I am a principal investigator in the Hull York Medical School, whose lab is investigating how platelets and megakaryocytes function. I also teach on the MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development.
Simon Calaminus obtained his PhD from the University of Birmingham in 2007 in which, he discovered the actin structure the actin nodule in platelet spreading, and also investigated the roles of Myosin II, Rho Kinase and Scar1 in platelet spreading and thrombus formation. He then completed post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Professor Laura Machesky, at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, where he investigated the role of Wnt signaling and the podosome in megakaryocytes, alongside studies investigating the role of the WASP family member, WASH in cancer cell migration and integrin trafficking. In 2012 he was appointed as a lecturer at Hull York Medical School in 2012 and became a senior lecturer in 2019.
Understanding how blood environments affect the ability to form a clot is critical. Changes to our ability to make blood clots can lead to excessive blood clot formation and, therefore, a heart attack or stroke. We have multiple different projects investigating how key physiological factors affect platelet function, and how we might be able to target unwanted blood clots with novel therapeutics.
Theme 1: Development of a novel in vitro model system for investigating thrombosis research.
Funding: ARTEMIS: ARTificial blood vessels for Thrombosis, Endothelial Modelling, and Artificial Intelligence Simulation. (PI) 2025-2029. £2,800,000. This project is part of a joint £15.9 million investment by the MRC, Wellcome and UKRI Innovate UK, which will support a coordinated network of five interdisciplinary teams focused on the development of advanced, specific and highly reproducible human in vitro models – lab grown systems which mimic real human tissues. These human models aim to improve understanding of disease, accelerate drug discovery, and reduce reliance on animal models.
The ARTEMIS project brings together a UK/US multidisciplinary team spanning biomedical science, medicine, engineering, AI, and mathematics across academia and industry, including Hull York Medical School, the University of Hull, Manchester Metropolitan University, Keele University, Oregon Health and Science University and Medicines Discovery Catapult. Together they will create adaptable, scalable and reproducible artificial blood vessels (ABVs). These will be used to accurately model key aspects of the human circulation system, e.g. blood flow and blood vessel structure, alongside how blood clots can be therapeutically targeted under different conditions. Data from this model will be used to develop a computational model that combines artificial intelligence (AI) with biophysical mechanisms to simulate how hypothetical drugs will act on blood clots in different disease conditions.
Theme 2: Understand how key physiological parameters, such as oxygen status, affect platelet function.
Project 2: BHF PhD studentship: Phosphofructokinase FB3; a novel regulator of platelet function. (PI) 2026-2029. £129,860
This project investigates the role of PFKFB3, a key enzyme in energy production, in platelet function. This project will provide a superb training platform for an early career researcher to become a leader in the field of platelet metabolism, an understudied yet important component of thrombus formation.
The project will systematically assess the regulatory roles of PFKFB3 in platelets in both healthy and pathological states, to reveal new insights in platelet function in health and disease.
Project 3: BHF PhD studentship: Effect of hypoxia on prostacyclin-mediated inhibition of platelet function. (PI) 2022-2025. £110,353
Tissue hypoxia occurs in multiple cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions including myocardial infarction, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnoea. However, knowledge on how human platelets function in hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions is lacking. Our group is interested in understanding how hypoxia affects platelet inhibition, specifically endothelial-released prostacyclin (PGI2) and its downstream intracellular signalling.
Completed in memory of Dr Monica Arman
Theme 3: Understand how small particles (nanoparticles or microplastics) can be adapted to be used as drug delivery agents
We use nanotechnology to target platelets specifically for the delivery of anti-platelet drugs and/or imaging agents to thrombi. This should improve thrombus detection using imaging agents whilst also maximising drug delivery and therefore improving patient outcomes for those who have unwanted blood clot formation.
Present lab members
- Zoe Booth (PDRA): University of Hull studentship 2019-2022
- Sophie Leonard (PhD): BHF studentship 2022-2025
- Lewis Bibby (MSc by Research): 2024-2025
- Shaina Abdur Rab (MSc by Research): 2024-2025 (PI Katie Wraith)
Past lab members
- Muhammad Yusuf (PhD): University of Hull studentship 2013-2017
- Lloyd Atkinson (PhD): BHF studentship 2015-2019
- Yusra Ahmed (PhD): University of Hull studentship 2017-2021
- Leigh Naylor-Adamson: MRC funded PDRA 2019-2023
- Charlie Coupland (PhD): BHF studentship 2019-2023
- Zoe Booth (PhD): University of Hull studentship 2019-2023
- Helio Gil (PhD): University of Hull studentship 2019-2023
- Michelle Kinnon (PhD): BHF studentship 2017-2020 (PI Graeme Stasiuk)
I teach on the MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development at Hull York Medical School. This MSc aims to provide students with a unique and unrivalled opportunity to immerse yourself in the clinical, basic science and industrial aspects of pharmacology.
In addition to this I am module lead for the Independent Research Project, teach pharmacology to Year 1 and Year 2 MBBS students, and teach on the Biomedical Sciences programme. I also have a number of undergraduate and masters lab projects each year.
The Artemis Team
Professor Sarah Jones, Manchester Metropolitan University
Professor Owen McCarty, Oregon Health and Science University
Dr Alan Harper, Keel University
Dr Jie Yang, Dr Kenneth Wertheim, Professor John Greenman, Professor Tim Palmer, Dr Leonid Nikitencko, Dr Katie Wraith, Dr Eva Sousa, and Dr Amirpasha Moetazedian University of Hull
Dr Gowsihan Poologasundarampillai, King’s College London
Dr Emily Offer, Medicines Discovery Catapult
Dr Robert Lees, Science and Technology Facilities Council Laboratories.
Platelet hypoxia and metabolism
Dr Giordano Pula, University of Hull
Professor Roger Sturmey, University of Hull
Nanoparticles Team
Dr Graeme Stasiuk (King's College London)
Professor David Allsup, Dr Jean-Sebastian Bouillard, Dr Ali Adawi, University of Hull
PhD opportunities
Highly motivated students holding a good honours degree in any biomedical discipline who wish to pursue their PhD studies in molecular physiology and metabolic medicine are encouraged to contact me.
My present PhD students are funded by the British Heart Foundation, and also a University of Hull internal studentship.
I am the external examiner for the MBChB graduate entry program at Birmingham University.