The University of Sheffield
Department of Cardiovascular Science

Dr. Sheila Francis BSc PhD

Head of Department
Reader in Cardiovascular Science

Dr Sheila Francis

Address
Department of Cardiovascular Science
University of Sheffield
Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield S10 2RX
Tel: +44 (0)114 271 2233
Tel Secretary Victoria Palmer: +44 (0)114 226 1432
Fax: +44 (0)114 271 1863
Email: s.francis@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography:

I joined the University of Sheffield in 1990 after a BBSRC CASE PhD studentship at the University of Manchester. After 4 years as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Cardiac Surgery (with Angelini) and Molecular Medicine (with Duff), I held an Independent Open Competition Fellowship from the Lloyd´s Tercentenary Foundation on the molecular and inflammatory basis of coronary artery disease. After being appointed Lecturer in 1994, I spent a sabbatical period in the Hynes Lab at MIT as a Fulbright Scholar. I am currently Reader in Cardiovascular Science at the University of Sheffield and Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Science.

Research Activities:

I have a long-standing interest in the role of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and its naturally occurring antagonist, IL-1ra in modulating vascular cell function in experimental models and in human disease. Over the past 10 years, I have shown that IL-1 and IL-Ira expression are increased in diseased arteries and in other experimental cardiovascular models. I described the association of a genetic variant of IL-Ira with coronary artery disease and showed that this variant alters protein levels and the biology of endothelial cells. Programme funding from the British Heart Foundation (with Professor David Crossman) allowed the use of strategies to inhibit the action of IL-1 in several experimental cardiovascular models including atherosclerosis in mice. This enabled translation of this pre-clinical research to man (MRC Experimental Medicine Award (ILA-HEART to Professor David Crossman, Dr Allison Morton and others). My current research areas of interest relate to effects of IL-1, related molecules and their antagonists on the healing of arteries after vascular injury and atherosclerosis. These studies are being undertaken in collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Cardiovascular Science, The Centre for Stem Cell Biology in Sheffield, the University of Leicester, the National Blood Service and others.

Teaching Interests:

I am committed to training and mentorship for postdoctoral researchers and Fellows. I lead the Postdoctoral Mentoring and Fellowship Coaching Programme for the Medical School.

I also lead doctoral development training modules on `Overcoming the hurdles of research governance´ and on `Presentation skills for doctoral students and their data at conferences´.

Professional Activities:

Current Projects:

  1. The effect of Properdin Deficiency on Atherosclerosis (BHF, with Stover, Leicester).
  2. In-stent restenosis – are EPC good or bad? (BHF).
  3. Tribbles and Atherosclerosis (MRC/Leducq Foundation (with Endre Kiss-Toth)).

Selected Publications:

  1. Patil S, Jackman L, Francis SE, Judge H, Nylander S, Storey RF. Ticagrelor effectively and reversibly blocks murine platelet P2Y12 mediated thrombosis and demonstrates requirement for sustained P2Y12 inhibition to prevent subsequent neointima formation. ATVB 2010 (in press).
  2. Ward JR, West P, Ariaans M, Parker LC, Francis SE, Crossman DC, Sabroe I, Wilson HL. Temporal IL-1b secretion from PBMC by P2X7-independent and P2X7-dependent mechanisms. J Biol. Chem 2010; 285: 23147- 23158.
  3. Chamberlain JC, Arnold ND, Lupton H, Crossman DC, Gunn J, Francis SE. In situ aortic stenting in mice. Cardiovasc. Res 2010; 85:38-44.
  4. Chamberlain JC, Francis SE, Brookes Z, Shaw G, Alp NJ, Graham D, Dower S, Crossman DC. IL-1 regulates multiple atherogenic pathways in response to fat feeding. PLoS ONE 2009;4(4):e5073.
  5. Evans D, Jackman L, Chamberlain J, Crosdale D, Judge H, Jetha K, Norman K, Francis S. Storey R. Platelet P2Y12R influences vessel wall response to arterial injury and thrombosis. Circulation 2009; 119:116-122.
  6. Sung HY, Guan H, Czibula A, King AR, Eder K, Heath E, Survarna SK, Dower SK, Wilson AG, Francis SE, Crossman DC, Kiss-Toth E. Human tribbles-1 controls proliferation and chemotaxis of smooth muscle cells via MAPK signalling pathways. J Biol Chem. 2007; 282: 18379-87.
  7. Chamberlain J, Dewberry RM, King AR, Dower SK, Crossman DC, Francis SE. IL1beta and signalling of IL-1 in vascular wall and circulating cells modulates the extent of neointima formation in mice. Am J Pathol 2006; 168: 1396-403.
  8. Dewberry RM, Crossman DC, Francis SE. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) genotype modulates the replicative capacity of human endothelial cells Circ Res 2003;92:1285.

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