Dr May Azzawi

My profile

Biography

Academic and professional qualifications

PhD ‘Immunopathogenesis of Broncial Asthma’, Imperial College, National Heart and Lung Institue, University of London, UK

MSc ‘Applied Immunology’, University of Brunel, UK

BSc (Hons) ‘Physiology and Biochemistry’ University of East London, UK

PGCert HE, University of Manchester, UK.

Other academic service (administration and management)

 Course Tutor for BSc Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) Degree Programme (stages 1 & 2).

Placement Co-ordinator for BSc Healthcare Science (Physiological Sciences) degree Programme.

Module Leader for a number of  BSc and MSc units.

External examiner roles

External Examiner for PhD theses at various universities (including University College London; University of Manchester; University of Central Lancashire; University of Queensland [Australia]).

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

Specialist invited reviewer for a number of Journals including ‘Nanomedicine-NBM’; ‘Nanomedicine-Future medicine’; ‘Biomaterials’; ‘Free Radical Biology and Medicine’; ‘Cardiovascular Research’; ‘Biomedical Research International’; ‘International Journal of Nanomedicine’, and ‘BioSystems’.

Reviewer of research grants for a number of funding bodies (including The Wellcome trust; BBSRC)

Government and industry links

Kirkstall Ltd, Rotherham, UK

Elisha Systems Ltd., Leeds, UK

Other distinctions

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

Expert reviewer for a number of grant funding bodies (including the Wellcome Trust).

Editorial Board membership

Lead guest editor for the special issue of the journal ‘Nanomedicine’, August 2016.

Membership of professional associations

Committee member of the British society for cardiovascular research (elected 2016); Executive member of the British Society for Nanomedicine; Member of the Physiological Society; Member of the British microcirculation Society; Member of the Northern Vascular Biology Research group.

Personal website address

http://www.irm.mmu.ac.uk/research_lines/biomed_cell_molec/

Projects

Public Engagement in Science (Manchester Science Festival- The ‘heart Model’). Outreach activities.

Teaching

How I’ll teach you

I have extensive teaching experience in a number of disciplines within the biomedical sciences, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. My teaching specialisms include Human Physiology (including cardiovascular physiology), Immunology, Vascular Pharmacology and Nanomedicine. I use a wide range of delivery methods, including lectures, tutorials, and a number of alternative learning strategies to support a variety of learning styles, such as lecture-integrated and VLE supported case studies for large student groups (Azzawi & Dawson, 2007). My teaching and support of learning is underpinned by integration of pedagogic research. I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and am committed to teaching and learning to improve the student experience and satisfaction.

Supervision

I have supervised over 20 postgraduate students (PhD, MRes, MSc) to succcessful completion. I am currently supervising 3 PhD students and 1 postdoctoral associate. Opportunities to study for a PhD, MRes, and MSc are open to students who have a passion for science, are enthusiastic and hardworking, with relevant background in Physiology, Pharmacy, or a Biomedical science discipline. Interdisciplinary projects within the area of Nanomedicine are also available.

Research outputs

Research expertise in the following areas:

  • Vascular contractility and function in health and disease: Parameters influencing conduit and small resistance arterial function and the elaboration of endothelial and adventitial derived mediators. The influence of aging and exercise on vascular function.
  • A particular interest in using emerging technologies, namely nanotechnology and regenerative
    medicine, and interdisciplinary approaches to develop non-animal in vitro and ex vivo models to assess vascular function.
  • Nanomedicine: Nanotoxicological influence of nanoparticles (Silica, mesoporous silica, gold, quantum dots) on cellular and vascular function. The aim is inform their safe application in diagnostics and therapeutics, particularly in the treatment of vascular disease.
  • Immunopathogenesis of heart and lung diseases.