Biography
I commenced my PhD studies at the Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt (RJAH) Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry in 2005, and in 2009, was awarded my PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Keele University. Since then I have been employed as a Senior Lecturer/Lecturer/Research Fellow/Research Associate in the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering (formerly the Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine), Keele University.
Research and scholarship
Research theme: Regenerative medicine
My laboratory group at the RJAH develops biological therapies for orthopaedic and spinal cord injury patients. Our research transcends the bench to bedside translational pipeline, from in vitro analyses, organ-on-a-chip systems, pre-clinical models, clinical trials and finally NICE approved treatments. We are equally interested in learning from bedside to bench through reverse translational research, by collecting and analysing human cells and tissues and relating biological profiles to clinical outcomes in an effort to refine, tailor and develop novel treatments.
Teaching
I am currently a BSc module lead in Applied Regenerative Medicine with the School of Life Sciences and an MSc module lead in Bioreactors and Growth Environments with the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering (the latter is delivered as an online post-graduate course, nationally and internationally).
Further information
PhD Students
- John Garcia (Lead Supervisor 2013-2016)
- Shiraz Ziya (Lead Supervisor 2014-2018)
- Jingsong Wang (Lead Supervisor 2017-2020)
- Mateus Bernardo Harrington (Lead Supervisor 2018-present)
- Lauren Tierney (Lead Supervisor 2019-present)
- Larissa Rix (Lead Supervisor 2019-present)
- Tian Lan (Lead Supervisor 2020-present)
- Jessica Fisher Stokes (Lead Supervisor 2021-present)
- Soukaina Bahsoun (Co-supervisor 2016-2017)
- Jessica Sykes (Co-supervisor 2016-2019)
- Tim Hopkins (Co-supervisor 2016-2020)
- Amy Byrne (Co-supervisor 2016-2017)
- Rebecca Davies (Co-Supervisor 2018-present)
Equipment
- BD FACS canto II flow cytometer (Arthritis Research UK Equipment Grant – PI)
- Cell IQ II Live Cell Imaging Platform (Institute of Orthopaedics Equipment Grant – Co-I)
- Quantum Hollow Fibre Bioreactor (MRC Biomedical Catalyst Grant - PI)
Funding
- Versus Arthritis Project Grant (PI)
- Medical Research Council Biomedical Catalyst Grant (PI)
- Versus Arthritis Tissue Engineering Centre (Co-I)
- Medical Research Council Experimental Medicine Grant (Co-I)
- Medical Research Council DPFS Grant (Co-I)
- Institute of Orthopaedics and Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries (PI)
Team members
- Dr Charlotte Hulme (Post-Doctoral Research Associate FT)
- Dr Claire Mennan (Post-Doctoral Research Associate FT)
- Dr Helen McCarthy (Post-Doctoral Research Associate PT)
- Dr Tim Hopkins (Post-Doctoral Research Associate FT)
- Dr Jade Perry (Post-Doctoral Research Associate PT)
- Mike Williams (Data Analyst PT)
PUBLICATIONS
- Wright KT, El Masri W, Osman A, Chowdhury J, Johnson WEB. Bone marrow for the treatment of spinal cord injury: mechanisms and clinical application. (2011) Stem Cells, Volume 29, 169-178.
- Wright KT, Seabright RJ, Logan A, Lilly AJ, Khanim F, Bunce CM, Johnson WEB. Extracellular Nm23H1 stimulates neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglia neurons in vitro independently of nerve growth factor supplementation or its nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity. (2010). Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Volume 398, 79-85.
- Walter MN, Wright KT, Fuller HR, MacNeil S, Johnson WEB. Mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium accelerates skin wound healing: an in vitro study of fibroblast and keratinocyte scratch assays. (2010) Experimental Cell Research, Volume 316, Number 7; 1271-1281.
- Wright KT, Griffiths G, Johnson WEB. A comparison of industrial high content analysis versus research-based manual analysis to assay the effects of mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium on neurite outgrowth in vitro. (2010) Journal of Biomolecular Screening, Volume 15, Issue 5; 576-582.
- Bajada S, Marshall MJ, Wright KT, Richardson JB, Johnson WEB. Decreased osteogenesis, increased cell senescence and elevated dickkopf-1 secretion in human fracture non union stromal cells. (2009) Bone. Volume 45, Issue 4; 726-735.
