Havovi Chichger

Professor Havovi Chichger is a biomedical scientist and cell/molecular biologist at Anglia Ruskin University, where she serves as Deputy Head of School (Research, Innovation & Income Generation) within the Life Sciences School. Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial and epithelial physiology, with a particular emphasis on taste receptors, artificial sweeteners, and vascular dysfunction in diseases like diabetes and respiratory conditions. She leads the Biomedical Research Group and holds affiliations with the Medical Technology Research Centre and Vision and Eye Research Institute.

Education includes a PhD in Physiology from University College London (2011) and postdoctoral training at Brown University, where she secured American Heart Association funding. Her expertise spans renal/glucose transport, endosomal trafficking, and protein signaling pathways (e.g., PTP/SHP2, PKC/MAPK).

Research interests include bitter/sweet taste receptor roles in vascular barriers, artificial sweetener effects on gut microbiota, and novel regulators of microvascular complications. Recent media coverage highlights her work on neotame’s gut impacts (BBC World Service, Guardian) and sweetener health effects (USA Today).

Teaching roles include Module Leader for Molecular Cell Biology (BSc Biomedical Science) and Research Methods (MSc Applied Bioscience). Professional memberships include the Physiological Society, European Vascular Biology Organisation, and editorial roles for Experimental Physiology and Lung Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Grants include £250k in commercial funding for food supplementation projects, British Heart Foundation PhD scholarships, and Wellcome Trust support. Her lab collaborates widely, with over 50 publications since 2013, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to vascular and metabolic disorders.