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- About us
https://webcdn.mmu.ac.uk/profiles/img/profile-images/Jim-Man-Met-Lab-2021-crop-145x145-617ff3aa16884.jpeg
BSc Biochemistry, University of Leeds 2002
PhD, University of Manchester, 2006
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2014
Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, 2018
PGCert in Higher Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2018
April 2020 - July 2020: Volunteer, COVID-19 Lighthouse Laboratory, Alderley Park.
I was seconded to work shifts running qPCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). I processed swabs to extract the viral RNA for testing by qPCR.
2009 – 2017: University of Manchester, Institute of Human Development
• MRC Post Doc in the Liver Fibrosis Group of Dr Karen Piper Hanley
My work in Dr Karen Piper Hanley’s group at the University of Manchester has identified the transcription factor SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (SOX9) as a key regulator of organ fibrosis. In collaboration with Professor Derek Mann’s group at Newcastle University I used culture activation of primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as an in vitro model to study the role of SOX9 during liver fibrosis (Pritchett et al, Hepatology 2012 and Pritchett et al, PLOS One 2014). Building on our in vitro data I used in vivo models of organ fibrosis and conditional deletion of SOX9 to provide insight in to the importance of SOX9 during fibrosis in vivo (Pritchett et al, EMBO Mol Med 2017). I have also published data showing that the increased tissue stiffness associated with fibrosis can influence cell phenotype and tissue regeneration via mechano-sensitive signalling mechanisms (Pritchett et al, Nat Comms 2016).
2012: Mount Sinai Medical Centre, New York, Division of Liver Diseases
• Manchester BRC Visiting Postdoctoral fellow in Professor Scott Friedman’s liver laboratory.
To support my work in Manchester I visited Mount Sinai where I learnt in vivo surgical techniques relevant to studying liver fibrosis.
2006 – 2009: University of Manchester, Cardiovascular Research Group
• British Heart Foundation Post Doc with Dr V Ohanian and Dr J Ohanian.
To better understand hypertension I studied the intracellular signalling events responsible for regulating vascular smooth muscle contraction in small resistance arteries. Using rat small mesenteric arteries and vascular smooth muscle cell culture I studied the regulation of small resistance artery contractility by noradrenalin. Using techniques including immunoprecipitation, enzyme activity assays, and subcellular fractionation I showed that in small resistance arteries noradrenalin signals via the α1D-adrenergic receptor to activate phospholipase C and phosphorylate the cytoskeleton associated protein adducin, resulting in increased vascular tone.
2002 – 2003: AstraZeneca, Cancer & Infection Research Area
• Graduate position working with Dr Simon Barry.
2000 -2001: GlaxoSmithKline, Vascular Biology
• Placement student in Dr G Martin Benson’s Atherosclerosis Research Group
1st year units:
Research Skills and Employability
2nd year units:
Techniques and Applications in Biomedical Science (unit leader)
Blood Science
3rd year units:
Genetics, DNA and Disease
Integrated Pathology
Physiology of Ageing
MSc Units:
Analytical Techniques in Biomedical Science (Unit Leader)
Advanced Biological Aspects of Disease
Research Methods and Ethics in Biomedical Sciences
Talvinder Boghal MRes University of Manchester 2014 (co-supervisor)
Pritesh Patel, MBMS, Manchester Metropolitan University (2019)
Olivia Comella, MSc, Manchester Metropolitan University (2019)
Jennifer Scott, Clinical PhD Fellow, University of Manchester, in progress (advisor)
James Pilkington, Clinical PhD Fellow, Manchester Metropolitan University, in progress (advisor)
VS. Athwal, J. Pritchett, J. Llewellyn, K. Martin, E. Camacho, et al. SMA. Raza, A. Phythian‐Adams, LJ. Birchall, AF. Mullan, K. Su, L. Pearmain, G. Dolman, AM. Zaitoun, SL. Friedman, A. MacDonald, WL. Irving, IN. Guha, NA. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2017). SOX9 predicts progression toward cirrhosis in patients while its loss protects against liver fibrosis. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 9(12), pp.1696-1710.
