Publications

Increased TRPV4 channel expression enhances and impairs blood vessel function in hypertension

Zhang Xun, Buckley Charlotte, Lee Matthew D, Salaun Christine, MacDonald Margaret, Wilson Calum, McCarron John G

Hypertension Vol 82, pp. 57-68 (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.23092

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

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

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

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

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

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

PhD Examiner

Examiner

16/4/2024

Command and Control: Unveiling the Regulation of Smooth Muscle Function

Organiser

2024

Physiology in Focus 2024

Speaker

2024

PLOS One (Journal)

Peer reviewer

2023

Physiology and Pathophysiology

Chair

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