Fifth Tissue Repair student of 2014 cohort passes viva - congratulations Dr Shaw

Congratulations to Isaac Shaw on passing his PhD viva voce.

Isaac did his PhD research in the labs of Prof Bruno Peault at the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (primary supervisor) and Prof Jeremy Hughes at the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research (secondary supervisor).

For his PhD research Isaac studied how ageing affects Perivascular Stem Cells (PSCs). PSCs are a heterogenous cell population of the perivascular niche that reside around blood vessels. PSCs contribute directly and indirectly to tissue maintenance and wound healing. As we age, our ability to maintain organ function and to repair damage deteriorates in all parts of the body.

Using murine models of kidney disease, and in vitro and in vivo techniques, Isaac investigated how the populations of PSCs in organs change over time and assessed whether changes have an effect on the cells’ ability to do their job. This might provide insights into the impact PSCs have on health, disease and regeneration. Isaac was also testing potential new treatments for acute kidney injury, assessing the distribution of cell surface markers and measuring injury and regeneration in kidneys following the application of candidate drugs. Isaac has published several papers during his PhD, and is currently preparing two further manuscripts based on his findings.

Isaac Shaw’s publications:

Higher Pericyte Content and Secretory Activity of Microfragmented Human Adipose Tissue Compared to Enzymatically Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction. Vezzani B et al. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2018 Sep 26. [Epub ahead of print]

Pericytes in the renal vasculature: roles in health and disease. Shaw I et al. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2018;14(8):521-534.

Human kidney pericytes produce renin. Stefanska A et al.  Kidney Int. 2016;90(6):1251-1261.