K. Martin, J. Pritchett, J. Llewellyn, AF. Mullan, VS. Athwal, et al. R. Dobie, E. Harvey, L. Zeef, S. Farrow, C. Streuli, NC. Henderson, SL. Friedman, NA. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2016). PAK proteins and YAP-1 signalling downstream of integrin beta-1 in myofibroblasts promote liver fibrosis. Nature Communications. 7,
J. Pritchett, E. Harvey, V. Athwal, A. Berry, C. Rowe, et al. F. Oakley, A. Moles, DA. Mann, N. Bobola, AD. Sharrocks, BJ. Thomson, AM. Zaitoun, WL. Irving, IN. Guha, NA. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2012). Osteopontin is a novel downstream target of SOX9 with diagnostic implications for progression of liver fibrosis in humans. Hepatology. 56(3), pp.1108-1116.
J. Pritchett, V. Athwal, N. Roberts, NA. Hanley, KP. Hanley (2011). Understanding the role of SOX9 in acquired diseases: lessons from development. Trends Mol Med. 17(3), pp.166-174.
E. Jokl, AF. Mullan, K. Simpson, L. Birchall, L. Pearmain, et al. K. Martin, J. Pritchett, S. Raza, R. Shah, NW. Hodson, CJ. Williams, E. Camacho, L. Zeef, I. Donaldson, VS. Athwal, NA. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2023). PAK1-dependent mechanotransduction enables myofibroblast nuclear adaptation and chromatin organization during fibrosis. Cell Rep. 42(11), pp.113414-113414.
L. Martínez Silvagnoli, C. Shepherd, J. Pritchett, J. Gardner (2022). Optimizing Readability and Format of Plain Language Summaries for Medical Research Articles: Cross-sectional Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 24(1), pp.e22122-e22122.
JJ. Pilkington, TW. Davies, O. Schaff, MY. Alexander, J. Pritchett, et al. FL. Wilkinson, AJ. Sheen. (2021). Systemic biomarkers currently implicated in the formation of abdominal wall hernia: A systematic review of the literature. Am J Surg. 222(1), pp.56-66.
VS. Athwal, J. Pritchett, K. Martin, J. Llewellyn, J. Scott, et al. E. Harvey, AM. Zaitoun, AF. Mullan, LAH. Zeef, SL. Friedman, WL. Irving, NA. Hanley, IN. Guha, K. Piper Hanley. (2018). SOX9 regulated matrix proteins are increased in patients serum and correlate with severity of liver fibrosis. Scientific Reports. 8,
VS. Athwal, J. Pritchett, J. Llewellyn, K. Martin, E. Camacho, et al. SMA. Raza, A. Phythian‐Adams, LJ. Birchall, AF. Mullan, K. Su, L. Pearmain, G. Dolman, AM. Zaitoun, SL. Friedman, A. MacDonald, WL. Irving, IN. Guha, NA. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2017). SOX9 predicts progression toward cirrhosis in patients while its loss protects against liver fibrosis. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 9(12), pp.1696-1710.
K. Martin, J. Pritchett, J. Llewellyn, AF. Mullan, VS. Athwal, et al. R. Dobie, E. Harvey, L. Zeef, S. Farrow, C. Streuli, NC. Henderson, SL. Friedman, NA. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2016). PAK proteins and YAP-1 signalling downstream of integrin beta-1 in myofibroblasts promote liver fibrosis. Nature Communications. 7,
J. Pritchett, VS. Athwal, E. Harvey, K. Martin, J. Llewellyn, et al. P. Ireland, A. Nicolaides, MJ. Humphries, N. Bobola, NA. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2014). Epimorphin alters the inhibitory effects of SOX9 on Mmp13 in activated hepatic stellate cells. PloS one. 9(6),
J. Pritchett, E. Harvey, V. Athwal, A. Berry, C. Rowe, et al. F. Oakley, A. Moles, DA. Mann, N. Bobola, AD. Sharrocks, BJ. Thomson, AM. Zaitoun, WL. Irving, IN. Guha, NA. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2012). Osteopontin is a novel downstream target of SOX9 with diagnostic implications for progression of liver fibrosis in humans. Hepatology. 56(3), pp.1108-1116.
J. Pritchett, V. Athwal, N. Roberts, NA. Hanley, KP. Hanley (2011). Understanding the role of SOX9 in acquired diseases: lessons from development. Trends Mol Med. 17(3), pp.166-174.
CJ. Clarke, S. Forman, J. Pritchett, V. Ohanian, J. Ohanian (2008). Phospholipase C-delta1 modulates sustained contraction of rat mesenteric small arteries in response to noradrenaline, but not endothelin-1. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 295(2), pp.H826-H834.
