Liam Ridge

Biography

I am currently a Lecturer in Cardiovascular Science at Manchester Metropolitan University. I have taught on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across diverse biological topics, including; cell and molecular biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology, regenerative medicine, and the use of animal models in research. I am passionate about teaching and committed to creating an inclusive learning environment whilst implementing innovative methods that enhance the effectiveness of my practises and further the student experience.

I have developed a broad range of research interests that briefly encompass: cardiac development and regeneration, epicardial formation and function, EMT and cell migration, and the role of extracellular matrix in the developing and adult heart. Between 2016-2021, I conducted my postdoctoral research in Professor Peter Scambler’s lab at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. My research here centred on the utilisation of mutant mouse strains as a model to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underpin the origins of congenital heart malformations, specifically in relation to 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge) and CHARGE syndromes. This work was supported by a 5-year British Heart Foundation programme grant. Prior to this, I obtained my PhD in Developmental Biology in Dr Kathryn Hentges’ laboratory at the University of Manchester. My thesis research focused on delineating the role of the cytoskeletal protein NMIIB during coronary vessel formation in the mouse.