Latest news from the lab.
New recruits!
We are thrilled to welcome new members to the lab:
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Mohsin Amerat, who completed an MRes at King’s College London, is starting a PhD funded by Barts Charity.
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Victoria Ferdinand, a University of Sheffield MBiolSci graduate, begins a PhD supported by the EPSRC.
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Dr Xiuying Li, Assistant Professor from Southwest Medical School, China, joins for a 12-month visit to study factors controlling stroke-related tissue damage.
Grants success
November 2025
We are delighted to announce that we have secured a BHF Programme Grant (£1M) to study how shear stress and endothelial factors drive atherosclerosis in patients. This clinical trial will translate our fundamental science into potential clinical benefit. We will soon be recruiting two researchers for five-year positions.
In addition, we received a BHF Project Grant (£300K) to investigate the signalling pathways connecting shear stress to atherosclerosis progression, with a focus on Notch signalling. Recruitment for this project is also underway.
ESC meeting in Napoli
November 2025
Paul attended the ESC Working Group on Cell Biology of the Heart meeting in Naples. The meeting was well attended, with engaging poster sessions by ECRs and talks covering the latest molecular and cellular insights in vascular and cardiac biology. Naples provided a beautiful setting for a productive and enjoyable event.
Visiting USTC, Hefei, China
November 2025
Paul was honoured to visit the University of Science and Technology of China, hosted by the brilliant Professor Suowen Xu. He met a vibrant team of students, postdocs, and fellows, who shared their exciting research stories. Paul also delivered a lecture as part of the International Scientific Excellence program and enjoyed a memorable trip with students Meiming and Wenqi to Shanghai and the Yellow Mountains.
William Harvey Day
October 2025
It’s William Harvey Day! We celebrated a full day of science with our ECRs and guest speakers, followed by the traditional parade to St Bartholomew the Great, honoring Rahere for founding our cherished hospital 902 years ago. Pictured here with my friend and colleague, Prof Chris Tredwin, our Dean of Dentistry.
Professor Tzung Hsiai in London
September 2025
It was a delight to welcome my friend and colleague, Professor Tzung Hsiai from UCLA, to London. We shared a hotpot in Chinatown and, naturally, as vascular biologists, we had to try the beef aorta. Nostalgic for our days isolating endothelial cells from aortas, we found it surprisingly tasty… if a bit chewy!
ESC Congress - Madrid
August 2025
Paul enjoyed chairing sessions, speaking, and especially presenting awards to 60 early career researchers who were winners of best talks, best posters, and travel grants on behalf of the ESC CBCS. He also chaired the William Harvey Lecture delivered by Professor Carol Anne Remme from Amsterdam, a truly memorable presentation. Despite a busy schedule there is always for art.
Farewell to Blanca
July 2025
We sent Blanca off in style with a curry in Sheffield—the winning ticket! Over seven years in the lab (MSc then PhD then postdoc), she’s become a stellar researcher with prizes, papers, and a big one on the way. Blanca will bring these skills to her exciting new role coordinating clinical trials. The party was extra special with current members Siyu and Hazem joined by lab alumni Jovana and Céline. A perfect mix of lab legends, old and new, celebrating science, friendship, and curry!
Cardiovascular Symposium at Ruhr-University Bochum
June 2025
Paul had a busy but fascinating 3 days chairing science sessions at the Cardiovascular Symposium at Ruhr-University Bochum. Great to catch up with old friends, meet new colleagues, and soak up outstanding science. Pictured: Prof. Gabriele Schiattarella, HFpEF aficionado, and session chair Prof. Danilo Norata, a true legend in immunometabolism. Huge thanks to Prof. Dr. Nazha Hamdani, the mastermind behind this memorable event!
ESC Summer School – Juan des Pines
June 2025
It was a real pleasure to chair and present at the ESC Summer School 2025, joined by members of the lab and early-career researchers from across Europe. The programme offers strong foundations in cardiovascular science, alongside mentoring sessions and hands-on experience in presenting and chairing. All of this took place in a lovely setting—complete with excellent food, conversation, and plenty of bon viveur spirit.
QMUL Alumni at House of Lords
April 2025
Paul enjoyed meeting QMUL alumni at their gathering held at the House of Lords in Westminster Palace. An incredible setting to make new connections and reconnect with old friends.
ESC Congress
August 2024
This year’s ESC Congress was just a short commute for Paul, who enjoyed chairing some excellent science sessions. As Chair of the ESC Council for Basic Cardiovascular Science, he also had the honour of presenting prizes—with a little help from two young assistants, who were clearly amazed that Daddy’s job involved such a task!