A. Liapi, J. Pritchett, O. Jones, N. Fujii, JG. Parnavelas, et al. B. Nadarajah. (2008). Stromal-derived factor 1 signalling regulates radial and tangential migration in the developing cerebral cortex. Dev Neurosci. 30(1-3), pp.117-131.
J. Pritchett, C. Wright, L. Zeef, B. Nadarajah (2007). Stromal derived factor-1 exerts differential regulation on distinct cortical cell populations in vitro. BMC Developmental Biology. 7,
SL. Parkin, JP. Pritchett, DC. Grimsditch, KR. Bruckdorfer, PK. Sahota, et al. A. Lloyd, P. Overend, GM. Benson. (2004). Circulating levels of the chemokines JE and KC in female C3H apolipoprotein-E-deficient and C57BL apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice as potential markers of atherosclerosis development. Biochem Soc Trans. 32(Pt 1), pp.128-130.
J. Gardner, LMI. Silvagnoli, C. Shepherd, J. Pritchett (2019). Evaluation of plain-language summaries (PLSs): optimizing readability and format. In: CURRENT MEDICAL RESEARCH AND OPINION. pp.36-36.
J. Scott, E. Jokl, J. Pritchett, A. Jones, P. Barry, et al. KP. Hanley, V. Athwal. (2019). PS-198-Fibroscan improves diagnosis of cystic fibrosis related liver disease. In: Journal of Hepatology. Vienna, AUSTRIA, 10/4/2019. pp.e122-e123.
V. Athwal, J. Pritchett, J. Scott, K. Martin, W. Irving, et al. N. Guha, N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2019). PS-090-SOX9 regulates extracellular matrix proteins in liver fibrosis that correlate with severity of fibrosis. In: Journal of Hepatology. Vienna, AUSTRIA, 10/4/2019. pp.e57-e57.
A. Chauhan, T. Lalor, S. Watson, D. Adams, TE. Farrah, et al. A. Anand, R. Kimmitt, NL. Mills, DJ. Webb, N. Dhaun, R. Kalla, A. Adams, S. Vatn, F. Bonfliglio, E. Nimmo, N. Kennedy, N. Ventham, M. Vatn, P. Ricanek, J. Halfvarson, J. Soderhollm, M. Pierik, L. Torkvist, F. Gomollon, I. Gut, J. Jahnsen, J. Satsangi, R. Body, M. Almashali, G. McDowell, P. Taylor, A. Lacey, A. Rees, . Ludgate, C. Dayan, J. Lazarus, S. Nelson, O. Okosieme, D. Corcoran, R. Young, P. Ciadella, P. McCartney, A. Bajrangee, B. Hennigan, D. Collison, D. Carrick, A. Shaukat, R. Good, S. Watkins, M. McEntegart, J. Watt, P. Welsh, N. Sattar, A. McConnachie, K. Oldroyd, C. Berry, T. Parks, K. Auckland, AJ. Mentzer, J. Kado, MM. Mirabel, JK. Kauwe, KJ. Robson, B. Mittal, AC. Steer, AVS. Hill, M. Akbar, M. Forrester, AT. Virlan, A. Gilmour, C. Wallace, C. Paterson, D. Reid, S. Siebert, D. Porter, J. Liversidge, I. McInnes, C. Goodyear, V. Athwal, J. Pritchett, A. Zaitoun, W. Irving, IN. Guha, NA. Hanley, KP. Hanley, T. Briggs, J. Reynolds, G. Rice, V. Bondet, E. Bruce, Y. Crow, D. Duffy, B. Parker, I. Bruce, K. Martin, J. Pritchett, M. Aoibheann Mullan, J. Llewellyn, V. Athwal, L. Zeef, S. Farrow, C. Streuli, N. Henderson, S. Friedman, N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2018). Scientific Business Abstracts of the 112th Annual Meeting of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. In: QJM. England, pp.920-924.
