Angela Sheerin

Her research is currently focusing on a few areas, they are varied but have a theme of ageing, cell biology cellular senescence and disease at their root. She is currently involved in looking at the impact cellular senescence may contribute to dementia and other age-related pathologies, such as AD and CAA. She also has a been interest in ageing as a risk factor for COPD AD and CAA and the effects that senescent cells may contribute to these diseases and the effects novel senolytics have in clearing their senescent cells. In addition, she is involved with the recurrence of UTI infections in dementia patients and the impact this has to their cognitivity as well as developing an early detection system for use in the home or healthcare environment.

She works in collaboration with a number of colleagues in PABS to strengthen her knowledge and skills base as well as working with colleagues in other universities and is in the process of developing an NHS based partnership to bridge the gaps between bedside and research.

Outside of my research and teaching she is the founder and organiser of ‘A* scientist’. This is an outreach program that introduces 'hands on' science to primary schools in Sussex.

Current research projects

• Modelling blood brain barrier (BBB) to investigate the impact senescence cells have in AD and CAA and effects of recurrent UTIs on neuroplasticity environment and astrocyte functionality.

• Development of a novel early detection system for UTI in the home or healthcare environment.  

• Effects of natural lignans and polyphenol compounds; such as curcumin, Quercetin, resveratrol on senescence and ageing.

• Does senescence play a role in mucin secretion in patients with COPD, AD and CAA.

• Pathogenicity of Klebsiella pneumoniae and its associated virulence factors in cases of clinical disease and endotheliitis.

• Development of a novel cells line for testing drug delivery for new COPD treatments.

  Previous research projects

• Immortalisation and characterisation of canine gingival cells.

• Is the lifespan in a long-lived mutant mouse strain limited by cell senescence.

• Construction of a well differentiated cell line from human corneal endothelium.

• Use of telomerase immortalisation to develop human islet b-cell lines safe for transplantation.

Dr Angela Sheerin is a senior lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences. After joining the University of Brighton as a Research Fellow in 2000, I fostered a deep interest in ageing and senescence. This has since influenced my research in the fields of impact of senescence on ageing disorders, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), Alzheimers disease (AD), ophthalmology, micro-organisms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

My first degree is in biochemistry (BSc (Hons) sandwich) from the University of East London. I did my PhD in molecular gerontology; Investigation of the composition of AP-1 during ageing. I came to the University of Brighton in 2000 as a research fellow and now lecture in the field of molecular biology, pathobiology, medical genetics, endocrinology and biochemistry.

Roles

• Course leader MRES Biomedical Sciences
• Module leader on the biosciences and MREs degree programmes.
• Tissue culture manager
• Biological safety officer (BSO)
• Member of the safety committee
• Chair of the genetically modified organism’s safety committee(GMSC)
• Member of the editorial board for the rejuvenation research journal.
• Founder of A* Science outreach programme for primary school children
• Reviewer of grant applications for BBSRC, SPARC and Research Into Ageing.
• Reviewer of papers for scientific journals.
• STEM ambassador
• Nuffield summer placement provider (2013-present)
• Salters festival of chemistry judge (2012-present)

I am course leader for the MRES Biomedical Sciences course and a senior lecturer of the biosciences teaching team for undergraduates studying biomedical science, biological science and ecology. I lecture in the area of molecular biology, cell biology, pathobiology, medical genetics, endocrinology, ageing and biochemistry. I am an enthusiastic lecturer who likes to use new and modern technologies to translate knowledge to the students.

I believe in 'hands on' practical experience as well as interactive learning through lectures, blended learning and flip learning. I use a lot of animation, videos and pod casts in my lectures to help give a wider choice of learning material. I expect my students to explore the topic area with the extended reading given in the sessions using both primary and secondary sources.

I want my students to engage in discussion and questions during the sessions to further their understanding of the topic and how it fits into modern day research and medicine. I believe in reverse teaching with the students becoming the lecturer as this helps to embed deeper learning and reaffirms knowledge. I believe “Learning should be fun not a chore!”

PhD students

MRes projects

MSc projects

Consultancy

Waltham centre for pet nutrition (MARS)

My research is interested in ageing, cellular senescence and disease. I am interested in how senescence impacts on age-related pathologies such as dementia and other age-related pathologies, such as AD and CAA. I am also interested in small molecule therapy and as such look at how serotherapies could be used to correct/remove/alter the pathobiology of a diseases. I also have a passionate interest into the effect of UTI infections have on dementia patients, their blood brain barrier (BBB) function and therefore their cognitivity as well as developing an early detection system for use in the home or healthcare environment. Within my group we explore these elements using 2D and 3D cell models as well as a number of functional assays and imaging.