Dr Vahitha Abdul Salam

Profile

Vahitha Abdul Salam graduated with First Class Honors in Pharmacy from the National University of Malaysia, where she received the gold medal for being among the top graduates in the country. She then secured a prestigious joint scholarship from the Malaysian government and an Overseas Research Scholarship from the Universities of UK to pursue a PhD at Imperial College London. Under the supervision of Prof. Martin Wilkins and Dr. Robert Edwards, she specialised in cardiovascular proteomics, focusing on mass spectrometry-based biomarker discovery for cardiovascular diseases. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research led to the discovery and patenting of two biomarkers for assessing heart failure and coronary artery disease. She also pioneered label-free proteomics methods to identify druggable targets in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare and severe condition. Together with Dr. Beata Wojciak-Stothard, Vahitha investigated the role of Chloride Intracellular Channel Proteins (CLICs), identified through her proteomics research, in vascular pathobiology of PAH. This interdisciplinary work, integrating proteomics, molecular and cellular biology, and in vivo disease models, earned her the European Young Investigator Award from Pfizer.

In 2020, Vahitha joined the William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI) as a Lecturer in Vascular Pharmacology at the Centre for Cardiovascular Medicine and Device Innovation, where she established her independent research group under the Barts Charity’s Rising Stars Lectureship Programme. She has since been promoted to Senior Lecturer, Group Leader, and Deputy Dean for Global Engagement and Partnerships at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Beyond her research, she co-leads the Drug Design Module (BMD358) for undergraduate students and supervises research projects for PhD, Master's, and undergraduate students.

Her current research focuses on treating vascular disorders, with an emphasis on elucidating the role of Chloride Intracellular Channel Proteins (CLICs) in vascular remodelling. Her work also includes AI-driven drug development, proteomics-based biomarker and drug discovery, and investigating the impact of microplastics on cardiovascular health.

Vahitha serves on the editorial boards of Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine and Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology and is an ad-hoc reviewer for several leading journals, including Circulation, Circulation Research, Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, and the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Awards and Affiliations

• Committee Member, London Proteomics Discussion Group
• Silver Member, European Respiratory Society
• Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Fellow, Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute
• Travel Fellowship, British Lung Foundation/GlaxoSmithKline (2012)
• European Young Investigator Award, Pfizer (2011)
• Overseas Research Scheme Award, Universities of the UK (2004)
• Gold Medal Award, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (1999)
• Gold Medal Award, National University of Malaysia (1999)
• Best Asian Student Award, National University of Malaysia (1999)

Research

Group members

Current: Dr Nabil Hajji (Honorary Senior Lecturer); Dr Fisayo Olotu (KTP Research Associate); Dr Karima Brimah (Visiting Lecturer); Mr Ahmed Alotaibi (PhD student)

Alumni: Dr Felipe Ossa (Research Associate; 2022); Dr Abdelaziz Elhamdaoui (Technician; 2021-2022)

Vascular dysfunction is a critical early indicator and a key contributor to the development of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, which together represent the leading causes of death worldwide. It involves impairments in the proper functioning of blood vessels, affecting the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels), smooth muscle function, and overall blood flow regulation. This dysfunction is primarily driven by endothelial damage, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, leading to conditions such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure.

Our laboratory aims to uncover the mechanisms underlying vascular dysfunction, develop novel diagnostic tools, and innovate treatment strategies to prevent and manage these conditions.

Key Research Themes:

1. Role of CLIC Proteins in Vascular Dysfunction:
   CLIC proteins, particularly CLIC1 and CLIC4, are involved in vital cellular processes such as ion transport, redox regulation, inflammation, and apoptosis, all crucial for maintaining vascular health. Our research explores the mechanistic roles of these proteins in diseases like pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis, and ageing-related vascular dysfunction.
2. Proteomics-Based Biomarker and Druggable Target Discovery:
   We use advanced proteomics technologies to discover novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and disease monitoring. This research also focuses on identifying druggable targets by analysing protein expression, modifications, and interactions in disease states to develop precise and effective therapies to improve patient outcomes.
3. AI- and Structure-Based Drug Development:
   We integrate artificial intelligence with structural biology to expedite the identification of novel drug candidates and optimise their interactions with specific molecular targets. Our research pipeline combines these technologies to enable rational drug design with ongoing efforts to translate these findings into clinical applications.
4. Impact of Environmental Pollutants, such as Microplastics, on Vascular Dysfunction:
5. With the increasing prevalence of microplastics in the environment, their potential impact on vascular health is a growing concern. We investigate how microplastic exposure affects vascular function, contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation, and accelerates the progression of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and hypertension. By defining these risks and understanding the underlying mechanisms, our research aims to inform public health strategies and develop interventions to mitigate the cardiovascular risks posed by environmental pollutants.

