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Dr Ashton Faulkner

PhD
Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences

Department: Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Campus: Camden

Research Groups: Cardiovascular and Renal Biology

Dr Ashton Faulkner is a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences and pursues a research programme in cardiovascular molecular metabolism.

The overarching research aim of the Faulkner lab is to further our mechanistic understanding of how molecular sensors and modulators of metabolism regulate cellular function in different cell types of the cardiovascular system. Of particular interest is understanding the molecular control of fatty acid channelling within vascular cells and how this is modulated during the establishment of cardio-metabolic disease. The goal is to harness this knowledge in the design of novel therapeutic interventions to facilitate cardiovascular protection and repair.

  • Finding, E.J.T. Faulkner, A. Nash, L. & Wheeler-Jones, C.P.D. (2024). Equine endothelial cells show pro-angiogenic behaviours in response to FGF2 but not VEGF-A. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25: 6017
  • Gu, Y. Avolio, E. Alvino, V V. Thomas, A C. Herman, A. Miller, P J. Sullivan, N. Faulkner, A. & Madeddu, P. (2023). The senolytic agent dasatinib reduces cardiac steatosis and improves diastolic function in obese, type 2 diabetic mice. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 22: 214.
  • Jover, E. Faulkner, A. Madeddu, P. & Lopez-Andrés, N. (2022). Editorial: Inflammation, metabolism and epigenetics in valvular heart disease. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 9: 880015.
  • Lopez Rioja, A. Faulkner, A. & Mellor, H. (2022). srGAP2 terminates RhoA signaling to control the duration of thrombin-mediated endothelial permeability. Vascular Biology, 4 (1): K1-K10
  • Faulkner, A. (2021). Trans-endothelial trafficking of metabolic substrates and its importance in cardio-metabolic disease. Biochemical Society Transactions, 49 (1): 507-517
  • Jover, E. Fagnano, M. Cathery, W. Slater, S. Pisanu, E. Gu, Y. Avolio, E. Bruno, D. Baz-Lopez, D. Faulkner, A. Carrabba, M. Angelini, G. & Madeddu, P. (2021). Human adventitial pericytes provide a unique source of anti-calcific cells for cardiac valve engineering: Role of microRNA-132-3p. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 165: 137-151
  • Cathery, W. Faulkner, A. Jover, E. Rodriguez-Arabaolaza, I. Thomas, A. Avolio, E. Caputo, M. & Madeddu, P. (2021). Umbilical cord pericytes provide a viable alternative to mesenchymal stem cells for neonatal vascular engineering. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 7: 609980
  • Faulkner, A. Tamiato, A. Cathery, W. Rampin, A. Maria Caravaggi, C. Jover, E. Allen, S. Mellor, H. Hauton, D. Heather, L.C. Spinetti, G. & Madeddu, P. (2020). Dimethyl-2-oxoglutarate improves redox balance and mitochondrial function in muscle pericytes of individuals with diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia, 63 (10): 2205-2217
  • Faulkner, A.* Avolio, E.* Thomas, A.C.* Dang, Z.* Batstone, T. Lloyd, G.R. Weber, R.J.M. Najdekr, L. Jankevics, A. Dunn, W.B. Spinetti, G. Vecchione, C. Puca, A.A. & Madeddu, P. (2020). Multi-omics analysis of diabetic heart disease in the db/db model reveals potential targets for treatment by a longevity-associated gene. Cells 9 (5): 1283
  • Dang, Z.* Avolio, E.* Thomas, A.C.* Faulkner, A. Beltrami, A.P. Cervellin, C. Carrizzo, A. Maciag, A. Gu, Y. Ciaglia, E. Finato, N. Damato, A. Spinetti, G. Alenzi, A. Paisey, S.J. Vecchione, C. Puca, A.A. & Madeddu, P. (2020) Transfer of a human gene variant associated with exceptional longevity improves cardiac function in obese type-2 diabetic mice through induction of the SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling pathway. European Journal of Heart Failure, 22 (9): 1568-1581
  • Faulkner, A. Lynam, E. Purcell, R. Jones, C. Lopez, C. Board, M. Wagner, KD. Wagner, N. Carr, C. & Wheeler-Jones, C. (2020). Context-dependent regulation of endothelial cell metabolism: differential effects of the PPARβ/δ agonist GW0742 and VEGF-A. Scientific Reports, 10: 7849
  • Cathery, W. Faulkner, A. Maselli, D. & Madeddu, P. (2018). The regenerative journey of pericytes toward clinical translation. Stem Cells, 36 (9): 1295-1310.
  • Faulkner, A. Purcell, R. Hibbert, A. Latham, S, Thomson, S. Hall, WL. Wheeler-Jones, C. & Bishop-Bailey, D. (2014). A thin-layer angiogenesis assay: a modified basement matrix assay for assessment of endothelial cell differentiation. BMC Cell Biology, 15: 41
  • Bishop-Bailey, D. Thomson, S. Askari, A. Faulkner, A. & Wheeler-Jones, C. (2014). Lipid-Metabolizing CYPs in the Regulation and Dysregulation of Metabolism. Annual Reviews Nutrition, 34: 261-279.
  • Carter, SE. Faulkner A. & Rakobowchuk, M. (2014). The role of prostaglandin and antioxidant availability on recovery from forearm ischemia-reperfusion injury in humans. Journal of Hypertension, 32 (2): 339 -351.
  • Faulkner, A. & Garrett, AT. (2013). Effect of gender on p-wave dispersion in asymptomatic populations. International SportMed Journal, 14 (4): 236-244.
  • Jadczyk, T. Faulkner, A. & Madeddu, P. (2013) Stem cell therapy for cardiovascular disease: the demise of alchemy and rise of pharmacology. British Journal of Pharmacology, 169: 247-268.
  • Faulkner, A. & Madeddu, P. (2011). Stem cell therapy: a new approach for treatment of myocardial infarction. J stem cell res ther, S1:004. DOI:10.4172/2157-7633.S1-004.

