Dr Benjamin Hewitt BMedSc, PhD

Ben Hewitt

Department of Biomedical Sciences
Research Fellow

Contact details

Address
Robert Aitken Institute for Clinical Research
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT

Ben is a research fellow working in the neuro-ocular inflammation and matrix research group within the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His work focuses on neurodegeneration and extracellular matrix (ECM) dysfunction in the brain and the eye, with research interests in neurodegenerative disease, haemorrhagic stroke and glaucoma.

He has a particular interest in using both in vivo and organotypic models and applying his expertise in molecular biology, transcriptomics and neurobiology to improve understanding of the drivers of the underlying disease processes in these conditions.

Google Scholar Profile
ResearchGate Profile

Qualifications

  • PhD in Dentistry (Cell and molecular biology), University of Birmingham, 2024
  • BMedSc Biomedical Materials Science (Hons), University of Birmingham, 2019

Biography

Ben is a research fellow working in the Experimental Neuroscience Research Group within the Department of Biomedical Sciences. His work focuses on neurodegeneration and extracellular matrix (ECM) dysfunction in the brain and the eye, with research interests in neurodegenerative disease, haemorrhagic stroke and glaucoma.

He has a particular interest in using both in vivo and organotypic models  and applying his expertise in molecular biology, transcriptomics and neurobiology to improve understanding of the drivers of the underlying disease processes in these conditions.

Teaching

  • BSc Biomedical Sciences: Fundamentals of Neuroscience
  • BmedSc Biomedical Materials Science

Research

  • Haemorrhagic stroke 
  • CSF dynamics
  • Organotypic culture 
  • Tissue equivalents 
  • Genetic modification and engineering
  • Nuclear hormone receptor signalling

Publications

Highlight publications

Hewitt, BJ, Roberts, L, Roberts, JA, Fulton, D, Hill, L, Kitchen, P, Bill, RM & Botfield, H 2025 'Adult organotypic brain slice cultures recapitulate extracellular matrix remodelling in haemorrhagic stroke' bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.15.665021

Hewitt, BJ, Ali, M, Hubbard, J, Hill, LJ & Botfield, H 2025, 'A Systematic Review of the Differential Effects of TGF-β1 in Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Preclinical Stroke Models', Journal of the American Heart Association, vol. 14, no. 14, e037890. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.124.037890

Hewitt, BJ, Batt, J, Shelton, R, Cooper, P, Landini, G, Lucas, R, Wiench, M & Milward, M 2022, 'A 3D printed device for in vitro generation of stratified epithelia at the air-liquid interface', Tissue Engineering Part C Methods, vol. 28, no. 11, pp. 599-609. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEC.2022.0130

Recent publications

Article

Solera Sales, L, Hewitt, B, Muchová, M, Lourenção Brighenti, F, Kuehne, SA, Grant, MM & Milward, MR 2025, 'Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial evaluation of morin', Archives of Oral Biology, vol. 178, 106343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2025.106343

Balacco, D, Hewitt, BJ, Bardhan, A, Shriane, LM, Hunjan, M, Hickerson, R, Heagerty, AHM & Chapple, IL 2025, 'Unlocking the potential: m6A-RNA methylation in severe Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex', Bioscience Reports, vol. 45, BSR20253141. https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20253141

Abstract

Balacco, DL, Hewitt, B, Bardhan, A, Khanna, D, Shriane, LM, Hunjan, M, Hickerson, R, Heagerty, A & Chapple, I 2025, '0538 Exploring the role of m6A-RNA methylation in severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex', Journal of Investigative Dermatology, vol. 145, no. 8, pp. S93-S93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2025.06.545

Hewitt, B & Botfield, H 2025, 'An in vitro model of post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus', Brain and Neuroscience Advances, vol. 9, 23982128251339055, pp. 2-3. https://doi.org/10.1177/23982128251339055

Roberts, L, Hewitt, BJ, Kitchen, P, Bill, R & Botfield, H 2025, 'Distribution and localisation of the water channel, AQP4, in organotypic brain slice cultures', Brain and Neuroscience Advances, vol. 9, 23982128251339055, pp. 2-2. https://doi.org/10.1177/23982128251339055

Doctoral Thesis

Hewitt, BJ 2025, 'The effect of nuclear hormone receptor stimulation in oral epithelia', ???thesis.qualification.phd???, The University of Birmingham. <http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/14866/>

Preprint

Roberts, JA, Batie, M, Ponsford, AH, Poh, J, Hewitt, BJ, Botfield, HF, Hill, LJ, Sanderson, CM, Rocha, S & Sharma, P 2025 'NRF2 upregulation by CDDO-Me protects AC16 human cardiomyocytes against doxorubicin-induced toxicity.' bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.10.675420

Hewitt, BJ, Ali, M, Hubbard, J, Hill, LJ & Botfield, H 2024 'The double-edged sword of transforming growth factor β 1: a systematic review of pre-clinical stroke models' Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4687466/v1

Pelepenko, LE, Hewitt, B, Janini, ACP, Moraes, BF, Pereira, JS, Leutz, ACN & Marciano, MA 2023 'Protocol for subcutaneous implantation of polyethylene tubes containing endodontic reparative materials in 12-week-old Wistar rats' Protocol Exchange. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.pex-2482/v1

Review article

Pelepenko, LE, Hewitt, B, Bueno de Oliveira, R, Fornazaro Moraes, B, C. Coraça-Huber, D, Janini, ACP & Angélica Marciano, M 2025, 'Bismuth release from endodontic materials: proposed mechanisms for systemic circulation and organ accumulation', Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 494, 138580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138580

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