Research output per year
Research output per year
Halina Dobrzynski obtained a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences (Physiology) in 1996 and a Ph.D. in Bimoedical Sciences (Cellular Cardiology) in 2000. Both degrees were obtained from the University of Leeds, UK. For five years she worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Leeds. In 2005 she moved to the University of Manchester as a Lecturer in Cardiac Biology. Since August 2011 she is a Senior Lecturer in Cardiac Biology.
Other posts held:
2008-2012 Visiting Researcher, Washington University, St. Louis, USA
2005 Visiting Research Associate, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, USA
2005 Visiting Research Associate, Washington University, St. Louis, USA
2002 Visiting Research Associate, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
1996 Guest Ph.D. student, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Japan
1995 Research Assistant, Department of Histopathology, Leeds General Infirmary, UK
Halina focuses on the functional properties and cellular and molecular make-up of the cardiac conduction system of the heart in sickness and in health using a variety of techniques including electrophysiology, histology, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and molecular biology.
The current focus of her research is the molecular make-up of the human sinus and atrioventricular nodes, as well as functional and structual changes in the cardiac conduction system in health, aging and disease in small laboratory animals. Her research is sponsored mainly by the British Heart Foundation.
The current research group:
2 PhD students and 7 Postdoctoral Fellows.
Past supervision/co-supervision of PhD students and post-doctoral fellows:
2005-2006 S. Yoo (PhD); present position: Postdoctoral Fellow, USA
2005-2009 H. Musa (post-doc); present position: Scientist, Biotechnology Industry, UK
2005-2009 J. Tellez (post-doc); present position: NHS Clinical Scientist, UK
2005-2009 J. Yanni (PhD); present position: Postdoctoral Fellow, UK
2005-2009 E. Abd Allah (PhD); present position: Lecturer, Egypt
2005-2009 I. Greener (post-doc); present position: Postdoctoral Fellow, USA
2005-2009 N. Chandler (PhD); present position: NHS Clinical Scientist, UK
2006-2009 G. Morris (PhD); present position: Cardiologist, NHS, UK
2005-2010 S. Inada (post-doc); present position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Japan
2008-2011 O. Fedorenko (post-doc); present position: Senior Lecturer, Russia
2009-2012 O. Monfredi (PhD); present position: Cardiologist, NHS, UK
2009-2012 G. Hao (PhD); present position: Postdoctoral Fellow, UK
2011-2014 I. Temple (PhD); present position: Cardiologist, NHS, UK
2008-2014 A. Atkinson (MPhil); present position: Research Assistant, UK
2011-2014 Z. Bornas (PhD); present postion: Cardiologist, NHS, UK
2012-2016 Y. Saeed (PhD); present position: Cardiologist, Canada
2012-2016 M. Choudhury; present position: Cardiologist, NHS, UK
Invited talks:
2016 American Heart Association, New Orleans, USA
2015 Symposium on Advances in Cardiac Structure and Function, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
2015 39th meeting of the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology, Milan, Italy
2014 European Society of Cardiology Congress, Barcelona, Spain
2012 University of Bordeaux, France
2012 University of Minnesota, USA
2011 Leeds University, UK
2011 Newcastle University, UK
2011 Heart Rhythm meeting, San Francisco, USA
2011 Cardiology Meets Physics and Mathematics meeting, Koscielisko, Poland
2010 International Symposium on Arrhythmia and Heart Failure, University of Nagoya, Japan
2009 Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
2009 Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, USA
2008 Faculty of Medicine, INSERM Nantes, France
2008 International Society for Heart Research, Athens, Greece
2008 Washington University, St Louis, USA
2007 University of Warsaw, Poland
2007 International Meeting of Physiological Society, Manchester, UK
2007 Symposium in honour of Professor R.H. Anderson; University College London, UK
2006 University of Würzburg, Germany
Grants (current and past):
£2,500,000; BHF 4 year PhD studentship programme, University of Manchester (2017-2020 intakes). Dr. EJ Cartwright (PI).
£109,219; PI on the BHF project grant for Miss Maria Petkova (PhD student): Investigation into the expression and function of key microRNAs in the human cardiac conduction system; 2015-2018.
£200,000; Co-applicant on Cariplo Foundation: ACROSS – cardiac pacemaker ageing: cellular and molecular basis; Professor Dario DiFrancesco (PI); 2015-2018.
£214,177; Co-applicant on the BHF project grant: Why do bradyarrhythmias occur at night? An intrinsic circadian clock in the cardiac conduction system? Professor M.R. Boyett (PI); 2015-2018.
£221,669; Co-applicant on the BHF project grant: Molecular mechanisms underlying exercise training-induced arrhythmias. Professor M.R. Boyett (PI); 2014-2017.
