Caroline Wheeler-Jones

Caroline Wheeler-Jones is a Professor of Vascular Cell Biology and Head of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London. She leads the Vascular Cell Biology research group and has made significant contributions to understanding endothelial cell function in health and disease.

Her educational background includes a BSc (Hons) in Physiology followed by a PhD in Placental Physiology at the University of London, completed in 1987. She conducted post-doctoral studies at King's College London, first in human platelets and later in human endothelial cells with Professor Jeremy Pearson.

Professor Wheeler-Jones' research focuses on vascular cell biology with emphasis on understanding molecular control mechanisms of endothelial cell function. Her key research areas include: lipoprotein- and GPCR-mediated regulation of vascular cells; regulation of cyclo-oxygenase expression and roles of lipid mediators; pathophysiological roles of GPCRs in the cardiovascular system; and lipid- and inflammation-mediated insulin resistance. Her work employs in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo approaches to study human and animal vascular cells.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on endothelial cell signaling pathways, angiogenesis, vascular repair mechanisms, and the comparative aspects of vascular biology across species. Her research has important implications for understanding cardiovascular diseases and developing therapeutic approaches.

• James Bee Educator Prize for excellence in teaching (awarded twice)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Professor Wheeler-Jones has supervised over 20 PhD students and examined 30 PhD theses throughout her career. Her research has been supported by major funding bodies including the British Heart Foundation (which awarded her an Intermediate Fellowship that launched her independent research career), BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, Diabetes UK, and Heart Research UK. She has also collaborated with industry partners including Unilever and Novartis. She previously coordinated the Comparative Physiology and Medicine research programme from 2009-2012.

She leads the Vascular Cell Biology research group at the Royal Veterinary College, which investigates the molecular mechanisms important for regulating pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression in vascular cells. Her laboratory specializes in studying human and animal endothelial cells and other vascular cell types, with particular expertise in vascular endothelial eicosanoid generation and novel fatty acid metabolites in vascular repair.