Adrian West
Professor
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Canada
Biography
BSc (Hons, Physiology), University of Western Australia, 2001 PhD (Physiology), University of Western Australia, 2007 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Western Australia, 2007 – 2009 Postdoctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, 2009 – 2013 Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba, 2013 – present
Research Interest
The overreaching aim of the West laboratory is to improve our understanding of how mechanobiology principles and structural/mechanical changes contribute the pathogenesis of lung disease. This aim presently incorporates three specific research direction: Ongoing development of cutting-edge tools to manipulate the cellular mechanical environment and measure innovative endpoints. This includes polyacrylamide hydrogels, 3D tissue-engineered smooth muscle, epithelial Transwell culture systems, and ex vivo lung tissue. Understanding the basal regulation of lung cellular function by mechanobiology, particularly relating to the contractile function of airway and pulmonary vascular smooth muscles and the barrier function of airway epithelium. Examining synergistic interactions between mechanobiology and traditional signalling pathways. This includes but is not limited to TGF-beta and RhoA signalling pathways, and how/where these pathways interact at focal adhesions, caveolae and the cytoskeleton.
Publications
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Wright D, Sharma P, Ryu M, Rissé PA, Ngo M, Maarsingh H, Koziol-White C, Jha A, Halayko A, West AR. Models to study airway smooth muscle contraction in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro: implications in understanding asthma. Pulm Pharmacol Ther (2013); 26(1): 24-36.
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Awarded “Outstanding Junior Investigator Award†by the American Physiological Society. Feature Article on journal website Dec 2012 – March 2013 Top “Editor’s Pick†1st quarter 2013
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West AR, Zaman N, Cole DJ, Walker MJ, Legant WR, Boudou T, Chen CS, Favreau JT, Gaudette GR, Cowley EA, Maksym GN. Development and Characterisation of a 3D Microtissue Culture Model of Airway Smooth Muscle. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Molecular Physiol. (2013); 304(1): L4-16.
