Current Research
My current research is centred around reproductive physiology in the human. The main interest of my group is on signalling mechanisms that maintain gestational quiescence and the switch to labour. I am interested in the role of inflammatory pathways in pregnancy. This research is currently funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council and Action Medical Research. In particular we are studying the role of eicosanoids in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, the contribution of a purinergic receptor to the release of the cytokine interleukin-1beta in pregnancy as well as investigation of the inflammasome in coordinating inflammatory pathways coupled to cytokine release.
In recent years, we have begun exploring the role ion channels play in the aetiology of ovarian cancer. Our cancer studies have expanded to include oesophageal cancer with emphasis on oestrogen receptor expression and function in this malignancy.
Current grant funding:
2011-2013. The purinergic P2X7 receptor: regulation of uterine function in labour and preterm labour. RN Khan (PI), AJ Douglas, ST Woolley. Action Medical Research, project grant
2010-2012. Mechanisms underlying non-prostanoid eicosanoid modulation of vascular function in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. RN Khan (PI), DA Barrett, F Broughton Pipkin. British Heart Foundation, project grant2009-2012. Proinflammatory mediators as modulators of decidual calcium channel expression and function. RN Khan (PI), N Chapman. The Wellcome Trust, project grant
Past Research
My past research has involved investigation of ipn cahnenls in thecontrol of pregnancy.
208-2011. Understanding how how NF-kappaB regulates expression and repression of the Galphas GTPbinding protein in the myometrium. N Chapman, D Anumba, N Europe-Finner. RN Khan (CoI). Medical Research Council, project grant (36 months)
2007-2009. The possible role of phospholipase C delta in the regulation of uterine contractility. J Lymn, RN Khan (CoI), SJ Hill. Action Medical Research, project grant (24 months)
2005-2008. Ion channel characterization in the human fetoplacental unit. RN Khan. British Heart Foundation, PhD studentship (36 months)
2004-2007. Mechanisms underlying the modulatory actions of cytochrome P450-derived eicosanoids in human myometrium. RN Khan (PI), DA Barrett. BBSRC, project grant (36 months)
Future Research
The intention for future research is to apply some of our experimental findings for translation to the antenatal clinic, either through idnetification and validation of potentially novel drug targets through which to manage pregnancies complicated by preterm birth either through tocolysis, early detection of preterm birth using novel biomarkers. We also aim to perform largescale genomic and metabolomic investigations designed to increase knowledge of causal factors in preterm birth.