My profile

Biography

Academic and professional qualifications

DPhil (PhD) University of Oxford (2012)
MBiochem University of Oxford (2008)

PGCertTLHE (2020)

Fellow HEA

Good Clinical Practice (March 2017)

Professional Roles

Chair Elect - Platelet Society

External examiner roles

PhD Examination - University of Leeds 2023

PhD Examination - University of Manchester 2023

PhD Examination - University of Hull 2022

PhD Examination - University of Birmingham 2020

PhD Examination - University of Bristol 2020

Editorial Positions and Peer Review

Principal Editor (Editorial Board) - Platelets journal

Peer review for Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Scientific Reports, Platelets and Vascular Pharmacology.

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

Ad hoc reviewer for The British Heart Foundation

Membership of professional associations

Fellow - Higher Education Academy

Member of the Platelet Society

Member of the Biochemical Society 

Member of The British Society for Haemostasis and Thrombosis

Community, charity and NGO links

STEM ambassador

Executive committee member of The Platelet Society

Projects

Projects in my lab are supported by external funding from the British Heart Foundation, Royal Society and CSL Behring, and internal funding from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Self-funded MRes and PhD students are encouraged to get in touch to discuss potential project opportunities.  

Teaching

Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in:

Haematology and Transfusion

Cardiovascular Science

Cell biology and signalling. 

Supervision

Postgraduate Research

Supervision of MRes, PhD and DClinSci Students

Self-funded MRes and PhD students are encouraged to get in touch to discuss potential project opportunities.  

Research outputs

My research interests lie in vascular thrombosis, a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. My research is focussed on understanding the signalling molecules and pathways that regulate vascular thrombosis and how these pathways are altered in disease. By deciphering these molecular mechanisms, we will be able to identify novel multicellular molecular targets for drug development.

Our long-term aim is to deliver effective therapeutic approaches for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, inflammation and venous thrombosis by elucidating the role inflammatory signalling molecules shared by multiple cell types (platelets, megakaryocytes, endothelial cells and leukocytes) play during inflammation and thrombosis.

  • Chapters in books

    Bye, A.P., Unsworth, A.J., Gibbins, J.M. (2018) 'Screening and High-Throughput Platelet Assays..' pp. 81-94.

    Bye, A.P., Ilkan, Z., Unsworth, A.J., Jones, C.I. (2018) 'Immobilization of Nonactivated Unfixed Platelets for Real-Time Single-Cell Analysis..' pp. 1-11.

    Unsworth, A.J., Bye, A.P., Gibbins, J.M. (2017) 'Platelet-derived inhibitors of platelet activation.' Platelets in Thrombotic and Non-Thrombotic Disorders: Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics: an Update. pp. 541-556.

  • Journal articles

    Drysdale, A., Blanco-Lopez, M., White, S.J., Unsworth, A.J., Jones, S. (2024) 'Differential proteoglycan expression in atherosclerosis alters platelet adhesion and activation.' International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(2)

    Mitchell, J., Khan, D., Rana, R., Kriek, N., Unsworth, A., Sage, T., Bye, A., Laffan, M., Shapiro, S., Thakurta, A., Grech, H., Ramasamy, K., Gibbins, J. (2023) 'Multiple myeloma and its treatment contribute to increased platelet reactivity.' Platelets, 34(1) pp. 2264940-2264940.

    Drysdale, A., Unsworth, A.J., White, S.J., Jones, S. (2023) 'The Contribution of Vascular Proteoglycans to Atherothrombosis: Clinical Implications..' International journal of molecular sciences, 24(14)

    Kuravi, S.J., Ahmed, N.S., Taylor, K.A., Capes, E.M., Bye, A., Unsworth, A.J., Gibbins, J.M., Pugh, N. (2023) 'Delineating Zinc Influx Mechanisms during Platelet Activation..' International journal of molecular sciences, 24(14)

    Mitchell, J.L., Little, G., Bye, A.P., Gaspar, R.S., Unsworth, A.J., Kriek, N., Sage, T., Stainer, A., Sangowawa, I., Morrow, G.B., Bastos, R.N., Shapiro, S., Desborough, M.J.R., Curry, N., Gibbins, J.M., Whyte, C.S., Mutch, N.J., Jones, C.I. (2023) 'Platelet factor XIII-A regulates platelet function and promotes clot retraction and stability..' Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis, 7(5)

    Nock, S., Karim, E., Unsworth, A.J. (2023) 'Pim Kinases: Important Regulators of Cardiovascular Disease..' International journal of molecular sciences, 24(14)

    Posner, M.G., Dempsey, N.C., Unsworth, A.J. (2023) 'The Benefits of Using Case Study Focussed, Problem Based Learning Approaches to Unit Design for Biomedical Science Students..' British journal of biomedical science, 80

    Mitchell, J.L., Dunster, J.L., Kriek, N., Unsworth, A.J., Sage, T., Mohammed, Y.M.M., De Simone, I., Taylor, K.A., Bye, A.P., Ólafsson, G., Brunton, M., Mark, S., Dymott, L.D., Whyte, A., Ruparelia, N., Mckenna, C., Gibbins, J.M., Jones, C.I. (2023) 'The rate of platelet activation determines thrombus size and structure at arterial shear..' Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH, 21(8) pp. 2248-2259.

    Albayati, S., Li, N., Unsworth, A.J., Liverani, E. (2022) 'Platelet-lymphocyte co-culture serves as an ex vivo platform of dynamic heterotypic cross-talk..' Journal of cell communication and signaling, 16(4) pp. 661-675.

    Wang, S., Hu, S., Luo, X., Bao, X., Li, J., Liu, M., Lv, Y., Zhao, C., Zeng, M., Chen, X., Unsworth, A., Jones, S., Johnson, T.W., White, S.J., Jia, H., Yu, B. (2022) 'Prevalence and prognostic significance of DNMT3A- and TET2- clonal haematopoiesis-driver mutations in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction..' EBioMedicine, 78

    Kriek, N., Nock, S.H., Sage, T., Khalifa, B., Bye, A.P., Mitchell, J.L., Thomson, S., McLaughlin, M.G., Jones, S., Gibbins, J.M., Unsworth, A.J. (2022) 'Cucurbitacins Elicit Anti-Platelet Activity via Perturbation of the Cytoskeleton and Integrin Function..' Thrombosis and haemostasis, 122(7) pp. 1115-1129.

    Unsworth, A.J., Posner, M.G. (2022) 'Case Study: Using H5P to design and deliver interactive laboratory practicals..' Essays in biochemistry, 66(1) pp. 19-27.

    Dunster, J.L., Bye, A.P., Kriek, N., Sage, T., Mitchell, J.L., Kempster, C., Batista, J., McKinney, H., Thomas, P., Jones, C.I., Downes, K., Unsworth, A.J., Gibbins, J.M. (2021) 'Multiparameter phenotyping of platelet reactivity for stratification of human cohorts..' Blood advances, 5(20) pp. 4017-4030.

    Gaspar, R.S., Unsworth, A.J., Al-Dibouni, A., Bye, A.P., Sage, T., Stewart, M., Wells, S., Cox, R.D., Gibbins, J.M., Sellayah, D., E Hughes, C. (2021) 'Maternal and offspring high-fat diet leads to platelet hyperactivation in male mice offspring..' Scientific reports, 11(1)

    Sahli, K.A., Flora, G.D., Sasikumar, P., Maghrabi, A.H., Holbrook, L.M., AlOuda, S.K., Elgheznawy, A., Sage, T., Stainer, A.R., Adiyaman, R., AboHassan, M., Crescente, M., Kriek, N., Vaiyapuri, S., Bye, A.P., Unsworth, A.J., Jones, C.I., McGuffin, L.J., Gibbins, J.M. (2020) 'Structural, functional, and mechanistic insights uncover the fundamental role of orphan connexin-62 in platelets..' Blood, 137(6) pp. 830-843.

    Unsworth, A.J., Bye, A.P., Sage, T., Gaspar, R.S., Eaton, N., Drew, C., Stainer, A., Kriek, N., Volberding, P.J., Hutchinson, J.L., Riley, R., Jones, S., Mundell, S.J., Cui, W., Falet, H., Gibbins, J.M. (2020) 'Antiplatelet properties of Pim kinase inhibition are mediated through disruption of thromboxane A2 receptor signaling..' Haematologica, 106(7) pp. 1968-1978.

    Flora, G.D., Sahli, K.A., Sasikumar, P., Holbrook, L.M., Stainer, A.R., AlOuda, S.K., Crescente, M., Sage, T., Unsworth, A.J., Gibbins, J.M. (2019) 'Non-genomic effects of the Pregnane X Receptor negatively regulate platelet functions, thrombosis and haemostasis..' Scientific reports, 9(1)

    Dunster, J.L., Unsworth, A.J., Bye, A.P., Haining, E.J., Sowa, M.A., Di, Y., Sage, T., Pallini, C., Pike, J.A., Hardy, A.T., Nieswandt, B., García, Á., Watson, S.P., Poulter, N.S., Gibbins, J.M., Pollitt, A.Y. (2019) 'Interspecies differences in protein expression do not impact the spatiotemporal regulation of glycoprotein VI mediated activation..' Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH, 18(2) pp. 485-496.

