DoctorDevyani Holmes

I am an early career researcher with expertise in biochemistry and biotechnology. My previous research has focused on elucidating the role of immune cells, such as macrophages, in the inflammatory processes involved in atherosclerotic plaque development. Using excised plaques from human stroke patients and nanoparticle contrast agents incorporating gold and iodine, I have monitored cell behaviour via spectral photon counting computed tomography (SPCCT) imaging, successfully demonstrating non-invasive tracking and quantification of monocyte recruitment in atherosclerotic plaques. I have established protocols for distinguishing gold from calcium at atherosclerotic sites, characterized nanoparticle uptake in human monocytes and cell lines without affecting cell viability, and developed methods for studying live human atherosclerotic plaque sections. Currently, I am investigating the temporal dynamics of inflammatory cell interactions within atherosclerotic plaques, examining how diverse cell populations including T cells, macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts coordinate to drive atherogenic inflammation and plaque progression. My research combines live tissue culture analysis, advanced flow cytometry, and temporal analysis to link cellular composition to functional inflammatory responses, addressing critical knowledge gaps in cardiovascular disease mechanisms with significant implications for therapeutic development. Techniques employed for this research include cell and tissue culture, microscopy, flow cytometry, HPLC, spectrophotometry, western blotting and SPCCT imaging.