I am deeply grateful to the British Microcirculation and Vascular Biology Society for awarding me the Terence Ryan Travel Award. This award has enabled me to recently attend the Gordon Research Conference: Angiogenesis and Social Interactions with Neighbouring Cells and Tissues in Health and Disease, at Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

This conference, organised by Karina Yaniv and Anne Eichmann, brought together scientists from across the globe to discuss the latest developments in angiogenesis research. I particularly enjoyed the breadth of topics tackled, enabling the subject to be explored from many different perspectives. This included developmental angiogenesis, vascular malformations, angiogenesis in a cancer context, as well as discussions about the blood brain barrier. This, in turn, has encouraged me to consider my own research with a more holistic approach. The oral presentations were of exceptionally high quality, and I gained valuable insights about the newest ideas and methodologies from some of the top experts in the field.

Moreover, as a poster presenter, I benefited from the high level of engagement during the poster sessions. These sessions remained well-attended throughout the week, and sparked so many stimulating and constructive conversations. Indeed, these exchanges have given me much to mull over as I now write my thesis!

Finally, this conference has enabled me to meet other vascular biology researchers from so many different institutes scattered over a wide geographical area. When the world can increasingly feel a more divided place, I have made connections that reaffirm the unifying role of scientific collaboration. It truly was an exceptional week, and one I will look back on with very fond memories.

I am very grateful to the BMVBS for funding my summer studentship with Dr Juma El Awaisi at the University of Birmingham. This has been my second studentship that I have undertaken during my BSc course, and I am thankful for the lab experience I have gained – especially as I missed out on a fair amount in my first year due to COVID restrictions. Taking part has furthered my passion for lab work and I am proud to have contributed to an important body of research.

During the project, we investigated the relationship between COPD and acute myocardial infarction using human coronary/pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and mouse models. I learned valuable skills such as cell culture and developed my experience with fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, as well as my ability to work independently.

This project has been a valuable learning experience and has deepened my interest in ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Since my first studentship in my second year, I have been keen to do a PHD and pursue a career in cardiovascular research. Undertaking this project has confirmed my career aspirations and has been an exciting learning opportunity which will be very useful for my future.

In April, I attended the European Society of Microcirculation Annual Conference 2023 in Aarhus, Denmark. At the conference, I was able to present a poster of the current work from my PhD project and it was great being able to discuss my work and get some good feedback and advice. Additionally, I was able to listen and gain insight to the current research being undertaken in the microcirculation field, and it was interesting learning about findings related to my projects, as well as findings outside the scope of my project. Additionally, it was really nice to have the opportunity to speak to other PhD students and researchers across the world and hear about their work. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the conference and in the very nice city of Aarhus, and I would like to thank the BMVBS for giving me the opportunity to attend.

Feedback from Eleonora Mameli

Last month I attended the 22nd International Vascular Biology Meeting in Oakland, California. The meeting was composed of a wide variety of themes, from basic to translational vascular biology, so it was a great opportunity to discover the last findings in other fields outside my research topic. This conference was my first international meeting and I am grateful to Moor Instruments and the BMVBS for allowing me to participate. Overall, it was a great conference, that allowed me not only to deepen my knowledge in my research field but also to discover new topics. I enjoyed very much the possibility of networking with experts from all over the world. It was an amazing experience and I would like to thank the BMVBS for giving me the opportunity to attend.

Report Eleonora Mameli

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of our friend and colleague Dr Tim Millar, at the tragically young age of 51 after a short illness. Tim was an enthusiastic supporter of the Society and acted as both a committee member from 2018-2022 and planned and organised the 2020 annual meeting of the Society, which was unfortunately cancelled due to the COVID outbreak. Tim was an enthusiastic integrative scientist, with a passion for training, supervising many undergraduate project students and nine PhD students. He was a senior lecturer at the University of Southampton and a key member of their clinical pharmacology teaching team for medical students as well. Tim’s research interests spanned engineering, vascular biology and rheology. I first met him while working up proposals to investigate magnetic nanoparticles for targeting angiogenic factors and he was a keen collaborator, with a dynamic that enabled people to come together. His recent work on behaviour of sclerotherapeutic foams on endothelial cells with Dario Carugo demonstrated a beautiful understanding of the interaction of physical and biological properties in the vascular system. Tim’s contribution to the Society over the years as a committee member will be remembered for his thoughtful and calm contributions to discussions on how to move forward as a society, and in particular his kindness and his loss will be keenly felt by the society as he should have been able to contribute much more over the years. Tim did his postdoctoral work at the University of Bath with David Blake and Cliff Stevens on the properties of xanthine oxidases and then moved to the University of Calgary to work with Lee Anne Tibbles, before returning to the UK as a lecturer in Pharmacology at Southampton in 2005. Tim is survived by his wife Ronaye and two young sons.

