Samira Lakhal-Littleton

Dr. Samira Lakhal-Littleton is an Associate Professor of Cell Physiology and MRC Senior Non-Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics and Brasenose College. Her research focuses on iron homeostasis, systems biology, and oxygen sensing mechanisms in cardiovascular and systemic physiology.

• Education: BSc in Human Genetics (University College London), DPhil in Molecular Medicine (University of Oxford)

Her work bridges cell physiology and translational medicine, with key discoveries on hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), iron regulatory genes TMPRSS6 and GDF15, and the role of hepcidin in altitude adaptation and chronic diseases. She utilizes tissue-specific animal models to study iron regulation in heart, kidney, placenta, and vasculature.

Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding:

• FLASH radiotherapy effects linked to iron-dependent lipid peroxidation
• Clinical implications of myocardial iron dynamics in heart failure
• Hepcidin's role in vascular protection and placental iron transfer
• Biomarker development for predictive iron deficiency diagnostics

Scientific Leadership:

• British Heart Foundation Intermediate Fellowship (2012)
• MRC Senior Fellowship (2020)
• BioIron Society Board Member (2019)

She collaborates with clinical teams on translational projects and serves as a Tutorial Fellow in Medicine at Brasenose College, mentoring students in physiological sciences.