In this section

Cardio Respiratory Interface

Epithelial cell to cell contact stained with E-cadherin to mark junctions and F-actin to label the cytoskeleton

Topographical (left) and elasticity maps of cell doublets seeded on a square (by Prof Julia Gorelik)

Contact

Head of Section
Dr Vania Braga
v.braga@imperial.ac.uk

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Live imaging of a lung tissue slice

More on our current research Techniques and technology

What we do

Research in the Cardio Respiratory Interface Section encompasses physiology and pathology of the cardiovascular system and lung plus their associated diseases. Our expertise includes molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, microscopy, pharmacology and clinical medicine. Our broader interests extend to muscle wasting, cancer, HIV, pulmonary hypertension, chronic cardiopulmonary diseases and drug discovery.

Why it is important

Our research identifies mechanisms of physiology and disease whilst providing key approaches that underpin the study of heart and lung disease through interdisciplinary collaboration within the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) and via cross-Faculty, national and international collaborators.

Impact of our research

We study biological and pathological processes at the fundamental molecular and cellular level, to understand normal physiological function, disease processes and the therapeutic effects of drug-like molecules. We use a variety of model systems and also human or patient resources. Much of our research will have longer term benefits for human health, and some is aimed at rapidly impacting patients.

Summary of current research

Cardiothoracic Pharmacology - Mitchell, Kirkby
Cell-Cell Adhesion Signalling - Braga
Iron Homeostasis - Quinlan
Lung development and disease - Dean, Griffths, Hind
Matrix-Activated Receptors - Leitinger
Muscle wasting in disease - Kemp, Griffths
Platelet Biology - Emerson
Pulmonary Hypertension - Burke-Gaffney, Wort

Find out more about our current research.

Core Facility

We host the Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy (FILM) providing state-of the-art microscopy facilities and training which are available to all Imperial scientists.

Funders

Research in the section is principally funded from programme grants, project grants, equipment and studentships from:

Research Councils

Charities

Industry

Imperial College

Excellence Fund for Frontier Research

Key publications

Erasmus, J.C., S. Bruche, L. Pizarro., N. Maimari, T. Poggioli, C. Tomlinson, J. Lees, I. Zalivina, A. Wheeler, A., A. Alberts, A. Russo & V.M.M. Braga (2016). Defining functional interactions during biogenesis of epithelial junctions. Nature Communications, 7: 13542 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13542.

Juskaite V, DS Corcoran, B. Leitinger Collagen induces activation of DDR1 through lateral dimer association and phosphorylation between dimers. Elife 6, (2017). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.25716.001.

Akram, K.M., L.L. Yates, R. Mongey, S. Rothery, D.C.A. Gaboriau, J. Sanderson, M. Hind, M. Griffiths, and C.H. Dean. 2019. Live imaging of alveologenesis in precision-cut lung slices reveals dynamic epithelial cell behaviour. Nat Commun. 10:1178. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09067-3.

Taylor KA, Smyth E, Rauzi F, Cerrone M, Khawaja AA, Gazzard B, Nelson M, Boffito M, Emerson M (2019). Pharmacological impact of antiretroviral therapy on platelet function to investigate HIV-associated cardiovascular risk. Br. J. Pharmacol. DOI: 10.1111/bph.14589.

Ramakrishnan, L., S.L. Pedersen, Q.K. Toe, L.E. West, S. Mumby, H. Casbolt, T. Issitt, B. Garfield, A. Lawrie, S.J. Wort, and G.J. Quinlan. 2018. The Hepcidin/Ferroportin axis modulates proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Sci Rep. 8:12972. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31095-0.

Bloch, S.A.A., J.Y. Lee, T. Syburra, U. Rosendahl, M.J.D. Griffiths, Kemp, P.R. and M.I. Polkey, 2015. Increased expression of GDF-15 may mediate ICU-acquired weakness by down-regulating muscle microRNAs. THORAX, 70: 219-228, ISSN: 0040-6376. DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206225.