Paul reviews for La Caixa Foundation
May 2024
Paul recently visited Barcelona to review research projects for the La Caixa Foundation. It’s always inspiring to see such outstanding applications and rewarding to support the best of them. While in the city, he also explored the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, with masterpieces ranging from 12th-century depictions of Saint Michael weighing souls to Picasso.
International Symposium of Biomechanics in Vascular Biology
April 2024
The 2024 International Symposium on Biomechanics in Vascular Biology returned to where it all began—Rotterdam. Paul enjoyed chairing sessions and presenting at a fantastic meeting that brought engineers, biologists, and clinicians together around some outstanding science. Pictured are talks from Prof. Blanca Rodríguez (Oxford) on digital twins and Prof. Peter Stone (Harvard) on using shear stress to predict cardiovascular disease: great examples of the interdisciplinary energy that defined the meeting.
FCVB
April 2024
Paul and members of the lab recently attended the ESC Frontiers in Cardiovascular Biomedicine meeting in Amsterdam. As Chair of the ESC Council for Basic Cardiovascular Science, Paul kept busy presenting, chairing sessions, and handing out prizes.
Pictured is Self-Portrait of a Dreamer, a giant floating astronaut by Dutch artist Joseph Klibansky located in Rembrandt Square. A fitting reminder for scientists: we all have these moments of weightlessness especially when wrestling with reviewer comments!
St Barts 900-year anniversary
October 2023
Each year, we commemorate Rahere, founder of our beloved St Bartholomew’s Hospital in 1123. After a vision of St Bartholomew while feverishly ill in Rome, Rahere established Barts Hospital committed to free care for the poor and sick, values that continue to shape Barts today. The annual ceremony brings staff and students in academic dress to St Bartholomew the Great, where medical students place a rose on Rahere’s tomb. This year’s service was especially meaningful as the hospital marked its 900-year anniversary.
Also pictured is Damien Hirst’s sculpture of St Bartholomew. Its uncompromising portrayal of him being flayed alive is transformed by the scalpel he holds, a powerful symbol of his legendary role in the founding of St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Paul presents early career researcher awards at ESC Congress
August 2023
Paul presented Basic Research Fellowship awards to two early career researchers at the ESC Congress held in Amsterdam. Sponsored by the ESC Council for Basic Cardiovascular Science, these awards enable early career scientists to visit other European labs, fostering collaborations and advancing their careers. Paul is captured in a photo with the recipients of these and other awards together with Profs. Carol Ann Remme and Johan Wojta during the presentation evening. Amidst his busy schedule, he also explored the Rijksmuseum museum. Pictured is a breathtaking work from Vermeer.
Blanca wins Best Poster Prize at the Vascular Biomechanics GRC
August 2023
Congratulations to Blanca for winning the best poster prize at the Gordon Research Conference on Vascular Biomechanics! This outstanding meeting took place at Mount Holyoke College in the US and was organized by Prof Hanjoong Jo, Prof Tzung Xiao, and Dr Kim Van der Heiden. Blanca is pictured far left with the other recipients of this award.
Well done! 🏆🎉
Lab in action at the 2023 British Cardiovascular Society meeting
June 2023
Our lab had a strong presence at this year's BCS meeting, featuring engaging presentations from Jovana and Siyu. The audience was treated to outstanding scientific insights, making it a memorable experience for everyone involved.
We are moving to Queen Mary University of London !!
March 2023
Exciting News: Relocating to London!
We are thrilled to announce our move to London, where Paul has been appointed as Professor of Vascular Metabolism at the prestigious William Harvey Research Institute within Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Our enthusiasm for joining QMUL is fueled by its vibrant and outstanding cardiovascular research community. The institute, nestled within the historic Barts and the London Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, boasts a legacy spanning 900 years. We are honoured to become a part of this dynamic and richly historic academic family
Paul speaks at the Life Sciences 2 meeting in Zurich
Feb 2023
Paul enjoyed speaking at the LS2 Switzerland meeting in Zurich this month. The scientific programme was superb with excellent discussions. He also found time to visit the incredible @KunsthausZurich art museum.
Dr Ziqi Zhou passes her PhD viva!
February 2023
The champagne was on ice this morning as Ziqi defended her PhD thesis. And she passed with flying colours.
Congratulations on our new doctor of philosophy, Ziqi Zhou PhD !!
And thanks to the examiners Professor Ellie Tzima and Dr Heather Wilson
Welcome to Siyu
September 2022
We are delighted to welcome Dr Siyu Tian to our lab.
Siyu recently completed her PhD studies on mechanotransduction in pulmonary hypertension at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam.
We love the artwork on the cover of her PhD thesis - truly inspirational!
Welcome Siyu !
Our paper on Notch mechanosensing is published in Science Advances
August 2022
We are thrilled that our paper on Notch mechanosensing in atherosclerosis was published in Science Advances. This was a massive effort that spanned the pandemic - it's great to see the work in print. Congratulations to all the authors for their amazing work.
Paul elected to chair ESC Basic Science Council
June 2022
We are delighted to announce that Paul has been elected to be Chair-elect (2022-2022) and Chair (2024-2026) of the ESC Council for Basic Cardiovascular Science. This group represents >5000 basic scientists within the ESC and as oversight of all ESC basic science activities including meetings, summer schools, paper, fellowships and research prizes.
Paul commented "I am thrilled to be elected to chair the Council, and will continue my commitment to ESC Basic Science and it’s translation to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease"
Priscila wins best poster prize
June 2022
Congratulations to Priscila on winning the Best Poster prize at the Annual Research Meeting of the University of Sheffield Medical School!
Priscila receiving the prize from the judges Drs Lynn Prince and Adrian Higginbottom.
Congratulations to George!
May 2022
We are thrilled that George Bowley passed his PhD viva with flying colours. Thanks to Dr Serbanovic-Canic and Prof Tim Chico for brilliant supervision and to BHF and NC3Rs for funding.
Well done to Dr Bowley!
Spring Meetings
April 2022
Paul was delighted to resume face-to-face meetings this Spring. He was honoured to give the Keynote lecture at the International Symposium on Biomechanics in Vascular Biology and Cardiovascular Disease in Rotterdam. The following week it was ESC Frontiers in Cardiovascular Biology in Budapest where Paul chaired three sessions, judged posters and gave a talk. Brilliant science and great to catch up with friends!
Welcome to Hazem
March 2022
We are very pleased to welcome Hazem Darwish to our lab.
Hazem graduated with a BSc from the University of Cairo, and then studied for an MSc in Molecular Medicine at the University of Tübingen, Germany. He joins us to study for a PhD screening for inhibitors of a pro-atherogenic transcription factor.
Welcome Hazem !
Insigneo leadership
February 2022
Paul has been appointed as Director of the 'Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Cell Engineering' (BBC) research theme in the INSIGNEO Institute. This cross-faculty group brings together researchers from biomedical and the physical sciences to understand how cells and tissues respond to materials and mechanical cues.
Goodbye and good luck to Sam
October 2021
We are saying goodbye to Sam Sendac who has been working as a Research Assistant for Jovana for the past year. Sam's favourite meal is pie with brown sauce so it is fitting that we had that traditional Sheffield delicacy for his leaving lunch. Thanks to Sam for his excellent work and good luck for his new adventures in Switzerland!
Pictured from left to right: Sophie, David, George, Sam, Paul, Jovana, Mannekomba, Blanca, Ziqi and Priscila.
Paul is interviewed by Cardiovascular Research
October 2021
In an Onlife interview for the journal Cardiovascular Research, Paul shares his opinion and personal thoughts on the biomechanical mechanisms controlling atherosclerosis.
https://academic.oup.com/cardiovascres/article/117/12/e162/6414255
Paul wins the Outstanding Achievement Award from the European Society of Cardiology
August 2021
Congratulations to Paul on winning the Outstanding Achievement Award from the European Society of Cardiology. The award is dedicated to honouring researchers with outstanding productivity and contribution to the future of cardiovascular medicine. Paul was awarded this honour for his discovery of some of the causes and potential treatment for atherosclerosis, a major reason for cardiovascular disease, disability, and death.
You can read more about this award here:
Project Grant Award from MRC
July 2021
We are pleased to announce that Paul has been awarded an MRC Project Grant to study the role of the GATA4 transcription factor in atherosclerosis. Thanks to our co-investigators Prof Sheila Francis and Prof Tim Chico for their excellent contributions. We will be recruiting for this project so watch this space!
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Blanca Wins Young Investigator Award
June 2021
You know how we were just saying that Blanca had been shortlisted for a Young Investigator Award from the British Cardiovascular Society? Well she only went and won it! Huge congratulations to Blanca, who has worked incredibly hard and is a massive clever clogs and all-round good egg. She thoroughly deserved to win this prestigious accolade and we're all extremely proud!
Left: Blanca celebrating her win with two pints of Kronenbourg and some chips.
Right: Blanca presenting her winning talk with YIA chair and judge Prof Pier Lambiase (bottom left) and YIA chair Dr Sanjay Sinha (bottom right).
Blanca Shortlisted for Young Investigator Award
June 2021
Congratulations to Blanca who has been shortlisted for a Young Investigator Award from the British Cardiovascular Society. Blanca will travel to Manchester on 8th June to present her talk in person (what a novelty!) at the BCS annual conference. We all wish her the best of luck and will be sure to pack her off with plenty of face masks, alcohol gel and good vibes.
