Sarah graduated with an MBiochem degree from Hertford College, Oxford University, in 1999. After graduation she worked for a Biotech specialising in neuroscience research before securing a position at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Plc. Sarah worked for Novartis for 13 years, researching and validating new targets for respiratory diseases.
In 2015 Sarah embarked on a part-time PhD at Leicester University in Cardiovascular Sciences, researching the functions of cardiovascular associated genes in cell-based models of coronary artery disease. After graduation she worked as a Research Associate in a similar theme. Sarah joined Loughborough University in 2022 as a Research Associate working on the engineering and characterisation of 3D tissue models of skeletal muscle alongside Professor Mark Lewis and Dr Andrew Capel.
Sarah’s research career began in a pharmaceutical environment where she was involved in identifying and validating new druggable targets for respiratory disease, as well as characterising compounds in cell-based functional assays for existing drug discovery projects. She led a project to develop a high throughput siRNA screen to identify a new target for fibrosis, and characterised the lead hits in cell-based models of fibrosis.
During her PhD and subsequent research associate position at Leicester University, Sarah’s research focussed on investigating the functions and signalling mechanisms of cardiovascular associated genes in cell-based models of coronary artery disease. Model disease systems included assays to investigate coronary artery disease relevant functions of monocyte and macrophages, vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells.
Currently, Sarah’s research focus is on the development and characterisation of 3D tissue engineered models of the musculoskeletal system.
Featured publications
- HHIPLI a gene at the 14q32 locus, positively regulates hedgehog signalling and promotes atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2019. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.041059
- JCAD, a Gene at the 10p11 Coronary Artery Disease Locus, Regulates Hippo Signalling in Endothelial cells. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2018. DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.118.310976
- Effects of interleukin-1β, interleukin-13 and TGF-β on gene expression in human airway smooth muscle using gene microarrays. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2004. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.06.055
- The Coronary Artery Disease Associated gene, SVEP1, regulates monocyte behaviour via modulation of integrin signalling (poster), Gordon Research conference; Extracellular Matrix and Integrins: Regulation of Cell and Tissue Function.