- R2RL24, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU
- charles.affourtit@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Charles Affourtit
Associate Head of School - Research
School of Biomedical Sciences (Faculty of Health)
Biography
Biography
Research
Current lab members
Module Leader (BHCS1003 - Human Metabolism)
Qualifications
Positions
- Associate Head of School (Research), Feb 2023 -
- Associate Professor in Mitochondrial Biology, 2016 -
- Lecturer in Biochemistry, 2010-2016
- Scientific consultant, 2009-2010
- Visiting Scientist, 2009-2010
- Investigative Scientist with Professor Martin Brand, 2004-2009
- Post-Doctoral Research Associate with Professor Tony Moore, 1999-2004
- PGCert in Academic Practice, University of Plymouth University (2011)
- DPhil in Biochemistry, University of Sussex (2000)
- MSc in Biology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (1995)
Professional membership
Societies
- Biochemical Society since 1995
- Mitochondrial Physiology Society since 2007
- Higher Education Academy since 2012
Roles on external bodies
Editorial Boards
- Frontiers in Physiology: Mitochondrial Research (Review Editor)
- Frontiers in Physiology: Striated Muscle Physiology (Review Editor)
- Frontiers in Genetics (Guest Associate Editor)
- Physiological Reports
Key publications
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
- Cellular bioenergetics
- Mitochondrial physiology
- Redox biology
- Metabolism
- Biochemistry
- Metabolic control and regulation
- Biochemical basis of disease
To me, teaching and research are intimately linked activities, as I appreciate the importance of transferring cutting-edge knowledge and, perhaps more importantly, as I wish to inspire and enthuse the next generation of researchers. I currently teach fundamental biochemistry to undergraduates at all stages of various degree programmes and, firmly informed by my research, I show how this basic science underpins the development of metabolic disorders, and how it drives disease diagnosis and management. My lab engages actively with undergraduate (summer, placement and dissertation projects) and postgraduate (PhD and MSc projects) students to prepare them for independent research careers.
Staff serving as external examiners
Research Degrees
- University of East Anglia (DPhil, 2022)
- University of Dundee (DPhil, 2020)
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia (DPhil, 2018)
- King’s College London (DPhil, 2015)
- Nottingham University (MPhil, 2015)
- University of Northampton (DPhil, 2013)
Research
Research
Research interests
Generally, I am intrigued by the role of bioenergetic failure in disease pathophysiology. In particular, I wish to understand how mitochondrial dysfunction affects glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells and the insulin responsiveness of skeletal muscle. Defects in insulin secretion and action that arise in obesity are both features of the Metabolic Syndrome, a cluster of medical disorders that collectively increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. As detailed in the reviews listed below, my current projects focus on the bioenergetics of (1) insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells (2) obesity-related and (3) uraemic insulin resistance of skeletal muscle, and (4) dietary-nitrate-enhanced skeletal muscle function.
(1) Affourtit, C. Alberts, B., Barlow, J., Carré, J. E. and Wynne, A. G. (2018) Control of pancreatic beta cell bioenergetics. Biochemical Society Transactions, https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20170505
(2) Affourtit, C. (2016) Mitochondrial involvement in skeletal muscle insulin resistance - a case of imbalanced bioenergetics. BBA – Bioenergetics 1857, 1678-1693. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.07.008
(3) Carré, J. E. and Affourtit, C. (2019) Mitochondrial activity and skeletal muscle insulin resistance in kidney disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20, 2751. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20112751
(4) Affourtit, C., Bailey, S. J., Jones, A. M., Smallwood, M. J. and Winyard, P. G. (2015) On the mechanism by which dietary nitrate improves human skeletal muscle function. Frontiers in Physiology 6:211. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2015.00211
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
Dr Rosie Donnell (PhD, 2022) - Nitrite and insulin lower the oxygen cost of ATP synthesis in skeletal muscle cells by pleiotropic stimulation of glycolysis
Dr Jonathan Barlow (PhD, 2015) - Mitochondrial involvement in pancreatic beta cell glucolipotoxicity
Grants & contracts
University of Plymouth (PUPSMD) - PhD Studentship
October 2017 - September 2020
Medical Research Council - Research Grant MR/L022079/1 (with Kim Tieu (PI), Robert Fern and Erwan Bezard)
Total value: £513K
Why do pancreatic beta cells waste energy?
Medical Research Council - New Investigator Research Grant G1100165/1
February 2012 - April 2016
Total value: £434K
Mitochondrial involvement in pancreatic beta cell lipotoxicity
University of Plymouth (Faculty of Science and Technology) - PhD Studentship
October 2011 - September 2014
Total value: £60K
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsPersonal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Lectures
Division of Cell Signalling and Immunology, University of Dundee (2019)
British Association for the Study of the Liver, Annual Basic Science Retreat (2019)
Division of Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences, King’s College London (2019)
MitOX Meeting, University of Oxford (2017)
University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, UK (2017)
School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK (2016)
Other academic activities
Peer Review
Funding bodies: MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, Diabetes UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, The Physiological Society, Austrian Science Council, Czech Science Foundation, The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development.
Journals: since July 2011, I have provided 212 pre-publication reviews for 57 journals including Nature, Cell Metabolism, Diabetes, and Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Full statistics: https://publons.com/author/1302470/charles-affourtit#stats
Committee
Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth