DrNicholas Kirkby

Dr Kirkby is a cardiovascular pharmacologist who leads a group in the Vascular Science section of the National Heart & Lung Institute. His research interests focus on targeting endothelial hormone pathways to control thrombosis, inflammation and atherosclerosis. These are addressed using high quality in vivo models, in vitro bioassays and '-omic' approaches, incorporating clinical data, samples and mechanistic studies. His research is based in rigorous basic science but addresses clinically relevant questions with a view to effective translation of laboratory findings into new drugs and therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular patients. Dr Kirkby's work is supported by close collaboration with colleagues at Imperial within and outside NHLI along with international leaders in the field. His research is currently supported by grant funding from the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council.

Dr Kirkby performed his undergraduate training at the University of Edinburgh where he received a 1st class honours degree in Pharmacology in 2005. He remained in Edinburgh to undertake a PhD in the laboratories of Prof Patrick Hadoke and Prof David Webb, studying the roles of the endothelial hormones, particularly endothelin-1, in the response to vascular injury. He completed his first post-doctoral training in Edinburgh under the guidance of Prof Patrick Hadoke and Prof Robin Plevin (Strathclyde University) before joining Imperial College in 2010.

In 2013, Dr Kirkby was awarded an Imperial College Research Fellowship to develop his independent research. In 2015, he was awarded a highly prestigious British Heart Foundation Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship which was renewed in 2020 which was further supported by a British Heart Foundation Programme Grant (co-investigator). In 2021, he was promoted to Senior Research Fellow (equivalent to a Reader-level academic position).

Dr Kirkby has received numerous awards for his work from bodies including American Heart Association, British Pharmacology Society, American Physiology Society, International Association of Inflammation Societies, National Heart & Lung Institute Foundation, Imperial College, British Heart Foundation and Royal Society. In 2015 he was recognised for his outstanding contribution to post-graduate teaching by nomination for an NHLI student supervision award and in 2016 for his contribution to research in the cyclo-oxygenase field through a British Pharmacology Society Bill Bowman Award.

Dr Kirkby contributes extensively to teaching. He was academic lead for research projects for the BSc Medical Biosciences course from 2020-2024 and is now lead for the MRes Biomedical Research: Respiratory and Cardiovascular Science (2024-present). He also has an established track record in PhD, MSc/MRes, and BSc research student supervision.