Adam Midgley

Dr Midgley is currently an Associate Professor in the College of Life Sciences. He obtained his BSc in Biomedical Sciences at Cardiff University in 2009 (Wales, UK), before completing his MSc in Tissue Engineering and Regeneration at Cardiff University in 2010 (full scholarship). He then embarked on a Research Into Ageing/AgeUK studentship-funded PhD at the Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University (October 2010 – October 2013). After obtaining his PhD he continued as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the Wales Kidney Research Unit, Cardiff University (funded by the UK MRC, 2013.10 - 2018.01). In March 2018, Dr Midgley joined Nankai University as a Postdoctoral Research Associate and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)-funded Research Fellow. He was appointed as a foreign faculty member and Associate Professor in June 2020. >70 SCI publications (>25 as first/corresponding author); 3 applied patents; 1 authorised patent.

(2010.10 – 2013.10) PhD Molecular & Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK;(2009.10 – 2010.10) MSc Tissue Engineering and Regeneration, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Wales, UK;(2006.10 – 2009.06) BSc Biomedical Science School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK

(2020.06 - Present) Associate Professor Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials for the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; (2018.08 - Present) NSFC Research Fellow, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Xu Rongxiang Regeneration Life Science Center, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China;(2018.03 - 2020.06) Postdoctoral Research Associate, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Xu Rongxiang Regeneration Life Science Center, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; (2013.10 - 2018.01) Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Wales Kidney Research Unit, Division of Infection and Immunity, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK

Treatment of organ fibrosis using hydrogels and nanomedicines (kidney, liver, lungs, heart); 

Wound healing biomaterials (skin regeneration, anti-scarring therapies); 

Molecular mechanisms of chronic diseases (Cell differentiation, matrix biology, and signaling pathways);

Gene and protein/peptide engineering for therapeutic development；

Age-related effects on tissue regeneration (scarring vs. resolution).

Representative Works

2024

Gu XR; Tai Y; Liu Z; Zhang X; Liu K; Zhou LY; Yin WJ; Deng YX; Kong D; Midgley AC*; Zuo XC*. (2024) Layer-by-layer Assembly of Renal-targeted Polymeric Nanoparticles for Robust Arginase-2 Knockdown and Contrast-induced Acute Kidney Injury Prevention. Advanced Healthcare Materials. e2304675. DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304675.

2023

Li L; Cao J; Li S; Cui T; Ni J; Zhang H; Zhu Y; Mao J; Gao X*; Midgley AC*; Zhu M*; Fan G*. (2023) M2 Macrophage-Derived sEV Regulate Pro-Inflammatory CCR2+ Macrophage Subpopulations to Favor Post-AMI Cardiac Repair. Advanced Science. 10(14):2202964.

Yan H#; Cheng Q#; Si J; Wang S; Wan Y; Kong X; Wang T; Zheng W; Rafique M; Li X; He J; Midgley AC*; Zhu Y; Wang K*; Kong D. (2023) Functionalization of in vivo tissue-engineered living biotubes enhance patency and endothelization without the requirement of systemic anticoagulant administration. Bioactive Materials, 26:292-305.

Zhuang J#; Midgley AC#; Wei Y; Liu Q; Kong D*; Huang X*. (2023) Machine Learning‐assisted Nanozyme Design: Lessons from Materials and Engineered Enzymes. Advanced Materials, :2210848. [Review]

2022

Wu Z; Midgley AC*; Kong D*; Ding D. (2022) Organic persistent luminescence imaging for biomedical applications. Materials Today Bio, 17:100481. [Review]

Wang H; Xing M; Deng W; Qian M; Wang F; Wang K; Midgley AC*; Zhao Q*. (2022) Anti-Sca-1 antibody-functionalized vascular grafts improve vascular regeneration via selective capture of endogenous vascular stem/progenitor cells. Bioactive Materials, 16:433-450.

