Dr David Wilson
Lecturer
School of Biomedicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Dr. Wilson Heads the Molecular Physiology of Vascular Function Research Group at the University of Adelaide. The Group explores novel approaches to manage the molecular defects that cause a variety of vascular disorders, including: hypertension, vasospasm, and sepsis mediated hypotension.
Research Team and Goals
Research Objectives
The objectives of our research group are to identify and investigate mechanisms and therapies for vasomotor disorders. The research involves investigation of vasospasm of large or small vessels and mechanisms contributing to vasodilatory septic shock. The research team is involved in both preclinical, basic research, and translational research using a three-pronged approach, which includes:
Clinical characterization of vasomotor disorders
Discovery of underlying molecular mechanisms
Exploring novel therapies in basic & clinical studies.
Current Research Projects:
Molecular mechanisms regulating vasodilatation in septic shock
Novel strategies to improve vascular tone in the hypotensive critically ill patient.
Molecular mechanisms restricting microvascular blood flow in patients suffering with peripheral vascular disease.
Therapeutic strategies to improve microvascular blood flow, and wound healing in patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease.
Acute vasospasm: novel strategies to limit vascular calcium entry and calcium sensitisation in the vasculature
Reactive oxygen species: the molecular basis for altered Ca2+ sensitivity in skeletal and cardiac muscle.
New Project for 2020:
Title: Stress as a Barrier to Optimal Clinical Performance in Third-Year Dental Students
Description: This would be part of a broader research project involving staff from dentistry, health and medical sciences, and psychology. The overarching aim of the research is to better equip current students with skills to manage both short- and long-term clinical stress during their training and career as dental practitioners. This project will use self-report and physiological data related to stress. While a psychology student is welcome to be involved in multiple facets of the project, for a thesis it is anticipated that a student would use qualitative research methods (focus groups) to gain information about dental students’ perceptions of stressors in relation to clinical practice and their current stress management strategies.
Project Available for: Honours, Masters
Commencing: Semester 1 2020
Special Requirements: Nil
Experience and opportunities gained from working in our research group
Postgraduate students undertaking research in the clinical and molecular physiology of vascular function research group have gained experience and knowledge in the following areas:
Clinical research, vascular function testing, patch clamp analysis, molecular biology, biochemistry, and calcium imaging.
Travel and Share the excitement of your discovery
Current and past students have enjoyed travelling and presenting their research findings at both national and international conferences in the following locations:
France, Spain, Greece, UK, USA, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth.
The Molecular Physiology of Vascular Smooth Muscle Research Group is interested in enquiries from potential PhD applicants (eligible for, Federal or University funding schemes) for projects in research areas described on these pages.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2005 - ongoing Lecturer & Head: Clinical & Molecular Physiology of Vascular Function Research Group University of Adelaide 2005 - 2010 Adjunct Assistant Research Professor University of Calgary 2004 - 2005 Assistant Research Professor University of Calgary -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title University of Manitoba Canada PhD University of Guelph Canada MSc Brandon University Canada BSc(Specialist) -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2001 - 2004 Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation Fellowship University of Calgary Canada 1999 - 2001 Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Fellowship University of Calgary Canada -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2011 Wilson, D. P. (2011). Vascular Smooth Muscle Structure and Function. In R Fitridge and M Thompson (Ed.), Mechanisms of Vascular Disease (pp. 13-23). University of Adelaide Press.
DOI Scopus112007 Walsh, M., Susnjar, M., Deng, J., Sutherland, C., Kiss, E., & Wilson, D. (2007). Phosphorylation of the Protein Phosphatase Type 1 Inhibitor Protein CPI-17 by Protein Kinase C. In Greg Moorhead (Ed.), Protein Phosphatase Protocols (Vol. 365, pp. 209-224). Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.
DOI Scopus17 Europe PMC15 -
Conference Papers
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2022 Co-Supervisor Biological Studies in Coronary Vasomotor Disorders Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Alex Minopoulos 2022 Principal Supervisor The challenge of too much and too little vasoconstriction in patient populations: towards improvement in clinical management of cardiac patients with coronary spasm and septic shock patients with vasopressor insensitivity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Anastasia Zacharia 2020 Co-Supervisor Improving Functioning for People with Neurological Health Conditions Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Anupam Datta Gupta -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Molecular Mechanisms of Sex-Differences in Vascular Reactivity of Human Internal Mammary Artery Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Victor Lamin 2011 - 2014 Principal Supervisor Vascular reactivity in sepsis and platelet dysfunction in septic shock Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time APrf Benjamin John Reddi 2010 - 2013 Principal Supervisor The Molecular Basis of Small Vessel Constriction in Endothelin-1 Models and Peripheral Arterial Disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Kanchani Kitto 2010 - 2013 Principal Supervisor Regulation of Calcium-Dependent Vasoconstriction in Large and Small Arteries Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Yann Yoong Chan 2010 - 2011 Principal Supervisor The functional and molecular consequences of oxidation in the skeletal muscle myofilament Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Timothy Spencer 2010 - 2011 Principal Supervisor Statin mediated vasodilation in the vaculature Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Scott Copley 2010 - 2012 Co-Supervisor The Role of Stim and Orai Proteins in the CalCium Release-Activated CalCium Channel Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nathan Scrimgeour 2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Sex-Dependent Differences in Vasomotor Responses of Older Male and Female Humans Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Amenah Jaghoori 2006 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Calcium Channel Distribution in the Arterial Vascular Tree and its Relation to Function Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Christine Smith
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Board Memberships
Date Role Board name Institution name Country 2017 - 2018 Advisory Board Member SGDE Program Evaluation Board University of Adelaide Australia 2016 - ongoing Member Health Sciences Program Board University of Adelaide Australia -
Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2017 - 2018 Chair SGDE Review Committee Faculty of Health Sciences University of Adelaide Australia 2016 - ongoing Member SGDE: Developing Teacher capacity and Development in SGDE University of Adelaide Australia 2016 - ongoing Member Communities of Practice: Learning Analytics University of Adelaide Australia 2015 - 2015 Member University Open Day Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2014 - ongoing Member Communities of Practice: Flipped Classroom University of Adelaide Australia 2014 - ongoing Member Translational Science Taskforce University of Adelaide Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2011 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Australia and New Zealand Microcirculation Society Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles
