معرفی
Dr Alan Harper is a Lecturer in Bioscience and Academic Conduct Officer at the Keele University School of Medicine. He serves as the Group Lead of the Cardio-respiratory Research Group. His primary affiliation is with Keele University, located in Staffordshire, UK. He holds a first-class BA(Hons) in Natural Sciences (specializing in Physiology) from Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, and a PhD in Physiology from the University of Cambridge, funded by a British Heart Foundation studentship. He also held a Junior Research Fellowship at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge (2007–2009), during which he taught physiology to medical, veterinary, and natural science students and served as Director of Studies for first-year preclinical medicine students.
Education:
- BA(Hons) in Natural Sciences (specializing in Physiology), Queens’ College, University of Cambridge
- PhD in Physiology, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge
- British Heart Foundation PhD Studentship (2004–2007)
- Junior Research Fellowship at St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge (2007–2009)
Research Interests:
Dr Harper’s research focuses on calcium signaling mechanisms in human platelets, particularly their role in physiological clotting and pathological thrombosis. His work aims to identify novel drug targets by studying how calcium signaling dysregulation contributes to cardiovascular disorders like deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. He emphasizes systems-level analysis of platelet calcium signaling, combining experimental techniques with computational modeling to decode signaling pathways. Recent efforts include developing biomimetic models of arterial walls to simulate thrombus formation without animal testing, as well as investigating platelet dysfunction in diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Publications Overview:
His recent publications highlight advancements in thrombus modeling, magnetic hyperthermia for clot treatment, and biomimetic tissue engineering. Notable contributions include the development of a humanized thrombus-on-a-chip model and the application of calcium-binding nanoparticles to control platelet activity.
Grants & Awards:
He holds a British Heart Foundation Project Grant (co-held with Drs. Sage and Mason) investigating sodium-calcium exchangers in platelets. No scientific awards are explicitly listed, though his research has been supported by major funding bodies.
Advising & Mentorship:
While no advisee names are listed, his roles in teaching and research leadership suggest involvement in mentoring students and junior researchers.
Labs & Teams:
He leads the Cardio-respiratory Research Group, which focuses on innovative approaches to cardiovascular research, including nanotechnology-driven diagnostics and 3D tissue-engineered models of vascular systems.
