Johanna Smithson
MRC Case Studentship Ph.D. Student
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About Me
I am an MRC CASE studentship PhD student in the Shiels group, working alongside Emissions Analytics, where my research focuses on the effects of tyre wear particles on human health, particularly ultrafine tyre wear particles. Using material sciences, I generate tyre wear particles that are incorporated into both in vitro and in vivo studies involving animal and cell models. My work aims to understand how these particles contribute to pollution and act as vectors for other environmental contaminants, such as phenanthrene and microplastics, through multiple exposure routes. Specifically, my research investigates ingestion as a key exposure pathway and explores both the direct and indirect health effects of these pollutants.
My Background
I hold a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology from the University of Huddersfield, where I completed a research project investigating novel anti-inflammatory compounds as potential treatments for stroke. My academic interests in mechanisms of disease, alongside my work on cardiovascular and vascular research, led me to pursue an MRes at the University of Manchester. During my MRes, I worked in the Shiels Lab, using a zebrafish model of Grb10 to study the effects of intrauterine growth restriction and Type II diabetes on cardiac development.
My research interests span developmental biology, cardiovascular health, physiology, and material sciences, reflecting my passion for understanding the intricate mechanisms that shape the impact of environmental pollution on human health.
