About
Research
Email: michael.randles@stmarys.ac.uk
Biography
Dr Michael Randles leads on the development, delivery and assessment of science in the MBBS curriculum, and develops the overall structure and operational delivery of phase 1 (years 1 and 2) of the MBBS.
Dr Randles is Associate Professor and Head of Undergraduate Science and Phase 1 at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. He previously served as Phase 1 Lead for the MBChB Graduate Entry Medicine Programme at the University of Chester, where he played a central role in the design, development, and implementation of the new curriculum, welcoming the first cohort. At Chester, he also led the Cell and Tissue Biomedicine theme and the Health, Metabolism and Homeostasis Teaching Block, and earlier was Programme Leader for the IBMS-accredited BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science degree.
A senior teaching fellow, Dr Randles teaches cell and molecular biology, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry–based proteomics, protein biology, genome editing, and kidney pathophysiology, with a particular focus on the glomerular filtration barrier and podocyte biology.
His research focuses on Alport syndrome and other glomerular diseases, using mass spectrometry–based proteomics to investigate extracellular matrix signatures. He completed his PhD and postdoctoral research at the University of Manchester’s Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, specialising in protein biology, high-resolution imaging, and quantitative proteomics.
Qualifications and accreditations
- 2023 - Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy - Awarding body: Advance HE
- 2018 - PGCLTHE - Awarding body: De Montfort University
- 2015 - PhD Biomedicine - Awarding body: The University of Manchester
- 2011 - BSc Hons Biochemistry with Medical Biochemistry - Awarding body: University of Bristol
Membership of professional bodies
- Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science
- Member International Society for Matrix Biology
Awards
Michael Randles has received a number of awards recognising his research and contributions to science. In 2021, he was honoured for his Outstanding Contribution at the Podocyte Meeting held in Manchester, UK, a hybrid event.
His earlier achievements include multiple prizes for both oral and poster presentations. In 2017, he received a Poster Prize at the Alport UK Patient Information Day in Glasgow. In 2016, his work was recognized internationally with an Oral Presentation Prize at the American Society for Matrix Biology meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, and a Poster Prize at UK Kidney Week in Birmingham. The previous year, he earned a Poster Prize at the Alport Workshop in Göttingen, Germany.
Michael’s success began early in his research career. In 2014, he was awarded a Poster Prize by the British Society for Matrix Biology in Bristol and an Oral Presentation Prize at the Institute of Human Development Postgraduate Showcase at the University of Manchester. That same year, he received the award for Best Research Contribution by a PhD Student at the Wellcome Trust Centre PhD Symposium, also at the University of Manchester.
In 2013, his work earned a Poster Prize at the Institute of Human Development Postgraduate Research Showcase and the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Gordon Research Seminar for Collagen in the Context of Regenerative Medicine in New London, New Hampshire, USA.
Michael is external examiner at the University of Derby and Middlesex University London. He was involved in the external validation and accreditation of the MSc Biomedical Science programme at Middlesex University London.
Research
Research profile
Dr Randles has expertise in cell and molecular biology, in particular extracellular matrix and adhesion biology. He has focused on using global mass spectrometry based proteomics to better understand biological systems. His PhD and postdoctroal research focused on the glomerular filtration barrier and its cellular and non-cellular constituents. His research as furthered the understanding of glomerular barrier injury in diseases including Alport syndrome.
Google Scholar
- Stern I, Barrera V, Randles MJ, Rooney P. Advances in preparation of acellular human dermis for tissue banking and transplantation. Cell Tissue Bank. 2024.
- Di Mambro A, Arroyo-Berdugo Y, Fioretti T, Randles MJ, Cozzuto L, Rajeeve V, Cevenini A, Austin MJ, Esposito G, Ponomarenko J, Lucas CM, Cutillas P, Gribben J, Williams O, Calle Y, Patel B, Esposito MT. SET-PP2A complex as a new therapeutic target in KMT2A (MLL) rearranged AML. Oncogene. 2023.
- Lausecker F, Lennon R & Randles MJ. The Kidney Matrisome in Health, Aging and Disease. Kidney Int. 2022.
- Randles MJ+, Lausecker F+, Kong Q, Suleiman H, Reid G, Kolatsi-Joannou M, et al. A signature of altered extracellular matrix in kidney ageing and disease. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021.
- Falcone S, Nicol T, Blease A, Randles MJ, Angus E, et al. A novel model of nephrotic syndrome results from a point mutation in Lama5 and is modified by genetic background. Kidney Int. 2021.
- Randles MJ+, Lausecker F+, Humphries JD, Byron A, Clark SJ, Miner JH, et al. Basement membrane ligands initiate distinct signalling networks to direct cell shape. Matrix Biol. 2020.
- Rheault MN, Savige J, Randles MJ, Weinstock A, Stepney M, Turner AN, et al. The importance of clinician, patient and researcher collaborations in Alport syndrome. Pediatric Nephrology. 2020.
- Roberts NA, Hilton EN, Lopes FM, Singh S, Randles MJ, Gardiner NJ, et al. Lrig2 and Hpse2, mutated in urofacial syndrome, pattern nerves in the urinary bladder. Kidney Int. 2019.
- Coletta R, Roberts NA, Randles MJ, Morabito A, Woolf AS. Exogenous transforming growth factor-β1 enhances smooth muscle differentiation in embryonic mouse jejunal explants. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018.
- Tabatabaeifar M, Wlodkowski T, Simic I, Denc H, Mollet G, Weber S, Moyers JJ, Brühl B, Randles MJ, et al. An inducible mouse model of podocin-mutation-related nephrotic syndrome. PLoS One. 2017.
- Fresquet M, Jowitt TA, McKenzie EA, Ball MD, Randles MJ, Lennon R, et al. PLA2R binds to the annexin A2-S100A10 complex in human podocytes. Sci Rep. 2017.
- Randles MJ, Humphries MJ, Lennon R. Proteomic definitions of basement membrane composition in health and disease. Matrix Biology. 2017.
- Randles MJ, Collinson S, Starborg T, Mironov A, Krendel M, Königshausen E, et al. Three-dimensional electron microscopy reveals the evolution of glomerular barrier injury. Sci Rep. 2016.
- Randles MJ, Lennon R. Applying Proteomics to Investigate Extracellular Matrix in Health and Disease. Curr Top Membr. 2015;76:171-96. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctm.2015.06.001. Epub 2015.
- Randles MJ, Woolf AS, Huang JL, Byron A, Humphries JD, Price KL, et al. Genetic background is a key determinant of glomerular extracellular matrix composition and organization. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015.
- Lennon R, Stuart HM, Bierzynska A, Randles MJ, Kerr B, Hillman KA, et al. Coinheritance of COL4A5 and MYO1E mutations accentuate the severity of kidney disease. Pediatr Nephrol. 2015.
- Lennon R, Randles MJ, Humphries MJ. The importance of podocyte adhesion for a healthy glomerulus. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2014.
- Randles MJ+, Byron A+, Humphries JD, Mironov A, Hamidi H, Harris S, et al. Glomerular cell cross-talk influences composition and assembly of extracellular matrix. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014.
- Lennon R, Byron A, Humphries JD, Randles MJ, Carisey A, Murphy S, et al. Global analysis reveals the complexity of the human glomerular extracellular matrix. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014.