A. Chauhan, T. Lalor, S. Watson, D. Adams, TE. Farrah, et al. A. Anand, R. Kimmitt, NL. Mills, DJ. Webb, N. Dhaun, R. Kalla, A. Adams, S. Vatn, F. Bonfliglio, E. Nimmo, N. Kennedy, N. Ventham, M. Vatn, P. Ricanek, J. Halfvarson, J. Soderhollm, M. Pierik, L. Torkvist, F. Gomollon, I. Gut, J. Jahnsen, J. Satsangi, R. Body, M. Almashali, G. McDowell, P. Taylor, A. Lacey, A. Rees, C. Dayan, J. Lazarus, S. Nelson, O. Okosieme, D. Corcoran, R. Young, P. Ciadella, P. McCartney, A. Bajrangee, B. Hennigan, D. Collison, D. Carrick, A. Shaukat, R. Good, S. Watkins, M. McEntegart, J. Watt, P. Welsh, N. Sattar, A. McConnachie, K. Oldroyd, C. Berry, T. Parks, K. Auckland, AJ. Mentzer, J. Kado, MM. Mirabel, JK. Kauwe, KJ. Robson, B. Mittal, AC. Steer, AVS. Hill, M. Akbar, M. Forrester, AT. Virlan, A. Gilmour, C. Wallace, C. Paterson, D. Reid, S. Siebert, D. Porter, J. Liversidge, I. McInnes, C. Goodyear, V. Athwal, J. Pritchett, A. Zaitoun, W. Irving, IN. Guha, NA. Hanley, KP. Hanley, T. Briggs, J. Reynolds, G. Rice, V. Bondet, E. Bruce, Y. Crow, D. Duffy, B. Parker, I. Bruce, K. Martin, J. Pritchett, M. Aoibheann Mullan, J. Llewellyn, V. Athwal, L. Zeef, S. Farrow, C. Streuli, N. Henderson, S. Friedman, N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2018). Scientific Business Abstracts of the 112th Annual Meeting of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. In: QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians. pp.920-924.
V. Clausi, C. Shepherd, J. Gardner, J. Pritchett, A. Berrie (2018). Do corresponding authors value the support of professional medical writers?. In: CURRENT MEDICAL RESEARCH AND OPINION. pp.33-33.
VS. Athwal, J. Pritchett, A. Zaitoun, W. Irving, IN. Guha, et al. N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2017). SOX9 predicts progression of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In: HEPATOLOGY. Washington, DC, 20/10/2017. pp.239A-239A.
J. Pritchett, J. Llewellyn, VS. Athwal, K. Martin, E. Harvey, et al. SL. Friedman, N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2017). YAP Regulated SOX9 Expression Promotes Liver Fibrosis. In: HEPATOLOGY. Washington, DC, 20/10/2017. pp.209A-210A.
JP. Pritchett, K. Martin, J. Llewellyn, D. Henderson, V. Athwal, et al. N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2014). MECHANOSENSITIVE SIGNALLING VIA Yap/Taz DURING HEPATIC STELLATE CELL ACTIVATION. In: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. London, ENGLAND, 9/4/2014. pp.S274-S275.
K. Martin, J. Pritchett, E. Harvey, V. Athwal, J. Llewellyn, et al. C. Streuli, L. Zeef, N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2014). INTEGRIN beta 1 REGULATES HEPATIC STELLATE CELL ACTIVATION VIA THE ACTIN MYOSIN CYTOSKELETON. In: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. London, ENGLAND, 9/4/2014. pp.S276-S276.
JP. Pritchett, K. Martin, J. Llewellyn, D. Henderson, V. Athwal, et al. N. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2014). P617 MECHANOSENSITIVE SIGNALLING VIA Yap/Taz DURING HEPATIC STELLATE CELL ACTIVATION. In: Journal of Hepatology. pp.S274-S275.
K. Martin, J. Pritchett, E. Harvey, V. Athwal, J. Llewellyn, et al. C. Streuli, L. Zeef, N. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2014). P621 INTEGREN β1 REGULATES HEPATIC STELLATE CELL ACTIVATION VIA THE ACTIN MYOSIN CYTOSKELETON. In: Journal of Hepatology. pp.S276-S276.
K. Martin, J. Pritchett, E. Harvey, V. Athwal, C. Streuli, et al. N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2013). UNDERSTANDING INTEGRIN SIGNALLING DURING LIVER FIBROSIS PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO THEIR MODULATION AS A THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY TO TREAT THE DISEASE. In: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS, 24/4/2013. pp.S458-S458.
K. Martin, J. Pritchett, E. Harvey, V. Athwal, C. Streuli, et al. N. Hanley, K. Piper Hanley. (2013). 1123 UNDERSTANDING INTEGRIN SIGNALLING DURING LIVER FIBROSIS PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO THEIR MODULATION AS A THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY TO TREAT THE DISEASE. In: Journal of Hepatology. pp.S458-S458.
