Joshua Durrans
Joshua Durrans
Email: jd0476@hallam.shu.ac.uk
Research Centre: Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre (BMRC)
Research Group: Health and Disease
PhD Thesis Title: The effects of chronic low-level carbon monoxide exposure on cardiovascular development.
Director of Studies: Dr. Mari Herigstad
Supervisors: Dr. Prachi Stafford, Dr. Liam Ridge, and Prof. Marysia Placzek.
SUMMARY
I am a Transforming Lives PhD Student with an interest in Developmental Biology. My work focuses on the effects of carbon monoxide exposure on the embryonic heart. I also work with CO Research Group and the All-Party Parliamentary CO Group’s Medical Working Group (COMED) to help inform public health policy.
RESEARCH
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is colourless, odourless, and tasteless. It is often undetectable at low-levels and the effect of chronic exposure is not well understood. By understanding the developmental effects of low-level carbon monoxide, similar atmospheric levels found in busy urban areas, we can understand the mechanisms which affect embryonic cardiovascular development.
Carbon monoxide has a higher affinity for haemoglobin than oxygen, meaning that the carbon monoxide has become tightly bound to the haem proteins which means less oxygen can be released to cells for normal physiological and metabolic function resulting in cellular hypoxia. Epidemiological data has shown a link between exposure to carbon monoxide and congenital heart defects and neurodevelopmental problems.
By understanding how low-level carbon monoxide affects cellular processes and function, we can create targeted therapy to treat symptoms and influence public health policy to enable people to live healthier lives.
Further Information about Transforming Lives:
As a Transforming Lives PhD Student, I work with the CO Research Trust to transform scientific research into public health policy. I am a CO Research Trust sponsored Student Member of the COMED sub-group attached to the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group (APPCOG). This provides a forum to discuss and explain the effects of carbon monoxide to members of the Houses of Parliament with an interest in how to tackle carbon monoxide and create an awareness for the toxic gas.
Through the participation in COMED group meetings, I can provide updates that may feed into government public health policy and NHS strategy on how to treat certain carbon monoxide related conditions.
Information about Publications: Matias, F. R., Groves, I., Durrans, J. & Herigstad, M. (2024). Carbon monoxide affects early cardiac development in an avian model. Birth Defects Research. 116(3); e2330. DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2330