Summary
Dr Birdsey's research focuses on the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of endothelial cell gene expression during angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
Dr Birdsey joined the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, in 2004 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the group of Prof Anna Randi, before being promoted to Research Fellow in 2010. He was appointed to the position of Lecturer in Vascular Sciences in 2013 and Senior Lecturer in 2020.
BIOSKETCH
In 1994 Graeme Birdsey graduated with a BSc in Applied Biochemistry from Liverpool John Moores University and he then went on to obtain a PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from University College London. Dr Birdsey’s PhD thesis and postdoctoral research project in Prof Chris Danpure’s lab at UCL focused on the molecular evolution of the intracellular targeting of the metabolic enzyme alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase, AGT.
Dr Birdsey continued his scientific training with a two-year postdoctoral position with Dr James Leiper in Prof Patrick Vallance’s group at UCL. The work focused on the regulation of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by endogenously produced competitive inhibitors (asymmetric methylarginines) of NO synthase enzymes. These molecules have been the subject of considerable interest as elevated levels have been reported in numerous disease states including hypertension, heart failure, renal failure, atherosclerosis, pre-eclampsia and type 2 diabetes.
Endothelial cell stained with markers to the adhesion molecule vinculin (red) and the actin cytoskeleton (green)
Dividing endothelial cell. Acetylated microtubules in green and DNA/chromatinshown in purple.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Wiggins BG, Wang Y-F, Burke A, et al., 2023, Endothelial sensing of AHR ligands regulates intestinal homeostasis, Nature, Vol:621, ISSN:0028-0836, Pages:821-829
Schafer CM, Martin-Almedina S, Kurylowicz K, et al., 2023, Cytokine-mediated degradation of the transcription factor ERG impacts the pulmonary vascular response to systemic inflammatory challenge, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Vol:43, ISSN:1079-5642, Pages:1412-1428
Nagy D, Maude H, Birdsey GM, et al., 2023, Liver sinusoidal endothelial transcription factors in metabolic homeostasis and disease, Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, Vol:71, ISSN:0952-5041, Pages:1-20
Greene D, Genomics England Research Consortium, Pirri D, et al., 2023, Genetic association analysis of 77,539 genomes reveals rare disease etiologies, Nature Medicine, Vol:29, ISSN:1078-8956, Pages:679-688
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
D'Amico G, Fernandez I, Gómez-Escudero J, et al., 2022, ERG activity is regulated by endothelial FAK coupling with TRIM25/USP9x in vascular patterning, Development, Vol:149, ISSN:0950-1991
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
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
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
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
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
Birdsey GM, Shah AV, Dufton N, et al., 2015, The endothelial transcription factor ERG promotes vascular stability and growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling., Developmental Cell, Vol:32, ISSN:1534-5807, Pages:82-96
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
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