Contact
Biography
BSc Biology, University of Leeds; MSc Human Genetics, University of Leeds; Research Assistant, University of Manchester; DPhil, University of Oxford; Research Associate, University of Sheffield; JG Graves Medical Research Fellow, University of Sheffield; Nottingham Research Fellow, Assistant Professor; University of Nottingham.
Research Summary
Our research group investigates the genetic mechanisms that govern the formation and function of blood vessels, with a particular emphasis on how cell signaling regulates angiogenesis and maintains… read more
Recent Publications
CHHABRIA K, VOUROS A, GRAY C, MACDONALD RB, JIANG Z, WILKINSON RN, PLANT K, VASILAKI E, HOWARTH C and CHICO TJA, 2019. Sodium nitroprusside prevents the detrimental effects of glucose on the neurovascular unit and behaviour in zebrafish. Disease models & mechanisms. 12(9), KUGLER EC, VAN LESSEN M, DAETWYLER S, CHHABRIA K, SAVAGE AM, SILVA V, PLANT K, MACDONALD RB, HUISKEN J, WILKINSON RN, SCHULTE-MERKER S, ARMITAGE P and CHICO TJ, 2019. Cerebrovascular endothelial cells form transient Notch-dependent cystic structures in zebrafish. EMBO reports. 20(8), e47047 ARHATTE M, GUNARATNE GS, EL BOUSTANY C, KUO IY, MORO C, DUPRAT F, PLAISANT M, DUVAL H, LI D, PICARD N, COUVREUX A, DURANTON C, RUBERA I, PAGNOTTA S, LACAS-GERVAIS S, EHRLICH BE, MARCHANT JS, SAVAGE AM, VAN EEDEN FJM, WILKINSON RN, DEMOLOMBE S, HONORÉ E and PATEL A, 2019. TMEM33 regulates intracellular calcium homeostasis in renal tubular epithelial cells. Nature communications. 10(1), 2024 ELWORTHY S, SAVAGE AM, WILKINSON RN, MALICKI JJ and CHICO TJA, 2019. The role of endothelial cilia in postembryonic vascular development. Developmental dynamics. 248(6), 410-425
Current Research
Our research group investigates the genetic mechanisms that govern the formation and function of blood vessels, with a particular emphasis on how cell signaling regulates angiogenesis and maintains vascular integrity. We are especially interested in understanding how these signaling pathways become disrupted in cardiovascular diseases and how such disruptions contribute to endothelial dysfunction.
A central focus of our work is to uncover how endothelial cells (ECs)-the cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels-are organised into complex vascular networks. We study the dynamic processes that control cellular rearrangements during vascular remodeling, aiming to understand how ECs interpret spatial and positional cues, and to identify the molecular signals that guide these behaviors.
We also explore the formation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during embryonic development. Specifically, we investigate how endothelial permeability is genetically regulated and suppressed to establish this critical barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances while allowing essential nutrients to pass through.
To address these questions, we primarily use zebrafish as a model system, taking advantage of their optical transparency and genetic tractability. We also employ the emerging model Danionella cerebrum for its unique neurovascular features, as well as cultured human endothelial cells to bridge our findings to human biology.
Through these studies, we aim to provide deeper insights into the fundamental biology of blood vessels and to identify potential therapeutic targets for treating vascular-related diseases.