Dr. Rosemary Bland
                                                                                                        

Title of current appointment: Associate Professor (01/10/06 - present)
Institution: Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, UK

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS:

• Senior Lecturer in Molecular Physiology University of Warwick 01/08/06 – 30/09/06
• Lecturer in Molecular Physiology University of Warwick 01/08/02 – 31/07/06
• National Kidney Research Fund Universities of Birmingham 01/08/99 – 31/07/02

Career Development Fellowship and Warwick

• Research Fellow University of Birmingham 01/04/96 – 31/07/99
• Research Associate University of Birmingham 01/05/92 – 31/03/96
• Research Fellow University of Warwick 27/11/89 – 26/11/91
• Senior Technician Coventry Polytechnic 01/07/88 – 26/11/89
• Research Assistant University of Wales 01/10/85 – 30/04/88

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• University of Wales BSc (hons) 2(i) 1985 Applied Biology
• University of Wales MPhil 1993 Endocrinology
• University of Birmingham PhD 1996 Molecular Endocrinology
• University of Warwick Postgraduate Certificate in 2003

RESEARCH SYNOPSIS:
My research is focussed on the molecular endocrinology and metabolism of vitamin D. Current studies are investigating the role of vitamin D in the development of cardiovascular calcification and in the regulation the immune system and its influence on inflammation and the response to infection.

Current Research Projects:

1. The role of the calcium sensing receptor and vitamin D in Chronic Kidney Disease. One very important consequence of kidney disease is cardiovascular disease (CVD). This is responsible for premature death in a significant number of renal patients. This CVD is composed of two elements; atherosclerosis, such as occurs as you get older, but kidney patients also exhibit extensive medial calcification, which results in stiffer arteries. Risk factors associated with this problem appear to be altered mineral metabolism on the background of chronic inflammation, which may change the cells of the arterial wall into cells that produce bone. My studies are investigating the role of vitamin D synthesis and signalling within the vascular smooth muscle cells in this process.
2. Vitamin D metabolism and its role in the development of cancer. Bladder cancer is common in the UK, with 10540 new cases and 4907 deaths in 2010. Development and recurrence of bladder cancer is likely to be due, at least in part, to defective immune surveillance. We hypotheses that the modulation of tumour development is associated with serum vitamin D levels and is due to altered immune surveillance regulated by local activation of vitamin D and that vitamin D signalling is vital to successful treatment with current immunotherapies.
3. Vitamin D metabolism and signalling in the eye. Together with a group in Birmingham I am investigating vitamin D metabolism and signalling in the eye. The cornea is regarded as an immune privileged site that mediates a deviant immune response to infection. We believe that the organisation of immune responses to infections in the cornea is, in part, through complex interactions between TLR and Vitamin D signalling. In particular the activation of vitamin D by the enzyme 1α-hydroxylase. Understanding how the cornea deals with infection and the resulting immune response will provide new insights into corneal biology and will lead to novel therapies for treatment of this sight-threatening disease.

RESEARCH DEGREES SUPERVISED

• Effect of Glyoxalase 1 deficiency on the development of diabetes nephropathy in experimental diabetes. Estimated Date of Completion: 2013
• The regulation of vitamin D metabolism in vascular smooth muscle cells in kidney disease, Estimated Date of Completion: 2013
• Improvement in cardiovascular functional capacity and left ventricular geometry after restitution of the failing kidney through transplantation, Estimated Date of Completion: 2013
• Vitamin D Signalling in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Date of Completion: 2009
• SGK and disrupted renal sodium handling in diabetes, Date of Completion: 2006
• The role of protein kinase C in the activation of NF-ĸB transcriptional responses in pulmonary epithelial cells, Date of Completion: 2005
• Higher degree examination
• External PhD examiner
• University of Manchester, December 2002.
• Imperial College London (The Hammersmith Hospital), April 2007.
• The University of Birmingham, April 2009
• Internal PhD examiner: October 2005 (BS); October 2008 and January 2010 (WMS)

MEMBERSHIP OF LEARNED OR PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

• American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2001-2012
• American Society of Nephrology 2001-2012
• Society for Endocrinology 1994-present
• Elected to the Scientific Committee from January 2011)
• International Society of Nephrology 2006-present
• European Society of Endocrinology 2010-present
• Renal Association 2000-present
• European Renal Association 2013-present
• Physiological Society 2001-present
• Biochemical Society 1996- 2012
• Bone Research Society 1994-2009
• American Society of Endocrinology 2001-2004

Awards, Prizes and Fellowships:

• Nominated for WMS award for teaching excellence (March 2013)
• Early Career Grant marking panel (Soc for Endo 2011, 2012)
• BES Award in Growth Factor research 2004 (sponsored by Pfizer)
• Ortho-Biotech Bursary (2002)
• Society for Endocrinology Young Endocrinologist Basic Science Review Lecture Award (2001)
• Best Poster Presentation at the Spring meeting of the Renal Association (2001).
• Career Development Research Fellowship. National Kidney Research Fund (1999).
• Young Investigator Award from The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (1998).
• Novartis award for the best abstract submission by a young endocrinologist to the British Endocrine Societies (1998).

Editorial duties:

• Member of the Editorial Board of ISRN Nephrology (April 2012 - present).
• Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Endocrinology (2003-June 2008).

reviewer for many journals including:
Journal of Endocrinology, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Clinical Endocrinology, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
 
Invited Symposia and Research Seminars

• Invited to chair a session at the World Congress of Endobolism (China 2012)
• Speaker at the Warwickshire Institute for the study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), May 2009
• Chairman of an ‘expert’s view ‘session at the 24th BES meeting, April 2005.
• Speaker at the National Kidney Research Fund’s Fellows day. Aberdeen, April 2004.
• Invited symposium speaker at the BES, Brighton, March 2004.
• Invited Speaker at the University of Birmingham February 2004.
• Invited speaker at the XII Fat-Soluble Vitamins group meeting, Rieti (Italy), March 2003.
• Lecturer at the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. Twice yearly, 2002-Present.
• Invited speaker Manchester University. November 2002.
• Invited symposium speaker at the ERA-EDTA, Copenhagen July 2002.
• Invited speaker at the first UK Workshop on Vitamin D and Cancer. London, September 2001.
• Speaker at the National Kidney Research Fund’s Fellows day. April 2001.
• Guest lecturer for the Austrian Society for Bone and Mineral research at the Department of Pathophysiology, University of Vienna Medical School. February 2001.
• Speaker at a Wellcome Trust symposium on oestrogen action on bone. Manchester, June 2000.

Participation in learned societies activities

• Elected to the Scientific committee of the Society for Endocrinology (January 2011-present)
• Chairman of a symposium session at the British Endocrine Societies meeting, 2010.
• Invited to attend a State of the Art Symposium on ‘Selective VDR Activation and the Cardio-Renal Syndrome’, Paris 2010. (invited participants only and funded by Abbott Pharmaceuticals).
• Chairman of an ‘expert’s view session at the British Endocrine Societies meeting, 2005.
• Judge at the BES 2008 and 2010 (young investigator posters).
• Regional co-ordinator for the Society for Endocrinology, March 2001 – April 2005.
• gave more than 100 presentations at international meetings.

Other professional Duties

• Grant Referee for: The MRC, BBSRC, Action Research, The Wellcome Trust and Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center (The University of Michigan, USA).
• Asked to externally assess a piece of work submitted as part of the ‘Postgraduate certificate in learning and teaching in higher education’ (University of Birmingham).
• Reviewed a new book proposal for John Wiley and Sons Ltd. (2005) Introduction to Systems Based Medicine. Authors: Dr. Philip Newsholme, Dr, Jason Last and Dr. Rui Curi.

