Liam Ridge BSc (Hons)

Lecturer in Biomedical and Healthcare Science

Summary

I am a developmental biologist interested in the processes that underpin the formation of the heart and wider cardiovascular system during embryogenesis. My work seeks to contribute towards advancing knowledge that will inform the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies to repair and regenerate injured cardiac tissue.

About

My research interests centre on investigating the cells and molecular signals that contribute to the manifestation of both congenital and acquired heart disease. I completed my BSc (Hons) in Cell Biology at Durham University before undertaking my PhD in Developmental Biology at the University of Manchester (2012-2016). Before joining Sheffield Hallam, I conducted my postdoctoral research in at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (2016-2021).

Teaching

Department of Biosciences and Chemistry

College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

I teach on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules for both our full time and degree apprenticeship students, including areas of cell and molecular biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology, disease pathology, and the research design process.

Courses taught

I currently teach on our BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, Human Biology and Biology courses, as well as the BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science degree apprenticeship

Modules taught

I am the module leader for 'Fundamentals in Healthcare Science' and 'Research Methods'.

Research

I have developed a broad range of research interests including cardiac development and regeneration, coronary vessel formation and function, cell migration and invasion, and the role of extracellular matrix in the developing and adult heart. Predominantly, my work has centred on the utilisation of animal models (mouse, chick) to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underpin the origins of congenital heart malformations, specifically in relation to 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge) and CHARGE syndromes.

More recently, I have developed a 3D cell culture model to interrogate the signalling pathways involved in these processes outside of the embryo. Some highlighted publications relevant to this work are listed below.

Collaborators and Sponsors

Dr Mari Herigstad (SHU), Dr Prachi Stafford (SHU), Dr Samrein Ahmed (SHU)

Publications

Journal articles

Ridge, L., Kewbank, D., Schütz, D., Stumm, R., Scambler, P.J., & Ivins, S. (2021). Dual role for CXCL12 signaling in semilunar valve development. Cell Reports, 36 (8). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109610

Page, M., Ridge, L., Gold Diaz, D., Tsogbayar, T., Scambler, P.J., & Ivins, S. (2018). Loss of CXCL12/CXCR4 signalling impacts several aspects of cardiovascular development but does not exacerbate Tbx1 haploinsufficiency. PLOS ONE, 13 (11). http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207251

Ridge, L.A., Mitchell, K., Al-Anbaki, A., Shaikh Qureshi, W.M., Stephen, L.A., Tenin, G., ... Hentges, K.E. (2017). Non-muscle myosin IIB (Myh10) is required for epicardial function and coronary vessel formation during mammalian development. PLOS Genetics, 13 (10), e1007068. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1007068

Ridge, L., Tenin, G., Barnes, E., Wright, J., & Hentges, K. (2017). Investigating the role of the epicardium in heart development: insights from the EHC mouse [abstract only]. Microcirculation, 24 (1). http://doi.org/10.1111/micc.12287

Clowes, C., Boylan, M.G.S., Ridge, L., Barnes, E., Wright, J.A., & Hentges, K.E. (2014). The functional diversity of essential genes required for mammalian cardiac development. genesis, 52 (8), 713-737. http://doi.org/10.1002/dvg.22794

Clark, S.J., Ridge, L., Herbert, A.P., Hakobyan, S., Mulloy, B., Lennon, R., ... Day, A.J. (2013). Tissue-Specific Host Recognition by Complement Factor H Is Mediated by Differential Activities of Its Glycosaminoglycan-Binding Regions. The Journal of Immunology, 190 (5), 2049-2057. http://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1201751

Keenan, T.D.L., Clark, S.J., Unwin, R.D., Ridge, L., Day, A.J., & Bishop, P.N. (2012). Mapping the Differential Distribution of Proteoglycan Core Proteins in the Adult Human Retina, Choroid, and Sclera. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 53 (12), 7528-7538. http://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-10797

Conference papers

Ridge, L., Tenin, G., Barnes, E., Wright, J., & Hentges, K. (2016). Investigating the role of the epicardium in heart development: insights from the EHC mouse [Abstract only]. The Toxicologist, 150 (1), 197. https://www.toxicology.org/pubs/docs/Tox/2016Tox.pdf

Other activities

External MSc Project Supervisor, University of Chester

Liam Ridge