Professor Georgina Ellison-Hughes

Prof. Ellison-Hughes' research programme focuses on rejuvenating the regenerative capacity of striated (skeletal and cardiac) muscle, particularly preventing and treating the loss of muscle mass associated with ageing and/or disease. In particular, her research has been at the forefront of adult-derived cardiac stem/progenitor cells and has made a seminal contribution in the paradigm shifting work to establish the adult heart as a self-renewing organ with regenerative capacity. Work is now focused on the activation of the endogenous regenerative capacity of the aged or damaged heart and skeletal muscle. Approaches include exercise training, cell therapy, inhibition of pathways and re-programming to stimulate endogenous regenerative and repair processes. Through being a member of the UNESCO Executive committee ‘Anti-Aging and Disease Prevention’, she recently contributed to understanding the role of transplanting mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) as a treatment for COVID-19 ARDS.