J. Pritchett, V. Athwal, E. Harvey, K. Martin, P. Ireland, et al. AT. Nicolaides, W. Irving, IN. Guha, N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2012). Epimorphin signaling is associated with a quiescent-like HSC phenotype with implications for non invasive assay development in liver fibrosis. In: HEPATOLOGY. Boston, MA, 9/11/2012. pp.775A-775A.
V. Athwal, J. Pritchett, E. Harvey, P. Ireland, K. Martin, et al. GE. Dolman, W. Irving, IN. Guha, N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2012). Identification of SOX9 extracellular matrix targets in liver fibrosis provides insight into novel biomarkers of disease. In: HEPATOLOGY. Boston, MA, 9/11/2012. pp.262A-262A.
J. Pritchett, V. Athwal, E. Harvey, F. Oakley, D. Mann, et al. N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2010). SOX9 IS A CRITICAL REGULATOR OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX DEPOSITION DURING LIVER FIBROSIS. In: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. Vienna, AUSTRIA, 14/4/2010. pp.S47-S47.
J. Pritchett, V. Athwal, E. Harvey, F. Oakley, D. Mann, et al. N. Hanley, KP. Hanley. (2010). 104 SOX9 IS A CRITICAL REGULATOR OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX DEPOSITION DURING LIVER FIBROSIS. In: Journal of Hepatology. pp.S47-S47.
J. Pritchett, VS. Athwal, E. Harvey, F. Oakley, DA. Mann, et al. N. Hanley, K. Piper-Hanley. (2010). OC-028 Identification of SOX9 as a novel mechanism to explain aspects of liver fibrosis. In: Gut. Liverpool, ENGLAND, 22/3/2010. pp.A12.1-A12.
J. Pritchett, S. Harris, V. Ohanian, J. Ohanian (2008). Activation of phospholipase C and alpha 1D adrenoreceptors in rat mesenteric small arteries. In: HYPERTENSION. Nice, FRANCE, 10/10/2008. pp.769-769.
CJ. Clarke, S. Forman, J. Pritchett, V. Ohanian, J. Ohanian (2008). Phospholipase C alpha 1 modulates sustained contraction of rat mesenteric small arteries in response to noradrenaline, but not endothelin-1. In: HYPERTENSION. Nice, FRANCE, 10/10/2008. pp.769-769.
J. Pritchett, C. Wright, L. Zeef, B. Nadarajah (2006). [P140]: Sdf‐1/Cxcr4 signalling regulates proliferation during cortical development. In: International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience. Banff, CANADA, 24/8/2006. pp.556-556.
J. Pritchett (2002). My experience of work placement. In: Biochemical Society Transactions. pp.A26-A26.
British Heart Foundation
Guts UK Development Grant (2020) Decoding Yes Associated Protein 1 driven hepatic stellate cell activation.
I was filmed by the Royal Society of Biology during their "Ask a Biologist" Event at New Scientist Live: https://youtu.be/1WWEBV7XqAA
I was interviewed for an episode of The Neutrinos Are Mutating Podcast. I discussed the "science" behind the film Deadpool and the possibilities offered by regenerative medicine in the future: https://tnampodcast.com/regeneration/
I am working in partnership with Abraham Moss Warriors community sports club in North Manchester to develop and run an evening science club. This is funded by the Wellcome Trust and BBC Children in Need's Curiosity Project. In summer 2018 the young scientists from the club spent a week on campus doing hands on science activities. This finished with a graduation ceremony where the children made presentations about what they had learned.
Royal Society Westminster Pairing Scheme. In December 2017 I spent a week in westminster paired with Manchester MP Lucy Powell: https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/research/news-and-events/story/?id=6799
• Aegean Conferences Presentation Prize (Sept 2016)
• European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Registration Bursary (Feb 2014)
• 2 British Association for the Study of the Liver Presentation Prizes (Sept 2012 & June 2014)
• 2 EASL Travel Bursaries (Feb 2010, Jan 2011)
• British Heart Foundation travel grant (Oct 2008)
• BRAIN travel awards (Nov 2005, Aug 2006)
British Heart Foundation
Honorary Lecturer, University of Manchester
Royal Society of Biology
The Biochemical Society
British Association for the Study of the Liver
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy