Working with colleagues in Australia, Canada, Britain and Denmark, our studies aim to determine some of the ways that cells in arteries communicate with one another and specifically, at how cells control the balance between the way that arteries narrow (constrict) and enlarge (dilate). This balance is referred to as vascular tone and is the main determinant of blood pressure and thus cardiovascular disease. Coordination of vascular tone is dependent on signals passing through junctions within and between the cellular layers in arteries. Our studies correlate anatomy, function, molecular and biochemical data, to identify the fundamental pathways that underlie blood vessel function and thereby determine targets for the correction of vascular disease.
Professional Memberships
- Australian and New Zealand Microcirculation Society (2001-present)
- Australian Physiological Society (1995-present)
- Australian Vascular Biology Society (2012-present)
- Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (2019-present)
- The Brain Foundation (Australia; 2015-)
Research Grants
| Project name | Investigator(s) | Funding body | Year(s) | >Funding amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identifying treatment targets to improve cerebral blood flow after stroke and hypoxia | Dr Shaun Sandow; Dr Tim Murphy; Dr Nicole Jones; Dr Fraser Russell; Dr Rohan Grimley; Dr Andrew Dettrick; | Brain Foundation | 2016 | $34,000 |
| Diabetes Australia Research Trust Millennium Grant | Dr Tim Murphy; Dr Shaun Sandow | Diabetes Australia | 2016-2017 | $49,950 |
| GNT1048885 ATP release from gastrointestinal epithelium: A potential target for the treatment of slow transient constipation |
Dr Lu Liu; Associate Professor Paul Bertrand; Dr Shaun Sandow | National Health and Medical Research Council | 2013-2015 | $306,806.18 |
| GNT546087 Local mechanisms that determine regional differences in ability of small arteries to deliver blood to organs in diabetes |
Associate Professor Helena C Parkington; Dr Shaun L Sandow; Prof Michael Permezel |
National Health and Medical Research Council | 2009-2012 | $735,200 |
| Identifying priority targets for effective blood volume management in preterm infants |
CIC with CIA Prof Paul Colditz; CIB Yvone Eiby; CID DR Lingwood (RBWH appointment) and AI Prof Ian Wright |
Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Foundation Grant | 2021 | $49,000 |
Potential Research Projects for HDR & Honours Students
- Role of endothelial large conductance calcium activated potassium channels in cerebrovascular health and disease (with Tim Murphy and Nicole Jones, University of New South Wales)
- Identifying targets to correct abnormal blood flow in pregnancy (with Tim Murphy, University of New South Wales; and Leo Leader, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney)
- Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm — login required (with Fraser Russell, UniSC)
- Cardiovascular mechanisms that underlie the pain and aura phases of migraine (with Vladimir Matchkov, Denmark)
Research areas
- cardiovascular
- control of vascular tone
- endothelial and smooth muscle cell biology
- cell coupling, gap junctions and connexins
- remodelling in development (pregnancy and growth) and disease, including obesity, diabetes, stroke
- microdomain signaling
Teaching areas
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Associate Professor Shaun Sandow's specialist areas of knowledge include cardiovascular, control of vascular tone, cell biology and anatomy.