£150,000; Co-applicant on the BHF project grant; Professor G.A. Ng (PI); 2014-2016.
£291,443; Co-applicant on the BHF project grant: Sinoatrial node dysfunction in ageing and failing hearts - the role of the membrane and Ca2+ clocks;Professor M. R. Boyett (PI); 2013-2016.
£1,148,308; Co-applicant on the BHF programme grant: Mapping cardiac conduction system disease; Professor M.R. Boyett (PI), 2011-2016.
£200,000; Co-applicant the BHF project grant: Biopacemakers: new targets and new mechanisms; Dr. Gilliam M. Morris (PI); 2012-2015.
£128,690; Co-applicant on the BHF project grant: The molecular basis of arrhythmogenesis in tetralogy of Fallot. Clinical Research Training Fellowship for Dr. Haiko Schneider (PI); 2012-2015.
£1440; PI on Biomedical Vacation Scholarships for Mr Vinci Naruka; the Wellcome Trust: Anatomical mapping of the Purkinje fibers in health and heart failure;summer 2014.
£15,000; PI on a project grant; Novartis, Switzerland: Expression of novel receptors in the human sinoatrial node;2013-2014.
£50,000; Collaborator; the Polish Ministry of Education project: To treat better elderly subjects with cardiovascular deseases: is nebivolol more effective than metoprolol? Dr. Michal Maczewski (PI), University of Warsaw, Poland; 2011-2014.
£229,499; PI on the BHF project grant: Charaterisation of the structural and functional properties of subsidiary atrial pacemakers in goat model of sinus node dysfunction; 2010-2013.
£3,000; Co-PI with Professor Dario DiFrancesco on a symposium sponsored by the IUPS: Molecular basis of cardiac conduction system disease; Birmingham, UK; July 2013.
£1440; PI on Biomedical Vacation Scholarships for Miss Sandy Chu; the Wellcome Trust: Anatomical mapping of the cardiac conduction system within tissue sections through whole human heart in order to produce 3D model; summer 2012.
£154,571; Co-applicant on a PoP project; UMIP: A virtual whole human heart model for drug cardiotoxicity testing; Professor M. R. Boyett (PI). 2011-2012.
£260,372. Co-applicant on the BHF project grant: Effect of athletic training on the cardiac conduction system: ups and downs. Professor M. R. Boyett (PI); 2010-2013.
£200,000; Co-applicant on a project grant from Astra Zeneca, UK: Computer modelling of canine ventricular action potentials;Professors M. R. Boyett (PI); 2009-2012.
£173,319; PI on the BHF project grant: Functional and molecular investigation into the arrhythmogenic properties of the atrioventricular ring tissue;2008-2011.
$1,000000; Consultant on a project from the National Institute of Health, USA: Structure and function of the pacemaker and conduction system of the heart; Professor I. Efimov (PI) at Washington University, St Louis, USA; 2008-2012.
£1,078,734; Co-applicant on the BHF programme grant: Molecular mapping of the pacemaker and conduction system of the heart in health and disease;Professor M.R. Boyett (PI); 2006-2011.
$149,970; PI on a project grant from Medtronic, Inc., USA: Molecular mapping and 3D reconstruction of the human atrioventricular node; 2006-2009
$111,321; PI on a project grant Medtronic, Inc., USA: Molecular mapping and 3D reconstruction of the human sinus node; 2005-2008.
£86,626; PI on a research equipment grant; Faculty of Medical & Human Sciences, University of Manchester; 2006-2007.
£14,523; PI on a research grant; Faculty of Medical & Human Sciences, University of Manchester; 2005-2007.
£22,000; PI on a two-day international Focused Physiological Society meeting: The centenary of the discovery of the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes; University of Manchester. Sponsored by the Physiological Society, the BHF, Servier and Medtronic; September 2007.
Halina's expertise is in macro- and micro- anatomy, immuno-histo/cyto-chemistry, molecular biology in relation to the conduction system of the heart has been sought by many laboratories throughout the world.
Teaching and administrative duties:
2011-present Radiation Protection Supervisor, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences
2010-present Member of Research Ethics Committee
2010-present Tutor for Professional and Personal Development, Medical Students, Phase 1
2009-present Interviewing Medical School Applicants, School of Medicine
2009-present Tutor and Lecturer on MRes, Institute Cardiovascular Sciences
2005-2015 Problem Based Learning Tutor to Medical Students, School of Medicine
2005-present Supervisor of undergraduate project students and MRes students, Faculty of Medical, Biological and Human Sciences
2005-present Teaching histology, immunocyto/histochemistry, light and confocal microscopy, molecular biology and general cardiac biology/physiology to undergraduate and postgraduate students and Postdoctoral Fellows within Manchester University, nationally and internationally.
