Oxford BHF CRE Basic Science Intermediate Transition Fellowship

BHF Senior Basic Science Research Fellowship (named PDRA)

Oxford BHF Centre of Research Excellence Pump Priming

John Fell OUP Research Fund

Google Scholar

Oxford Cardiovascular Science Profile

Institute of Developmental & Regenerative Medicine Profile

Immunological disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and cardiovascular disease, such as acute myocardial infarction with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) may demonstrate sustained cardiac autoimmunity. Research studies into the pathogenesis of autoimmune myocarditis focus on the immune system and consequent tissue damage, however, have not investigated the participation of the cardiac mesothelium (epicardium). My research focuses on the epicardium and its participation in the immune response and disease pathogenesis.  

During my graduate studies at Imperial College London, I engaged in a variety of research from vascular to bone replacement therapeutics, before committing to a PhD project targeting endogenous somatic progenitor cells (haematopoietic and mesenchymal) to employ their regenerative properties (Redpath et al., Blood Advances, 2017; Fellous*, Redpath* et al., npj Regenerative Medicine, 2020). My passion for improving therapeutic targets using discoveries from basic research led me to my postdoctoral work with Prof. Nicola Smart at the University of Oxford. Our research centred around re-activation of developmental programmes to achieve regeneration of the infarcted heart. I gained extensive expertise on the cardiac mesothelium and cell signalling in development, health and disease (Redpath and Smart, Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2020; Lupu*, Redpath* and Smart, Stem Cell Reports, 2020).

My independent research, supported by the BHF CRE Fellowship, interrogates mesothelial-immune cell interactions to yield ways of targeting and reprogramming the inflammatory microenvironment. My interests in targeting the mesothelium for cardioprotection and repair is supported by experts in the field, Prof. Paul Riley (sponsor, mentor) and Prof. Nicola Smart (collaborator, mentor), and our collaboration will enable me to uncover its role in cardiac autoimmunity and chronic inflammation.

DPhil student supervisor

Lecturer: Cell therapy for heart regeneration lecture, for Heart Development and Regeneration theme lecture series, Medical and Biomedical Sciences undergraduate students (FHS)

Tutor: Stem cell therapy and animal models for heart regeneration (FHS)

Seminar teaching: Animal model systems for heart regeneration seminar (FHS)

Member of the DPAG Outreach and Public Engagement Working Group

Past member of the BHF CRE symposium organising group

I completed my undergraduate (BSc Biochemistry) and postgraduate (MRes/PhD) degrees at Imperial College London.  I was awarded an NHLI studentship to undertake my PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences Research at the Department of Inflammation, Repair & Development, National Heart & Lung Institute. During this period, I specialised in bone marrow stem cells, osteoimmunology and regenerative pharmacology. In 2016, I joined the Smart Group in DPAG to investigate epicardial biology in cardiac development and post-injury. In 2024, I was awarded the BHF CRE Transition Fellowship to conduct independent research on the cardiac mesothelium's role in non-infectious carditis.