Summary
Anna M. Randi is Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Head of Vascular Sciences at the National Heart and Lung Institute. Her main research interests are in vascular biology and vascular haemostasis. The laboratory investigates the molecular pathways that regulate endothelial homeostasis, angiogenesis and vascular stability. The Randi lab has defined transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms that control endothelial cell homeostasis and resilience in health and disease and identified of von Willebrand factor as a regulator of angiogenesis. A major effort is directed in using circulating endothelial progenitors from patients’ blood (ECFC), to study mechanisms of disease in patients with congenital bleeding disorders including von Willebrand disease and in patients with cardiovascular diseases.
research and publications
Biosketch
Prof. Randi is a clinically qualified haematologist, specialized in haemostasis and thrombosis. She trained with Prof. Mannucci at the University of Milan (Italy) and with Dr. Sadler at Washington University, St. Louis (USA); here she was involved in the first characterization of mutations in the von Willebrand factor gene. She moved to the UK to study endothelial biology and vascular diseases, first at GlaxoSmithKline and then at Imperial College London, where she set up her lab in 2004. From April 2022 she was also Visiting Professors at The University of Milan, Italy.
Prof. Randi served on national and international review panels and has been on the Editorial Board of high impact Scientific Journals. She is frequently invited to present at national and international meetings. She was the Scientific Chair for the London 2022 ISTH meeting. She is a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) and Strategy Editor for the journal BTVB (Bleeding Thrombosis and Vascular Biology). Anna Randi is committed to promoting the careers of young researchers; she believes in providing a supportive and stimulating training and working environment for all, with particular focus on women and gender equality.
Images of cells from Prof. Randi’s laboratory have featured in an Italian comedy film called "Into Paradiso", directed by the Italian film director Paola Randi (Anna Randi’s sister). The film, which received numerous international awards and was screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2010, focuses on a Neapolitan scientist and his relationship with the migrants community, and uses videos of migrating cells from Prof. Randi’s laboratory as a metaphor for human migration and communication. Read more about the film.
Recent Interview with Prof. Randi on Nature Cardiovascular Research (2023)
Imperial News story discussing Prof. Randi's research: Imperial researchers studying how blood vessels stay healthy.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Gomez-Salinero J, Itkin T, Houghton S, et al., 2022, Cooperative ETS transcription factors enforce adult endothelial cell fate and cardiovascular homeostasis., Nature Cardiovascular Research, Vol:1, ISSN:2731-0590, Pages:882-899
McCracken IR, Saginc G, He L, et al., 2021, Lack of evidence of ACE2 expression and replicative infection by SARSCoV-2 in human endothelial cells, Circulation, Vol:143, ISSN:0009-7322, Pages:865-868
Dufton NP, Peghaire CR, Osuna-Almagro L, et al., 2020, Dynamic regulation of canonical TGF beta signalling by endothelial transcription factor ERG protects from liver fibrogenesis (vol 31, pg 450, 2017), Nature Communications, Vol:11, ISSN:2041-1723, Pages:1-1
Peghaire C, Dufton N, Lang M, et al., 2019, The transcription factor ERG regulates a low shear stress-induced anti-thrombotic pathway in the microvasculature, Nature Communications, Vol:10, ISSN:2041-1723, Pages:1-17
Smadja DM, Melero-Martin JM, Eikenboom J, et al., 2019, Standardization of methods to quantify and culture endothelial colony-forming cells derived from peripheral blood Position paper from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis SSC, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Vol:17, ISSN:1538-7933, Pages:1190-1194
Ishihara J, Ishihara A, Starke RD, et al., 2019, The heparin binding domain of von Willebrand factor binds to growth factors and promotes angiogenesis in wound healing, Blood, Vol:133, ISSN:0006-4971, Pages:2559-2569
Kalna V, Yang Y, Peghaire C, et al., 2019, The transcription factor ERG regulates super-enhancers associated with an endothelial-specific gene expression program, Circulation Research, Vol:124, ISSN:0009-7330, Pages:1337-1349
Paschalaki KE, Randi AM, 2018, Recent advances in endothelial colony forming cells toward their use in clinical translation, Frontiers in Medicine, Vol:5, ISSN:2296-858X
Nowak-Sliwinska P, Alitalo K, Allen E, et al., 2018, Consensus guidelines for the use and interpretation of angiogenesis assays, Angiogenesis, Vol:21, ISSN:0969-6970, Pages:425-532
Randi AM, Smith KE, Castaman G, 2018, von Willebrand factor regulation of blood vessel formation, Blood, Vol:132, ISSN:1528-0020, Pages:132-140
Dufton NP, peghaire CR, Osuna-Almagro L, et al., 2017, Dynamic regulation of canonical TGFβ signaling by endothelial transcription factor ERG protects from liver fibrogenesis, Nature Communications, Vol:8, ISSN:2041-1723, Pages:1-14