Midgley AC*; Zhao Q*. (2022) CD44 receptor diversity and potential in preventative and regenerative therapies. Clinical and Translational Discovery, 2(2):e78. [Commentary]

Gu X; Liu Z; Tai Y; Zhou LY; Liu K; Kong D*; Midgley AC*; Zuo XC*. (2022) Hydrogel and nanoparticle carriers for kidney disease therapy: trends and recent advancements. Progress in Biomedical Engineering, 4(2):022006. [Review]

Qi C; Liu X; Zhi D; Tai Y; Liu Y; Sun Q; Wang K; Wang S*; Midgley AC*; Kong D*. (2022) Exosome-mimicking nanovesicles derived from efficacy-potentiated stem cell membrane and secretome for regeneration of injured tissue, Nano Research, 15(2):1680-1690.

Midgley AC; Bowen T*. (2022) Analysis of Human Hyaluronan Synthase Gene Transcriptional Regulation and Downstream Hyaluronan Cell Surface Receptor Mobility in Myofibroblast Differentiation. Methods Mol Biol, 2303:453-468.

2021

Zhang L#; Tai Y#; Liu X; Liu Y; Dong Y; Liu Y; Yang C; Kong D; Qi C*; Wang S*; Midgley AC*. (2021) Natural polymeric and peptide-loaded composite wound dressings for scar prevention. Applied Materials Today, 25:101186.

Sun Q; Shen Z; Liang X; He Y; Kong D; Midgley AC*; Wang K*. (2021) Progress and Current Limitations of Materials for Artificial Bile Duct Engineering. Materials, 14(23):7468. [Review]

Yang S; Zheng X; Qian M; Wang H; Wang F; Wei Y; Midgley AC*; He J; Tian H*; Zhao Q*. (2021) Nitrate-Functionalized poly(ε-Caprolactone) Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts Enhance Vascular Regeneration via Sustained Release of Nitric Oxide. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9:770121.

Tai Y#; Woods EL#; Dally J; Kong D; Steadman R; Moseley R*; Midgley AC*.(2021) Myofibroblasts: Function, Formation, and Scope of Molecular Therapies for Skin Fibrosis. Biomolecules, 11(8):1095. [Review]

Zhang L; Yan H; Tai Y; Xue Y; Wei Y; Wang K; Zhao Q; Wang S*; Kong D; Midgley AC*. (2021) Design and Evaluation of a Polypeptide that Mimics the Integrin Binding Site for EDA Fibronectin to Block Profibrotic Cell Activity. International Journal of Molecular Science, 22(4):1575.

2020

Midgley AC*; Wei Y; Zhu D; Gao F; Yan H; Khalique A; Luo W; Jiang H; Liu X; Guo J; Zhang C; Feng G; Wang K; Bai X; Ning W; Yang C; Zhao Q; Kong D.* (2020) Multifunctional natural polymer nanoparticles as antifibrotic gene carriers for chronic kidney disease therapy. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 31(10):ASN.2019111160.

Midgley AC#; Woods EL#; Roberts T; Jenkins RH; Hascall V; Steadman R; Phillips AO; Meran S*. (2020) Hyaluronidase-2 Regulates RhoA Signalling, Myofibroblast Contractility and other Key Pro-fibrotic Myofibroblast Functions. American Journal of Pathology,190(6):1236-1255.

2013-2019

Midgley AC#; Wei Y#; Li Z; Kong D; Zhao Q*. (2019) Nitric-Oxide-Releasing Biomaterial Regulation of the Stem Cell Microenvironment in Regenerative Medicine. Advanced Materials, 32(3):1805818. [Review]

Dally J; Khan JS; Voisey A; Charalambous C; John HL; Woods EL; Steadman R; Moseley R; Midgley AC* (2017) Hepatocyte Growth Factor mediates enhanced wound healing responses and resistance to Transforming Growth Factor-beta1-driven myofibroblast differentiation in oral mucosal fibroblasts. International Journal of Molecular Science, 18(9):1843.

Midgley AC, Oltean S; Hascall V; Woods EL; Steadman R; Phillips AO; Meran S*. (2017) Nuclear Hyaluronidase 2 drives alternative splicing of CD44 pre-mRNA to dictate pro-fibrotic or anti-fibrotic cell phenotype. Science Signaling, 10(506):eaao1822.