- Wright KT, Griffiths G, Johnson WEB. A comparison of industrial high content analyses versus research lab-based methods to assay the effects of mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium on neurite outgrowth in vitro. Abstract (2009) Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Volume 23, Number 9, Page 984.
- Chamberlain G, Wright KT, Rot A, Ashton BA, Middleton J. Murine mesenchymal stem cells exhibit a restricted repertoire of functional chemokine receptors: comparison with human. (2008) PLoS ONE, Volume 3; 1-6.
- Wright KT, El Masri W, Osman A, Roberts S, Trivedi J, Ashton BA, Johnson WEB. The cell culture expansion of bone marrow stromal cells from humans with spinal cord injury: implications for future cell transplantation therapy. (2008) Spinal Cord, Volume 46; 811-817.
- Wright KT, El Masri W, Osman A, Roberts S, Ashton BA, Johnson WEB. Bone marrow stromal cells stimulate neurite outgrowth over neural proteoglycans (CSPG), myelin associated glycoprotein and Nogo-A. (2007) Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Volume 354; 559-566.
- Wright KT, Khanim F, Bunce CM, Johnson WEB. The nucleoside diphosphatase kinase, nm23H1, is expressed by human bone marrow stromal cells and stimulates and directs neurite outgrowth in vitro. Abstract (2007) Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Volume 21, Number 6, Page 62.
- Johnson WEB, Sivan S, Wright KT, Eisenstein SM, Maroudas A, Roberts S. Human intevertebral disc cells promote nerve growth over substrata of human intevertebral disc aggrecan. (2006) Spine, Volume 31, Number 11; 1106-1114.
- Wright KT, El Masri W, Osman A, Roberts S, Ashton BA, Johnson WEB. Marrow stromal cells from spinal cord injured patients promote nerve growth and reduce the inhibitory effects of chondroitin sulphated proteoglycans in vitro. Abstract (2006) Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, Volume 29, Number 3, Page 270.
Selected Publications
-
Analysis of Synovial Fluid Proteomes After Treating an Ovine Osteoarthritic Model with Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells. full text>
-
A comprehensive review of quantum bioreactor cell manufacture: Research and clinical applications. Cytotherapy. link> doi> full text>2023.
-
Proteomic Analyses of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Plasma Highlight Cartilage Acidic Protein 1 as a Candidate for Preclinical Screening. Am J Sports Med, 1422-1433, vol. 51(6). link> doi> full text>2023.
-
Commonality Between The Proteome Signatures Of Clinical Response To Surgically Sustained And Acute Traumatic Cartilage Injuries In Two Human Knee Cohorts. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (p. S357, vol. 31). Elsevier. doi> link> full text>2023.
Full Publications Listshow
Journal Articles
-
A comprehensive review of quantum bioreactor cell manufacture: Research and clinical applications. Cytotherapy. link> doi> full text>2023.
-
Proteomic Analyses of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Plasma Highlight Cartilage Acidic Protein 1 as a Candidate for Preclinical Screening. Am J Sports Med, 1422-1433, vol. 51(6). link> doi> full text>2023.
- 2023.
- 2021.
-
Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Enhance Cartilage Healing in a Murine Joint Surface Injury Model. Cells, vol. 10(8). link> doi> full text>2021.
-
Investigation of the blood proteome in response to spinal cord injury in rodent models. Spinal Cord, 320-325, vol. 60(4). link> doi> full text>2022.
-
An In Vitro System to Study the Effect of Subchondral Bone Health on Articular Cartilage Repair in Humans. Cells, vol. 10(8). link> doi> full text>2021.
-
The management of talar osteochondral lesions - Current concepts. J Arthrosc Jt Surg, 231-237, vol. 8(3). link> doi> full text>2021.
-
Identification of Candidate Synovial Fluid Biomarkers for the Prediction of Patient Outcome After Microfracture or Osteotomy. Am J Sports Med, 1512-1523, vol. 49(6). link> doi> full text>2021.
-
Evaluating patient perspectives on participating in scientific research and clinical trials for the treatment of spinal cord injury. Sci Rep, 4361, vol. 11(1). link> doi> full text>2021.
