Dr Calum Wilson

Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellow

Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

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Prize And Awards

Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
Recipient
7/9/2023
R Jean Banister Prize
Recipient
2021
Top Basic Science Paper Award (Hypertension journal)
Recipient
2020
The Journal of Physiology Editorial Board Fellowship
Recipient
1/6/2018
American Physiological Society International Early Career Physiologist Travel Award
Recipient
1/3/2018
The Journal of Physiology Early Investigator Prize 2016
Recipient
17/5/2017

More prizes and awards

Qualifications

  • Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
  • PGCert in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (University of Strathclyde)
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Publications

Mitochondria control IP3-evoked Ca2+ release triggered by voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry in intact resistance arteries
Zhang Xun, Lee Matthew, Buckley Charlotte, Wilson Calum, McCarron John
Physiology Vol 39 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2024.39.s1.1739
Endothelial Membrane Potential Changes are Required for Propagated Vasodilation
Woodsend Cian, Buckley Charlotte, Zhang Xun, Wilson Calum, Lee Matthew, McCarron John
Physiology Vol 39 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2024.39.s1.2016
Simultaneous arrival of multiple agonists : how the endothelium senses and responds
Lee Matthew, Wilson Calum, Buckley Charlotte, Zhang Xun, Woodsend Cian, Osborne Christopher, McCarron John
Physiology Vol 39 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2024.39.s1.1545
Signaling switches maintain intercellular communication in the vascular endothelium
Buckley Charlotte, Lee Matthew, Zhang Xun, Wilson Calum, McCarron John
Physiology Vol 39 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2024.39.s1.1480
Signalling switches maintain intercellular communication in the vascular endothelium : endothelial Ca2+ waves driven by regenerative IP3-induced IP3 production
Buckley Charlotte, Lee Matthew D, Zhang Xun, Wilson Calum, McCarron John G
British Journal of Pharmacology Vol 181, pp. 2810-2832 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.16366
SLC54 mitochondrial pyruvate carriers in GtoPdb v.2023.1
Tavoulari Sotiria, Wilson Calum
IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology CITE Vol 2023 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.2218/gtopdb/F1006/2023.1

More publications

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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.

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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

PhD Examiner
Examiner
16/4/2024
Physiology in Focus 2024
Speaker
2024
Command and Control: Unveiling the Regulation of Smooth Muscle Function
Organiser
2024
Physiology and Pathophysiology
Chair
2023
PLOS One (Journal)
Peer reviewer
2023
Rob Clarke Awards (Physiological Society) (External organisation)
Advisor
2023

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

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Contact

Dr Calum Wilson
Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellow
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Email: c.wilson@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4976