Reviewer for scientific:
2015-present Journal of Anatomy
2010-present American Journal of Physiology
2009-present Experimental Physiology
2009-present Histology & Histopathology
2008-present Circulation
2008-present Circulation Research
2007-present Journal of Cellular Physiology
2006-present Cardiovascular Research
2005-present Journal of Molecular & Cellular Cardiology
Member of Editorial Board:
2013-present Frontiers in Physiology
External grant referee:
2011-present The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw)
2015 (December) The Welcome Trust, UK
Membership:
2014-present Member of British Society of Cardiovascular Research and International Society of Heart Rhythm
2014-present Member of European Society of Cardiology
2016-present Member of Physiological Society
Awards:
Best pre-clinical teacher of 2014, University of Manchester
Public engagement:
1. Science Ambassador's Dinner sponsored by The Ogden Trust to promote science for young people in Bury, 26 March 2014, Bury Grammar School
2. Sixth Form Lecture on "What makes the heart beat?"
- Tuesday 29 November, 2011, Burnley Sixth Form College, UK
- Thursday 28 November, 2013, Cheadle College, UK
- Tuesday 4 February 2014, Bury Grammar School Girls, UK
3. Community Open Day, Saturday 6 July 2013, University of Manchester, UK
4. The Body Experience, Saturday 16 March 2013, Manchester Museum, UK
5. Manchester Science Spectacular, Saturday 29 October 2011, Manchester Museum, UK
General research profile
Structure, function and clinical relevance of the cardiac conduction system, including the atrioventricular ring and outflow tract tissues
It is now over 100 years since the discovery of the cardiac conduction system, consisting of three main parts, the sinus node, the atrio-ventricular node and the His–Purkinje system. The system is vital for the initiation and co-ordination of the heartbeat. Over the last decade, immense strides have been made in our understanding of the cardiac conduction system. It has been shown that the system has a unique embryological origin, distinct from that of the working myocardium, and is more extensive than originally thought with additional structures: atrio-ventricular rings, a third node (retro-aortic node) and pulmonary and aortic sleeves. It has been shown that the expression of ion channels, intracellular calcium-handling proteins and gap junction channels in the system is specialised (different from that in the ordinary working myocardium), but appropriate to explain the functioning of the system, although there is continued debate concerning the ionic basis of pacemaking. We are beginning to understand the mechanisms (fibrosis and remodeling of ion channels and related proteins) responsible for dysfunction of the system (bradycardia, heart block and bundle branch block) associated with atrial fibrillation and heart failure and even athletic training. Equally, we are beginning to appreciate how naturally occurring mutations in ion channels cause congenital cardiac conduction system dysfunction. Finally, current therapies, the status of a new therapeutic strategy (use of a specific heart rate lowering drug) and a potential new therapeutic strategy (bio-pacemaking) are of great interests globally.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Special issue › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Special issue › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Cartwright, E., Abraham, S., Allan, S., Ashton, N., Ballestrem, C., Dibb, K., Dobrzynski, H., Eisner, D., Galli, G., Greenstein, A., Heagerty, A., Hentges, K., Herbert, S., Keavney, B., Kitmitto, A., Liu, W., Oceandy, D., Pinali, C., Pinteaux, E., Saiani, A., Shiels, H., Talavera, D., Tomaszewski, M., Trafford, A., Venetucci, L. & Wang, X.
1/10/19 → 30/09/23
Project: Research
Cartwright, E., Abraham, S., Allan, S., Ashton, N., Ballestrem, C., Boyett, M., Dibb, K., Dobrzynski, H., Eisner, D., Galli, G., Greenstein, A., Heagerty, A., Hentges, K., Herbert, S., Keavney, B., Kitmitto, A., Liu, W., Miller, C., Oceandy, D., Parry-Jones, A., Saiani, A., Sherratt, M., Shiels, H., Talavera, D., Tomaszewski, M., Trafford, A., Venetucci, L. & Wang, X.
1/10/18 → 30/09/22
Project: Research
Cartwright, E., Abraham, S., Allan, S., Ballestrem, C., Boyett, M., Canfield, A., Dibb, K., Dobrzynski, H., Eisner, D., Galli, G., Heagerty, A., Hentges, K., Herbert, S., Holt, C., Humphries, M., Keavney, B., Kitmitto, A., Liu, W., Miller, C., Oceandy, D., Parry-Jones, A., Saiani, A., Sherratt, M., Shiels, H., Talavera, D., Tomaszewski, M., Trafford, A., Venetucci, L., Wang, X. & Zhang, Y.
1/10/17 → 30/09/21
Project: Research
Boyett, M., Ashton, N., D'Souza, A., Dobrzynski, H. & Piggins, H.
1/04/15 → 14/03/19
Project: Research
8/08/17
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research