Dr Sadaf Ashraf

About

Sadaf obtained her BSc Hons Degree in Physiology and MSc in Immunology from King’s College London.  She completed her PhD in Academic Rheumatology from the University of Nottingham under the supervision of Professor David Andrew Walsh, before working as a postdoctoral researcher at (i) the Queen’s University Belfast, (ii) The Pain Centre Versus Arthritis and the School of Pharmacy at University of Nottingham, and (iii) the University of Aberdeen.

In July 2022, Sadaf joined the Medway School of Pharmacy as a Lecturer in Biological Sciences.

Research interests

Sadaf’s research work combines the areas of neuro-stromal-immunology to better understand the central and peripheral mechanisms of pain associated with age-related and chronic inflammatory conditions through mapping the tissue micro-environment, with an ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for patient stratification and precision medicine.

Self-funded research applicants and those who have access to international research scholarships, please contact Sadaf directly.

Teaching

Sadaf is actively involved in teaching Pharmacy Students on the MPharm programme.

Professional

Committees:

MSoP representative on the FES-ECR Network
MSoP EDI Committee

Society Membership

The Biochemical Society, The Physiological Society, British Pharmacological Society, British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB), Bone Research Society (BRS), International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI). Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador.

Conference Proceedings

Published Abstracts

1. Ashraf S, Burston J, Shahtaheri M, McWilliams D, Chapman V, de Moor C and Walsh D. Osteocyte phenotypes in human and monoiodoacetate-induced rat osteoarthritis. 2022 April; 30(1):S319
2. Ashraf S, Gowler P, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C. P29: Cordycepin reduces established bone changes and pain in two animal models of osteoarthritis. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2018 Mar; 18(1): 108–151.
3. Ashraf S, Mapp P and Walsh DA. B0105 Effects of carrageenan induced synovitis on joint damage and pain in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2018. 77:1248.
4. Ashraf S, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C. OP0183 Cordycepin, a novel compound, reduces knee joint pathology and pain in the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) rat model of osteoarthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2017 Jun; 76(2):127-128.
5. Ashraf S, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C. Cordycepin, A Novel Compound for Treating Osteoarthritic Pain. Br J Pain. 2017 May; 11(2): 5–96.
6. Ashraf S, Gowler P, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C. Cordycepin, a novel compound, reduces established cartilage damage and pain in two animal models of osteoarthritis. Int J Exp Pathol. 2017 Jun; 98(3): A1–A23.
7. Ashraf S, McCauley H, Stitt AW, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM. Growth factor-induced retinal angiogenesis was inhibited following CaMKII gamma and delta isoform knock-down. Microcirculation. 2015 Jul; 22(5):400-430.
8. Ashraf S, McCauley H, Stitt AW, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM. Targeting of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II delta and gamma isoforms inhibits growth factor-induced retinal angiogenesis in vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Apr; 55(13):3019
9. Ashraf S, Wibberley H, Mapp PI, Hill R, Wilson D and Walsh DA. 027 Increased vascular penetration and nerve growth in the meniscus: a potential source of pain in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2010 18(2):S9–S44.

Oral Presentations

1. Ashraf S, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C (2017) Cordycepin reduces pain and joint pathology in a rat model of osteoarthritis. Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), Madrid, Spain.
2. Ashraf S, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C (2017) Cordycepin, a novel compound for treating osteoarthritic pain. The British Pain Society Annual Meeting, Birmingham, UK.
3. O’Leary C, McNaughten JE, Ashraf S, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM (2014) TRPV1 channels play a critical role in retinal angiogenic signalling in-vitro. Young Life Scientists – Current Progress on the Physiology and Pharmacology of TRP channels. London, UK.
4. Ashraf S, McCauley H, Stitt AW, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM (2014) Targeting of CaMKII gamma and delta isoforms inhibits growth factor-induced retinal angiogenesis in-vitro. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Orlando, USA.
5. Ashraf S, McCauley H, Stitt AW, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM (2014) Growth factor-induced retinal angiogenesis was inhibited following CaMKII gamma and delta isoform knock-down. British Microcirculation Society. Bristol, UK.
6. Ashraf S, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM (2014) A potential therapeutic role of CaMKII in diabetic retinopathy. Young Life Scientists. Dublin, Ireland.
7. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Walsh DA (2010) Increased vascular penetration and nerve growth in the meniscus: a potential source of pain in osteoarthritis. OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis. Brussels, Belgium.
8. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Walsh DA (2009) Angiogenesis and persistence of inflammation in a rat model of proliferative synovitis. Young Life Scientists Symposium-Networking Angiogenesis. Chester, UK.

Poster Presentations

1. Ashraf S, Gowler P, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C (2017) Cordycepin reduces established cartilage damage and pain in two animal models of osteoarthritis. Matrix proteoglycans-active participants in cell-ECM communications. Oxford, UK.
2. Ashraf S, Gowler P, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C (2017) Cordycepin reduces established bone changes in two animal models of osteoarthritis. Bone Research Society Meeting. Bristol, UK.
3. Ashraf S, Burston J, Chapman V and de Moor C (2016) Cordycepin, a polyadenylation inhibitor, reduces pain and pathology in a rat model of osteoarthritis. Translation UK. Surrey, UK.
4. Ashraf S, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM (2014) Effects of three CaMKII inhibitors on growth factor induced retinal angiogenesis. Biochemical Society: Advancing Molecular Science. Chester, UK.
5. Duffy P, Ashraf S, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM (2014) CaMKII modulates growth factor induced vascular permeability. British Microcirculation Society. Bristol, UK.
6. Ashraf S, McCauley H, Stitt AW, McGeown GJ and Curtis TM (2014) CaMKII gamma and delta isoforms are important in retinal angiogenesis signalling. Angiogenesis. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
7. Bonnet CS, Williams AS, Gilbert SJ, Harvey AK, Evans BA, Ashraf S, Walsh DA, Mason DJ (2014) NBQX, an AMPA/Kainate glutamate receptor antagonist alleviates joint disease in models of inflammatory- and osteo- arthritis. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting.
8. Stoppiello L, Mapp PI, Ashraf S, Wilson D, Hill R, Scammell B, Walsh DA (2013) Structural associations of pain in people with osteoarthritis. The British Society for Rheumatology. Birmingham, UK.
9. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Burston J, Millns P, Chapman V, Walsh DA (2012) Exacerbated nerve growth factor-induced pain behviour in rodent models of osteoarthritic pain. International Association for the Study of Pain. Milan, Italy.
10. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Burston J, Millns P, Chapman V, Walsh DA (2012) Increased sensitivity to nerve growth factor in the monosodium-iodoacetate model of osteoarthritis. The British Society for Rheumatology. Glasgow, UK.
11. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Walsh DA (2011) Effects of synovitis on pain and structural damage in the rat meniscal transection model of osteoarthritis. European League Against Rheumatism. London, UK.
12. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Walsh DA (2010) Angiogenesis inhibition has the potential to reduce pain in the rat meniscal transection model of osteoarthritis. OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis. Brussels, Belgium.
13. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Walsh DA (2009) Angiogenesis and persistence of inflammation in a rat model of proliferative synovitis. BSR & BHPR Rheumatology Annual Conference.Glasgow, UK.

Publications

1. Gadomski S, Fielding C, Garcia-Garcia A, Kom C, Kapeni C, Ashraf S, Villadiego J, del Toro R, Skepper JN, Sendtner R, Dillon S, Sendtner M, Toledo-Aral JJ, De Bari C, McCaskie AW, Robey PG, Mendez-Ferrer S. A cholinergic neuroskeletal interface promotes bone formation during postnatal growth and exercise. (2022) Cell Stem Cell. 29:1-17. DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.02.008

2. Symons R, Colella F, Collins FL, Rafipay A, Kania K, McClure J, White N, Cunningham I, Ashraf S, Hay E, Mackenzie KS, Howard KA, Riemen AHK, Manzo A, Clark SM, Roelofs AJ, De Bari C. Targeting the IL6-Yap-Snail signalling axis in synovial fibroblasts ameliorates inflammatory arthritis. (2022) Ann Rheum Dis. 81(2): 214–224. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220875

3. Jaswal AP, Roelofs AJ, Singh AK, Kumar B, Riemen AHK, Wang H, Ashraf S, Nanasaheb SV, Iqbal FS, Agnihotri N, De Bari C, Bandyopadhyay. BMP signaling is necessary and sufficient for osteoarthritis and a target for disease modifying therapy (2021) BioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.01.433366

4. O’Leary C, McGahon MK, Ashraf S, McNaughten, Friedel T, Cincola P, Barabas P, Fernandez JA, Stitt AW, McGeown JG, Curtis TM. Involvement of TRPV1 and TRPV4 Channels in Retinal Angiogenesis (2019) Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 60(10):3297-3309. DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-26344

5. Ashraf S, Bell S, O'Leary C, Canning P, Micu I, Fernandez JA, O'Hare M, Barabas P, McCauley H, Brazil DP, Stitt AW, McGeown JG, Curtis TM. CAMKII as a therapeutic target for growth factor-induced retinal and choroidal neovascularization (2019) JCI Insight. 4(6):e122442. DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.122442

