Dr Kirsten Riches-Suman
Associate Professor
| Faculty/Dept/School |
School of Chemistry and Bioscience (Faculty of Life Sciences) |
|---|---|
| k.riches@bradford.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | +441274 232145 |
Biography
I studied undergraduate BSc (Hons) Biology (Molecular and Cellular) at the University of Huddersfield and graduated with first class honours in 2003. I then worked at the University of Bradford as a research technician until 2005, when I started my PhD in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Leeds under the supervision of Dr Karen Porter and Prof Chris Peers. My work during this time resulted in 3 publications and multiple awards at national and international conferences. After completing my PhD in early 2009, I worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Porter lab. This gave me essential training not only in various laboratory techniques, but also in composing grant applications, writing papers, establishing collaborations and supervising students. In November 2015 I started at the University of Bradford as a Lecturer in Biochemistry. In 2018 I graduated with a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice (distinction) and was awarded fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. In 2018 I my specialism changed to Lecturer in Biomedical Science to better reflect the teaching that I undertake.
Research
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is growing at an alarming rate throughout the world, and new treatments are desperately needed to help these patients cope with the complications that come with T2DM. These patients have a much greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, have poorer outcomes following cardiac surgery, and have problems with wound healing. All of this is very distressing for the patient and also has a big financial impact on the NHS. The over-arching theme of my research interests is how diabetes can impact on cell behaviour (‘phenotype’), and examine the molecular mechanisms underlying this. In the future, this will help us to design new therapies to improve the quality of life and care for patients with diabetes.I have previously researched the phenotypic differences in cardiovascular cells that are involved in diabetic cardiomyopathy (cardiac fibroblasts) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (smooth muscle and endothelial cells from veins). This work has identified molecular signatures of these phenotypes and work is currently been carried out both here (with Prof. Tim Palmer, Pharmacy) and with collaborators at the University of Leeds to further this understanding. I am now looking at a different form of diabetes - gestational diabetes (GDM) – and how this can affect the smooth muscle cells in the umbilical artery. GDM normally goes away once the baby is born, but both the mother and child are at an increased risk of developing T2DM. This is a very exciting piece of work; my previous studies all looked at cells from patients who had suffered from diabetes for a long period of time. In this GDM project, the maximum duration of diabetes will have been 9 months and so it will allow us to find out how quickly phenotypic changes can occur after the onset of diabetes.
Patients with T2DM have problems with wound healing so I am also interested in how the factors in the circulation of T2DM patients (such as high levels of glucose, free fatty acids, inflammatory mediators) may alter the phenotype of cells that are involved in wound healing. I am working with in the Centre for Skin Sciences to try and explain the molecular changes that underlie this phenomenon.
| Date | Role | Title / Description | Funder | Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-JUL-13 - 01-JUN-14 | Does type 2 diabetes mellitus affect K+ channel localisation in vascular smooth muscle cells? Does type 2 diabetes mellitus affect K+ channel localisation in vascular smooth muscle cells? | LIGHT ECG | ||
| 01-MAY-16 - 01-APR-17 | Does gestational diabetes impact on human umbilical artery smooth muscle cell phenotype? Does gestational diabetes impact on human umbilical artery smooth muscle cell phenotype? | Biochemical Society | ||
| 01-AUG-10 - 01-JUL-11 | Exploring the morphology and function of smooth muscle cells derived from abdominal aortic aneurysms Exploring the morphology and function of smooth muscle cells derived from abdominal aortic aneurysms | Royal College of Surgeons of England |
| Research collaborators | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dr Karen E Porter |
| Company | University of Leeds |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | E |
| Role | Reader |
| Theme | Diabetes and vascular disease |
| Description | Research into the effects of diabetes and abdominal aortic aneurysms on vascular smooth muscle cells. |
| Name | Prof Tim Palmer |
| Company | Hull York Medical School |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | E |
| Role | Director of the Centre for Atherothrombosis and Metabolic Disease. |
| Theme | Cardiovascular disease |
| Description | Role of JAK/STAT signalling in cardiovascular disease |
| Name | Dr Wayne Roberts |
| Company | Leeds Beckett University |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | E |
| Role | Course Director |
| Theme | Wound healing |
| Description | Influence of platelets on skin cell phenotype |
| Name | Dr Peter O’Toole |
| Company | University of York |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | E |
| Role | Head of Imaging and Cytometry |
| Theme | Diabetes cellular phenotyping |
| Description | Live cell phenotypic screening |
| Name | Mr Kevin Mercer |
| Company | Bradford Royal Infirmary |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | E |
| Role | Consultant Vascular Surgeon |
| Theme | Diabetes and vascular disease |
| Description | Provision of clinical samples |
| Name | Dr John Huntriss |
| Company | University of Leeds |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | E |
| Role | Lecturer |
| Theme | Embryology |
| Description | Realtime data analysis on embryos |
| Name | Prof Anne Graham |
| Company | University of Bradford |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | I |
| Role | Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Transfer |
| Theme | Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease |
| Description | Molecular mechanisms underpinning vascular disease in gestational diabetes |
| Name | Dr Julie Thornton |
| Company | University of Bradford |
| Country | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Type | I |
| Role | Senior Lecturer |
| Theme | Skin Sciences |
| Description | Molecular mechanisms underpinning cellular dysfunction in the skin |
Teaching
Teaching interests
My teaching interests are the biological basis of disease. This encompasses genetics, biochemistry and pathology of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes - their aetiology, presentation and treatment. I am passionate about engaging students in their teaching and as such use active learning techniques which have been flagged as examples of best practice by students.