Key Publications

Full list of publications

Peer-reviewed

1. Olotu F, Medina-Carmona E, Serrano-Sanchez A, Ossa F, El-Hamdaoui A, Tastan Bishop O, Ortega-Roldan JR & Abdul-Salam VB*. Structure-based discovery and in vitro validation of selective inhibitors of Chloride Intracellular Channel 4 protein. Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2023, 21, 688-701*Corresponding author
2. Alzaydi MM*, Abdul-Salam VB*, Whitwell HJ, Russomanno G, Glynos A, Capece D, Szabadkai S, Wilkins MR & Wojciak-Stothard B. Intracellular Chloride Channels Regulate Endothelial Metabolic Reprogramming in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2023 Jan;68(1):103-115 *Joint first authors.
3. Varela L, Hendry AC, Cassar J, Martin-Escolano R, Cantoni D, Ossa F, Edwards JC, Abdul-Salam V &Ortega-Roldan JL. Zn²⁺ triggered two-step mechanism of CLIC1 membrane insertion and activation into chloride channels. J Cell Sci. 2022; 135 (15) :jcs259704
4. Shaikh FS, Aldhafferi N, Buker A, Alqahtani A, Dey S, Alshahrani MS, Almunsour Y & Abdul-Salam VB*.Comorbidities and Risk Factors for Severe Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2021 Aug 12;14:2169-2183. *Corresponding author
5. Medvedev R, Sanchez-Alonso JL, Alvarez-Laviada A, Rossi S, Dries E, Abdul-Salam VB, Trayanova N, Wojciak-Stothard B, Miragoli M, Faggian G & Gorelik J. Nanoscale study of calcium handling remodelling in right ventricular cardiomyocytes following pulmonary hypertension. Hypertension. 2021 Feb;77(2):605-616
6. García-Domínguez DJ, Hontecillas-Prieto L, Kaliszczak M, He M, Burguillos MA, Bekay R, Abdul-Salam VB, Khozoie C, Shah K, O’Neill K, de Álava E, Silver A, Syed N, Aboagye EO & Hajji N. Novel nuclear role of HDAC6 in prognosis and therapeutic target for colorectal cancer. 2020.https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.02.356121
7. Russomanno G, Jo KB, Abdul-Salam VB, Morgan CC, Alzaydi M, Wilkins MR & Wojciak-Stothard B. Role of endothelial microRNA-150 in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Mol Ther. 2020;23:142-153.
8. Sindi H*, Russomanno G*, Abdul-Salam VB, Jo KB, , Chaudhry BQ, Ainscough AJ, BMorgan CC, Pullamsetti SS, Alzaydi M, Rhodes CJ, Wilkins MR & Wojciak-Stothard B. Therapeutic potential of KLF-2 induced exosomal microRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Nat Comm. 2020; 11, 1185.
9. Abdul-Salam VB, Russomanno G, Chen-Nien C, Mahomed AS, Wilkins MR, Zhao L, Gierula M, Dubois O, Schaeper U, Endruschat J & Wojciak-Stothard B. CLIC4/ARF6 pathway – a new lead BMPRII inhibition in pulmonary hypertension: Circ Res. 2019; 124:52-65
10. Edwards RJ, Pyzio M, Gierula M, Turner CE, Abdul-Salam VB & Sriskandan S. Proteomics analysis at the sites of clinical infection with invasive Streptococcus pyogenes. Sci Rep. 2017; Apr13;8(1):5950.
11. Duluc L, hmetaj-Shala B, Mitchell J, Abdul-Salam VB, Mahomed AS, Aldabbous L, Oliver E, Iannone L, Dubois OD, Storck EM, Tate EW, Zhao L, Wilkins MR & Wojciak-Stothard B. Tipifarnib prevents development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Cardiovasc Res. 2017. 113: 276-287.
12. Aldabbous L, Abdul-Salam V, McKinnon T, Duluc L, Pepke-Zaba J, Southwood M, Ainscough AJ, Hadinnapola C, Wilkins MR, Toshner M & Wojciak-Stothard. Identification and assessment of plasma lysozyme as a putative biomarker of atherosclerosis. Thromb. Vasc. 2016; 36:2078-87
13. *Wojciak-Stothard B, *Abdul-Salam VB, Lao KH, Tsang H, Irwin DC, Lisk C, Loomis Z, Stenmark KR, Edwards JC, Yuspa SH, Howard LS, Rhodes CJ, Gibbs SR, Whatron J, Zhao L & Wilkins MR. Aberrant chloride intracellular channel 4 expression contributes to endothelial dysfunction in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Circulation. 2014 Apr 29;129(17):1770-80.] *Joint first authors.
14. Abdul-Salam VB, Wharton J, Cupitt J, Berryman M, Edwards RJ & Wilkins MR. Proteomic Analysis of Lung Tissues in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Circulation. 2010; 122:2058-67. *Was highlighted in 2 Circulation special review: Circulation. 2012; 125: e645-e652 & e507-e519
15. Abdul-Salam VB, Ramrakha P, Krishnan U, Owen DR, Shalhoub J, Davies AH, Tang TY, Gillard JH, Boyle JJ, Wilkins MR & Edwards RJ. Identification and assessment of plasma lysozyme as a putative biomarker of atherosclerosis. Thromb. Vasc. 2010; 30:1027-33. *Corresponding author
16. Paratz E & Abdul-Salam VB. Investigation of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes as candidate biomarkers of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Aust Med Stud Jl. 2010; 1:16-20. *Corresponding author
17. Abdul-Salam VB, Paul GA, Ali JO, Gibbs SR, Rahman D, Taylor GW, Wilkins MR & Edwards RJ. Identification of plasma protein biomarkers associated with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. Proteomics. 2006; 6:2286-2294