Midgley AC*; Morris G; Phillips AO; Steadman R*. (2016) 17β-estradiol ameliorates age-associated loss of fibroblast function by attenuating IFN-γ/STAT1-dependent miR-7 upregulation. Aging Cell, 15(3):531-41.

Midgley AC; Bowen T*. (2015) Analysis of human hyaluronan synthase gene transcriptional regulation and downstream hyaluronan cell surface receptor mobility in myofibroblast differentiation. Methods Mol Biol, Glycosaminoglycans Part II, 1229:605-618.

Midgley AC; Duggal L; Jenkins R; Hascall V; Steadman R; Phillips AO; Meran S*. (2015) Hyaluronan regulates Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 dependent prevention and reversal of myofibroblast phenotype. J Biol Chem, 290(18):11218-34.

Midgley AC; Bowen T; Phillips AO; Steadman R*. (2014) MicroRNA-7 inhibition rescues age-associated loss of epidermal growth factor receptor and hyaluronan-dependent differentiation in fibroblasts. Aging Cell, 13:235-244.

Midgley AC; Rogers M; Hallett MB; Clayton A; Bowen T; Phillips AO; Steadman R*. (2013) TGF-β1-stimulated fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation is mediated by HA-facilitated EGFR and CD44 colocalisation in lipid rafts. J Biol Chem, 288(21):14824-14838.

Patents

1. Application date: 2020/12/24; Authorisation date: ----/--/--; Inventors: 孔德领, 亚当·米德格利; Description:一种小型阻断肽的没计筛选方法及其用于合成纤维化疾病治疗药物的应用 (202011572701.4); Country: China; Status: Applied; Type: 发明专利

2. Application date: 2021/04/09; Authorisation date: 2023/02/28; Inventors: 王淑芳, 亚当·米德格利, 张琳, 孔德领; Description:一种防疤痕皮肤创伤修复用水凝胶及其制备方法 (ZL202110380295.X); Country: China; Status: Authorised; Type: 发明专利

3. Application date: 2023/09/12; Authorisation date: ----/--/--; Inventors: 亚当·米德格利; 孔德领; 台逸凡; 刘震; Description:一种多功能逐层组装复合纳米颗粒基因载体的制备方法 (202311172849.2; Country: China; Status: Applied; Type: 发明专利

Fibrosis Editorial Board Member (2023-Now);

Biomolecules Guest Editor for Journal Special Issue  (2021, 2023);

International Society for Applied Cardiovascular Biology (ISACB) Junior Member (2024/06-Now);

Chinese Society for Biomaterials (CSBM) Member (2022/04-Now);

European Tissue Repair Society (ETRS) Member (2017/03-2021/03); 

Biochemical Society Early Career Member (2016/05-2020/05); 

Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER) Member (2009/10-2018/01)。

Peer Reviewer for Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, Bioactive Materials, Materials Today Bio, Kidney International, etc.

PhD student supervisor, Nankai University (2024-Present);

Participated in the [2023南开大学本科教育教学改革项目 - 生物学科全英文专业核心课程群建设] Teaching Reform Project (2023-2024);

Lecturer on the [Advanced Biochemistry in English] BSc elective course, Nankai University (2022 - Present)

Lecturer on the [International and Intercultural Dialogue] BSc elective course, Nankai University (2022 - Present) 

MSc student supervisor, Nankai University (2020-Present)

MSc and MRes student supervisor, Cardiff University (2013-2018)

Lecturer on the [MSc Human Tissue Engineering and Regeneration] course: [Cell Culture] and [Bioengineering the Kidney], Cardiff University (2016-2018)

Lecturer on the [BSc Biomedical Sciences] course: [Bioengineering the Kidney], Cardiff University (2017-2018)

2024 - Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK (FHEA);

2023 - National Natural Science Foundation of China Research Fund for International Excellent Young Scholars;

2023 - Tianjin Key Foreign Expert Award;

2023 - Ministry of Science and Technology Foreign Scholar Support Award;

2021 - Ministry of Science and Technology Foreign Young Talent Award.