Teaching highlights
Nominated for Vice Chancellor's Excellence Award for my teaching in 2018.
Nominated for Best Lecturer and Most Helpful Lecturer by students in 2017.
Professional activities
- 01-JAN-08: University of Leeds - PhD
- 01-JAN-03: University of Huddersfield - BSc (Hons)
- 01-JAN-18: University of Bradford - Post-graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice
- 01-JAN-15: University of Bradford - Lecturer in Biochemistry
- 01-JAN-08: University of Leeds - Post-doctoral Research Fellow
- 01-JAN-04: University of Bradford - Research Technician
- Biochemical Society, Member
- British Society for Cardiovascular Research, Member
- Northern Vascular Research Forum, Committee Member
- Northern Cardiovascular Research Group, University of Bradford Representative
- Higher Education Academy, Fellow
- 01-JAN-13: LICAMM Early Career Group,
- 01-AUG-16: School of Chemistry and Biosciences Executive,
- 03-JUL-17: School of Chemistry and Biosciences Equality, Diversity and Opportunities,
- 01-SEP-19: School of Chemistry and Biosciences Research Committee,
- 01-JAN-08: BSCR Early Career Investigator Award
Publications
| Title | Therapeutic Targeting of the Proinflammatory IL-6-JAK/STAT Signalling Pathways Responsible for Vascular Restenosis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. (2019) |
|---|---|
| Authors | Moshapa FT;Riches-Suman K;Palmer TM; |
| Journal | Cardiology Research and Practice |
| DOI | 10.1155/2019/9846312 |
| Title | Insulinlike growth factor – binding protein-1 improves vascular endothelial repair in male mice in the setting of insulin resistance (2018) |
| Authors | Aziz, A.; Haywood, N.J.; Cordell, P.A.; Smith, J.; Yuldasheva, N.Y.; Sengupta, A.; Ali, N.; Mercer, B.N.; Mughal, R.S.; Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Cubbon, R.M.; Porter, K.E.; Kearney, M.T.; Wheatcroft, S.B. |
| Title | Linking energy sensing to suppression of JAK-STAT signalling: a potential route for repurposing AMPK activators? (2018) |
| Authors | Speirs, C.; Williams, Jamie J.L.; Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Salt, I.P.; Palmer, Timothy M. |
| Title | Progressive development of aberrant smooth muscle cell phenotype in abdominal aortic aneurysm disease (2018) |
| Authors | Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Clark, E.; Helliwell, R.J.; Angelini, T.G.; Hemmings, K.E.; Bailey, M.A.; Bridge, K.I.; Scott, D.J.A.; Porter, K.E. |
| Title | MicroRNA‐21 drives the switch to a synthetic phenotype in human saphenous vein smooth muscle cells (2018) |
| Authors | Alshanwani, A.R.; Riches-Suman, Kirsten; O'Regan, D.J.; Wood, I.C.; Turner, N.A.; Porter, K.E. |
| Title | Mapping the methylation status of the miR-145 promoter in saphenous vein smooth muscle cells from individuals with type 2 diabetes (2016) |
| Authors | Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Huntriss, J.; Keeble, C.; Wood, I.C.; O'Regan, D.J.; Turner, N.A.; Porter, K.E. |
| Title | Vascular smooth muscle as a target for novel therapeutics (2015) |
| Authors | Porter, K.E.; Riches-Suman, Kirsten |
| Title | Aberrant Phenotype in Human Endothelial Cells of Diabetic Origin: Implications for Saphenous Vein Graft Failure? (2015) |
| Authors | Roberts, A.C.; Gohil, J.; Hudson, L.; Connolly, K.; Warburton, P.; Suman, R.; O'Toole, P.; O'Regan, D.J.; Turner, N.A.; Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Porter, K.E. |
| Title | Type 2 diabetes impairs venous, but not arterial smooth muscle cell function: possible role of differential RhoA activity (2014) |
| Authors | Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Warburton, P.; O'Regan, D.J.; Turner, N.A.; Porter, K.E. |