-
Characterization of regional meniscal cell and chondrocyte phenotypes and chondrogenic differentiation with histological analysis in osteoarthritic donor-matched tissues. Sci Rep, 21658, vol. 10(1). link> doi> full text>2020.
-
Routinely Measured Hematological Markers Can Help to Predict American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale Scores after Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma, 301-308, vol. 38(3). link> doi> full text>2021.
-
The synovial fluid from patients with focal cartilage defects contains mesenchymal stem/stromal cells and macrophages with pro- and anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Osteoarthr Cartil Open, 100039, vol. 2(2). link> doi> full text>2020.
-
A Preliminary Cohort Study Assessing Routine Blood Analyte Levels and Neurological Outcome after Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurotrauma, 466-480, vol. 37(3). link> doi> full text>2020.
-
Combined Autologous Chondrocyte and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Implantation in the Knee: An 8-year Follow Up of Two First-In-Man Cases. Cell Transplant, 924-931, vol. 28(7). link> doi> full text>2019.
-
A comprehensive characterisation of large-scale expanded human bone marrow and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther, 99, vol. 10(1). link> doi> full text>2019.
- 2018.
-
Impact of human platelet lysate on the expansion and chondrogenic capacity of cultured human chondrocytes for cartilage cell therapy. Eur Cell Mater, 255-267, vol. 35. link> doi> full text>2018.
-
Human Articular Chondrocytes Retain Their Phenotype in Sustained Hypoxia While Normoxia Promotes Their Immunomodulatory Potential. Cartilage. doi> link> full text>2018.
-
Two independent proteomic approaches provide a comprehensive analysis of the synovial fluid proteome response to Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. Arthritis Res Ther, 87, vol. 20(1). link> doi> full text>2018.
-
Autologous chondrocyte implantation-derived synovial fluids display distinct responder and non-responder proteomic profiles. Arthritis Res Ther, 150, vol. 19(1). link> doi> full text>2017.
-
Efficacy and safety of autologous cell therapies for knee cartilage defects (autologous stem cells, chondrocytes or the two): randomized controlled trial design. Regen Med, 493-501, vol. 12(5). link> doi> full text>2017.
- 2017.
- 2017.
-
The Absence of Detectable ADAMTS-4 (Aggrecanase-1) Activity in Synovial Fluid Is a Predictive Indicator of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Success. Am J Sports Med, 1806-1814, vol. 45(8). link> doi> full text>2017.
-
The developing landscape of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for spinal cord injury in cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Spinal Cord, 114-125, vol. 55(2). link> doi> full text>2017.
-
Chondrogenic Potency Analyses of Donor-Matched Chondrocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow, Infrapatellar Fat Pad, and Subcutaneous Fat. Stem cells international, Article 6969726, vol. 2016. doi> link> full text>
-
Characterisation of synovial fluid and infrapatellar fat pad derived mesenchymal stromal cells: The influence of tissue source and inflammatory stimulus. Sci Rep, 24295, vol. 6. link> doi> full text>2016.
-
Temporal Analyses of the Response of Intervertebral Disc Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Nutrient Deprivation. Stem Cells Int, 5415901, vol. 2016. link> doi> full text>2016.
- 2015.
-
ADAMTS-4 activity in synovial fluid as a biomarker of inflammation and effusion. Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 1622-1626, vol. 23(9). link> doi> full text>2015.
-
Human mesenchymal stem cells stimulate EaHy926 endothelial cell migration: combined proteomic and in vitro analysis of the influence of donor-donor variability. J Stem Cells Regen Med, 18-24, vol. 11(1). link> doi> full text>2015.
-
High content and high throughput screening to assess the angiogenic and neurogenic actions of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. Exp Cell Res, 93-104, vol. 333(1). link> doi> full text>2015.
-
Spinal motor neurite outgrowth over glial scar inhibitors is enhanced by coculture with bone marrow stromal cells. Spine J, 1722-1733, vol. 14(8). link> doi> full text>2014.
-
Characterization of the cells in repair tissue following autologous chondrocyte implantation in mankind: a novel report of two cases. Regen Med, 699-709, vol. 8(6). link> doi> full text>2013.
-
Isolation and characterisation of mesenchymal stem cells from different regions of the human umbilical cord. Biomed Res Int, 916136, vol. 2013. link> doi> full text>2013.
