Summary
Dr Tom McKinnon is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Immunology and Inflammation, specifically working in the field of thrombosis and haemostasis in collaboration with Professor Mike Laffan.
Tom graduated in 2003 with a first class degree in Biomedical Science and was awarded an Institute of Biomedical Science Presidents prize for outstanding achievement. He then obtained his PhD in 2007 at Imperial College under Professor Mike Laffan examining the role of glycosylation on the structure and function of Von Willebrand Factor. He continued this work as a post-doctoral research associate funded by the BHF, then in 2011 was awarded a prestigious BHF intermediate basic science fellowship to investigate the functional role of the C-terminal domains of Von Willebrand Factor and was appointed as a senior lecturer in June 2019.
The major focus of his research is the structure and function of Von Willebrand Factor and the bleeding disorder Von Willebrands disease. He is also focused on how VWF and its interaction with various binding partners may be exploited as anti-thrombotic targets. In collaboration with Apollo Therapeutics Tom is currently developing novel strategies to safely inhibit VWF function. In addition, he is involved in the development of shear-based assays for the analysis of blood coagulation and endothelial cell function under physiological flow conditions and is working on producing low cost microfluidic systems.
Teaching
Tom is co-course director for MSc Molecular Medicine where he has promoted the use of innovative and interactive teaching and assessment methods to enhance the student experience. In addition, he is module 3 lead for the Haematology BSc and teaches on several other MSc pathways. Tom also supports various outreach programmes to encourage students from disadvantaged backgrounds to aim for careers in science and medicine.
Publications
Journals
Mobayen G, Smith K, Ediriwickrema K, et al., 2023, von Willebrand factor binds to angiopoietin-2 within endothelial cells and after release from Weibel-Palade bodies, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Vol:21, ISSN:1538-7836, Pages:1802-1812
McKinnon TAJ, 2023, 2B or not 2B: art thou autoinhibitory?, Blood, Vol:141, ISSN:0006-4971, Pages:1102-1103
Seth R, McKinnon TAJ, Zhang XF, 2022, Contribution of the von Willebrand factor/ADAMTS13 imbalance to COVID-19 coagulopathy, American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol:322, ISSN:0363-6135, Pages:H87-H93
Benjamin LA, Paterson RW, Moll R, et al., 2021, Antiphospholipid antibodies and neurological manifestations in acute COVID-19: A single-centre cross-sectional study, Eclinicalmedicine, Vol:39
Conference
Doerr A, Pedrosa D, Schander M, et al., 2021, TLT-1 Regulates Thrombus Growth Under Non-Inflammatory Conditions, 63rd Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH), AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY, ISSN:0006-4971