Contribution to science communication

• Invited to contribute to ‘You and your hormones’ website run by The Society for Endocrinology.
• Invited to speak at Kidney Research UK Legacy reception at Warwick Castle. February 2011.
• Invited to speak at Kidney Research UK VIP reception at Birmingham Council Offices and Birmingham Cathedral. December 2010.
• Invited to speak to the Eastern Green Women's Institute, April 2009.
• Invited Coventry Inner Wheel after Dinner Speaker 19th Feb 2008.
• Invited to speak to 6th Formers at the CSRI about my life as a Medical Scientist. 2007, 2008.
• Invited to address the Clifford Chamber ladies Guild. Feb 2006 (launch of their MRF appeal).
• Invited to speak at the MRF annual lunch. June 2006.
• Kidney Research Open Day. This was a joint event between the Medial Research Fund (Warwick) and the Coventry Kidney Patients Association, which I helped to arrange and participated in. March 2005.
• Medical Research Fund: visit by the Warwick Lions to the Biomedical Research Institute.. February 2005.
• Invited speaker: Soroptimist International, Warwick. July 2002.
• Invited speaker: Medical Research Fund. University of Warwick. March 2002.

PUBLICATIONS

• H-index 24 (Web of Science, March 2013)
• Top cited paper (383 citations) is ranked in the top 25 most cited papers related to vitamin D (since 2001).
• Chapters in Books
• Bland, R. (2010) Calcium homeostasis and bones. In Your essential revision Guide MRCOG
• Part One: the official companion to the RCOG revision course. (Eds. Alison Fiander and Baskaran Thilaganathan) RCOG Press, London (UK). 83-98.
• Bland, R. and Hewison, M. Steroid hormone enzyme activity and hormone binding assay. (2001) In Methods in Steroid Receptor Biology, vol 176: Steroid Receptor Methods: Protocols and Assays. (Ed. Lieberman, B.) Humana Press Inc., Totowa (USA). 145-162.
• Journal Articles
• Hills C.E., Bland R. and Squires P.E (2012) Functional expression of TRPV4 channels in human collecting duct (HCD) cells: implications for secondary hypertension in diabetic nephropathy. Experimental Diabetes Research vol. 2012, Article ID 936518, 9 pages, 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/936518.
• Hills C.E., Bland R. and Squires P.E. (2009) SGK1 in the kidney: disrupted sodium transport in diabetes and beyond. The Asia-Pacific Journal of Endocrinology 1(1):27-34. (invited review)
• Hills C.E., Bland R., Bennett J. Ronco P.M. and Squires P.E. (2009) TGF-1 mediates glucose-evoked up-regulation of connexin-43 cell-to-cell communication in HCD-cells. Cell Physiol Biochem. 24:177-186.
• Molostvov, G., Bland, R. and Zehnder, D. (2009) Expression and role of the calcium sensing receptor in the blood vessel wall. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 10(3):282-288. (invited review)
• Molostvov, G., Fletcher, S., Bland, R. and Zehnder, D. (2008) Extracellular calcium-sensing receptor mediated signaling is involved in human vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis. Cell Physiol Biochem 22(5-6):413-422.
• Zehnder, D., Quinkler, M., Eardley, K.S., Bland, R., Lepenies, J., Hughes, S.V., Raymond, N.T., Howie, A.J., Cockwell, P., Stewart, P.M., Hewison, M. (2008) Reduction of the vitamin D hormonal system in kidney disease is associated with increased renal inflammation. Kidney Int. 74:1343-1353.
• Hills C.E., Squires P.E and Bland R. (2008) Serum and glucocorticoid regulated kinase and disturbed renal sodium transport in diabetes. J Endocrinol. Dec;199(3):343-9. Epub 2008 Jul 24.
• Holden, N.S., Squires, P.E., Kaur, M., Bland, R., Jones, C.E. and Newton R (2008) Phorbol ester-stimulated NF-κB-dependent transcription: Roles for isoforms of novel protein kinase C. Cellular Signalling doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2008.03.001 20 (7):1338-1348
• Molostvov, G., James, S., Fletcher, S., Bennett, J, Lehnert, H., Bland, R. and Zehnder, D. (2007) The calcium-sensing receptor is functionally expressed in artery. A. J. Physiol (renal); doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00474.2006 293(3):F946-955.
• Hills C.E., Bland R., Bennett, J., Ronco P.M. and Squires P.E. (2006) High Glucose up-regulates ENaC and SGK1 expression in HCD-cells. Cell Physiol Biochem., 18:337-346.
• Hills, C.E., Bland, R., Wheelans, D.C., Bennett, J., Ronco, P.M. and Squires, P.E. (2006) Glucose-evoked alterations in connexin 43-mediated cell-to-cell communication in human collecting duct: a possible role in diabetic nephropathy. A. J. Physiol (renal). 291(5), F1045-1051.
• Bland, R., Markovic, D., Hills, C.E., Hughes, S.V., Chan, S.L.F, Squires, P.E. and Hewison, M. (2004) Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1-hydroxylase in pancreatic islets. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 89-90, 121-125.
• Hewison, M., Freeman, L., Hughes, S.V., Evans, K.N., Bland, R. Eliopoulos, A.G., Kilby, M.D., Moss, P.A.H. and Chakraverty, R. (2003) Differential regulation of vitamin D receptor and its ligand in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. J. Immunol. 170, 5382-5390.
• Bareis, P., Bischof, M.G., Hofer, H., Pötzi, C., Manhardt, T., Bland, R. and Cross, H.S. (2002) Clonal differences in expression of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3-1-hydroxylase, of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase and of the vitamin D receptor in human colon carcinoma cells: effects of epidermal growth factor and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Exp. Cell Res. 276, 320-327.
• Zehnder, D., Bland, R., Chana, R.S., Wheeler, D.C., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (2002) Synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by human endothelial cells is regulated by inflammatory cytokines: a novel autocrine determinant of vascular cell adhesion. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 13, 621-629.
• Bland, R., Zehnder, D., Hughes, S.V., Ronco, P.M., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (2001) Regulation of vitamin D-1-hydroxylase in a human cortical collecting duct cell line. Kid. Int., 60, 1277-1286.
• Cooper, M.S., Bujalska, I., Rabbitt, E., Walker, E.A., Bland, R., Sheppard, M.C., Hewison, M. and Stewart, P.M. (2001) Modulation of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isozymes by pro-inflammatory cytokines in osteoblasts: an autocrine switch from glucocorticoid inactivation to activation. J. Bone Miner. Res., 16, 1037-1044.
• Zehnder, D., Bland, R., Williams, M.C., McNich, R.W., Howie, A.J., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (2001) Extra-renal expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86, 888-894.
• Eyre, L.J., Rabbitt, E.H., Bland, R., Hughes, S.V., Cooper, M.S., Sheppard, M.C., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (2001) Expression of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in rat osteosarcoma cells: a functional role for intracrine regulation of glucocorticoid metabolism in bone. J. Cell. Biochem. 81, 453-462.
• Bland, R., Zehnder, D., Hughes, S.V., Ronco, P.M., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (2000) Differential regulation of 1,25(OH)2D3 synthesis along the nephron: analysis of 1-hydroxylase expression and activity in human proximal tubule and collecting duct cell lines. In Vitamin D Endocrine System: Structural, biological, genetic and clinical aspects, pages 167-170. Eds. Norman, A.W., Bouillon, R. and Thomasset, M. (University of California, Riverside).
• Hewison M., Zehnder, D., Bland, R. and Stewart, P.M. (2000) 1-hydroxylase and the action of vitamin D. J. Mol. Endocrinol. 25, 141-148.
• Bland, R. (2000) Steroid hormone action & receptor expression in bone. Clin. Sci. 98, 217-240.
• Zehnder, D., Bland, R., Hughes, S.V., Chana, R.S., Bradwell, A.R., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (2000) Analysis of the tissue distribution of 1-hydroxylase identifies novel extra-renal sites for the synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. In Vitamin D Endocrine System: Structural, biological, genetic and clinical aspects, pages 159-162. Eds. Norman, A.W., Bouillon, R. and Thomasset, M. (University of California, Riverside).
• Bland, R., Zehnder, D. and Hewison M. (2000) Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-1-hydroxylase along the nephron: new insights into renal vitamin D metabolism. Curr. Opin. Nephrol. Hypertens. 9, 17-22.
