Sakthi Vaiyapuri
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+44 (0) 118 378 8015
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Professor in Cardiovascular & Venom Pharmacology
Areas of interest
Venomous snakebites are a major public health concern, particularly in rural areas of developing countries, where access to medical treatment is limited. The development of new, effective treatments and improved awareness and understanding of snakebites have the potential to save countless lives, reduce disabilities, and improve the socioeconomic outcomes for communities affected by this devastating condition. Our primary focus in research is on creating novel approaches to substantially decrease deaths, disabilities, and socioeconomic effects caused by snakebites in rural communities worldwide. To achieve this, we use a strong multidisciplinary approach by collaborating with different groups and combining laboratory studies, clinical investigation of snakebite victims, public outreach to raise awareness about snakes and snakebites, and policy development. So far, our efforts have produced significant results in saving lives and influencing policy development. Our research also involves studying how snake venom toxins affect the body under different conditions and improving diagnostic and treatment methods for snakebites. For instance, we are exploring the connection between viper venoms, which are haemotoxic, and the blood coagulation system. Our team has identified and studied several haemotoxic venom proteins, including a molecule called snaclec from the venom of the Bitis gabonica rhinoceros that blocks a specific protein on platelets and endothelial cells to induce bleeding. We are now focusing on understanding the molecular makeup of snake venom toxins and how they interact with the blood, muscles, and nervous system as well as other tissues, and developing next-generation antivenoms to treat snakebites. Additionally, we are researching the medical uses of venoms from various invertebrates, many of which have never been studied before. Our ultimate goal is to greatly reduce the impact of snakebites in rural communities living in poverty by improving scientific research on venoms and public knowledge about snakes/snakebites.
In addition to our venom research, we are also investigating the mechanisms behind thromboinflammatory processes and creating better strategies to address them in various disease situations. Understanding how various biomolecules work together to control cellular interactions and responses during inflammatory diseases is crucial. Platelets, small blood cells, help control bleeding by causing the blood to clot (haemostasis). However, their unwarranted activation in disease conditions can cause blood clots (thrombosis) within the blood vessels that lead to dangerous conditions like heart attacks and strokes. Although platelets are important in both maintaining healthy blood flow and causing thrombosis, they also play a role in inflammation by interacting with other cells. Our research group is mainly focusing on the interplay of different circulating molecules and receptors involved in inflammation, such as formyl peptide and toll-like receptors, on the surface of platelets, monocytes, and neutrophils, and how they control multicellular interactions and complex functions during the inflammatory responses. Understanding the role of platelets in human health and disease is critical for the development of new treatments for a range of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and inflammatory disorders. Indeed, we are determining the therapeutic potential of numerous natural, synthetic, and venom-derived molecules to control thromboinflammatory responses under various disease settings.
Research centres and groups
Current Group Members
- Dr Elanchezhian Rajan - Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Dr Jose De Almeida - Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Eman Alzahrani - PhD
- Medha Sonavane - PhD
- Anika Salim - PhD
- Pradeep Vijayakumar - PhD
- Soheil Gilabadi - PhD
- Nick Richards - PhD
- Jarred Williams - PhD
- Jomanah Alqallaf - PhD
- Sodiq Adeyemi - PhD
- Soofia Khatibi - PhD
Alumni members
- Dr Divya Ravishankar
- Dr Adam Gadd
- Dr Maryam Salamah
- Dr Harry Williams
- Dr Dina Albadawi
- Dr Kahdr Alatawi
- Dr Thomas Vallance
- Dr Shahtha Alomar
- Mr Harry Layfield
Local Collaborators
- Professor Ketan Patel, School of Biological Sciences
- Professor Jonathan Gibbins, School of Biological Sciences
- Professor Helen Osborn, School of Pharmacy
- Dr Darius Widera, School of Pharmacy
- Dr Andrew Bicknell, School of Biological Sciences
- Dr David Leake, School of Biological Sciences
- Dr Chris Jones, School of Biological Sciences
- Dr Fazil Baksh, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
- Dr Maria Maiaru, School of Pharmacy
National Collaborators
- Mr Steve Trim, Venomtech Ltd, UK
- Professor Martyn Mahaut-Smith, University of Leicester, UK
- Professor Mauro Perretti, William Harvey Research Institute, London, UK
- Professor Sue Brain, Kings College London, UK
- Dr Stephen Paul Samuel, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, UK
International Collaborators
- Professor Andreas Laustsen, Technical University of Denmark
- Professor Ponniah TKS, Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, India
- Dr Subramanian Senthilkumaran, Manian Medical Centre, India
- Dr C Soundara Raj, TCR Multispeciality Hospital, India
- Dr Sundhararajan, Trichy SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, India
- Dr Kartik Sunagar, Indian Institute of Science, India
- Mr Gnaneswar, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, India
- Dr Harry Williams, Toxiven Biotech, India
- Dr Matthew Lewin, California Academy of Sciences, USA
- Mr Steve Miller, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA
- Dr David Mburu, Pwani University, Kenya
Membership in Professional Bodies
- American Heart Association
- International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