6. Ashraf S, Radhi M, Gowler P, Burston J, Gandhi RD, Thorn GJ, Piccinini AM, Walsh DA, Chapman V and de Moor CH. The polyadenylation inhibitor cordycepin reduces pain, inflammation and joint pathology in rodent models of osteoarthritis (2019) Sci Rep. 9(1):4696. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41140-1

7. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Shahtaheri SM and Walsh DA. Effects of carrageenan induced synovitis on joint damage and pain in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis (2018) Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 26(10):1369-1378. DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2018.07.001

8. Huang J, Burston J, Li L, Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Bennett AJ, Ravipati S, Pousinis P, Barrett DA, Scammell BE, Chapman V. Targeting the D Series Resolvin Receptor System for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Pain (2017) Arthritis Rheumatol. 69(5):996-1008. DOI: 10.1002/art.40001

9. Ashraf S, Bouhana KS, Pheneger J, Andrews SW and Walsh DA. Selective inhibition of tropomyosin-receptor-kinase A (TrkA) reduces pain and joint damage in two rat models of inflammatory arthritis (2016) Arthritis Res Ther. 18(1):97. DOI: 10.1186/s13075-016-0996-z

10. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Burston JJ, Bennett AJ, Chapman V, Walsh DA. Augmented pain behavioural responses to intra-articular injection of nerve growth factor in two animal models of osteoarthritis (2014) Ann Rheum Dis. 73(9):1710-8. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203416

11. Sagar DR, Ashraf S, Xu, L, Burston JJ, Menhinick MR, Poulter CL, Bennett AJ, Walsh DA, Chapman V. Osteoprotegerin reduces the development of pain behaviour and joint pathology in a model of osteoarthritis (2014) Ann Rheum Dis. 73(8):1558-65. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203416
12. McGarvey, LP, Butler CA, Stokesberry S, Polley L, McQuaid S, Abdullah H, Ashraf S, McGahon MK, Curtis TM, Arron J, Choy D, Warke TJ, Bradding P, Ennis M, Zholos A, Costello RW, Heaney LG. Increased expression of bronchial epithelial transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channels in severe asthma (2014) The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 133(3):704-712. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.09.016

13. Mapp PI, Sagar DR, Ashraf S, Burston JJ, Suri S, Chapman V, Walsh DA. Differences in structural and pain phenotypes in the sodium monoiodoacetate and meniscal transection models of osteoarthritis (2013) Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 21(9):1336-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2013.06.031

14. Walsh DA, Verghese P, Cook GJ, McWilliams DA, Mapp PI, Ashraf S, Wilson D. Lymphatic vessels in the osteoarthritic human knees (2012) Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 20(5):405-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2012.01.012

15. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Walsh DA. Contributions of angiogenesis to inflammation, joint damage and pain in a rat model of osteoarthritis (2011) Arthritis Rheumatol. 63(9):2700-10. DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203416
16. Ashraf S, Wibberley H, Mapp PI, Hill R, Wilson D, Walsh DA. Increased vascular penetration and nerve growth in the meniscus: a potential source of pain in osteoarthritis (2011) Ann Rheum Dis. 70(3):523-9. DOI: 10.1136/ard.2010.137844

17. Ashraf S, Mapp PI, Walsh DA. Angiogenesis and persistence of inflammation in a rat model of proliferative synovitis (2010) Arthritis Rheumatol. 62(7):1890-8. DOI: 10.1002/art.27462

18. Zhao M, Mulesan P, Amiel SA, Srinivasan P, Asare-Anane H, Fairbanks L, Persaud S, Jones P, Jones J, Ashraf S, Littlejohn W, Rela M, Heaton N, Huang GC. Human islets derived from donors after cardiac death are fully biofunctional (2007) Am J Transplant. 7(10):2318-25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2007.01937.x

Review Articles

1. Radhi M, Ashraf S, Lawrence S, Tranholm AA, Wellham PAD, Hafeez A, Khamis AS, Thomas R, McWilliams D and de Moor CH. A systematic review of the biological effects of cordycepin. (2021) Molecules. 26(19), 5886 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195886

2. Ashraf S. Cav2.2 channels: Therapeutic target for chronic arthritic pain? (2015) Arthritis Rheumatol. 67(6):1416-8. DOI: 10.1002/art.39092

3. Ashraf S. Potential contributions of CaMKII to angiogenesis mediated pathological changes seen in osteoarthritis (2014) Current Angiogenesis. 3(3):123-131.

4. Ashraf S, Walsh DA. Angiogenesis in osteoarthritis (2008) Curr Opin Rheumatol. 20(5):573-80. DOI: 10.1097/BOR.0b013e3283103d12

Book Chapters

1. Sagar DR, Ashraf S and Chapman V. Animal models of osteoarthritic pain. In: Arendt-Nielsen L, Perrot S, eds. Pain in the joints. Wolters Kluwer; 2016. P. 27-44.