Shah AV, Birdsey GM, Peghaire C, et al., 2017, The endothelial transcription factor ERG mediates Angiopoietin-1-dependent control of Notch signalling and vascular stability, Nature Communications, Vol:8, ISSN:2041-1723, Pages:1-16
Randi AM, Laffan MA, 2017, Von Willebrand factor and angiogenesis: basic and applied issues, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Vol:15, ISSN:1538-7933, Pages:13-20
Shah AV, Birdsey GM, Randi AM, 2016, Regulation of endothelial homeostasis, vascular development and angiogenesis by the transcription factor ERG, Vascular Pharmacology, Vol:86, ISSN:1879-3649, Pages:3-13
Randi AM, 2016, Endothelial dysfunction in von Willebrand disease: angiogenesis and angiodysplasia, Thrombosis Research, Vol:141, ISSN:0049-3848, Pages:S55-S58
Birdsey GM, Shah AV, Randi AM, 2015, Regulation of vascular development and angiogenesis by the ETS transcription factor ERG, Acta Physiologica, Vol:215, ISSN:1748-1708, Pages:19-19
Randi A, 2015, The multiple roles of von Willebrand factor: regulation of angiogenesis, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Vol:13, ISSN:1538-7933, Pages:22-22
Birdsey GM, Shah AV, Dufton N, et al., 2015, The endothelial transcription factor ERG promotes vascular stability and growth through Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, Developmental Cell, Vol:32, ISSN:1534-5807, Pages:82-96
Dufton N, Almagro LO, Birdsey G, et al., 2014, THE ENDOTHELIAL TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR ERG INHIBITS VASCULAR INFLAMMATION, Heart, Vol:100, ISSN:1355-6037, Pages:A115-A116
Amsellem V, Dryden NH, Martinelli R, et al., 2014, ICAM-2 regulates vascular permeability and N-cadherin localization through ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) proteins and Rac-1 signalling, Cell Communication and Signaling, Vol:12, ISSN:1478-811X
Paschalaki KE, Starke RD, Hu Y, et al., 2013, Dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells from smokers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients due to increased DNA damage and senescence, Stem Cells, Vol:31, ISSN:1066-5099, Pages:2813-2826
Randi AM, Laffan MA, Starke RD, 2013, Von Willebrand factor, angiodysplasia and angiogenesis, Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Vol:5, ISSN:2035-3006
Paschalaki KE, Starke RD, Hu Y, et al., 2013, Endothelial progenitor cells are dysfunctional in smokers and COPD patients due to increased DNA damage and senescence, European Respiratory Journal, Vol:42, ISSN:0903-1936
Starke RD, Paschalaki KE, Dyer CE, et al., 2013, Cellular and molecular basis of von Willebrand disease: studies on blood outgrowth endothelial cells, Blood, Vol:121, Pages:2773-2784
Starke RD, Paschalaki KE, Dyer CEF, et al., 2013, Cellular and molecular basis of von Willebrand disease: studies on blood outgrowth endothelial cells, Blood, Vol:121, ISSN:0006-4971, Pages:2773-2784
Dryden NH, Sperone A, Martin-Almedina S, et al., 2012, The transcription factor erg controls endothelial cell quiescence by repressing activity of Nuclear Factor (NF)-kappa B p65, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol:287, ISSN:0021-9258, Pages:12331-12342
Randi AM, 2012, VWF, angiodysplasia and endothelial progenitor cells: novel insights from basic science, Haemophilia, Vol:18, ISSN:1351-8216, Pages:9-9
Birdsey GM, Dryden NH, Shah AV, et al., 2012, The transcription factor Erg regulates expression of histone deacetylase 6 and multiple pathways involved in endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, Blood, Vol:119, ISSN:0006-4971, Pages:894-903
Starke RD, Ferraro F, Paschalaki KE, et al., 2011, Endothelial von Willebrand factor regulates angiogenesis, Blood, Vol:117, ISSN:0006-4971, Pages:1071-1080
Sperone A, Dryden NH, Birdsey GM, et al., 2011, The Transcription Factor Erg Inhibits Vascular Inflammation by Repressing NF-kappa B Activation and Proinflammatory Gene Expression in Endothelial Cells, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Vol:31, ISSN:1079-5642, Pages:142-150
Birdsey GM, Dryden NH, Amsellem V, et al., 2008, Transcription factor Erg regulates angiogenesis and endothelial apoptosis through VE-cadherin, Blood, Vol:111, ISSN:0006-4971, Pages:3498-3506
Conference
Birdsey GM, Dryden NH, Shah AV, et al., 2012, The transcription factor Erg regulates expression of HDAC6 and multiple pathways involved in endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, 6th European Meeting on Vascular Biology and Medicine (EMVBM), ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC, Pages:348-349, ISSN:1537-1891
Starke RD, Paschalaki KE, Ferraro F, et al., 2012, Endothelial Von Willebrand factor regulates angiogenesis, 6th European Meeting on Vascular Biology and Medicine (EMVBM), ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC, Pages:318-319, ISSN:1537-1891
Starke RD, Paschalaki KE, Ferraro F, et al., 2011, BLOOD-DERIVED ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS FROM VON WILLEBRAND'S DISEASE PATIENTS DEMONSTRATE THAT VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR REGULATES ANGIOGENESIS, B M J PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages:14-14, ISSN:1355-6037