Book chapters

1. Rhodes CJ, Abdul Salam V, Wharton J & Wilkins MR. Blood biomarkers. In: Peacock AJ, Naeije & Rubin LJ, editors. Pulmonary circulation Diseases and their treatments, Third ed. London, UK: Hodder Arnold; 2011. p. 146-158

Collaborators

Internal
Prof Amrita Ahluwalia (WHRI), Prog Greg Slabaugh, Prof Kate Spencer, Dr Aisah Aubdool (WHRI), Dr Claudio Raimondi (WHRI), Prof Marina Resmini

External
Dr Beata Wojciak Stothard (Imperial College London), Prof Martin Wilkins (Imperial College London), Dr Luke Howard (Imperial College London), Dr Punit Ramrakha (Imperial College London NHS Trust), Dr Nabil Hajji (Water Research Centre Ltd.,), Dr Jose Ortega-Roldan (University of Kent), Prof Adnane Achour (Karolinska Institute)

News

• iNews – “Why scientists are giving up bottled water”
• Los Angeles Times – “More concerning than the nanoplastics in water bottles are the chemicals on them”
• Business Insider – “Microplastics have been linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke for the first time”
• Water magazine – “Pioneering microplastics project looks at impact on human health”
• QM News – “Trailblazing microplastics project examines the impact on our health”
• WRc news: “Unmasking the Microscopic Menace: Unveiling Nanoplastics in Bottled Water - No Need to Panic, But Research is Key”
• The Engineer: Project set to investigate impact of microplastics on human health
• Recycle.com: UK scientists lead study on risks to human health from microplastics

Teaching

Vahitha serves as the Co-Lead for the Drug Design Module and lecturer for the MRes in Cardiovascular Medicine program. Additionally, she tutors MBBS students in Problem-Based Learning and SSC4 modules.

Disclosures

None.