Dr Susan Chalmers
Senior Lecturer
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Personal statement
I am a Chancellors Research Fellow, examining the role of mitochondria in the normal function of cells of the brain (neurons, glia and cerebrovasculature), as well as the role that mitochondria play in protecting or contributing to neurodegeneration or dysfunction in disease. Current particular areas of focus include alterations in mitochondrial motility and functionality due to amyloid-β or hyperglycaemia.
Find out more about neuroscience research at Strathclyde and view our MSc Neuroscience & Mental Health programme.
Area of Expertise
I am the University representative for The Physiological Society (https://www.physoc.org/) - please do contact me with any queries relating to membership, grant applications, conferences or any other aspect of support that the Society offers.
Core lab techniques and capabilities include:
- primary neuronal / glial / smooth muscle cell isolation and culture
- live-cell fluorescence imaging (Ca2+, organelle transport, ROS etc)
- image analysis & quantification
Qualifications
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
PhD (Dundee / Buck Institute for Age Research, CA)
BSc (Hons) (Aberdeen)
Publications
- Mitochondria regulate IP3-mediated Ca2+ release triggered by voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry in resistance arteries : Ca2+ entry activates IP3 receptors in smooth muscle
- Buckley Charlotte, Zhang Xun, Lee Matthew D, Wilson Calum, McCarron John, Chalmers Susan
- The Journal of Physiology (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.1113/JP288022
- Recounting the untold stories of breast cancer patient experiences : lessons learned from a patient-public involvement and engagement (PPIE) storytelling event
- Cunningham Margaret R, Rattray Nicholas JW, McFadden Yvonne, Berardi Domenica, Daramy Karim, Kelly Patricia E, Galbraith Allison, Lochiel Isobel, Mills Lorraine, Scott Yvonne, Chalmers Susan, Lannigan Alison, Rattray Zahra
- International Journal of Pharmacy Practice Vol 32, pp. 515-523 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpp/riae052
- Sunitinib and imatinib display differential cardiotoxicity in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts that involves a role for calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II
- McMullen Calum J, Chalmers Susan, Wood Rachel, Cunningham Margaret R, Currie Susan
- Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine Vol 7 (2021)
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2020.630480
- MSc Neuroscience & Mental Health
- Chalmers Susan
- FENS Forum of Neuroscience 2020 (2020)
- Oscillating glucose impairs anterograde motility of mitochondria in neuron
- Greenwood Eleanor, Chalmers Susan
- FENS Forum of Neuroscience 2020 (2020)
- Sunitinib mediates mitochondrial ROS production in adult rat cardiac fibroblasts via CaMKII oxidation
- McMullen CJ, Chalmers S, Cunningham MR, Currie S
- Heart Vol 106 (2020)
- https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2020-SCF.8
Teaching
I teach on both the Biomedical Sciences and MPharm degree programs and am course coordinator for the in MSc Neuroscience & Mental Health, as well as module coordinator for year 3 MPharm Management of Cardiovascular Conditions. I host Masters students in the lab - MSc, MSci and MRes projects, in addition to supervising/co-supervising 2 PhD students and 2 EngD students.
Find out more about neuroscience research at Strathclyde and view our MSc Neuroscience & Mental Health programme.
Research Interests
My primary research interest is in mitochondria, with a particular focus on the involvement of these small organelles with calcium signalling processes and the changes associated with age and diseases. I use high-speed and timelapse fluorescence imaging to visualise and modulate mitochondria and calcium signals within live cells and tissue.
Professional Activities
- ARUK Scotland Network
- Participant
- 31/8/2023
- Scottish Neuroscience Group Meeting 2023
- Organiser
- 25/8/2023
- Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK) Research Conference 2023
- Participant
- 13/3/2023
- Using storytelling to recount the untold narratives of breast cancer
- Contributor
- 15/12/2022
- External Examiner for BSc, MSci & MSc courses
- External Examiner
- 1/11/2022
- Recounting the Untold Stories of Breast Cancer: Narratives from the Patient, Clinician and Scientist Perspective
- Contributor
- 2/8/2022
Projects
- ARUK Seminar award from Dundee University UoD Ref: 3033dc_CRT
- Chalmers, Susan (Principal Investigator)
- 16-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2025
- DTP 2224 University of Strathclyde | Dunn, George
- Witte, Kimia (Principal Investigator) Chalmers, Susan (Co-investigator) Dunn, George (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2023 - 01-Jan-2027
- Mitochondrial amplification of local calcium entry and vascular contraction in hypertension
- McCarron, John (Principal Investigator) Buckley, Charlotte (Co-investigator) Chalmers, Susan (Co-investigator) Wilson, Calum (Co-investigator)
- Mitochondrial control of voltage-dependent calcium entry in hypertension
- 03-Jan-2020 - 08-Jan-2024
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Medical Devices and Health Technologies | Lachendro, Flynn James
- Reid, Stuart (Principal Investigator) Chalmers, Susan (Co-investigator) Lachendro, Flynn James (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2017 - 22-Jan-2022
- Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP 2016-2017 University of Strathclyde) | Kim, So Jeong
- Chalmers, Susan (Principal Investigator) Sandison, Mairi (Co-investigator) Kim, So Jeong (Research Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2016 - 01-Jan-2020
- Targeting mitochondria to protect the brain: visualising the influence of diet and exercise in brain slice models of neurodegeneration
- Chalmers, Susan (Principal Investigator)
- Targeting mitochondria to protect the brain: visualising the influence of diet and exercise in brain slice models of neurodegeneration
- 01-Jan-2016 - 31-Jan-2017
Contact
Dr
Susan
Chalmers
Senior Lecturer
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
Email: s.chalmers@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4570