Derek Mann PhD

Dr. Mann is currently head of the fibrosis laboratories at Newcastle University who are primarily interested in understanding the cell and molecular regulation of tissue fibrosis (scarring), a major underlying cause of morbidity and mortality. Emphasis is placed on signalling pathways in myofibroblasts that can be manipulated with drugs already proved to be safe for use in man. This strategy has led to the discovery that inhibitors of NF-kappaB, angiotensin II receptor blockers and 5-HT2B receptor antagonists have strong therapeutic potential as treatments and/or preventative medicines in chronic liver disease. We are also interested in the epigenetic control of fibrosis including the potential for intergenerational transmission of heritable adaptive epigenetic traits that influence disease susceptibility amongst individuals in the population.