Personal profile
Research interests
Integrative and Environmental Physiology
Our research explores molecular and cellular mechanisms that impact cardiac function in response to environmental change and links these with altered organismal metabolism, locomotion and behaviour to determine the intersection of the cardiovascular system and the environment on fitness. We investigate the interplay between temperature and hypoxia on cardiac health working across species to identify conserved and fundamental biological pathways. Recent work has focused on the effects of air and water pollution on cardiac health using whole animal models (mice), tissue models (fish, sheep, mouse) and hiPSCs.
Biography
2021 - Present, Professor, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, UK.
2017 - 2021, Reader, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, UK.
2010 - 2017, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
2004 - 2010, Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Faculty of Life Sciences, Universty of Manchester, UK.
2002 - 2004, NSERC Canada Post-Doctoral Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
2001 - 2002, Post-Doctoral Associate, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine, Station, Pacific Grove, Ca., USA.
1996 - 2001, PhD Physiology, Simon Fraser University, Canada.
1994 - 1996, MSc Physiology, Simon Fraser University, Canada.
1990 - 1994, BSc (hons) Biology, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
External positions
Honorary President of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles
2023 → 2025
Fellow, The Physiological Society
2022 → …
Honorary Vice President, Fisheries Society of the British Isles
2021 → 2023
Director, Company of Biologists Ltd
2018 → 2028
Trustee, The Physiological Society
2015 → 2021
Fellow, Royal Society of Biology
2010 → …
Areas of expertise
- QP Physiology
- cardiology
- metabolism
- Environmental change
- pollution
- Thermal biology
- QL Zoology
- fish
- sharks
- environmental adaptation
- Environmental change
- Plastics
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Sustainable Futures
- Lydia Becker Institute
- Christabel Pankhurst Institute
- Manchester Environmental Research Institute
- Healthier Futures
Keywords
- Environmental change
- Pollution
- Cardiac Physiology
- Thermal Biology
Accepting PhD students
- Accepting PhD students
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
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):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Mitochondria: at the heart of fish thermal plasticity
Filice, M., Gattuso, A., Imbrogno, S., Amelio, D., Caferro, A., Mazza, R., Galli, G., Shiels, H. A., Garofalo, F. & Cerra, M. C., 2 Jan 2026, In: The Journal of Experimental Biology. 229, 1Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Resilience to Cardiac Aging in Greenland Shark Somniosus microcephalus
Chiavacci, E., Steffensen, K. F., Delaroche, P., Astoricchio, E., Poulsen, A. B., Brayson, D., Garibaldi, F., Lanteri, L., Pinali, C., Valente, G. R., Vignati, F., Steffensen, J. F., Shiels, H., Tozzini, E. T. & Cellerino, A., 23 Apr 2026, In: Aging cell. 25, 5Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Cold-induced fibrosis and metabolic remodeling in the turtle (Trachemys scripta) ventricle
Keen, A. N., McConnell, J. C., Mackrill, J. J., Marrin, J., Holsgrove, A. J., Crossley, J., Henderson, A., Galli, G. L. J., Crossley, D. A., Sherratt, M. J., Gardner, P. & Shiels, H. A., 1 Apr 2025, In: Acta Physiologica. 241, 4, 18 p., e70026.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
From Oil Spills to Air Pollution: The Emergence of Phenanthrene as a Ubiquitous Cardiac Toxicant
Shiels, H. A., 2 Dec 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Annual Review of Physiology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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High levels of heat stress among sugarcane workers in Thailand
Tantipanjaporn, T., Povey, A., Shiels, H. A. & van Tongeren, M., 3 Feb 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Annals of Work Exposures and health. wxaf002.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Projects
- 3 Finished
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BHF 4-Year PhD Studentship - University of Manchester (3rd Intake 2019 of 4th Scheme).
Cartwright, E. (PI), Abraham, S. (CoI), Allan, S. (CoI), Ashton, N. (CoI), Ballestrem, C. (CoI), Dibb, K. (CoI), Dobrzynski, H. (CoI), Eisner, D. (CoI), Galli, G. (CoI), Greenstein, A. (CoI), Heagerty, A. (CoI), Hentges, K. (CoI), Herbert, S. (CoI), Keavney, B. (CoI), Kitmitto, A. (CoI), Liu, W. (CoI), Oceandy, D. (CoI), Pinali, C. (CoI), Pinteaux, E. (CoI), Saiani, A. (CoI), Shiels, H. (CoI), Talavera, D. (CoI), Tomaszewski, M. (CoI), Trafford, A. (CoI), Venetucci, L. (CoI) & Wang, X. (CoI)
1/10/19 → 30/09/23
Project: Research
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BHF 4yr PhD Studentship - 2018 Intake.