David Bates (BMVBS President)

Professor Colin Caro, who has died aged 97, was one of the founding members of the British Microcirculation Society and became an honorary member of the society after his retirement in 1991. Colin was a giant in the field of bioengineering and fluid dynamics with research breakthroughs in multiple areas of physiology, including in the field of blood flow modelling. He was the first to identify the potential for low shear stress being a contributor to atherosclerosis – an idea that is now accepted, but at the time was highly controversial as it appeared to be in contrast with the widely accepted work of Antischkow from the early 1900 in cholesterol fed rabbits. A full obituary of Colin is published in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering [1], but what is maybe less known is Colin’s contribution to the Society. Through the work and support of collaborating scientists such as John Lever, Peter Weinberg, Peter Winlove, Kim Parker and the establishment of the Bioengineering group at Imperial College, he was one of the key drivers behind the establishment of quantitative approaches to microcirculation that still lives on in the Society.

1.             Weinberg, P.D., et al., In Memoriam: Colin Caro 1925-2022. J Biomech Eng, 2022. 144(9).

The effect of propolis mouthwash on the microcirculatory response to a reactive hyperaemia test

Feedback from Tomas Nicholas

This opportunity has benefited me greatly and I have developed a better understanding of what is involved in research, with a plethora of skills that I will be able to utilise in the future. I am now considering an intercalated research MSc next year. I am very grateful for the opportunity to allow me to develop these skills and gain more experience in an area which really interests me.

I am very thankful to have been awarded the BMVBS summer studentship which I completed at the University of Plymouth within the Oral Microbiome Research Group. I have been interested by the oral microbiome and its impacts on systemic health since the start of my course in 2019, so being given the BMVBS Summer Studentship award, to achieve a greater understanding and investigate these links myself is an opportunity I will always be grateful for.

Report of Tomas Nicholas

Endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

Feedback from Raina Ramnath

I would like to thank BMVBS for this studentship which has enabled Verity Shah to learn different lab techniques e.g. tissue culture, RNA extraction, cDNA conversion, and qPCR. Verity has also developed independent critical thinking skills, skills in analysing data and interpretation of the results, and further developed her oral and written communication skills. I have led and managed this project, helping me to further develop my teaching, leadership, and communication skills. In addition to progressing the work on this project, this studentship has improved my ability to give effective feedback to increase confidence, enhance skills and improve performance in the students.

Feedback from Verity Shah

After completing my first year of university without any lab experience, it was incredible to get involved in the practical applications of the techniques I had heard about during my studies. Additionally, for the first time it helped me get a better perspective on what research in academia has to offer and what I could do post my undergrad in medical research and further study. It was rewarding learning all the techniques from Raina and her being confident enough in me to allow some independence in carrying out RNA extraction and tissue culture work and feel like my work was contributing to a bigger piece of research that one day could be beneficial to others. It has also made my own lab skills better and more particular, looking forward to the next opportunity I have to get back into the lab.

Report of Verity Shah

Report on 2019 BMS Summer Studentship from Eva Clavane.

I am extremely grateful to have received the BMS summer studentship which I completed at Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM) following my final year exams at the University of Birmingham. Being at the forefront of innovative cardiovascular research and revealing findings which are valuable in the field, has provided an inspiring experience. You can check over here in this article for a detailed description.

Working alongside the Principle Investigator, Dr Paul Meakin, I helped research the role of β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) in angiogenesis with the aim to determine whether it is a potential therapeutic target for treating diseases characterised by poor angiogenesis. We hypothesised that BACE1 cleaves the VEGF Receptor 1 (Flt-1) to a soluble decoy receptor (sFlt-1), consequently down-regulating VEGF signalling which is imperative for promoting angiogenesis in endothelial cells. A primary example of a disease depicted by poor angiogenesis is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). Predominantly observed in those with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), PAD is characterised by impaired blood flow to the extremities and increased risk of amputations. It is a leading cause of morbidity in the UK and currently has no treatment, highlighting the importance of this research.

During my studentship at LICAMM, I was trained to work effectively and independently in tissue culture laboratories. I became competent in a complex 3-day-long angiogenic bead assay, which I regarded as very rewarding. The assay enabled me to analyse whether BACE1 inhibitors increased angiogenesis in HUVECS so that we could determine their potential as a therapy for PAD. Within the 2-month studentship I was able to repeat the assay multiple times to produce a statistically significant finding. Here, we revealed that 250nM of BACE1 inhibitor increased angiogenic sprouting by nearly 20%, suggesting a potential therapeutic function. I hope to further investigate this finding throughout my MRes and adapt glucose concentrations in the HUVEC media to provide a more relevant hyperglycaemic environment. Additionally, I isolated Pulmonary Endothelial Cells (PECs) from both BACE1 K/O and WT mice lungs to use in VEGF stimulation assays. I collected both the lysed cells and the supernatant so that I can measure the Flt-1 and sFlt-1 levels during my MRes to further investigate our hypothesis.

Working at LICAMM, alongside scientific researchers with identical goals and cutting-edge technologies, provided an insight into the exciting career of cardiovascular research and verified my decision to pursue a career in academia. Capitalising on the wide array of knowledge and skills gained throughout the studentship, I aspire to further my commitment to the field by completing an MRes and PhD. The data produced during the studentship has also been utilised for various PhD grant proposals for the BHF and Diabetes UK allowing myself and Dr Paul Meakin to progress in this field of research.

Naseeb Kaur Malhi’s report on the visit to Heidrun Deissler’s lab at the University of Ulm in Germany