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Staff Profile

Dr Satomi Miwa

Lecturer:Translational Biology of Ageing

  • Address: Biosciences Institute
    Newcastle University
    Edwardson Building
    Campus For Ageing And Vitality
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE4 5PL
Background

I was originally a sport scientist and became interested in energy metabolism, mitochondria and oxidative stress. I then obtained my PhD on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ageing in Cambridge University under supervision of Prof. Martin Brand. Since then my research interests are in the areas of mitochondrial function in ageing and diseases, and I work both on mechanistic investigation and translational studies. Recently senescent cell targeted therapies that involve manipulation of mitochondrial function have become one of my research focuses.

My scientific contributions:

In my early career, I have characterised superoxide production by mitochondria in drosophila models, and showed membrane potential dependencies in reverse flow linked superoxide production by complex I. Then using mouse models, I have found mitochondrial complex I assembly status can predict lifespan potentials, which was linked with more coupled mitochondria and lower ROS production. I also found a non-canonical function of mTERT protein in improving mitochondrial function under dietary restriction, especially in brain.

I am also interested in critical evaluation of methodologies and have made an important discovery which explained previously unknown ‘background’ signal in Amplex Red based hydrogen peroxide detection, one of the most widely used methods for ROS measurements by biological materials. I found that carboxylesterase in mitochondrial matrix in various cell types can convert Amplex Red to resorufin in absence of oxygen, light nor any catalysts, and proposed that inhibitors for carboxylesterase such as PMSF should be included in the experiments. This has now become a necessary step for Amplex red assay.

In the area of cell senescence, I have made the original discovery that post-mitotic neurons develop senescent phenotype. I have also shown the effects of dietary restriction in reducing senescent cells in multiples of tissues, which were linked with improved tissue conditions.

Additional work:

Ageing mouse colony and tissue bank: I have taken a leading role in conducting the experiments and managing tissue bank for wild type ageing mice colonies and life-long dietary restriction study in both males and females. We are always open for collaboration, and if you are interested in our tissue bank resources, please get in touch!

Seahorse XF Analyzer: We were one of the first research groups to start using Seahorse XF Analyzer in Europe, and from the early phase of the technology development I have worked closely with the manufacturer and the research community for methodological optimisation and scientific discussions. I have since supervised over 30 seahorse based projects for both internal and external researchers from academic institutions and industry. With increasing and overwhelming demand of Seahorse analyser usage, I have made a central role to establish Seahorse core facility under the management of NU Flow Cytometry Core Facility, and I worked as a part time scientific officer during the first 2 years for its development . I continue acting as a consultant for Seahorse experiments.

 Qualifications:

  • BSc in Human Sciences, University College London
  • MSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Glasgow
  • PhD in Biochemistry, Cambridge University

Memberships and roles:

  • Alliance for Healthy Ageing (Committee member)
  • MIA Portugal (Scientific advisory board)  (https://twitter.com/_mia_portugal?lang=en-GB)
  • CIMA (https://www.cimauk.org)
  • UK SPINE (https://www.kespine.org.uk)
  • NUCoRE Centre for Healthier Lives, Workstream lead for 'Restoring Health'
  • Ageing and Geroscience Theme (committee member)

 

Research

Research interests - Ageing:

I have always been marvelled by how life-forms manage to survive by adjusting and maintaining physiological homeostasis amid stresses and fluctuating environments, by incredible layers of mechanisms at different levels. As a classic definition of ageing, A. Comfort wrote ‘…the power of self-adjustment and self maintenance declines with the passage of time, and the probability of disease and death increases.' (The Biology of Senescence (1956)).

My approach into research on ageing is to try understanding the mechanisms of stress handling and the deterioration with age, contributing to loss of homeostasis (‘self-adjustment and self maintenance’), which may have sex specificities. I found it fascinating.

Even at mitochondrial levels, we can see an example of a decline of ‘self-adjustment’; in senescent cells, the functional capacity to maintain membrane potentials become much lower than that in young cells, and it is one of the therapeutic targets for anti-ageing in my research.

Current research projects:

  • Understanding the nature of mitochondrial dysfunction in senescent cells
  • Novel senolytic discovery, with mitochondrial focus
  • Senescent cell targeted therapies against skin ageing
  • Using senolytics as adjuvant cancer therapies
  • Developing in vivo PET imaging tool for senescent cell accumulation
  • Sex differences in ageing

Open vacancies:

No vacancies are currently available but we always welcome an interest from enthusiastic students and postdocs who are interested in applying for funding.

To discuss available options informally, please forward me your curriculum vitae and research interests.

Teaching
  • Lecturer on MRes in Biology of Ageing
  • Project supervision for BSc and MRes courses
  • PhD students supervisor
  • Leading seminars and practical sessions for undergraduate students
  • Hosting and supervising summer students, short term placement students from overseas, and visiting scholars
  • MIA Portugal Ageing spring school organisation
Publications