- International Society on Toxinology
- British Society for Cardiovascular Research
- British Society for Haematology
- The Physiological Society
- The Platelet Society
Editorial responsibilities
- Guest Editor for two special issues on venoms in Toxins
- Guest Editor for a special collection on venom in Scientific Reports
- Guest Editor for a special issue in Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Editorial board member for Toxins
- Editorial board member for Scientific Reports
- Editorial board member for Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Editorial board member for BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Research projects
Research funding
- 澳门六合彩开奖记录 (2023) Impact funding, £20,000 (PI)
- Medical Research Council (2022) Project grant, £520,000 (PI)
- Medical Research Council (2022) ITTP PhD studentship, £102,000 (PI)
- 澳门六合彩开奖记录 (2021) RETF Research grant, £19,000 (PI)
- The Royal Society (2020) Senior Research Fellowship, £60,000 (PI)
- Global Challenges Research Fund (2020) Policy engagement fund, £26,000 (PI)
- British Heart Foundation (2019) Project grant, £204,000 (PI)
- 澳门六合彩开奖记录 (2018) BOISP Impact Funding (£20,000) (PI)
- Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (2017) PhD Studentship, £150,000 (PI)
- 澳门六合彩开奖记录 (2016) 2020 Research Fellowship, £5000 (PI)
- British Heart Foundation (2016) PhD Studentship, £107,299 (PI)
- Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (2016) PhD Studentship, £150,000 (PI)
- The Wellcome Trust (2016) Seed Award in Science, £98,333 (PI)
- British Heart Foundation (2016) Project Grant, £170,397 (PI)
- Saudi Arabian Embassy (2016) PhD Studentship, £150,000 (PI)
- The Physiological Society (2015) Research Grant, £9936 (PI)
- The Royal Society (2015) Research Grant, £14,999 (PI)
- Saudi Arabian Embassy (2015) PhD Studentship, £138,000 (PI)
Impact, Enterprise, and Outreach
2022: 澳门六合彩开奖记录:
2022: Vikatan magazine:
2022: News18 Tamil TV Channel: .
2022: Chennai Press News;
2022: 澳门六合彩开奖记录;
2021; 澳门六合彩开奖记录; MRC funds new venomous snakebite research
2021: British Heart Foundation;
2021: 澳门六合彩开奖记录; Snakebite venom expert joins WHO roster to address the neglected issue
2021: The Telegraph;
2021: 澳门六合彩开奖记录;
2020: The Hindu;
2020: Berkshire Live/ Get Reading;
2020: The Reading Chronicle;
2020: The Federal;
2019: CNN;
2019: The Times of India;
2019: The Hindu;
2019: 澳门六合彩开奖记录 Blog;
2018: UTC Reading;
2018: 澳门六合彩开奖记录; Life-changing research: shortlist announced for research engagement and impact awards 2018
2017: DhakaTribune;
2017: Scroll.in;
2016: Rural 21;
2015: Scientific American:
2014: The Guardian;
2014: The New York Times;
2014: The Times of India;
2013: 澳门六合彩开奖记录; In a lift with... Dr Sakthivel Vaiyapuri
2007: Reading Post/Get Reading/Berkshire Live:
2006: 澳门六合彩开奖记录 Alumni Magazine;
Awards and honours
2023: Vice President of the Young Academy of India
2022: Young Achiever Award from the Institute of Scholars, India
2022: ‘Fellow’ of the Royal Society of Biology
2022: ‘Teaching Excellence Award’ from the Reading University Students’ Union
2022: ‘Research for a Better World’ competition award from the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2022: ‘Best Research Output Award’ from the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2022: ‘Best Research Project Award’ from the School of Pharmacy, 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2021: Elected as a Fellow of the Young Academy of India
2021: ‘Best Oral Presentation Award’ at the 1st International Electronic Conference on Toxins
2020: Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellowship
2020: Lump Sum Award for Research Excellence from the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2020: ‘Best Research Project Award’ from the School of Pharmacy, 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2019: Research Travel Award from the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2018: ‘Best Research Project Award’ from the Physiological Society
2018: Winner of ‘Research Engagement and Impact Awards 2018’ for the ‘Embark’ category
2017: Celebrating Success Award from the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2017: 2020 Research Fellowship from the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2016: ‘Research Inspired Teaching Excellence Award’ by Reading University Students’ Union
2016: ‘Best Research Project Award’ from the School of Pharmacy, 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2015: ‘Best UROP Research Project Award’ from the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2014: Best Cover Art Award of 2013 at ATVB Conference in Toronto
2014: Finalist for the ‘Kenneth M. Brinkhous Young Investigator Award in Thrombosis’ by the American Heart Association
2013: Best Research Output Award for the Faculty of Life Sciences, 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2010: ICMR research development award, 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2007: Leonard Sutton Scholarship Award for research assistantship, 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2007: Selected (as 1 in 10 in the UK) by British Council to present snake venom research in the ‘International Networking of Young Scientists’ at Slovak Republic
2007: Selected (1/12 in the UK) to present venom research in ‘Young Modellers Forum’ at London
2005: Best overall presentation award received at the International Conference on Poverty and Marginalisation, 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2005: Felix scholarship for PhD at the 澳门六合彩开奖记录
2002: Gnanam Endowment Fellowship for Research at the University of Madras, Chennai, India
2002: University rank holder (4th Rank) award, University of Madras, Chennai, India
2001: Summer Research Fellowship award from the University of Madras, Chennai, India
2001: University rank holder (5th Rank) award, Thanthai Hans Roever College, India
2000: ‘Best Student award’ received at Thanthai Hans Roever College, Tamil Nadu, India
2000: Winner of an intercollege quiz competition at Shrimathi Indira Gandhi College, India