| Location and group name
|
Platelet Research Group, Institute for Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK |
| Principal investigators
|
Prof Steve P. Watson
Dr Natalie Poulter Dr Michael Tomlinson Dr Steven Thomas |
| Associated TAPAS ESRs
|
Raluca Alexandra Neagoe
Xueqing Wang Natalie Jooss Helena Brown Zahra Maqsood Hilaire Cheung Luis Moran |
| Key research expertise
|
The Birmingham Platelet Research Group adopts a multidisciplinary approach in the investigation of platelet and megakaryocyte biology, which ranges from cell biology, signal transduction and functional studies through to the use of mouse models and studies on patients.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/cardiovascular-sciences/research/platelet-group/index.aspx
The group is focused on platelet function and signalling using cell and molecular biology approaches and in the study of the platelets receptors (such as GPVI and CLEC-2), their structure, interactions and clustering. The main contribution to the TAPAS-ITN programme is our proficiency in investigating platelet signalling through the use of platelets function assays, super-resolution microscopy techniques and novel methods for receptors isolation from membranes combined with biochemical methods and mathematical modelling.
|
| Key research facilities
|
The Birmingham Platelet Research Group is based in the Institute for Biomedical Research (IBR), completed in 2003 with state-of-the-art laboratories. The facilities provided by the IBR include platelet aggregometry, flow cytometry, real-time qPCR, proteomics and genomics facilities, and an extensive modern facility for in-vivo animal work and mouse breeding among others.
In addition, we have access to the Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), an institute between the University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham. It is focused on developing novel methods for visualising single membrane proteins. It has a wide range of microscopes: super-resolution microscopes (N-STORM and SIM), confocal microscopes (L6M880 Airyscan and LSM710), Lightsheet (Lattice, Marianas diSPM microscope and LSFM.Z1) and whole animal intravital. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/colleges/mds/facilities/compare.aspx |
| Contact details
|
S.P.Watson@bham.ac.uk
Twitter: @bhamplateletgrp |
