Dr Calum Wilson

Publications

Signalling switches maintain intercellular communication in the vascular endothelium : endothelial Ca2+ waves driven by regenerative IP3-induced IP3 production

Buckley Charlotte, Lee Matthew David, Zhang Xun, Wilson Calum, McCarron John

British Journal of Pharmacology (2024)

https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.16366

Endothelial PAR2 activation evokes resistance artery relaxation : PAR2 regulation of resistance arteries

Zhang Xun, Lee Matthew D, Buckley Charlotte, Hollenberg Morley D, Wilson Calum, McCarron John G

Journal of Cellular Physiology Vol 238, pp. 776-789 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.30973

Mitochondrial ATP production is required for endothelial cell control of vascular tone

Wilson Calum, Lee Matthew D, Buckley Charlotte, Zhang Xun, McCarron John G

Function Vol 4 (2023)

https://doi.org/10.1093/function/zqac063

Editorial : Methods and applications in vascular physiology: 2021

Brugniaux Julien V, Rodriguez-Rodriguez Rosalia, Dabiri Ali, Kılıç Kıvılcım, Wilson Calum, Goltsov Alexey, Colantuoni Antonio

Frontiers in Physiology Vol 13 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.1078988

Endothelial signalling operates on a small-world, scale-free network

Lee MD, Buckley C, Wilson C, Zhang X, McCarron J

Acta Physiologica Vol 236, pp. 550-551 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.13876

William Bayliss and the enduring fascination of myogenic tone

Wilson Calum, McCarron John G, Lee Matthew D

The Journal of Physiology Vol 600, pp. 4043-4044 (2022)

https://doi.org/10.1113/JP282890

More publications

Teaching

Final-year Biomolecular Sciences Research Projects – I manage and coordinate final-year research projects in the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS). This role involves the coordination of over 40 members of academic staff and 200+ students. I deliver a number of workshops on topics such as critical review, written and oral presentation, effective communication and report structuring.

Cardiovascular Pharmacology - I lecture on Cardiovascular Pharmacology throughout the Biomolecular Sciences degree programmes in SIPBS.

Research Interests

Research Overview:

All blood vessels in the body are lined by a single layer of cells called the endothelium. The cells that make up this layer (endothelial cells) have many important functions, such as controlling blood flow and blood clotting. These cells are the front line in cardiovascular health, and are involved in most human diseases. For example, endothelial cells allow cancer tumours to grow, and they malfunction in Alzheimer’ disease. The driving focus of my research is to define how endothelial cells work, and so identify new targets for disease treatment and prevention. Broadly, my research contributions cover the following:

1. Vascular discovery science infrastructure

I have developed an extensive portfolio of methodologies, hardware, and software to probe blood vessel function. These include novel microscopes for blood vessel imaging, open-source pressure myography, advanced calcium imaging techniques, and signal processing software.

These tools provide new ways to explore blood vessel behaviour and will accelerate the convergence of vascular discovery science and medicine.

2. Vascular discovery science

Using the above techniques, I provide new insights into blood vessel behaviour. For example, I established that the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, is a physiological regulator of blood flow. I demonstrated that mitochondria are required for endothelial function. By applying my tools to animal models of disease, my work is beginning to reveal the molecular and physiological mechanisms that give rise to vascular dysfunction.

These discoveries inform novel therapeutic strategies to treat blood vessel dysfunction in cardiovascular disease.

3. Open-source physiology

I am driven by a desire to improve research through Open Science - the free sharing of publications, datasets, and software/hardware. To promote Open Science in physiology, I developed the VasoTracker platform (www.vasotracker.com) to freely distribute open-source tools arising from my research. I also contribute to the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology (bit.ly/3qax6xG )

Open-source physiology will increase the accessibility, usability and reproducibility of vascular research.

Professional Activities

PLOS One (Journal)

Peer reviewer

2023

Rob Clarke Awards (Physiological Society) (External organisation)

Advisor

2023

Physiology and Pathophysiology

Chair

2023

University of Plymouth: Departmental Seminar

Invited speaker

2022

British Journal of Pharmacology (Journal)

Peer reviewer

2022

PeerJ (Journal)

Peer reviewer

2022

More professional activities

Projects

A multicellular endothelial signalling web coordinates vascular function and is impaired in hypertension

McCarron, John (Principal Investigator) Buckley, Charlotte (Co-investigator) Wilson, Calum (Co-investigator)

19-Jan-2021 - 18-Jan-2026

Mitochondrial amplification of local calcium entry and vascular contraction in hypertension

McCarron, John (Principal Investigator) Buckley, Charlotte (Co-investigator) Chalmers, Susan (Co-investigator) Wilson, Calum (Co-investigator)

Mitochondrial control of voltage-dependent calcium entry in hypertension

03-Jan-2020 - 08-Jan-2024

Optical dissection of endothelial calcium signalling Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship

Wilson, Calum (Fellow)

17-Jan-2017 - 16-Jan-2021

ENDOTHELIAL Ca2+ SIGNALLING IN HYPERTENSION VISUALIZED FROM INSIDE PRESSURIZED ARTERIES

McCarron, John (Principal Investigator) Wilson, Calum (Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2017 - 03-Jan-2021

Endothelial acetylcholine release explains flow mediated dilation and is impaired in type 2 diabetes

McCarron, John (Principal Investigator) Wilson, Calum (Co-investigator)

Endothelial acetylcholine release accounts for flow-mediated dilation and is impaired in type 2 diabetes

09-Jan-2017 - 25-Jan-2020

An EPSRC Life Sciences Interface Doctoral Training Centre for Medical Devices | Wilson, Calum

Wilson, Calum (Research Co-investigator)

01-Jan-2010 - 22-Jan-2015

More projects