Research Programmes
Renal Biology
The Lifestyle Research Programme has a strong Renal Biology theme. Our renal research is both clinical and basic, each informing the other, and with neither limiting itself to benefitting either veterinary or human medicine. Professor Jonathan Elliott (Vice Principal for Research), and Dr Harriet Syme (Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine), lead the clinical research through their activities at The Beaumont Sainsbury Animals Hospital and The Queen Mother Hospital for Animals. Dr Claire Peppiatt-Wildman (MRC Career Development Fellow) leads the basic research through the Urinary System Physiology Unit. Many of our research projects are in collaboration with leading renal researchers in the UK and abroad, with projects being funded by the government (e.g. BBSRC, MRC), industry (e.g. Pfizer Ltd) or medical research charities (e.g. Wellcome Trust, St Peters Trust).
Below is an insight into some, but by no means all, of the research currently being carried out under the Renal Biology theme. For further information or if you have any enquiries please contact Professor Jonathan Elliott
Kidney Special Interest Group
The clinical team of Professor Jonathan Elliott and Dr Harriet Syme are investigating three common problems of the elderly cat, all of which are of interest to human as well as veterinary medicine. These are:
1. Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
The goals of our research are to identify epidemiological risk factors for progressive CKD in the cat, to discover new methods of early diagnosis of feline CKD and to optimise the medical treatment of IRIS stages I to III of feline CKD.
2. Hypertension
This problem occurs most often in association with CKD with the median age ofonset of 15 years of age. However not all cats with CKD develop hypertension. 
Our research has shown an epidemiological link between low plasma potassium concentration and hypertension and we are currently trying to identify whether there is a genetic predisposition to hypertension in some cats.
3. Hyperthroidism
Cats develop adenomatous hyperplasia of their thyroid glands as they age and many will become overtly hyperthyroid by the age of 12 or 13 years. We are currently trying to determine whether this hyperthyroid state is damaging to the kidney and so is one factor that leads to the high prevalence of CKD in the cat. We are also interested in how the hyperthyroid state affects kidney function and blood pressure regulation.
The team consists of Professor Jonathan Elliott (Vice-Principal for Research and Innovation), Dr Harriet Syme (Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine), Dr Rosanne Jepson (SCTS - Small Animal Internal Medicine), Nicola Lotter (Clinic Nurse) and the following PhD students: Tim Williams, Shubhro Chakrabarti, Rebecca Geddes and Esther Bijsmans.
NSAIDs
Dr Ludovic Pelligand (Clinical Research Fellow) is investigating the clinical effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), notorious for their side effects in human as well as veterinary medicine, on the renal function of young and older cats at the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital
Urinary System Physiology Unit
Members of the Urinary System Physiology Unit, led by Dr Claire Peppiatt-Wildman are investigating three main areas. These are:
1. Regulation of renal tubular transport processes
We are investigating local regulation mechanisms of important renal tubular transport mechanisms. These mechanisms are key to healthy animals and humans alike and dysfunction of these regulatory mechanisms may account for a number of poorly understood, and in some cases fatal, disorders. Of note, we are investigating the molecular basis in which luminal P2 receptors alter epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity in the distal nephron. We have recently identified a luminally-expressed P2 receptor that acts as a sodium ion sensor and locally regulates ENaC activity and therefore may play a role in determining systemic BP – its dysfunction may be responsible for some cases of idiopathic hypertension.
Our research is in close collaboration with Professor Robert Unwin and Dr David Shirley (both: Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, UCL Medical School, London) and utilizes advanced in vitro and in vivo methodologies.
2. Regulation of intrarenal blood flow
We are interested in the role of specialised smooth-muscle-like cells, termed pericytes, in the regulation of the renal microvasculature. We have developed a novel kidney slice model to investigate the role of pericytes in the regulation of in situ vasa recta capillary diameter. Since the inner medulla is relatively inaccessible in vivo the slice model provides an ideal environment in which to characterise endogenous modulators of vasa recta pericyte contractility. Using this slice model we are also investigating tubular-vascular cross-talk, which we believe is critical in coordinating tubular function with medullary blood flow.
3. Epithelial cell signalling in the overactive bladder
Overactive Bladder syndrome (OAB) is estimated to affect 100 million adults worldwide. Symptoms include a frequent, sudden and urgent desire to pass urine, incontinence and in some cases chronic pain. Current treatments are not ideal, being hindered by severe side effects.
By using very stringent methods of urine analysis, a close collaborator Professor James Malone-Lee (Whittington Hospital, UCL Archway Campus, London) has discovered an antibiotic-resistant, low-level, inflammation in the bladder of OAB patients, not previously recognised. This inflammation is associated with the most severe symptoms. We now believe the inflammatory response to be caused by intracellular bacteria residing in urothelial cells.
Our investigations focus on urothelial cell signalling (in particular ATP signalling) using human bladder biopsy samples, to determine the way in which the urothelial inflammatory response causes the symptoms of OAB. A better understanding of the mechanisms behind the symptoms may aid development of alternative, more successful, acceptable treatments.
The Urinary System Physiology Unit includes Dr Carol Crawford (Senior Research Associate), Dr Toby Scott-Ward (Senior Research Associate), Dr Eilidh Craigie (Research Fellow), Dr Gregory Jacquillet (European Renal Association Research Fellow) and the following PhD and MRes students: Alberto Contreras-Sanz, Teresa Kennedy-Lydon, Rebecca Birch and Holly Courtneidge.