BIOGRAPHY

Dr Rachel Adams is a Reader in Cardiovascular Biochemistry. She has 30 years experience in research of the role of leukocytes in inflammation and cardiovascular disease in both a clinical context and in basic science laboratories.  Her research interests are particularly focused on how changes in cellular biochemistry and cytoskeletal function influence cell biophysics and the flow of blood.  She obtained a PhD from Cardiff University and worked as a postdoctoral fellow in laboratories in Cardiff University, Birmingham University and the University of Manchester.  Rachel has successfully supervised a team of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers for 25 years.  She  was appointed by the European Commission Research Executive Agency as and external expert in 2011. She undertakes work for them both remotely (based in Cardiff) and at the REA in Brussels. Rachel Adams is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

1. The Health Impacts of Exposure to Air Pollution Particles

Rachel Adams has made a key contribution to the understanding of the negative impact of exposure to particulate air pollution on cardiovascular health.  The main achievement has been in identify the impact of particle mediated cytoskeletal remodelling in blood cells which leads to inflammation, damage to the vascular endothelium and poor blood flow.  For example, she has identified toxico-transcriptomic mechanisms of exposure linked inflammation.  Mechanisms involve unique expression of genes and alternative splicing has been identified in Beijing residents compared to a matched population in a low pollution city. Additionally, extensive mechanistic studies have been undertaken in animal models and using human tissue equivalent 3D culture models.  The risks of poor indoor quality have also been identified following exposure to particles emitted during cooking and exposure in schools.  Rachel Adams has a become an established authority on the health effects of exposure to particulate air pollution with extensive expertise on particle-cell interactions.

A programme of work to investigate and understand the toxicology of microplastics which are of increasing environmental concern is currently being developed.

1. The Effect of Lifestyle Factors and Disease on Blood Cell Flow

Rachel Adams has made a significant contribution to understanding of the role of leukocytes in determining blood flow.  Leukocyte flow mechanics have been extensively characterised using mathematical modelling of blood flow in the microcirculation.  These models have been used to demonstrate that changes in cellular biochemistry, such as cytoskeletal remodelling and increased adhesion molecule expression lead to flow disturbances and capillary plugging in disease. This has been investigated in a wide range of disease states including diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease and bone marrow transplantation.

The impact of lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, on leukocyte flow and cardiovascular risk have been identified and interventions such as HIIT have been demonstrated to normalise flow-based risk factors in diabetes.

EXTERNAL POSITIONS

Rachel Adams is recognised as a leading authority on the impact of exposure to particulate pollution on health.  She has been appointed to several national and international government committees to provide evidence to support policy development. 

 National Governance Appointments

• Senedd Cymru, Cross-Party Group Medical Research, working with Dai Lloyd MS (Plaid Cymru), Angela Burns (Conservative) MS, and Russell George MS (Conservative). Key activity – presentation of oral and video evidence on the health impacts of air pollution
• Senedd Cymru, Cross-Party Group on the Active Travel Act, Key activity presentation of oral evidence to support development of the Active Travel to School Toolkit
• Welsh Government, International and Cross-Border sub-group, Key activity – contribution to the development of the Framework for Regional Investment in Wales: proposal for supporting cross-border and international working
• Welsh Government, Agile Cymru, WEFO European Experts Group member. Key activities included providing oral evidence on European funding frameworks. Additionally, worked with WEFO on MSCA fellowship training events and produced video media.

European Commission Appointments

• European Commission, Research Executive Agency, Vice-Chair for Engineering Subject Panel, Key activity includes developing research strategies and funding priorities for inter-disciplinary life science/engineering interface research.

Research community appointments

• Biochemical Society – Local Representative – Ambassadors committee

• European Society of Clinical Hemorheology UK delegate