Dr James Pritchett

My profile

Biography

I work to combine my research expertise with my passion for teaching and public engagement. My research aims to understand how the extracellular matrix and mechano-signalling contribute to fibrotic disease. I use my research to inform innovative undergraduate and postgraduate Biomedical teaching programmes for diverse student populations. 

Academic and professional qualifications
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
  • BBSRC - Member of Pool of Experts
  • British Heart Foundation
  • Medical Research Council
Government and industry links

Royal Society Westminster Pairing Scheme. In December 2017 I spent a week in Westminster paired with Manchester MP Lucy Powell: https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/research/news-and-events/story/?id=6799

Prizes and awards

• Aegean Conferences Presentation Prize (Sept 2016)
• European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Registration Bursary (Feb 2014)
• 2 British Association for the Study of the Liver Presentation Prizes (Sept 2012 & June 2014)
• 2 EASL Travel Bursaries (Feb 2010, Jan 2011)
• British Heart Foundation travel grant (Oct 2008)
• BRAIN travel awards (Nov 2005, Aug 2006)

Visiting and honorary positions

Honorary Lecturer, University of Manchester

Membership of professional associations

Royal Society of Biology

British Society for Cell Biology

The Biochemical Society

British Association for the Study of the Liver

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Outreach and Engagement

I was filmed by the Royal Society of Biology during their “Ask a Biologist” Event at New Scientist Live: https://youtu.be/1WWEBV7XqAA

I was interviewed for an episode of The Neutrinos Are Mutating Podcast. I discussed the “science” behind the film Deadpool and the possibilities offered by regenerative medicine in the future: https://tnampodcast.com/regeneration/

I am working in partnership with Abraham Moss Warriors community sports club in North Manchester to develop and run an evening science club. This is funded by the Wellcome Trust and BBC Children in Need’s Curiosity Project. In summer 2018 the young scientists from the club spent a week on campus doing hands on science activities. This finished with a graduation ceremony where the children made presentations about what they had learned.

Projects

I have external funding from Guts UK. I have identified a unique research niche that builds on my existing track record in fibrosis research. My current work on cytoskeleton associated proteins in fibrosis was presented at the International Liver Congress (2020) and the British Liver Meeting (2020). I have given invited research talks including at the University of Birmingham Centre for Live rand Gastrointestinal Research (Jan 2020), the Kellgren Centre, University of Manchester (Feb 2021) and at the University of Oslo (March 2022).

  • Health Innovation Manchester, £10k (March 2023). Exploring the Methylome: How Differences in Gene Methylation Patterns May Inform Us About the Mechanisms Underlying the Development of Proteinuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2D) as a Marker for Cardiovascular Disease Risk 
  • Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust/Manchester Met Match Funded PhD Studentship, £92k (Sept 2022): Serum miRNAs as novel biomarkers and modulators of rapidly progressing Chronic kidney disease (CKD) 
  • Health Innovation Manchester, £10k (March 2022) Sequencing Patient-Derived Circulating micro-RNAs to Identify Potential Biomarkers of Systemic Sclerosis   

Teaching

I designed and currently lead a 2nd year unit on our IBMS and Royal Society of Biology accredited Biomedical Science degree programme: Techniques and Applications in Biomedical Science. This unit is designed to give our large and diverse student population insight into the latest tools used in biomedical research, and in clinical applications. I also teach at all levels of our undergraduate programmes, on our taught MSc in Biomedical Science and on the NHS Scientist Training Program.

Courses

Supervision

I am Department Lead for the University’s Doctoral College, and supervise PhD, MRes and DClinSci research students.

Research outputs