Dr Timothy Bowen

Biography

Employment

2020-present:  Reader in Matrix & Molecular Biology, Wales Kidney Research Unit (WKRU),

                         Cardiff University School of Medicine (CUSM)

2011-2020:      Senior Lecturer in Matrix & Molecular Biology, WKRU, CUSM

2001-2011:      Lecturer in Matrix & Molecular Biology, Institute of Nephrology, CUSM

2000-2001:      Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA), Institute of Nephrology, CUSM

1994-2000:      PDRA, Department of Psychological Medicine, CUSM

1993-1994:      PDRA, Department of Genetics, University of Leicester

1991-1992:      PDRA, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge

Education

1990:              PhD in Molecular Microbiology, University of East London (formerly PEL) & ICI Agrochemicals

1987:              BSc in Applied Biology, First Class Honours (CNAA), Polytechnic of East London (PEL)

External Committees

Secretary, International Society for Hyaluronan Sciences, 2022 -

Chair, UK Kidney Association Laboratory Scientists Research Committee, 2020 -

Kidney Research UK Research Grants Committee, 2019 -

Quality in Organ Donation (QUOD) Steering Committee, 2016 -

Wales Kidney Research Tissue Bank Governance Committee, 2013 -

Genetics Society Local Representative for Cardiff University School of Medicine, 2003 -

Elected Renal Scientist, Renal Association Council, 2016 - 2020

VP for Basic Research & Acting Trustee, International Society for Hyaluronan Sciences,  2016 - 2020

Renal Association Renal Scientists Working Party, 2013 - 2020

Professional Memberships

European Diabetic Nephropathy Study Group, 2014 -

International Society for Hyaluronan Sciences, 2006 -

Biochemical Society, 2000 -

British Society for Matrix Biology, 2000 -

Renal Association, 2000 -

Genetics Society, 1992 -

International Society for Psychiatric Genetics, 1998-2001

Society for General Microbiology, 1987-1992

Member of the Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair

Publications

We are currently unable to retrieve the list of publications. Visit our institutional repository.

Regulation of gene expression in kidney disease

The central theme of my research group’s work is the regulation of gene expression in kidney disease. This involves understanding how specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences in the human genome, called genes, give rise to functional ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein products. We translate this knowledge to inform novel approaches to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human kidney disease.

Gene products have potential utility as kidney disease biomarkers i.e. sentinels of disease occurrence and/or progression, and may represent targets for therapeutic intervention. In this context, we are interested in functional RNAs including protein coding RNAs, microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, as well as proteins and the functional molecules that they synthesise e.g. hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix.

Current areas of research interest include:

• Analysis of urinary microRNAs as candidate kidney disease biomarkers, and investigation of the functional roles of these microRNAs in renal disease pathology
• Transcriptional regulation of expression of genes encoding products associated with renal disease including selected microRNAs, the human hyaluronan synthases (HASs) and the long noncoding RNA HAS2-AS1, a natural antisense RNA to HAS2
• Post-transcriptional regulation of kidney disease-associated genes by microRNAs and by long noncoding RNAs such as HAS2-AS1

Supervision

Past projects