I have in-depth experience in a wide range of research areas in the field of pharmacology, molecular medicine and pharmacy including endothelial ion channels and vascular dysfunction in diabetes; atrial fibrillation and identifying novel ion channels as therapeutic targets as well as identifying novel proteins for cardiomyopathy; understanding the molecular pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration and identifying novel therapeutic targets. Moreover, I have excellent experience in clinical research including clinical toxicology and paediatric medicine. 

Such research activities involve a wide range of skills including isolating primary cells; cell culturing; electrophysiology; calcium imaging; confocal microscopy: proximity ligation assay and immunocytochemistry; Western blotting and ELISA. In addition to preclinical skills, I have excellent clinical research skills exemplified by publishing retrospective data analysis and case studies.

As a lecturer in pharmacology, I intend to establish my research activities at the University of Brighton, and I aim to collaborate with national and international research teams.

Dr Yousif Shamsaldeen is a Lecturer in Pharmacology.  His research interests focus on cardiovascular pharmacology, retinopathy, and stem cells.

Dr Shamsaldeen's interests in pharmacology began at Ajman University (UAE) where he studied for a bachelor’s in pharmacy. His final year project researched the pharmacology of botulinum toxin A in managing peripheral symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. In 2011, he moved to the University of Hertfordshire (UK) to study MSc in Pharmacology where he studied molecular medicine; core molecular biology; core pharmacology; molecular pharmacology and drug discovery; in addition to his research project on cardiomyocytes differentiation from P19 stem cells.

He then was offered to study PhD (2013-2016) in Pharmacology at the University of Hertfordshire under the supervision of Dr Christopher Benham and Dr Lisa Lione. Whilst studying for PhD, he was offered a job as a visiting lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire (2013-2017). His PhD was carried out partly at Professor Stuart Bevan's research lab at King's College London. Dr Shamsaldeen's PhD project was focusing on endothelial dysfunction in diabetes through which he examined the effect of diabetes on the function of endothelial TRPV4 calcium channel and the related vasodilatory pathways.

In 2016, he obtained a post-doctoral position at the University of Bath researching the molecular pathophysiology in age-related macular degeneration working with Dr Amanda Mackenzie and Dr Malcolm Watson. Such a shift from Hertfordshire to Bath and from vascular pharmacology to retinal pharmacology supports his confidence in working in different fields and at different institutes. 

In 2017, he was offered a senior postdoctoral research position at the Bristol University where his work examined the effect of different SKCa channel blockers on the electrophysiology of human primary atrial myocytes -in collaboration with Bristol Heart Institute: Professor Raimondo Ascione-, aiming for identifying potential therapeutic targets for atrial fibrillation through a BHF-funded project. He was working under the management of Professor Neil Marrion, Professor Jules Hancox and Dr Andrew James.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Shamsaldeen's returned to the clinic where he worked as a hospital pharmacist in Kuwait. He worked in two hospitals in parallel (Kuwait Hospital and Al-adan paediatric hospital). He worked with a wide range of healthcare from paediatrics to geriatrics. In addition to providing inpatient, outpatient and casualty care, he trained and mentored pharmacy students and junior pharmacists, as well as being a member of antimicrobial stewardship. 

In 2021, Dr Shamsaldeen returned to the UK where he was offered a postdoctoral research position at St. George's University of London working with Professor Anthony Albert. His BHF-funded research was about investigating novel proteins and calcium channels for the management of cardiomyopathy applying his extensive experience in pharmacology and electrophysiology to obtain novel findings for further funding. 

In October 2022, Dr Shamsaldeen has joined the University of Brighton as a Lecturer in Pharmacology teaching MPharm course and aiming to establish his research covering a wide range of research activities that he has gained through his extensive academic, clinical and preclinical career.

I teach on a wide variety of courses including the four-year MPharm degree and the five-year medical degree.

My teaching aims to make pharmacology understandable, joyful, and applicable to clinical practice. I teach through allowing students to understand the three cornerstones: physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. I aim to simplify the cellular signalling and making it relevant to observed signs and symptoms as well as drugs' effects.

Much of my lecture material is based on visual explanation where I design 2D animations and videos. I apply a wide range of student engagement approaches such as interactive questions and formative quizzes after each series of lectures.

In addition to teaching, I supervise and support my students to participate in research to support their future career through publishing research papers and participating in national and international conferences.

My research interests cover a wide range of fields. I am interested in how calcium channels are involved in regulating cardiovascular homeostasis and how age-related and inflammatory changes (such as diabetes) contribute to vascular dysfunction, cardiomyopathy as well as retinopathy.

Additionally, my clinical research interest covers pharmacy practice and clinical toxicology.

My groups work uses a systems biology approach to study the effects of chronic diseases and inflammation on ion channels activities. Moreover, my other research groups work involves retrospective data collection in the field of clinical toxicology and optimising the management and prevention of poisoning and toxicity.