| Title | Investigating inherent functional differences between human cardiac fibroblasts cultured from non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic donors (2014) |
| Authors | Sedgwick, B.; Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Bageghni, S.A.; O'Regan, D.J.; Porter, K.E.; Turner, N.A. |
| Title | Elevated expression levels of microRNA-143/5 in saphenous vein smooth muscle cells from patients with type 2 diabetes drive persistent changes in phenotype and function (2014) |
| Authors | Riches-Suman, Kirsten; Alshanwani, A.R.; Warburton, P.; O'Regan, D.J.; Ball, S.G.; Wood, I.C.; Turner, N.A.; Porter, K.E. |
| Title | The vascular smooth muscle cell: a therapeutic target in Type 2 diabetes? (2013) |
| Authors | Porter KE;Riches K; |
| Journal | Clinical Science |
| DOI | 10.1042/CS20120413 |
| Title | Apolipoprotein(a) acts as a chemorepellent to human vascular smooth muscle cells via integrin αVβ3 and RhoA/ROCK-mediated mechanisms. (2013) |
| Authors | Riches K;Franklin L;Maqbool A;Peckham M;Adams M;Bond J;Warburton P;Feric NT;Koschinsky ML;O'Regan DJ;Ball SG;Turner NA;Porter KE; |
| Journal | International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.biocel.2013.05.021 |
| Title | Exploring smooth muscle phenotype and function in a bioreactor model of abdominal aortic aneurysm (2013) |
| Authors | Riches, K.;Angelini, T.G.;Mudhar, G.S.;Kaye, J.;Clark, E.;Bailey, M.A.;Sohrabi, S.;Korossis, S.;Walker, P.G.;Scott, D.J.A.;Porter, K.E.; |
| Journal | Journal of Translational Medicine |
| DOI | 10.1186/1479-5876-11-208 |
| Title | Lipoprotein(a): Cellular Effects and Molecular Mechanisms. (2012) |
| Authors | Riches K;Porter KE; |
| Journal | Cholesterol |
| DOI | 10.1155/2012/923289 |
| Title | Divergent effects of 17-β-estradiol on human vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cell function diminishes TNF-α-induced neointima formation. (2012) |
| Authors | Nintasen R;Riches K;Mughal RS;Viriyavejakul P;Chaisri U;Maneerat Y;Turner NA;Porter KE; |
| Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.03.082 |
| Title | Potent suppression of vascular smooth muscle cell migration and human neointimal hyperplasia by KV1.3 channel blockers. (2011) |
| Authors | Cheong A;Li J;Sukumar P;Kumar B;Zeng F;Riches K;Munsch C;Wood IC;Porter KE;Beech DJ; |
| Journal | Cardiovascular Research |
| DOI | 10.1093/cvr/cvq305 |
| Title | Short-term stimulation of calcium-permeable transient receptor potential canonical 5-containing channels by oxidized phospholipids. (2010) |
| Authors | Al-Shawaf E;Naylor J;Taylor H;Riches K;Milligan CJ;O'Regan D;Porter KE;Li J;Beech DJ; |
| Journal | Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology |
| DOI | 10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.205666 |
| Title | Cellular mechanisms by which proinsulin C-peptide prevents insulin-induced neointima formation in human saphenous vein. (2010) |
| Authors | Mughal RS;Scragg JL;Lister P;Warburton P;Riches K;O'Regan DJ;Ball SG;Turner NA;Porter KE; |
| Journal | Diabetologia |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00125-010-1736-6 |
| Title | Hypoxic remodelling of Ca2+ stores does not alter human cardiac myofibroblast invasion. (2010) |
| Authors | Riches K;Hettiarachchi NT;Porter KE;Peers C; |
| Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.11.060 |
| Title | CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha, beta and delta gene variants: associations with obesity related phenotypes in the Leeds Family Study. (2010) |
| Authors | Bennett CE;Nsengimana J;Bostock JA;Cymbalista C;Futers TS;Knight BL;McCormack LJ;Prasad UK;Riches K;Rolton D;Scarrott T;Barrett JH;Carter AM; |
