Professor Dirk-Peter Herten
School of Chemistry
Staff profile for Professor Dirk-Peter Herten, Chair in Cell Biology of Membrane Proteins with the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences & School of Chemistry.
Imaging and Technology
Advances in cardiovascular sciences depend not only on new biomedical research ideas, but also on research focused on the development and application of improved imaging systems that can turn these ideas into an impactful reality.
Our multi-disciplinary research brings together biomedical, physical, chemical and computational scientists in order to develop and apply innovative new technologies and probes to tackle the most pressing questions in cardiovascular research. Our researchers have established interdisciplinary collaborations across the University and beyond and are leading world-class imaging facilities.
Theme Leads
Dr James Guggenheim
Royal Society University Research Fellow and Birmingham Fellow
Staff profile of Dr James Guggenheim, Royal Society University Research Fellow and Birmingham Fellow, at the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences (CVS), University of Birmingham
About our theme
About our theme
The Imaging and Technology research theme draws on the expertise of a strong team of experienced technology academics. Our technologies span the range of biological length scales from single molecules, through organelles and single cells to tissues, organs and whole animals. We can capture structural and dynamic information of molecules within living cells and resolve cellular structures at the nanoscale. In addition to powerful in vitro imaging technologies, we develop and use a range of in vivo modalities that can map the electrical signals within the heart, image microcirculatory perturbations in various organs including in the beating heart and image vascular and non-vascular events with greater tissue depth.
We are focused on driving the development of innovative imaging solutions to advance cardiovascular research. Our world leading researchers apply these novel techniques to address some of the key research questions in cardiovascular science, and have wide-ranging applications for other biomedical areas. These include investigating actin dynamics, receptor signalling and proteins regulating platelet function, imaging coronary microvessels in real-time in the context of myocardial infarction and mapping the disturbed electrical signals contributing to atrial fibrillation.
Find out how ICVS researchers are shaping the future of cardiovascular research using these state-of-the-art technologies:
- Single Molecule Imaging – counting photons and molecules (Professor Dirk-Peter Herten)
- High Resolution Imaging – up close and personal with blood cells (Dr Steve Thomas)
- Cardiac Mapping – lighting up the hearts electrical activity (Dr Chris O’Shea)
- Intravital Microscopy – the ins and outs of blood vessels (Dr Neena Kalia)
- Photoacoustic Imaging – going deeper than microscopy (Dr James Guggenheim)
Our theme also works closely with the Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), a unique collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham. It is aimed at developing novel methods for visualising single membrane proteins, as well as identifying new approaches for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and cancer angiogenesis. COMPARE provides a wide network of imaging scientists and access to additional methodologies and technologies.
To help shape the next generation of imaging researchers, members of our theme are playing key roles, including co-director, module leads and in providing teaching and research projects, in the new MSc in Quantitative Bioimaging programme.
Our Principal Investigators
Our Principal Investigators
Principal Investigators
Professor Dirk Peter-Herten
Quantitative single molecule studies of receptor signalling in the context of thromboinflammation
Professor Steve Watson
Quantitative measurements and modelling of activation of platelet tyrosine kinase receptors using single molecule microscopy
Professor Katja Gehmlich
Echocardiography to image cardiac function in mouse hearts
Dr James Guggenheim
Biomedical photoacoustics and coherent optics techniques
Dr Neena Kalia
Intravital imaging of the beating heart coronary microcirculation
Dr Dean Kavanagh
Intravital imaging of various organs using spinning disk confocal and multiphon microscopy
Dr Olumide Ogunlade
Preclinical and clinical thermoacoustic and photoacoustic imaging
Dr Chris O'Shea
Clinical and pre-clinical cardiac mapping
Dr Davor Pavlovic
Cardiac optical mapping - calcium and voltage mapping
Dr Jeremy Pike
Image analysis, deep learning for applications in microscopy and image based modelling
Dr Natalie Poulter
Understanding platelet receptor signalling and cytoskeleton using advanced microscopy
Dr Steve Thomas
Super-resolution and light sheet imaging of platelet formation and function
Honorary Principal Investigators
Professor Larissa Fabritz
Echocardiography to image cardiac function in mouse hearts
Professor Rick Steeds
Application of tissue characterisation in ventricular response to valvular heart disease
Associate/Affiliate Principal Investigators
Dr Will Moody
Application of multi-modality imaging in amyloidosis, scaroidosis and inherited heart muscle disease