Dr Hannah Heywood
Research Fellow
School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Organ-on-a-chip, Circadian Rhythm, cartilage, Bioenergetics, mechanical stimuli, endothelial
Interests
The cells of our body contain a circadian clock mechanism that plays a vital role in coordinating physiological processes and the dysfunction of which is linked to disease. Timing ques, known as Zeitgebers, set the time of the circadian clock and maintain cell synchronicity. My current research examines novel zeitgebers and how zeitgebers can be applied to sustain robust circadian rhythmicity in vitro. In particular focussing on chondrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. The aim is to better recapitulate physiological processes in musculoskeletal and vascular organ-on-a-chip systems. Other research interests include the study of bioenergetics and mitochondrial phenotype within intact live cells. I have studied the unique and highly specialised energy metabolism of articular chondrocytes, discovering the Crabtree phenomena in these cells. I have also applied my techniques in this field to examine cellular bioenergetics during stem cell differentiation and in cancer cells. I also have extensive experience in the field of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative medicine, focusing on articular cartilage and optimising the quality of monolayer-expanded chondrocytes for cartilage repair techniques. As part of this work, I have revealed novel physiological modulators of the sirtuin 1 enzyme, the deficiency of which is linked to premature aging and osteoarthritis.Publications
Publications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models2022
Heywood HK, Thorpe SD, Jeropoulos RM, Caton PW and Lee DA (2022). Modulation of sirtuins during monolayer chondrocyte culture influences cartilage regeneration upon transfer to a 3D culture environment. Frontiers Media Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology vol. 10, 10.3389/fbioe.2022.971932Heywood HK, Gardner L, Knight MM and Lee DA (2022). Oscillations of the circadian clock protein, BMAL-1, align to daily cycles of mechanical stimuli: a novel means to integrate biological time within predictive in vitro model systems. Springer Nature In Vitro Models 1-8. 10.1007/s44164-022-00032-x2021
Thompson CL, Fu S, Heywood HK, Knight MM and Thorpe SD (2021). Corrigendum: Mechanical Stimulation: A Crucial Element of Organ-on-Chip Models (Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., (2020), 8, 602646, 10.3389/fbioe.2020.602646). Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology vol. 9, 10.3389/fbioe.2021.6588732020
Thompson CL, Fu S, Heywood HK, Knight MM and Thorpe SD (2020). Mechanical Stimulation: A Crucial Element of Organ-on-Chip Models. Frontiers Media Sa Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology vol. 8, 10.3389/fbioe.2020.6026462016
Heywood HK and Lee DA (2016). Bioenergetic reprogramming of articular chondrocytes by exposure to exogenous and endogenous reactive oxygen species and its role in the anabolic response to low oxygen. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine vol. 11, (8) 2286-2294. 10.1002/term.21262014
Heywood HK, Nalesso G, Lee DA and Dell'accio F (2014). Culture expansion in low-glucose conditions preserves chondrocyte differentiation and enhances their subsequent capacity to form cartilage tissue in three-dimensional culture. Biores Open Access vol. 3, (1) 9-18. 10.1089/biores.2013.00512013
Pattappa G, Thorpe SD, Jegard NC, Heywood HK, de Bruijn JD and Lee DA (2013). Continuous and Uninterrupted Oxygen Tension Influences the Colony Formation and Oxidative Metabolism of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Tissue Engineering Part C-Methods vol. 19, (1) 10.1089/ten.tec.2011.0734Gammon L, Biddle A, Heywood HK, Johannessen AC and Mackenzie IC (2013). Sub-sets of cancer stem cells differ intrinsically in their patterns of oxygen metabolism. Plos One vol. 8, (4) 10.1371/journal.pone.00624932011
Pattappa G, Heywood HK, de Bruijn JD and Lee DA (2011). The metabolism of human mesenchymal stem cells during proliferation and differentiation. J Cell Physiol vol. 226, (10) 2562-2570. 10.1002/jcp.226052010