• English, M.A., Fenton, S., Hughes, S.V., Bland, R., Bunce, C.M. and Hewison, M. (2000) Vitamin D and peroxisomal proliferator activated receptors cooperate to inhibit leukemic cell proliferation. In Vitamin D Endocrine System: Structural, biological, genetic and clinical aspects, pages 301-304. Eds. Norman, A.W., Bouillon, R. and Thomasset, M. (University of California, Riverside).
• Cooper, M.S., Walker, E.A., Bland R., Fraser, W.D. E., Hewison M. and Stewart P.M. (2000) Expression and functional consequences of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in human bone. Bone. 20 375-381.
• Janssen, J.M.M.F*., Bland, R*., Hewison, M., Coughtrie, M.W.H., Sharp, S., Arts, J., Pols, H.A.P. and van Leeuwen, J.P.T.M. (1999) Estradiol formation by human osteoblasts via multiple pathways: relation to osteoblast function. J. Cell. Biochem. 75, 528-537. *both authors contributed equally to the paper
• Bland, R., Walker, E.A., Hughes, S.V., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (1999) Constitutive expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase in a human proximal tubule cell line: evidence for direct regulation of vitamin D metabolism by calcium. Endocrinology. 140, 2027-2034.
• Zehnder, D., Bland, R., Walker, E.A., Bradwell, A.R. Howie, A.J., Hewison, M. and Stewart, P.M. (1999) Expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase in the human kidney. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 10, 2465-2473.
• Bland, R., Worker, C.A., Noble, B.S., Eyre, L.J., Bujalska, I.J., Sheppard, M.C., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (1999) Characterization of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and corticosteroid receptor expression in human osteosarcoma cells. J. Endocrinol., 161, 455-464.
• Dabrowski, M., Robinson, E., Hughes, S.V., Bland, R. and Hewison, M. (1998) Differential display RT-PCR identifies novel genes associated with variable vitamin D receptor expression. Mol Cell Endocrinol., 142, 131-139.
• Eyre, L.J., Bland, R., Bujalska, I.J., Sheppard, M.C., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (1998) Characterization of aromatase and 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression in rat osteoblastic cell lines. J Bone Miner. Res., 13, 996-1004.
• Hughes, S.V., Robinson, E., Bland, R., Lewis, H.M., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (1997) 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates estrogen metabolism in cultured keratinocytes. Endocrinology, 138, 3711-3718.
• Bland, R., Sammons, R.L., Sheppard, M.C. and Williams, G.R. (1997) Thyroid hormone, vitamin D and retinoid receptor expression and signalling in primary cultures of rat osteoblasts and immortalised osteosarcoma cells. J. Endocrinol., 154, 63-74.
• Bland, R., Hughes, S.V., Robinson, E., Lewis, H.M., Stewart, P.M. and Hewison, M. (1997) 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates estrogen metabolism in cultured keratinocytes. In Vitamin D: chemistry, biology and clinical applications of the steroid hormone, pages 571-572. Eds. Norman, A.W., Bouillon, R. and Thomasset, M. (University of California, Riverside).
• Dabrowski, M., Robinson, E., Hughes, S.V., Bland, R. and Hewison, M. (1997) Differential display PCR identifies two novel vitamin D-regulated genes. In Vitamin D: chemistry, biology and clinical applications of the steroid hormone, pages 288-289. Eds. Norman, A.W., Bouillon, R. and Thomasset, M. (University of California, Riverside).
• Williams, G.R., Bland, R. and Sheppard, M.C. (1995) Retinoids modify regulation of endogenous gene expression by vitamin D3 and thyroid hormone in three osteosarcoma cell lines. Endocrinology, 136, 4304-4314.
• Williams, G.R., Bland, R. and Sheppard, M.C. (1994) Characterization of thyroid hormone (T3) receptors in three osteosarcoma cell lines of distinct osteoblast phenotype: Interactions between T3, vitamin D3 and retinoid signaling. Endocrinology 135, 2375-2385.
• Williams, G.R., Bland, R. and Sheppard, M.C. (1994) 1,25 (OH)2-vitamin D3 (D3) interactions with 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) signaling in 3 osteosarcoma cell lines. In Vitamin D: A pluripotent steroid hormone: Structural studies, molecular endocrinology and clinical applications, pages 288-289. Eds. Norman, A.W., Bouillon, R. and Thomasset, M. (Walter de Gruyter, Berlin).