-
Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes an Alternative Pathway of Macrophage Activation and Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury. JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA, 1614-1625, vol. 29(8). link> doi> full text>2012.
-
Concise review: Bone marrow for the treatment of spinal cord injury: mechanisms and clinical applications. Stem Cells, 169-178, vol. 29(2). link> doi> full text>2011.
-
Bone Marrow for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury: Mechanisms and Clinical Application. Stem Cells. doi> full text>2010.
-
Extracellular Nm23H1 stimulates neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglia neurons in vitro independently of nerve growth factor supplementation or its nucleoside diphosphate kinase activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 79-85, vol. 398(1). link> doi> full text>2010.
-
A comparison of high-content screening versus manual analysis to assay the effects of mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium on neurite outgrowth in vitro. J Biomol Screen, 576-582, vol. 15(5). link> doi> full text>2010.
- 2010.
-
Decreased osteogenesis, increased cell senescence and elevated Dickkopf-1 secretion in human fracture non union stromal cells. Bone, 726-735, vol. 45(4). link> doi> full text>2009.
-
Murine mesenchymal stem cells exhibit a restricted repertoire of functional chemokine receptors: comparison with human. PLoS One, e2934, vol. 3(8). link> doi> full text>2008.
-
The cell culture expansion of bone marrow stromal cells from humans with spinal cord injury: implications for future cell transplantation therapy. Spinal Cord, 811-817, vol. 46(12). link> doi> full text>2008.
-
Bone marrow stromal cells stimulate neurite outgrowth over neural proteoglycans (CSPG), myelin associated glycoprotein and Nogo-A. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 559-566, vol. 354(2). doi>2007.
-
Human intervertebral disc cells promote nerve growth over substrata of human intervertebral disc aggrecan. Spine, 1187-1193, vol. 31. doi>2006.
Chapters
- 2022.
Other
-
Analysis of Synovial Fluid Proteomes After Treating an Ovine Osteoarthritic Model with Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells. full text>
-
Commonality Between The Proteome Signatures Of Clinical Response To Surgically Sustained And Acute Traumatic Cartilage Injuries In Two Human Knee Cohorts. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (p. S357, vol. 31). Elsevier. doi> link> full text>2023.
-
Assessing Allogeneic Chondroprogenitor Manufacture Under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Serum Free And Xeno-Free Conditions. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (pp. S231-S232, vol. 31). Elsevier. doi> link> full text>2023.
-
Up-scale Manufacture of Chondrocytes from Adult and Juvenile Cartilage Donors for Allogeneic Chondrocyte Therapies. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. Elsevier. doi> full text>
-
CHONDROCYTES FROM TWO JUVENILE DONOR SOURCES (POLYDACTYLY DIGITS AND ILIAC APOPHYSIS) CAN BE UP-SCALE EXPANDED IN THE QUANTUM® BIOREACTOR. European Cells and Materials. European Cells & Materials Ltd.
-
Assessing allogeneic chondroprogenitor manufacture in xeno-free and serum-free media. Cartilage. SAGE Publications. link>
-
Juvenile Chondrocytes: Novel Alternatives for Allogeneic Cell Therapy?. Cartilage. SAGE Publications. full text>
-
Altered Acute Phase Response signalling following cartilage harvest can be identified in the plasma of ‘non-Responder’ Patients to Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. link> doi> full text>2021.
-
Synovial Fluid Biomarkers for the Prediction of Patient Outcome following Microfracture or Osteotomy. The Bone and Joint Journal (vols. 103-B). British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery. link> doi> full text>2021.
-
The Up-Scale Manufacture of Chondrocytes for Allogeneic Cartilage Therapies. eCM Periodical. full text>
-
IS ORTHOPAEDICS LEADING THE WAY IN GETTING CELL THERAPY TO THE CLINIC?. European Cells and Materials (ECM). European Cells & Materials Ltd. full text>
- 2019.
-
Matrix mettaloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1): potential biomarkers to predict the outcome of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. Journal of Cartilage and Joint Preservation. SAGE Publications. full text>
-
Identification of synovial fluid proteins that are associated with early osteoarthritis treatment failure: the search for novel markers leads us back to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (p. A2, vol. 99). link>2018.
