News

In case you missed it: Watch our webinar online

In case you missed our recent webinar “The Lung Epithelium: The First Line of Defence Against Respiratory Viruses” with Dr. Claire Smith (University College London, UK) and Dr. Oliver Wittekindt (Ulm University, Germany), you can watch it now online!

The Lung Epithelium: The First Line of Defence Against Respiratory Viruses

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been more important to understand how the lung epithelium functions as a first line of defence against pathogens including respiratory viruses. Claire Smith (University College London, UK) and Oliver Wittekindt (Ulm University, Germany) will discuss their research which explores how these epithelial cells form an immediate barrier but also sense and react to the ever-changing environment.

We will hear how the epithelial cells act as “first responders” during viral infection and the complex interplay between inflammatory processes, barrier function and transepithelial transport.

This web seminar is free to attend and is open to all. Please note: If you do not have an account already, you will need to create a guest account to register for this web seminar.

Congratulations Dr Wichmann

Congratulations to Lukas Wichmann who successfully defended his PhD Thesis “Molecular Physiology of the Delta Subunit of Epithelial Sodium Channels in Xenopus laevis”. Thank you for excellent ion channel research and all the best for your future career!

German Physiological Society meeting, Ulm, Germany

Mike was invited to talk about the evolution of epithelial sodium channels and transport during a symposium on renal ion channels, which was organized by Prof. Rainer Schreiber. A great meeting and many thanks to the organisers for putting together this nice symposium!

Physiology 2019, Aberdeen, Scotland

We attended Physiology 2019 in Aberdeen. Three exciting days of fantastic science – including lots of epithelial and ion channel physiology. Yinghui and Sean presented their work on ENaC physiology in oocytes and airway epithelial cells.

Report on our Epithelia and Membrane Transport symposium in Physiology News

A report on our Pre-Europhysiology Satellite Meeting “Epithelia and Membrane Transport” is published in the latest issue of Physiology News.

Erasmus+ scholarship for Nefsun Danis

Nessun Danis from Firat University in Turkey received an Erasmus+ scholarship to join our lab over summer 2019. Well done and welcome to our group!

Undergraduate Summer Studentship for Maria Tzika

​Our Stage 2 student Maria Tzika received an Undergraduate Summer Studentship from the Physiological Society. She will join the lab over the summer and study the molecular regulation of the epithelial sodium channel using Patch-Clamp recordings. Well done and welcome to the lab!

Morag Mansley and Mike Althaus are new themes leads for “Epithelia and Membrane Transport”

Mike has been elected by The Physiological Society as a new theme lead for “Epithelia and Membrane Transport”. Together with Dr Morag Mansley, University of Edinburgh, Mike will be the main academic coordinator of this topic area in the UK and overseas.

The Physiological Society was founded in 1876 and promotes physiology by offering research grants, scientific meetings and outreach activities. The society publishes three scientific journals, The Journal of Physiology, Experimental Physiology and Physiological Reports.

Congratulations to our “Newcastle Physiolympics” winning team

Congratulations to our Biology students Harriet Todd and Maria Tzika for winning the “Newcastle Physiolympics” competition 2018/19. Within our Animal Physiology module, students could voluntarily participate in a series of challenges related to Human and Animal Physiology – such as mapping their somatosensory cortex or solving a murder case based on their knowledge in muscle physiology.

The winning team was awarded “augmented reality T-shirts”, allowing a virtual glimpse insight their bodies. Many thanks for your great enthusiasm and engagement in Physiology!

ENaC evolution and biomedicine – Seminar lecture in Ulm

Mike was invited for a seminar lecture on the evolution of epithelial sodium absorption and biomedical implications at the Institute of General Physiology of Ulm University in a lovely snow-covered Germany. Many thanks to Prof. Paul Dietl and his team for being such fantastic hosts!

ENaC and Fluid Transport across Airway Epithelia

We are looking forward to an exciting symposium at Experimental Biology 2019 in Orlando, Florida, cosponsored by the American Journal of Physiology – Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology! Click below to read more about our fantastic speakers and their presentations.

Travel Grant to attend Neurophysiology

Lukas received a travel grant from the German Physiological Society to present his latest results at Europhysiology 2018 in London. Congratulations!

“Molecular physiology of the epithelial sodium channel – from evolution to biomedicine” – Seminar lecture in Leuven

Mike was invited for a seminar at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Many thanks to profs. Greetje Vande Velde and Matthias Schoenberger for being such fantastic hosts!