Cartwright, E. (PI), Abraham, S. (CoI), Allan, S. (CoI), Ashton, N. (CoI), Ballestrem, C. (CoI), Boyett, M. (CoI), Dibb, K. (CoI), Dobrzynski, H. (CoI), Eisner, D. (CoI), Galli, G. (CoI), Greenstein, A. (CoI), Heagerty, A. (CoI), Hentges, K. (CoI), Herbert, S. (CoI), Keavney, B. (CoI), Kitmitto, A. (CoI), Liu, W. (CoI), Miller, C. (CoI), Oceandy, D. (CoI), Parry-Jones, A. (CoI), Saiani, A. (CoI), Sherratt, M. (CoI), Shiels, H. (CoI), Talavera, D. (CoI), Tomaszewski, M. (CoI), Trafford, A. (CoI), Venetucci, L. (CoI) & Wang, X. (CoI)
1/10/18 → 30/09/22
Project: Research
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BHF 4-Year PhD Studentship Award - University of Manchester (1st Intake 2017 of 4th Scheme).
Cartwright, E. (PI), Abraham, S. (CoI), Allan, S. (CoI), Ballestrem, C. (CoI), Boyett, M. (CoI), Canfield, A. (CoI), Dibb, K. (CoI), Dobrzynski, H. (CoI), Eisner, D. (CoI), Galli, G. (CoI), Heagerty, A. (CoI), Hentges, K. (CoI), Herbert, S. (CoI), Holt, C. (CoI), Humphries, M. (CoI), Keavney, B. (CoI), Kitmitto, A. (CoI), Liu, W. (CoI), Miller, C. (CoI), Oceandy, D. (CoI), Parry-Jones, A. (CoI), Saiani, A. (CoI), Sherratt, M. (CoI), Shiels, H. (CoI), Talavera, D. (CoI), Tomaszewski, M. (CoI), Trafford, A. (CoI), Venetucci, L. (CoI), Wang, X. (CoI) & Zhang, Y. (CoI)
1/10/17 → 30/09/21
Project: Research
Prizes
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Making a Difference Awards 2016
Webster, R. (Recipient) & Shiels, H. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Teaching Excellence Award 2016
Webster, R. (Recipient) & Shiels, H. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Pint of Science Festival 2022
Taylor, J. (Organiser), Hunter, F. (Organiser), Capey, B. (Organiser), Mouland, J. (Participant), Mortimer, A. (Participant), Amaya, E. (Participant), Canal, M. (Participant), Simpkins, D. (Participant), Shiels, H. (Participant), Green, R. (Participant) & DAngelo, G. (Participant)
9 May 2022 → 11 May 2022Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
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Company of Biologists Ltd (External organisation)
Shiels, H. (Non-executive director)
10 Sept 2018Activity: Membership › Membership of professional association › Research
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Company of Biologists Ltd (Publisher)
Shiels, H. (Other)
10 Sept 2018Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
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The Journal of Experimental Biology (Journal)
Shiels, H. (Editor)
1 Sept 2018 → 1 Sept 2025Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
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American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology (Journal)
Shiels, H. (Editor)
2017 → 2021Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work › Research
Impacts
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Impact of the toxicity of crude oil on early fish life stages in the North Sea
Shiels, H. (Corresponding participant)
Impact: Environmental, Health and wellbeing
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Impacts arising from investigation of Deepwater Horizon crude oil spill effects on tunas
Shiels, H. (Corresponding participant) & Galli, G. (Participant)
Impact: Environmental, Economic, Health and wellbeing
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Linking air pollution to causes of cardiovascular problems to guide policymakers and encourage reduction of pollution
Shiels, H. (Corresponding participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing, Environmental
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The Environment’s Effects on Health.
Shiels, H. (Participant)
Impact: Environmental, Health and wellbeing
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Press/Media
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Fossil fuels responsible for heart arrhythmias in mammals
1/11/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Links to 31 news stories from 28 outlets on our research on: Polyaromatic hydrocarbons in pollution: a heart‐breaking matter
1/01/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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GULF NEWS: Air pollution linked to heart issues in humans, animals
16/12/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Air pollution is breaking our hearts: Human and marine health is affected in similar ways
15/12/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Press on research publication: Developmental plasticity of cardiac anoxia-tolerance in juvenile common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina)
Galli, G., Ruhr, I. & Shiels, H.
27/06/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research