    Stainer, A.R., Sasikumar, P., Bye, A.P., Unsworth, A.J., Holbrook, L.M., Tindall, M., Lovegrove, J.A., Gibbins, J.M. (2019) 'The Metabolites of the Dietary Flavonoid Quercetin Possess Potent Antithrombotic Activity, and Interact with Aspirin to Enhance Antiplatelet Effects..' TH open : companion journal to thrombosis and haemostasis, 3(3) pp. e244-e258.

    Unsworth, A.J., Bombik, I., Pinto-Fernandez, A., McGouran, J.F., Konietzny, R., Zahedi, R.P., Watson, S.P., Kessler, B.M., Pears, C.J. (2018) 'Human Platelet Protein Ubiquitylation and Changes following GPVI Activation..' Thrombosis and haemostasis, 119(1) pp. 104-116.

    (2018) 'Bye AP, Unsworth AJ, Desborough MJ, et al. Severe platelet dysfunction in NHL patients receiving ibrutinib is absent in patients receiving acalabrutinib. Blood Adv. 2017;1(26):2610-2623..' Blood advances, 2(23)

    Unsworth, A.J., Bye, A.P., Kriek, N., Sage, T., Osborne, A.A., Donaghy, D., Gibbins, J.M. (2018) 'Cobimetinib and trametinib inhibit platelet MEK but do not cause platelet dysfunction..' Platelets, 30(6) pp. 762-772.

    Sasikumar, P., AlOuda, K.S., Kaiser, W.J., Holbrook, L.M., Kriek, N., Unsworth, A.J., Bye, A.P., Sage, T., Ushioda, R., Nagata, K., Farndale, R.W., Gibbins, J.M. (2018) 'The chaperone protein HSP47: a platelet collagen binding protein that contributes to thrombosis and hemostasis..' Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH, 16(5) pp. 946-959.

    Unsworth, A.J., Flora, G.D., Gibbins, J.M. (2018) 'Non-genomic effects of nuclear receptors: insights from the anucleate platelet..' Cardiovascular research, 114(5) pp. 645-655.

    Bye, A.P., Unsworth, A.J., Desborough, M.J., Hildyard, C.A.T., Appleby, N., Bruce, D., Kriek, N., Nock, S.H., Sage, T., Hughes, C.E., Gibbins, J.M. (2017) 'Severe platelet dysfunction in NHL patients receiving ibrutinib is absent in patients receiving acalabrutinib..' Blood advances, 1(26) pp. 2610-2623.

    Unsworth, A.J., Bye, A.P., Tannetta, D.S., Desborough, M.J.R., Kriek, N., Sage, T., Allan, H.E., Crescente, M., Yaqoob, P., Warner, T.D., Jones, C.I., Gibbins, J.M. (2017) 'Farnesoid X Receptor and Liver X Receptor Ligands Initiate Formation of Coated Platelets..' Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 37(8) pp. 1482-1493.

    Unsworth, A.J., Flora, G.D., Sasikumar, P., Bye, A.P., Sage, T., Kriek, N., Crescente, M., Gibbins, J.M. (2017) 'RXR Ligands Negatively Regulate Thrombosis and Hemostasis..' Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 37(5) pp. 812-822.

    Unsworth, A.J., Kriek, N., Bye, A.P., Naran, K., Sage, T., Flora, G.D., Gibbins, J.M. (2017) 'PPARγ agonists negatively regulate αIIbβ3 integrin outside-in signaling and platelet function through up-regulation of protein kinase A activity..' Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH, 15(2) pp. 356-369.

    Moraes, L.A., Unsworth, A.J., Vaiyapuri, S., Ali, M.S., Sasikumar, P., Sage, T., Flora, G.D., Bye, A.P., Kriek, N., Dorchies, E., Molendi-Coste, O., Dombrowicz, D., Staels, B., Bishop-Bailey, D., Gibbins, J.M. (2016) 'Farnesoid X Receptor and Its Ligands Inhibit the Function of Platelets..' Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 36(12) pp. 2324-2333.

    Bye, A.P., Unsworth, A.J., Gibbins, J.M. (2016) 'Platelet signaling: a complex interplay between inhibitory and activatory networks..' Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH, 14(5) pp. 918-930.

    Darby, R.A.J., Unsworth, A., Knapp, S., Kerr, I.D., Callaghan, R. (2015) 'Overcoming ABCG2-mediated drug resistance with imidazo-[1,2-b]-pyridazine-based Pim1 kinase inhibitors..' Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology, 76(4) pp. 853-864.

    Bye, A.P., Unsworth, A.J., Vaiyapuri, S., Stainer, A.R., Fry, M.J., Gibbins, J.M. (2015) 'Ibrutinib Inhibits Platelet Integrin αIIbβ3 Outside-In Signaling and Thrombus Stability But Not Adhesion to Collagen..' Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 35(11) pp. 2326-2335.

    Vaiyapuri, S., Roweth, H., Ali, M.S., Unsworth, A.J., Stainer, A.R., Flora, G.D., Crescente, M., Jones, C.I., Moraes, L.A., Gibbins, J.M. (2015) 'Pharmacological actions of nobiletin in the modulation of platelet function..' British journal of pharmacology, 172(16) pp. 4133-4145.

    Vaiyapuri, S., Sage, T., Rana, R.H., Schenk, M.P., Ali, M.S., Unsworth, A.J., Jones, C.I., Stainer, A.R., Kriek, N., Moraes, L.A., Gibbins, J.M. (2015) 'EphB2 regulates contact-dependent and contact-independent signaling to control platelet function..' Blood, 125(4) pp. 720-730.

    Unsworth, A.J., Finney, B.A., Navarro-Nunez, L., Severin, S., Watson, S.P., Pears, C.J. (2013) 'PKC epsilon and PKC theta double-deficient mice have a bleeding diathesis (vol 10, pg 1887, 2012).' JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, 11(1) pp. 217-217.

    Unsworth, A.J., Finney, B.A., Navarro-Nunez, L., Severin, S., Watson, S.P., Pears, C.J. (2012) 'Protein kinase Cε and protein kinase Cθ double-deficient mice have a bleeding diathesis..' Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH, 10(9) pp. 1887-1894.

    Unsworth, A.J., Smith, H., Gissen, P., Watson, S.P., Pears, C.J. (2011) 'Submaximal inhibition of protein kinase C restores ADP-induced dense granule secretion in platelets in the presence of Ca2+..' The Journal of biological chemistry, 286(24) pp. 21073-21082.

  • Conference papers

    Bye, A., Kriek, N., Sage, T., Mitchell, J., Donaghy, D., Gibbins, J., Unsworth, A. (2019) 'Novel anti-platelet properties of dietary cucurbitacins.' In The Platelet Society Meeting. Jesus College, Cambridge, 12/9/2019 - 13/9/2019.

    Unsworth, A., Bye, A., Sage, T., Hutchinson, J., Kriek, N., Mundell, S., Gibbins, J. (2017) 'Inhibition of Platelet Activity by Pim Kinase Inhibitors. A Novel Mechanism of Regulation of Thromboxane A2 Receptor Signalling.' In 1st Italian-UK Platelet Meeting. University of Bath, 7/9/2017 - 8/9/2017.

    Unsworth, A., Bye, A., Sage, T., Kriek, N., Hutchinson, J., Mundell, S., Gibbins, J. (2017) 'Inhibition of Platelet Activity by Pim Kinase Inhibitors. A Novel Mechanism of Regulation of Thromboxane A2 Receptor Signalling.' In Gordon Research Conference, Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets. Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Via Giovanni Pascoli Lucca (Barga), IT, 26/2/2017 - 3/3/2017.

    Unsworth, A., Sasikumar, P., Bye, A., Kriek, N., Sageq, T., Schenk, M., Jones, C., Gibbins, J. (2015) 'Nuclear receptor dependent formation of COATED platelets, inhibits activation to platelet agonists.' In Congress International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2015. Toronto, 20/6/2015 - 25/6/2015.

    Holbrook, L.M., Brunt, E., Mitchell, K., Ooms, M., Galinski, C., Unsworth, A., Gibbins, J., Kennedy, D. (2015) 'The identification and characterization of cinnamaldehyde analogs, as novel small molecule inhibitors of platelet-surface ERP57.' 13. WILEY-BLACKWELL, pp. 914-915.

    Unsworth, A., Kriek, N., Sage, T., Gibbins, J. (2014) 'Non-genomic effects of nuclear receptors: Different mechanisms of regulation of outside–in signalling in platelets..' In 2nd European Platelet Network Meeting. Le Bischenberg, France, 25/9/2014 - 26/9/2014.

    Unsworth, A., Kriek, N., Sage, T., Moraes, L., Gibbins, B. (2014) 'Non-genomic effects of nuclear receptors: Different mechanisms of regulation of outside–in signalling in platelets..' In Gordon Research Conference for Haemostasis. Waterville Valley, NH, US, 27/7/2014 - 1/8/2014.