth - Drosophila models of neurodegeneration.
This theme encompasses the physiology and pharmacology of neuro-immune interactions and its impact on inflammatory disorders such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Asthma and the development of novel treatments. It includes studies on epithelial transport and barrier function, the mechanisms that lead to immune cell activation and resolution and the role of inflammatory mediators in neural activation, for example in pain signalling. The research includes isolated cells and animal models of human disease.
Principal Investigators:
- Dr. Gordon Cooper - Transport of gases and urea by membrane proteins.
- Professor David Grundy - Neurogastroenterology: the neural control of gut function.
- Dr. Mohammed Nasser - Role of sodium channels in pain.
- Dr. Steve Renshaw - The genetic controls of resolution of neutrophilic inflammation.
- Dr. Louise Robson - Role of ion channels in epithelial health and disease.
- Dr. Elizabeth Seward - Ion channels, receptors and regulation of exocytosis.
Stem cells may ultimately be useful in achieving the repair of diseased tissues, but recently it has been established that stem cells represent the source of some, and perhaps all, cancers. The sub-division of Stem Cells and Cancer includes research into cell polarity, the biology of human stem cells and cell signalling, specifically that mediated by the JAK/STAT, Wnt, Hedgehog and Notch signalling pathways. In vitro and in vivo animal models are used to study cancer, cranio-facial abnormalities and retinoblastoma.
Principal Investigators:
- Professor Peter Andrews - Human embryonic stem cells, germ cell tumours.
- Dr. Anne-Gaelle Borycki - Somite patterning and Sonic Hedgehog signalling.
- Dr. Vincent Cunliffe - Development of the zebrafish central nervous system.
- Dr. Freek van Eeden - Disease models and Shh receptor function in zebrafish.
- Dr. Kai Erdmann - Membrane Trafficking and signalling in polarised cells.
- Dr. Andrew Furley - Role of L1-related cell adhesion molecules in neural development in mammals.
- Professor Harry Moore - Molecular reproduction and development.
- Professor Marysia Placzek - Neural patterning and neural differentiation.
- Dr. Penny Rashbass - Apical-basal polarity in vertebrate development and disease.
- Professor Marcelo Rivolta - Human auditory stem cells, cell-based therapies for deafness.
- Dr. Henry Roehl - Zebrafish musculoskeletal development.
- Professor Carl Smythe - Molecular and cell biology of the eukaryotic cell cycle.
- Professor Elizabeth Smythe - Regulation of membrane trafficking.
- Professor David Strutt - Drosophila cell polarity.
- Professor Steve Winder - Dystroglycan mediated cell adhesion in muscular dystrophy and cancer.
- Dr. Martin Zeidler - JAK/STAT signalling.