Book Chapters:

  • Lane J.A.E., Faulkner A., Finding E.J.T., Lynam E.G., Wheeler-Jones C.P.D. (2022) Use of a Thin Layer Assay for Assessing the Angiogenic Potential of Endothelial Cells In Vitro. In: Fiedler L.R., Pellet-Many C. (eds) VEGF Signaling. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2475. Humana, New York, NY.

 

Published Conference Proceedings:

  • Avolio, E. Thomas, A. Dang, Z. Faulkner, A. Gu, Y. Beltrami, A.P. Carrizzo, A. Maciag, A. Ciaglia, E. Ferrario, A. Damato, A. Spinetti, G. Vecchione, C. Puca, A.A. & Madeddu, P. (2020) Rescue of cardiac function in obese type-2 diabetic mice by transfer of a human longevity gene. European Heart Journal 41 (Suppl. 2); 3653.
  • Faulkner, A. Purcell, R. Jones, C. Lopez, C. Carr, C. Board, M. Bishop-Bailey, D. & Wheeler-Jones, C. (2017) Context-dependent regulation of endothelial cell metabolism in vitro: differential effects of VEGF-A and the PPARβ/δ agonist GW0742. Journal of Vascular Research, 54 (Suppl. 1); 52.
  • Purcell, R. Latham, S. Faulkner, A. Botham, K. Hall, W. & Wheeler-Jones, C. (2017) The protective endothelial-directed actions of resolvin D1 require COX-1 and PPARβ/δ activity. Journal of Vascular Research, 54 (Suppl. 1); 51.
  • Faulkner, A. Jones, C. Watts, S. Purcell, R. Carr, C. Board, M. Wheeler-Jones, C. & Bishop-Bailey, D. (2015) Agonist-dependent utilisation of NAD+ for metabolic regulation of tubulogenesis by human endothelial cells. Journal of Vascular Research, 52 (Suppl. 1); 32-33.
  • Latham, S. Purcell, R. Nicolaou, A. Faulkner, A. Bishop-Bailey, D. Botham, K. Hall, W. & Wheeler-Jones, C. (2015) Cyto-protective and pro-repair actions of N-3 PUFA and their oxygenated metabolites: roles of endothelial NOX4 and FPR2/ALX. Journal of Vascular Research, 52 (Suppl. 1); 56
  • Faulkner, A. Purcell, R. Hibbert, A. Latham, S, Thomson, S. Hall, WL. Wheeler-Jones, C. & Bishop-Bailey, D. (2014) A thin-layer angiogenesis assay: a modified basement matrix assay for assessment of endothelial cell differentiation. Proceedings of the British Pharmacological Society pA2online, 12 (3).
  • Faulkner, A. Thomson, S. Wheeler-Jones, C. & Bishop-Bailey, D. The PPARβ/δ ligand GW0742 inhibits oxidative metabolism target genes in the human endothelial EAhy.926 cell line. Proceedings of the British Pharmacological Society pA2online, 11 (3).

Dr Ashton Faulkner teaches cardiovascular science to BVetMed students in the pre-clinical years (BVetMed 1; BVetMed 2; GAB). He also contributes to teaching on the BSc Biological sciences course and supervises final year BSc and MSci project students.

Dr Faulkner is the local Biochemical Society ambassador (3-year term), facilitating interaction between the society and college.

  • Comparative endothelial cell function

    Endothelial cells (ECs) line the inner surface of blood vessels throughout the body and are involved in controlling inflammation, blood clotting, blood pressure and the formation of new blood vessels. Little is known about EC function in horses, despite the importance of EC in many equine diseases, and the interest in the horse as a large animal model of human diseases. This work is focused on learning more about equine endothelial cells and the differences between human and equine endothelial cell function.

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