Havovi Chichger

Havovi Chichger is a Professor in Biomedical Science at Anglia Ruskin University, where she is also Deputy Head of School (Research, Innovation & Income Generation) in the School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering. Her research is conducted within the Medical Technology Research Centre and Vision and Eye Research Institute, and she is affiliated with the Cambridge Cardiovascular Interdisciplinary Research Centre.

• PhD in Physiology, University College London
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Brown University
• PGCert in Higher Education and Learning, Anglia Ruskin University
• BSc in Biochemistry, King’s College London

Her research centers on the molecular mechanisms of endothelial and epithelial physiology, particularly in the context of diabetes and pulmonary diseases. Key areas include the physiological roles of bitter and sweet taste receptors (T1R3, T2Rs), endosomal trafficking (via Rab GTPases, p18), and signaling pathways (PKC, MAPK, SHP2) in regulating vascular and epithelial barrier function. She investigates how artificial sweeteners, gut microbiota, and environmental factors like e-cigarettes impact these systems. Her work bridges cell and molecular biology with translational applications in diabetic complications and acute lung injury.

Her recent publications reveal a strong thematic focus on the dual role of artificial sweeteners—both as potential disruptors of gut and lung barriers and as unexpected protectors in microvascular complications. She also explores natural compounds like olive polyphenols for exercise recovery and lung cancer therapeutics. The research consistently employs in vitro models of endothelial and epithelial cells to dissect molecular pathways.

• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Teaching Excellence Certificate, Sheridan Centre, Brown University
• Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Editor, Experimental Physiology
• Member, Editorial Board, Lung Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Member, Scientific Conference Committee, The Physiological Society

Havovi Chichger actively supervises multiple PhD students, including Lewis Spurrier-Best (lung injury), Emily Capes (platelet zinc release), and Mary Bishop-Strutt (glioblastoma treatment). Her research is supported by substantial grants from the British Heart Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Diabetes UK, Cambridge Philosophical Society, and commercial partners, totaling over £500k. She leads the Biomedical Research Group and holds a UK/USA patent related to food supplementation.

She is a member of numerous professional societies including The Physiological Society, American Heart Association, American Physiological Society, and American Thoracic Society, and serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for over 12 journals. Her lab focuses on understanding novel regulators of microvascular complications and developing therapeutic strategies for vascular dysfunction in metabolic and respiratory diseases.