| Journal | Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research |
| DOI | 10.1177/1479164110366274 |
| Title | The -1562C/T MMP-9 promoter polymorphism does not predict MMP-9 expression levels or invasive capacity in saphenous vein smooth muscle cells cultured from different patients. (2009) |
| Authors | Maqbool A;Turner NA;Galloway S;Riches K;O'Regan DJ;Porter KE; |
| Journal | Atherosclerosis |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.05.028 |
| Title | Chronic hypoxia inhibits MMP-2 activation and cellular invasion in human cardiac myofibroblasts. (2009) |
| Authors | Riches K;Morley ME;Turner NA;O'Regan DJ;Ball SG;Peers C;Porter KE; |
| Journal | Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.06.002 |
| Title | Inherent differences in morphology, proliferation, and migration in saphenous vein smooth muscle cells cultured from nondiabetic and Type 2 diabetic patients. (2009) |
| Authors | Madi HA;Riches K;Warburton P;O'Regan DJ;Turner NA;Porter KE; |
| Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology |
| DOI | 10.1152/ajpcell.00608.2008 |
| Title | Hypoxic inhibition of human cardiac fibroblast invasion and MMP-2 activation may impair adaptive myocardial remodelling. (2007) |
| Authors | Morley ME;Riches K;Peers C;Porter KE; |
| Journal | Biochemical Society Transactions |
| DOI | 10.1042/BST0350905 |
| Other type | Magazine Article |
|---|---|
| Title | North of England Cell Biology Forum (2018) |
| Authors | K Riches-Suman |
| Publisher | British Society for Cell Biology Magazine |
| Other type | Magazine Article |
| Title | Autumn Meeting of the British Society for Cardiovascular Research 2016: Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (2017) |
| Authors | KE Porter, NA Turner, K Riches |
| Publisher | BSCR Bulletin |
| Other type | Magazine Article |
| Title | Meeting Report: Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (2017) |
| Authors | K Riches and meeting co-organizers |
| Publisher | The Biochemist |
| Other type | Magazine Article |
| Title | Vascular smooth muscle cells: phenotype and function in type 2 diabetes (2012) |
| Authors | KE Porter, K Riches |
| Publisher | BSCR Bulletin |
| Other type | Magazine Article |
| Title | Cardiovascular 2010: A BSCR Travel Report (2011) |
| Authors | K Riches |
| Publisher | BSCR Bulletin |
| Title | Author(s) |
|---|---|
| Relationship between microRNA-145 and vascular smooth muscle cells senescence in diabetes (2018) | KE Hemmings, K Riches-Suman, NA Turner, KE Porter, DJ O’Regan |
| A proinflammatory environment modulates the human dermal fibroblast secretory phenotype: Implications for chronic wounds (2018) | Al-Rikabi A;Riches-Suman K;Tobin DJ;Thornton MJ |
| Tumour necrosis factor-a modulates the human dermal fibroblast phenotype: implications for inflammation, impaired wound healing and ageing (2017) | A Al-Rikabi, K Riches, DJ Tobin, MJ Thornton |
| Role of miR-145 as a mediator of DNA damage and senescence in vascular smooth muscle cells from Type 2 diabetes patients (2016) | KE Hemmings, K Riches, DJ O’Regan, NA Turner, KE Porter |
| Moderate versus heavy intensity interval training for vascular health in post-menopausal women: A paradox! (2016) | KM Birch, E Harris, GK Burk, GK Lyall, K Riches, C Ferguson, KE Porter |
| Premature aging and DNA damage in smooth muscle cells from type 2 diabetes patients: Role of microRNA-145 (2015) | K Riches, DJ O’Regan, KE Porter |
| MicroRNA-21 promoted matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression but does not modulate vascular smooth muscle cell invasion (2015) | A Alshanwani, K Riches, IC Wood, NA Turner, KE Porter |