Pattappa G, Heywood HK, de Bruijn JD and Lee DA (2010). The metabolism of human mesenchymal stem cells during proliferation and differentiation. J Cell Physiol 10.1002/jcp.22605Martyn SV, Heywood HK, Rockett P, Paine MD, Wang MJ, Dobson PJ, Sheard SJ, Lee DA and Stark JPW (2010). Electrospray deposited fibronectin retains the ability to promote cell adhesion. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials vol. 96B, (1) 110-118. 10.1002/jbm.b.31745Heywood HK, Knight MM and Lee DA (2010). Both superficial and deep zone articular chondrocyte subpopulations exhibit the crabtree effect but have different basal oxygen consumption rates. Journal of Cellular Physiology vol. 223, (3) 630-639. 10.1002/jcp.22061Heywood HK and Lee DA (2010). Low oxygen reduces the modulation to an oxidative phenotype in monolayer-expanded chondrocytes. J Cell Physiol vol. 222, (1) 248-253. 10.1002/jcp.219462008
Heywood HK and Lee DA (2008). Monolayer expansion induces an oxidative metabolism and ROS in chondrocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun vol. 373, (2) 224-229. 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.06.011Heywood HK and Lee DA (2008). The effect of oxygen supply on chondrocyte metabolic phenotype during monolayer culture. European Cells and Materials vol. 16, (SUPPL. 3) 2006
Heywood HK, Bader DL and Lee DA (2006). Glucose Concentration and Medium Volume Influences Cell Viability and Glycosaminoglycan Synthesis in Chondrocyte-Seeded Alginate Constructs. Tissue Engineering 10.1089/ten.2006.12.ft-281Heywood HK, Bader DL and Lee DA (2006). Rate of oxygen consumption by isolated articular chondrocytes is sensitive to medium glucose concentration. Journal of Cellular Physiology vol. 206, (2) 402-410. 10.1002/jcp.204912005
Wang MJ, Heywood HK, Bader DL, Paine MD, Stark JPW and Lee DA (2005). Identification and characterization of deposited fibronectin on biocompatible materials: Comparison of electrospray and wetting methods. Proceedings of The 2005 Summer Bioengineering Conference vol. 2005, 439-440. Sengers BG, Heywood HK, Lee DA, Oomens CWJ and Bader DL (2005). Nutrient utilization by bovine articular chondrocytes: a combined experimental and theoretical approach. J Biomech Eng vol. 127, (5) 758-766. 10.1115/1.1993664Heywood HK, Bader DL and Lee DA (2005). Superficial and deep chondrocyte subpopulations both express the crabtree effect but exhibit differences in oxygen consumption rate. European Cells and Materials vol. 10, (SUPPL.2) Sudre L, Cheung F, Kevorkian L, Young DA, Darrah C, Donell ST, Shepstone L, Porter S, Brockbank S, Edwards DR, Parker AE, Clark IM, Boubriak OA, Urban JPG, Cui Z, Tew SR, Li Y, Tweats LM, Hawkins RE, Hardingham TE, Green D, Partridge KA, Leveque I, Mann S, Oreffo ROC, Ball SG, Kielty CM, Qin M, Tai G and Polak JM (2005). British society for matrix biology autumn meeting. International Journal of Experimental Pathology vol. 86, (3) 10.1111/j.0959-9673.2005.00426.x2004
Heywood HK, Sembi PK, Lee DA and Bader DL (2004). Cellular utilization determines viability and matrix distribution profiles in chondrocyte-seeded alginate constructs. Tissue Eng vol. 10, (9-10) 1467-1479. 10.1089/ten.2004.10.14672003
LEE DA, Heywood HK, Baaijens FPT, Oomens CWJ and Sengers BG (2003). Experimental and theoretical analysis of glucose dependent oxygen utilization by bovine articular chondrocytes. Internat. J. Artificial Organs vol. 26, 875-875. Grants
Incorporating the circadian clock into Organ-on-a-chip devicesHeywood H
£19,669 Medical Research Council (01-04-2020 - 25-10-2020)
Mechanical Stimulation re-sets the biological clock within cartilage to align to diurnal patterns in activityHeywood H
£9,954 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (01-10-2019 - 01-04-2020)
Augmenting sirtuin activity to drive cartilage regeneration and treat osteoarthritisLee D and Heywood HK
£150,201 Dunhill Medical Trust (01-11-2014 - 31-12-2016)
Platform Grant: Multiscale Mechanobiology for Tissue EngineeringLee DA, Knight MM and Heywood H
£995,000 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (30-04-2007 - 29-04-2012)
Does Warburg energy metabolism contribute to the phenotypic stability of monolayer expanded chondrocytes?Heywood H
£10,000 Medical Research Council (01-08-2010 - 30-10-2010)