The Kardeby Research Group
Find out about our projects and how to contribute
The Kardeby Research Group was established in 2024 and it is part of the Aston Research Centre for Health and Ageing (ARCHA) and Biosciences Research Group at Aston University.
Our aim is to understand the role of blood platelet reactivity and vascular changes in neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disease. Our goal is to understand what drives the risk of blood clots, so we can prevent them from happening.
Our Team
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Dr Caroline Kardeby is a cell signalling scientist with years of experience in drug target identification. Her research is in the field of Thrombosis in Inflammation with a focus on the effect of platelet and endothelial cell activation on vascular remodelling and neurodegeneration. In her work she uses novel pharmacological tools for understanding signalling mechanisms of blood clot formation.
Contact Dr Caroline Kardeby
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Dr Marcela Usmari Moraes is a biochemist with years of experience in metabolic dysregulation and redox signalling in neurodegeneration. Her research focuses on pathological ageing and, more recently, the role of vascular events in the development of neurodegenerative conditions. She is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the British Heart Foundation in the Kardeby Research Group.
Contact Dr Marcela Usmari Moraes
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Miss Nusratul Firdaus is a biomedical scientist and PhD student in the Kardeby Research Group. She started her studies in 2024 as a part of a joint research initiative between the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and Aston University. Her project is focused on the role of Platelet Endothelial Aggregation Receptor 1 in cardiovascular disease and thrombotic risk in South Asian patients with coronary artery disease
Contact Nusratul Firdaus
Current Projects
- The Connection Between Increased Thrombotic Risk and Parkinson's Disease - Currently recruiting
Funded by the British Heart Foundation and in collaboration with the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, this study aims to investigate whether individuals living with Parkinson’s disease have more easily activated platelets in their blood. We are currently recruiting healthy volunteers. If you would like to get involved, our patient information sheet has a wealth of information covering more aspects of the study. However, please get in touch with the group if there is anything unclear you would like to discuss.
- PhD Project - Peripheral blood markers in South Asians with and without established coronary artery disease - Starting soon
This project is a joint PhD Studentship and collaboration between the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and Aston University. This project will investigate the contribution of platelet activation and Platelet Endothelial Aggregation Receptor 1 to Coronary Artery Disease in South Asian patients.
- PhD Project - Haemostatic dysregulation as a marker of blood brain barrier malfunction - Starting soon
This project is funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust, it is a part of the Aston Brain Health Cohort Study (ABaHCoS) that sits at the heart of the Aston Research Centre for Health in Ageing (ARCHA). This study will contribute towards finding new tools to identify individuals at risk of dementia earlier. The study is anticipated to start in October 2024 – more information coming soon.
- Our experimental methods
- Analysis and preparation of blood, platelet-rich plasma, and isolated platelets
- Blood-brain barrier cell culture models, both static and under flow
- Confocal Microscopy
- Flow cytometry
- Lumi-Aggregometry
- Mitochondrial function assessment
- Pathway analysis
- Primary Endothelial Cell culture
- Protein expression and characterisation
- Proteomics
- Quantitative Real-Time PCR
- Transcriptomics
- Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER)
- Western Blotting