Dr Virginia Hawkins
Senior Lecturer
Research interests in glial cell physiology and respiratory neurophysiology. Teaching in Physiological Systems and Neuroscience.
My profile
Biography
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
PhD Neurophysiology - University of Portsmouth 2009
PgCert LTHE (2021)
Fellow HEA
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow - Higher Education Academy
Member of Society for Neuroscience
Member of American Physiological Society
Member of The Physiological Society
Member of the Anatomical Society
Member of British Neuroscience Association
Member of The Institute of Biomedical Science
Interests and expertise
Research interests in glial cell physiology and respiratory neurophysiology. Teaching in Physiological Systems and Neuroscience.
Projects
Projects in my lab are supported by external funding from the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre 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 TEACHING
PHYSIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS UNIT LEAD - BSc BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE/ HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY/ HUMAN BIOSCIENCE/ HEALTHCARE SCIENCE
ADVANCED CELLULAR AND HUMAN NEUROSCIENCES UNIT LEAD - BSc HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
POSTGRADUATE TEACHING
CARDIORESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY FOR MSc HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
SUPERVISION
Postgraduate Student Supervision
Supervision of MSc Clinical Sciences/ MSc Human Physiology Projects, DClinSci and PhD projects.
Self-funded MRes and PhD students are encouraged to get in touch to discuss potential project opportunities.
Research outputs
My research focus is on the roles of neuron-glial-vascular communication in normal CNS function in the brain and in brainstem respiratory control regions. My particular interests lie in altered glial potassium ion channel and glial/vascular purinergic receptor expression in aging respiratory control centres and their role in the prognosis and pathophysiology of age-related brain disorders including conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
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Journal articles
Cleary, C.M., Browning, J.L., Armbruster, M., Sobrinho, C.R., Strain, M.L., Jahanbani, S., Soto-Perez, J., Hawkins, V.E., Dulla, C.G., Olsen, M.L., Mulkey, D.K. (2024) 'Kir4.1 channels contribute to astrocyte CO
2 /H+-sensitivity and the drive to breathe.' Communications Biology, 7(1)James, S.D., Hawkins, V.E., Falquetto, B., Ruskin, D.N., Masino, S.A., Moreira, T.S., Olsen, M.L., Mulkey, D.K. (2018) 'Adenosine Signaling through A1 Receptors Inhibits Chemosensitive Neurons in the Retrotrapezoid Nucleus..' eNeuro, 5(6) pp. 0404-0418.
Hawkins, V.E., Takakura, A.C., Trinh, A., Malheiros-Lima, M.R., Cleary, C.M., Wenker, I.C., Dubreuil, T., Rodriguez, E.M., Nelson, M.T., Moreira, T.S., Mulkey, D.K. (2017) 'Purinergic regulation of vascular tone in the retrotrapezoid nucleus is specialized to support the drive to breathe.' eLife, 6pp. e25232-e25232.
Butt, A.M., Vanzulli, I., Papanikolaou, M., De La Rocha, I.C., Hawkins, V.E. (2017) 'Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Protect Oligodendrocytes from Acute Ischemia in the Mouse Optic Nerve..' Neurochemical research, 42(9) pp. 2468-2478.
Niday, Z., Hawkins, V.E., Soh, H., Mulkey, D.K., Tzingounis, A.V. (2017) 'Epilepsy-associated KCNQ2 channels regulate multiple intrinsic properties of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons.' Journal of Neuroscience, 37(3)
Brasko, C., Hawkins, V., De La Rocha, I.C., Butt, A.M. (2017) 'Expression of Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 inwardly rectifying potassium channels in oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS.' BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION, 222(1) pp. 41-59.
Patterson, K.C., Hawkins, V.E., Arps, K.M., Mulkey, D.K., Olsen, M.L. (2016) 'MeCP2 deficiency results in robust Rett-like behavioural and motor deficits in male and female rats.' Human Molecular Genetics, 25(15) pp. 3303-3320.
Mulkey, D.K., Hawkins, V.E., Hawryluk, J.M., Takakura, A.C., Moreira, T.S., Tzingounis, A.V. (2015) 'Molecular underpinnings of ventral surface chemoreceptor function: focus on KCNQ channels.' JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 593(5) pp. 1075-1081.
Hawkins, V.E., Hawrvluk, J.M., Takakura, A.C., Tzingounis, A.V., Moreira, T.S., Mulkey, D.K. (2015) 'HCN channels contribute to serotonergic modulation of ventral surface chemosensitive neurons and respiratory activity.' JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY, 113(4) pp. 1195-1205.
Hawkins, V., Butt, A. (2013) 'TASK-1 channels in oligodendrocytes: A role in ischemia mediated disruption.' NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE, 55pp. 87-94.
Bay, V., Butt, A.M. (2012) 'Relationship between glial potassium regulation and axon excitability: A role for glial Kir4.1 channels.' GLIA, 60(4) pp. 651-660.
Butt, A.M., Bay, V. (2011) 'Axon-glial interactions in the central nervous system INTRODUCTION.' JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, 219(1) pp. 1-1.
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Conference papers
Hawkins, V. (2023) 'Brainstem astrocyte Kir4.1 potassium channel expression in the rat TgF344-AD model of Alzheimer's disease.' In Summer Meeting of the Anatomical Society: Dublin 2022. pp. 720-720.
Moreira, T., Moreira, T.S., Takakura, A.C., Mulkey, D.K. (2018) 'Purinergic regulation of vascular tone in the retrotrapezoid nucleus is specialized to support the drive to breathe.' 14. SPRINGER, pp. S65-S65.