Dr Simon Fox
Profiles

Dr Simon Fox

Associate Head of School

School of Biomedical Sciences (Faculty of Health)

  • Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Molecular Pathology
  • Associate Head of Teaching and Learning
  • Senior UG Personal Tutor
  • Non-accredited Placements Coordinator

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. (1998) Cellular Biology; University of London
  • B.Sc. (Hons) (1992) Anatomical Science; University of Bristol 
  • PG.Cert (2005) Learning and teaching in higher education.

Professional membership

  • Fellow of AdvanceHE

Roles on external bodies

  • Executive Committee member of the Heads of University Centres of Biomedical Sciences (HUCBMS)

Teaching interests


Module Lead for

BHCS002 Current Developments in Human Biology and Biomedical Sciences

BHCS1001 Biomedical Investigation and Experimentation

BHCS1011 Study Skills and Personal Development

BHCS2001 Biology of Disease

BHCS2002 Evidence Based Practice in Biomedical Science

BHCS2027 Placements and Employability

BHCS3002 Molecular and Cellular Pathology

BHCS3030 Biomedical Science: Placements

BHCS3031 Placements and Employability

BHCS5009 Cancer Biology and Therapeutics

I teach molecular and cellular biology on numerous modules across the faculty and deliver student selected units on 'cancer and bone' to first and second year medical students 




Staff serving as external examiners

External examiner for BSc and MSc Applied Biosciences at the University of the West of Scotland 2011-2015

Research interests

My field of expertise lies in Bone Biology and the Cellular and Molecular techniques for assessing skeletal turnover. My current areas of research are focused on understanding the effect of nutritional factors on bone cell differentiation and activity, the impact of oxygen and pressure on bone cell function and the mechanisms governing preferential metastasis of cancer cells to the skeleton.

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

  • (University of London) Alison Lovibond 2005, PhD
  • (Plymouth University) Matthew Owens 2011, PhD 
  • (Plymouth University) Sahar Karieb 2012, PhD 
  • (Plymouth University) Hadil Al Hadi 2013, PhD
  • (University of Plymouth) Safaa Salaman Mezban Al-Thamiree 2019, PhD

Grants & contracts

Arthritis Research Campaign: (September 2002-August 2005, £ 104,834) Fox SW and Chambers TJ. To test the role of TGF-beta signalling pathways and SOCS expression in osteoclast/macrophage lineage commitment. (Ref F0558).
 

Wellcome Trust: (Awarded August 2005 for 36 months, £ 136,360) Fox SW. Analysis of the signalling mechanism by which TGF-beta determines osteoclast/macrophage lineage-switching.

Diving Diseases Research Centre: (Awarded October 2009 for 36 months, £10,500) Fox SW. Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on osteoclast differentiation.

Seal Hayne Trust: (Awarded June 2009 for 6 months £4,750) Owens M, Davies S and Fox SW. Molecular analysis of telost bone remodelling.

 

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Adeoye AA, Jaramillo-Torres A, Fox SW, Merrifield DL & Davies SJ 2016 'Supplementation of formulated diets for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with selected exogenous enzymes: Overall performance and effects on intestinal histology and microbiota' Animal Feed Science and Technology 215, 133-143 Publisher Site , DOI PEARL
Al-Hadi H, Smerdon G & Fox SW 2015 'Hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerates osteoblast differentiation and promotes bone formation' Journal of Dentistry 43, 382-388 , DOI
Hadi HA, Smerdon G & W Fox S 2014 'Osteoclastic resorptive capacity is suppressed in patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy' Acta Orthopaedica 86, (2) 264-269 , DOI
Al Hadi H, Smerdon GR & Fox SW 2013 'Hyperbaric oxygen therapy suppresses osteoclast formation and bone resorption' J Orthop Res 31, (11) 1839-1844 Author Site , DOI
Karieb S & Fox SW 2013 'Suppression of T cell-induced osteoclast formation' BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 436, (4) 619-624 Author Site , DOI
Karieb S & Fox SW 2012 'Zinc modifies the effect of phyto-oestrogens on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation in vitro' Br J Nutr 108, (10) 1736-1745 Author Site , DOI
Owen MAG, Eynon B, Woodgate S, Davies SJ & Fox S 2012 'Increased water current induces micro-architectural changes to the vertebral bone of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)' AQUACULTURE 344, 141-146 Author Site , DOI
Fox SW & Davies SJ 2011 'Corn-expressed dietary phytase augments vertebral and scale mineral content in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)' AQUACULTURE NUTRITION 17, (4) E840-E852 Author Site , DOI
Karieb S & Fox SW 2011 'Phytoestrogens directly inhibit TNF-α-induced bone resorption in RAW264.7 cells by suppressing c-fos-induced NFATc1 expression' J Cell Biochem 112, (2) 476-487 Author Site , DOI
Winrow VR, Mesher J, Meghji S, Morris CJ, Maguire M, Fox S, Coates ARM, Tormay P, Blake DR & Henderson B 2008 'The two homologous chaperonin 60 proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have distinct effects on monocyte differentiation into osteoclasts' CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY 10, (10) 2091-2104 Author Site , DOI
Fox SW, Evans KE & Lovibond AC 2008 'Transforming growth factor-beta enables NFATc1 expression during osteoclastogenesis' Biochem Biophys Res Commun 366, (1) 123-128 Author Site , DOI
Evans KE & Fox SW 2007 'Interleukin-10 inhibits osteoclastogenesis by reducing NFATc1 expression and preventing its translocation to the nucleus' BMC Cell Biol 8, Author Site , DOI PEARL
Evans KE & Fox SW 2007 'Interleukin-10 inhibits osteoclastogenesis by reducing NFATcI expression and preventing its translocation to the nucleus' BMC Cell Biology 8, (4)
Fox SW & Chambers TJ 2006 'Ovariectomy and oestrogen replacement have no effect on megakaryocyte or platelet number' International Journal of Cardiology 109, 359-366 , DOI
Fox SW & Chambers TJ 2006 'The effect of oestrogen on megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet counts in vivo' International Journal of Cardiology 109, (3) 359-366
Fox SW & Lovibond AC 2005 'Current insights into the role of transforming growth factor-beta in bone resorption' Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 243, (1-2) 19-26
Khastgir G, Studd JWW, Fox SW, Jones J, aghband-Zadeh J & Chow JWM 2003 'A longitudinal study of the effect of subcutaneous estrogen replacement on bone in young women with Turner's syndrome' Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 18, (5) 925-932 , DOI
Lovibond AC, Haque SJ, Chambers TJ & Fox SW 2003 'TGF-beta-induced SOCS3 expression augments TNF-alpha-induced osteoclast formation' Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 309, (4) 762-767 , DOI
Fox SW, Haque SJ, Lovibond AC & Chambers TJ 2003 'The possible role of TGF-beta-induced suppressors of cytokine signaling expression in osteoclast/macrophage lineage commitment in vitro' Journal of Immunology 170, (7) 3679-3687
Fuller K, Murphy C, Fox S, Kirstein B & Chambers TJ 2002 'TNFα Potently Activates Osteoclasts, through a Direct Action Independent of and Strongly Synergistic with RANKL' Endrocrinology 143 (3), 1108-1118 , DOI
Khastgir G, Studd J, Holland N, Alaghband-Zadeh J, Fox S & Chow J 2001 'Anabolic effect of estrogen replacement on bone in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: Histomorphometric evidence in a longitudinal study' Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 86, 289-295
Lean JM, Matsuo K, Fox SW, Fuller K, Gibson FM, Draycott G, Wani MR, Bayley KE, Wong BR & Choi Y 2000 'Osteoclast lineage commitment of bone marrow precursors through expression of membrane-bound TRANCE' Bone 27, (1) 29-40 Author Site , DOI
Fox SW, Fuller K & Chambers TJ 2000 'Activation of osteoclasts by interleukin-1: divergent responsiveness in osteoclasts formed in-vivo and in-vitro' Journal of Cellular Physiology 184, 334-340 , DOI
Fox SW & Chambers TJ 2000 'Interferon-gamma directly inhibits TRANCE-induced osteoclastogenesis' Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 276, 868-872
Fox SW, Fuller K, Bayley KE & Chambers TJ 2000 'TGF-beta and IFN-gamma direct macrophage activation by TNF-alpha to osteoclastic or cytocidal phenotype' Journal of Immunology 165, 4957-4963
Patel S, Pazianas M, Tobias J, Chambers TJ, Fox S & Chow J 1999 'Early effects of hormone replacement therapy on bone' Bone 24, 245-248
Chow JMW, Wilson AJ, Chambers TJ & Fox SW 1998 'Mechanical loading stimulates bone formation by reactivation of bone lining cells in 13-week-old rats' Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 13, 1760-1767
Fox SW & Chow JMW 1998 'Nitric oxide synthase expression in bone cells' Bone 23, 1-6
Chow JMW, Fox S, Jagger CJ & Chambers TJ 1998 'Role for parathyroid hormone in mechanical responsiveness of rat bone' American Journal of Physiology 274, E146-E154
Chow JMW, Fox SW, Lean JM & Chambers TJ 1998 'Role of nitric oxide and prostaglandins in mechanically-induced bone formation' Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 1039-1044
Fuller K, Wong B, Fox S, Choi Y & Chambers TJ 1998 'TRANCE is necessary and sufficient for osteoblast-mediated activation of bone resorption in osteoclasts' Journal of Experimental Medicine 188, 997-1001 , DOI
Fox SW, Chambers TJ & Chow JWM 1997 'Nitric oxide is an early mediator of the increase in bone formation by mechanical stimulation' American Journal of Physiology 270, E955-E960
Chambers TJ, Chow JW, Fox SW, Jagger CJ & Lean JM 1997 'The role of prostaglandins and nitric oxide in the response of bone to mechanical stimulation' Advances in Experimental Medical Biology 43, 295-298 , DOI
Conference Papers
Al Hadi H, Smerdon G & Fox S 2012 'The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on osteoblast activity in vitro' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S11-S11 , DOI
Karieb SS & Fox SW 2011 'The effect of phytoestrogens, zinc and vitamin K on osteoblastic differentiation and activity in-vitro' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S120-S120 , DOI
Lovibond AC & Fox SW 2005 'Transforming growth factor-beta-induced changes in gene expression in murine bone marrow macrophage precursors' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/19001302-1302
Fox SW & Lovibond AC 2004 'Determining the time-point when TGF-beta acts to promote lineage diversion towards the osteoclastic phenotype' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S136-S136
Lovibond AC, Chambers TJ & Fox SW 2004 'Effect of transforming growth factor-beta on osteoclast precursor NFATc1 and c-fos expression' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/19001040-1040
Fox SW, Lovibond AC, Haque SJ & Chambers TJ 2003 'TGF-beta-induced SOCS3 expression augments TNF-alpha-induced osteoclast formation' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/19001367-1367
Lovibond AC, Chambers TJ & Fox SW 2003 'Interleukin-10 directly inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast formation from mononuclear phagocyte precursors' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/19001369-1369
Fox SW & Chambers TJ 2002 'Possible role for TGF-beta-induced SOCS expression in osteoclast/macrophage lineage commitment in-vitro' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S200-S200
Fox SW & Chambers TJ 2002 'Possible role for TGF-beta-induced SOCS expression in osteoclast/macrophage lineage commitment in-vitro' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/19001328-1328
Lean JM, Fuller K, Fox SW & Chambers TJ 2001 'Flt3 ligand can substitute for M-CSF in support of osteoclast differentiation and function' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S161-S161
Fuller K, Fox SW, Kirstein B & Chambers TJ 2001 'Osteoclast regulation by TNF-alpha occurs through distinct mechanisms in vitro versus in vivo' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S377-S377
Khastgir G, Studd JWW, Fox SW & Chow JWM 2000 'Effect of estrogen replacement on bone in young women with primary ovarian failure' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S229-S229
Fox SW, Fuller K, Bayley KE & Chambers TJ 2000 'Transforming growth factor-beta osteoclast induction by tumour factor-alpha' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/19001215-1215
Chambers TJ, Wani MR, Fox SW, Lean JM & Fuller K 2000 'TGF beta is necessary for osteoclast formation' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900824-824
Lean JM, Fox SW, Fuller K, Wani MR, Hebden C, Jagger CJ, Wong B, Pondel MD, Choi Y & Matsuo K 1999 'Generation and characterization of osteoclast cell lines' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S484-S484
Chow JWM, Jagger CJ, Chambers TJ & Fox SW 1999 'Parathyroid hormone sensitizes bone cells to mechanical stimulation via the cyclic AMP pathway' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S395-S395
Fuller K, Wani MR, Fox SW, Lean JM, Wong B, Choi Y & Chambers TJ 1999 'TGFb maintains sensitivity of precursors to osteoclast-induction, and synergises with TRANCE in osteoclast lineage commitment and survival' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S426-S426
Khastgir G, Studd J, Holland N, Fox S & Chow JWM 1998 'Anabolic effect of oestrogen: Histological evidence in a longitudinal follow-up study of women with established osteoporosis' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/19001503-1503
Chow JWM, Fox S, Jagger CJ & Chambers TJ 1997 'A role for parathyroid hormone in the mechanical responsiveness of rat bone' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900P21-P21
Fox SW, Lean JM, Chambers TJ & Chow JWM 1997 'The role of nitric oxide and prostaglandins in mechanically-induced bone formation' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900P12-P12
Chow JWM, Fox S, Jagger CJ & Chambers TJ 1997 'A role for parathyroid hormone in the mechanical responsiveness of rat bone' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900F362-F362
Chow JWM, Wilson AJ, Chambers TJ & Fox S 1997 'Mechanical loading stimulates bone formation by activation of bone lining cells' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/190035-35
Chow JWM, Fox S, Lean JM & Chambers TJ 1997 'The role of nitric oxide and prostaglandins in mechanically-induced bone formation' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900T354-T354
Chow JWM, Fox SW & Chambers TJ 1996 'Parathyroid hormone sensitises bone cells in their response to mechanical stimulation' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900P33-P33
Chow JWM, Chambers TJ & Fox SW 1996 'Immunolocalization of nitric oxide synthase in bone cells' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900M354-M354
OConnell SL, Atley LM, Kaymakci B, Chow J, Fox S, Ebeling PR & Wark JD 1996 'Longterm dexamethasone reduces bone turnover and bone density in sheep' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S505-S505
Chow JWM, Fox SW, Jagger CJ & Chambers TJ 1996 'Parathyroid hormone augments the osteocytic response to mechanical stimulation, and potentiates mechanically-induced bone formation' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900T457-T457
FOX SW, CHAMBERS TJ & CHOW JWM 1995 'NITRIC-OXIDE IS AN EARLY MEDIATOR OF THE INDUCTION OF BONE-FORMATION BY MECHANICAL STIMULATION' 1-/-0/19001-/-0/1900S204-S204