-
ACUTE PHASE RESPONSE SIGNALLING IS ALTERED FOLLOWING CARTILAGE HARVEST IN NON-RESPONDERS TO AUTOLOGOUS CHONDROCYTE IMPLANTATION. OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE (p. S167, vol. 26). link> doi> full text>2018.
-
ASSESSMENT OF CANDIDATE PREDICTIVE PROTEIN BIOMARKERS FOR MICROFRACTURE AND OSTEOTOMY. OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE (pp. S191-S192, vol. 26). link> doi> full text>2018.
- 2018.
- 2018.
- 2018.
-
ASSESSING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELLS DERIVED FROM BONE MARROW AND UMBILICAL CORD FOLLOWING EXPANSION IN THE QUANTUM (R) HOLLOW-FIBRE BIOREACTOR SYSTEM. OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE (pp. S146-S147, vol. 26). link> doi> full text>2018.
-
Can we identify altered biological pathways and novel candidate biomarkers in individuals who do respond clinically following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation?. European Cells and Materials.
-
Similar phenotypes of cells in the repair tissues following microfracture or autologous chondrocyte implantation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (p. A23, vol. 98). link>2017.
-
CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN BONE MARROW MSCS ARE SENSITIVE TO MONONUCLEAR CELL SEPARATION TECHNIQUE AND OXYGEN TENSION. CYTOTHERAPY (p. S119, vol. 19). link>2017.
-
FACILITATING THE OPERATIONAL READINESS OF THE NHS FOR THE IN-HOUSE MANUFACTURE AND DELIVERY OF AUTOLOGOUS CELL THERAPY. CYTOTHERAPY (p. S89, vol. 19). link>2017.
-
POOR CLINICAL RESPONSE TO AUTOLOGOUS CHONDROCYTE IMPLANTATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH A UNIQUE SYNOVIAL FLUID PROTEOME PROFILE. OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE (p. S92, vol. 25). link> doi> full text>2017.
- 2016.
-
Cartilage harvest elevates sCD14 and MMP-3 in the synovial fluid of the autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) treated joint. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (p. A24, vol. 97). link>2016.
-
The response of intervertebral disc cells and mesenchymal stromal cells to altered levels of glucose and serum in vitro. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (p. A34, vol. 95). link>2014.
-
A Computational Approach to Quantifying Axon Regeneration in the Presence of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). 2013 6TH INTERNATIONAL IEEE/EMBS CONFERENCE ON NEURAL ENGINEERING (NER) (pp. 1541-1544). link>2013.
-
Influence of small proteoglycans on nerve growth in the intervertebral disc. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (p. A12, vol. 92). link>2011.
-
The small leucine-rich proteoglycan, opticin, is inhibitory to neurite extension and endothelial migration and is present in the neonatal intervertebral disc and vertebral growth plate. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY (p. A65, vol. 88). link>2007.
Collaborations and grants awards
Collaborators
• Professor Sally Roberts
Director of Spinal Research
RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital
• Professor James Richardson
Professor of Orthopaedic and Traumatic Surgery
RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital
• Dr Eustace Johnson
Professor of Stem Cells and Regenerative Biology
Senior Faculty Postgraduate Research Tutor Faculty Research Co-ordinator Biological Sciences
Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Life Sciences
University of Chester
• Dr Gareth Griffiths
Director of Science
Imagenbiotech
University of Manchester
• Wagih S El Masry
Consultant Surgeon in Spinal Injuries
Former President of International Spinal Cord Society (ISCOS)
RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital
• Aheed Osman
Consultant Surgeon in Spinal Injuries
Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries
RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital
• J Roy Chowdhury
Consultant in Spinal Injuries & Rehabilitation Medicine
Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries
RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital
School address:
School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering
Hornbeam Building
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG
Research centre address:
School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering
Guy Hilton Research Centre
Thornburrow Drive
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 7QB
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 674988
Undergraduate enquiries:
Email: enquiries@keele.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1782 734010
Postgraduate enquiries:
Please contact the CPD4ALL team:
Email: phab.postgraduate@keele.ac.uk
Keele Centre for Medicines Optimisation (KCMO)
Tel: +44 (0)1782 733831 / 734131
The Virtual Patient project enquiries:
Contact our Digital Development team:
Email: pharmacy.digital@keele.ac.uk