Cardiology Research Groups

Research Aims & Objectives

Cardio-immuno genomics

Our group seeks to:

• Characterise functional heterogeneity of cardiac macrophages in homeostasis and regeneration
• Decode in vivo macrophage microenvironments and interrogate intercellular communications within the regenerating heart
• Build intracellular gene regulatory networks underpinning macrophage responses to cardiac injury
• Modelling cell-cell interactions and target discovery in heart disease by use of in vitro and ex vivo human-derived systems

Details of research interests

The damage caused by a heart attack leads to a permanent loss of cardiac tissue in adult mammals. In contrast, zebrafish have the remarkable ability to regenerate their hearts after injury, even in the presence of scarring. Macrophages are integral to both repair by scar formation and tissue regeneration; however, the local environmental cues and cell-cell interactions that control distinct macrophage functions across the injured heart are largely unknown. How zebrafish precisely adjust the balance between a pro-fibrotic versus a pro-regenerative state is unknown. What is clear is that the zebrafish post-cardiac injury environment is unique compared to mammals and, therefore, key in elucidating how the interplay between the cardiac niche and macrophages can dictate a successful regenerative response.

Our lab is interested in dissecting the dynamic cellular crosstalk and spatial relationships occurring between macrophages and the regenerating cardiac niche. We combine a wide-range of state-of-the-art technologies like single-cell (epi)genomics, spatial-transcriptomics and proteomics, computational biology, imaging and genome-editing approaches to dissect the spatiotemporal dynamics of cellular microenvironments, identify extracellular and intercellular signalling networks and decipher how these converge to define macrophage identity, plasticity and function.

A comprehensive understanding of the regenerative microenvironment in which the innate immune response persists but is permissible for regeneration, alongside targeting of macrophage-induced pro-fibrotic pathways, is poised to assist the development of immunomodulation therapies that will enhance cardiac repair and regeneration.

Group Leader

Filipa Simões

Group Members

Postdoctoral Researchers:

• Finbar Argus, co-supervised with Professor David Paterson
• Tim Byatt

PhD Student:

• Selin Tüzüner, co-supervised with Professor Angela Russell

Research Assistant:

• Trishalee Gungoosingh

Postgraduate Student:

• Ehsan Razaghi, MSc student, University of Amsterdam & Leiden University

Collaborators

Collaborators - Oxford:

• Tatjana Sauka-Spengler
• Stephen Sansom
• Roman Fischer
• Beth Psaila

Funders

• BBSRC
• British Heart Foundation
• John Fell Fund

Public Engagement

We are particular committed to foster the interest of girls and young women in science, to which non-stereotyped role models are so important. We host in the lab bright female undergraduates to experience first-hand biomedical research in a world-class setting. We believe that by sharing our passion for science, we can increase diversity, change perceptions and help to inspire a new, more inclusive, generation of scientists.

We are also committed to take the laboratory to primary schools and have engaged and participated in outreach activities to 4-11 year old children and their parents by visiting primary schools around Oxford. We endeavor to continue our efforts in demonstrating the importance of science in general for our day-to-day activities.

We use multiple media forums to disseminate our findings to both expert and non-expert audiences, including Twitter and video.

Opportunities

We are always keen to host driven and enthusiastic summer students from all around the world. If interested, please contact Filipa directly to discuss opportunities.