| Temporal evaluation of SMC phenotype and function in a bioreactor model of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) (2015) | E Clark, K Riches, L Jennings, KE Porter |
| Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 enhances vascular endothelial repair in the setting of insulin resistance (2014) | A Aziz, N Yuldasheva, J Smith, K Riches, M Gage, RS Mughal, BN Mercer, A Sengupta, N Ali, P Cordell, N Haywood, RM Cubbon, MT Kearney, KE Porter, SB Wheatcroft |
| The use of time-lapse ptychography to measure angiogenesis assay dynamics (2014) | R Suman, K Langley, K Riches, KE Porter, P O’Toole |
| High susceptibility of human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to apoptosis (2014) | MA Bailey, K Riches, DJA Scott, DJ Beech, KE Porter |
| Exploring the role of microRNA-21 on human saphenous vein smooth muscle cell function (2014) | A Alshanwani, K Riches, IC Wood, NA Turner, KE Porter |
| Transforming growth factor beta drives a distinct diabetes phenotype in human saphenous vein smooth muscle cells via upregulation of microRNA-143/145 (2014) | K Riches, IC Wood, NA Turner, KE Porter |
| Utilising a bioreactor to evaluate smooth muscle cell phenotype and function in protease treated porcine artery model of AAA disease (2013) | GS Mudhar, K Riches, P Walker, S Sohrabi, DJA Scott, KE Porter |
| Elevated expression levels of microRNA-143/145 drive aberrant smooth muscle cell phenotype and function in Type 2 diabetes - evidence of metabolic memory (2013) | K Riches, NA Turner, DJ O’Regan, IC Wood, KE Porter |
| Aberrant regulation of RhoA and cytoskeletal derangement in saphenous vein smooth muscle cells derived from patients with Type 2 Diabetes: a potential role for microRNAs? (2012) | K Riches, P Warburton, DJ O’Regan, SG Ball, NA Turner, IC Wood, KE Porter |
| Human aneurysmal vascular smooth muscle cell activation by oxidized phospholipid and inhibition by pyrazole-2 (2012) | BL Green, KL Brodie, R Bon, Y Majeed, K Riches, DJA Scott, KE Porter, DJ Beech |
| Atypical smooth muscle cell morphology and function in abdominal aortic aneurysms (2012) | TG Angelini, P Warburton, K Riches, DJA Scott, KE Porter |
| Atypical smooth muscle cell morphology and function in abdominal aortic aneurysms (2012) | TG Angelini, P Warburton, K Riches, DJA Scott, KE Porter |
| Apoliprotein(a) impairs vascular smooth muscle cell motility via alpha V beta 3 integrin and RhoA activation (2012) | K Riches, L Franklin, A Maqbool, J Bond, ML Koschinsky, DJ O’Regan, SG Ball, NA Turner, KE Porter |
| Apoliprotein(a) impairs adaptive remodelling in human saphenous vein endothelial and smooth muscle cells (2010) | K Riches, L Franklin, R Chowdhury, A Maqbool, DJ O’Regan, SG Ball, ML Koschinsky, NA Turner, KE Porter |
| Hypoxic inhibition of MMP-2 activation and invasion in human cardiac myofibroblasts (2008) | K Riches, ME Morley, C Peers, KE Porter |
| Hypoxia inhibits MMP-2 activation and invasion in human cardiac myofibroblasts (2008) | K Riches, ME Morley, C Peers, KE Porter |
| Furin regulates hypoxic inhibition of MMP-2 activation in human cardiac fibroblasts (2007) | K Riches, ME Morley, C Peers, KE Porter |
| CCAAT enhancer binding proteins: co-regulators of haemostasis and the metabolic syndrome? (2005) | AM Carter, CE Bennett, JA Bostock, CM Cymbalista, MS Freeman, TS Futers, K Riches, DJ Rolton, TJ Scarrott, PJ Grant |
| CCAAT enhancer binding proteins as candidate transcription factors in the regulation of features of the insulin resistance syndrome (2005) | AM Carter, CE Bennett, JA Bostock, CM Cymbalista, MS Freeman, TS Futers, K Riches, DJ Rolton, TJ Scarrott, PJ Grant |