Oxygen - Too much of a good thing!
“Oxygen – too much of a good thing” will draw on Professor Philip E. James’s long standing interest on the roles of oxygen in health and disease. Oxygen is the third-most abundant element in the universe and oxygen gas constitutes 20.8% of the Earth's atmosphere. Combined with other substances it makes up almost half of the Earth's crust. Oxygen is used in cellular respiration and many major classes of organic molecules in living organisms contain oxygen, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and fats, as do animal shells, teeth, and bone. Most of the mass of living organisms is oxygen as a component of water, the major constituent of lifeforms. It therefore comes as no surprise that maintenance of oxygen supply is a critical factor to every cell in the human body. In normal circumstances, this is provided by a healthy heart, respiratory and circulatory system. In this lecture, Philip will explain how his early research career sparked an interest in the role that oxygen played as a key regulator of health and disease. He will discuss its role in the production of a very potent molecule, nitric oxide (nitrogenoxide). Philip will explain how nitric oxide is a molecule produced by the lining of all healthy blood vessels, keeping vessels open and controlling the “stickiness” of blood. Decreased nitric oxide is directly associated with cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, stroke, and myocardial infarction (heart attack). Maintaining oxygen and nitric oxide levels has therefore become a key driver for much of Philip’s work with
Professor Philip E. James
Philip is Professor of Cardiovascular Metabolism and
Associate Dean (Research) at the Cardiff School of Sport and
Health Sciences. He is academic Lead of the Stroke Research
and Innovation Network coordinating scientific and clinical
research across Wales. His research group is very much
focussed on the biochemistry of nitric oxide and vascular
dysfunction in the context of cardiovascular disease, with a
particular interest in interaction between fat cells
(adipocytes) and blood vessels funded largely by the British
Heart Foundation. Philip is currently President of the
International Nitric Oxide Society and will host the biennial
Society meeting in Oxford, September 2018.
How to book
To book your place on any of the Cardiff Metropolitan University Professorial and Inaugural Lectures, please complete the online booking form or contact: Caryn Blunt, Tel: 029 2041 6052 or email:
pandilectures@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Places are free of charge on a first come, first serve basis and are open to the General Public. Cardiff Metropolitan University operates a 24 hour parking system – please pay and display 50p on the evening of the lecture.