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Biography
In 2005, Suzanne graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc in Biochemistry and Immunology (2.1). She gained a PhD entitled 'Genome-wide molecular characterisation of CNS PNET and pineoblastomas', studying the genetics and histopathology of paediatric brain tumours at the Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, University of Nottingham, UK. During this time she visited The Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, with an international collaboration leading to a The Lancet Oncology publication. Following a move to Prof Ian Hall's lab working on the genetics of lung function, further high profile studies were published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and Nature Genetics. Moving back into the rare disease field, in 2015, Suzanne was promoted to Senior Research Fellow and studied diagnostic and prognostic markers of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare lung disease, with Nottingham hosting the National Centre for this disease.
In 2023, Suzanne made the leap to management and now manages the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Musculoskeletal, Surgery, Inflammation and Recovery theme.
Suzanne co-leads 'The Haven', a staff network for those having challenges in becoming parents, going through fertility treatment, miscarriage or child loss.
Expertise Summary
Molecular genetics, Immunohistochemistry, Microarrays, Data analysis, Statistics, Rare disease research.
Research Summary
My research involves the study of pathogenesis and progression in a rare lung disease Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in Professor Simon Johnson's group. Previously supported by the NIHR Rare Diseases… read more
Selected Publications
MILLER S, COVENEY C, JOHNSON J, FARMAKI AE, GUPTA N, TOBIN MD, WAIN LV, MCCORMACK FX, BOOCOCK DJ and JOHNSON SR, 2018. The vitamin D binding protein axis modifies disease severity in lymphangioleiomyomatosis. The European respiratory journal. 52(5), LIU B, HENRY AP, AZIMI S, MILLER S, LEE FK, LEE JC, PROBERT K, KOTLIKOFF MI, SAYERS I and HALL IP, 2019. Exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduces contractile response of small airways from GSTCD-/- mice. PloS one. 14(9), e0221899 PHILP, CJ, SIEBEKE, I, CLEMENTS, D, HABGOOD, A, JOHN, A, NAVARATNAM, V, HUBBARD, RB, JENKINS, G and JOHNSON, SR, 2017. Extra-cellular matrix cross-linking enhances fibroblast growth and protects against matrix proteolysis in lung fibrosis. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.
Current Research
My research involves the study of pathogenesis and progression in a rare lung disease Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in Professor Simon Johnson's group. Previously supported by the NIHR Rare Diseases Translational Research Collaboration and The LAM Foundation, USA, I am currently supported by The British Lung Foundation, UK and La Marato, Spain.
LAM is a rare lung and lymphatic disease which leads to cystic lesions in the lungs. LAM affects women and is caused by a defect in one of the two proteins associated with Tuberous Sclerosis, Tuberin and Hamartin. Utilising data collected from the current study we want to identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in LAM and better understand why some women with LAM have stable disease for many years whilst others progress in a relatively short period of time.
Past Research
Molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), specifically the involvement of Advanced Glycosylation End Product-Specific Receptor (RAGE, 6p21).
COPD is a chronic disorder of the lungs which causes airway obstruction. This disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is estimated that 3 million people in the UK have COPD, which causes 30,000 deaths in the UK each year. Genome-wide association studies have shown an association with RAGE and lung function (Repapi et al., 2010. Nature Genetics 42, 36-44). By characterising the membrane and soluble forms of RAGE, we hope to idenitify RAGE's involvement in COPD in the hope of developing novel therapies for this debilitating and progressive disease.