Summary
I completed my PhD in Platelet Biology from 2004-2007 at the University of Birmingham under the supervision of Professor Steve Watson. During this time I specialised in the platelet actin cytoskeleton and worked alongside Professor Laura Machesky to identify the actin structure, the actin nodule within platelets.
I then worked as a post doctoral scientist for Professor Laura Machesky at the Beatson Institute in Glasgow from 2007-2012. Here I worked both with megakaryocytes to identify the role of podosomes, and also with cancer cells understanding the role of the Wash complex within receptor recycling.
In 2012 I moved to the University of Hull as a lecturer, where I was promoted to senior lecturer in 2018.
Journal Article
Platelets Image Classification Through Data Augmentation: A Comparative Study of Traditional Imaging Augmentation and GAN-Based Synthetic Data Generation Techniques Using CNNs
Abidoye, I., Ikeji, F., Coupland, C. A., Calaminus, S. D. J., Sander, N., & Sousa, E. (2025). Platelets Image Classification Through Data Augmentation: A Comparative Study of Traditional Imaging Augmentation and GAN-Based Synthetic Data Generation Techniques Using CNNs. Journal of Imaging, 11(6), 183. https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging11060183
Oxygen Concentration Plays a Critical Role in Fibrinogen-Mediated Platelet Activation via Inactivation of αIIbβ3 and Modulation of Fibrinogen
Leonard, S. V. L., Booth, Z., Naylor-Adamson, L., Bibby, L., Wraith, K. S., Pula, G., Arman, M., & Calaminus, S. D. J. (2025). Oxygen Concentration Plays a Critical Role in Fibrinogen-Mediated Platelet Activation via Inactivation of αIIbβ3 and Modulation of Fibrinogen. Biomolecules, 15(4), Article 501. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040501
PEGylation of indium phosphide quantum dots prevents quantum dot mediated platelet activation
Naylor-Adamson, L., Price, T. W., Booth, Z., Leonard, S. V. L., Gallo, J., Tung, L. D., Harvell-Smith, S., Thi Kim Thanh, N., Aslam, Z., Allsup, D., Hondow, N., Chamberlain, T., Schneider, J. E., Naseem, K., Bouillard, J. S. G., Stasiuk, G. J., & Calaminus, S. D. (in press). PEGylation of indium phosphide quantum dots prevents quantum dot mediated platelet activation. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, https://doi.org/10.1039/d4tb01334d
α-Synuclein Deletion Impairs Platelet Function: A Role for SNARE Complex Assembly
Sennett, C., Jia, W., Khalil, J. S., Hindle, M. S., Coupland, C., Calaminus, S. D., Langer, J. D., Frost, S., Naseem, K. M., Rivero, F., Ninkina, N., Buchman, V., & Aburima, A. (2024). α-Synuclein Deletion Impairs Platelet Function: A Role for SNARE Complex Assembly. Cells, 13(24), Article 2089. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13242089
Microplastics in human blood: Polymer types, concentrations and characterisation using μFTIR
Leonard, S. V. L., Liddle, C. R., Atherall, C. A., Chapman, E., Watkins, M., Calaminus, S. D. J., & Rotchell, J. M. (2024). Microplastics in human blood: Polymer types, concentrations and characterisation using μFTIR. Environment International, 188, Article 108751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108751
Research interests
The Calaminus lab investigates how platelets respond and activate to a range of different agonists and inhibitors to fully understand the range of functions that platelet complete within the body. To do this we use a range of assays: platelet spreading, in vitro thrombus formation, FACs analysis, western blotting and platelet aggregation.
We aim to not only understand how platelet respond to natural environments, but also how addition of external pollutants such as microplastics then affect and disturb these environments leading to platelet dysfunction.
Lead investigator
Project
Funder
Grant
Started
Status
Project
Effect of hypoxia on prostacyclin-mediated inhibition of platelet function
Funder
British Heart Foundation
Grant
£110,353.48
Started
1 January 2023
Status
Ongoing
Project
Is zinc a critical modulator of cyclic nucleotide signalling?
Funder
British Heart Foundation
Grant
£108,740.00
Started
1 October 2019
Status
Complete
Project
Matrix Metalloproteinase Activated Multimodal 'Theranostic' Drug Delivery Imaging Agents For Thrombosis
Funder
Medical Research Council
Grant
£220,267.04
Started
1 March 2020
Status
Complete
Project
Platelet cAMP signalling controls thrombosis through enhanced embolisation
Funder
British Heart Foundation
Grant
£106,467.99
Started
1 October 2015
Status
Complete
Project
Microplastics as an emerging and iatrogenic threat in the healthcare setting
Funder
Rosetrees Trust
Grant
£9,277.52
Started
1 April 2024
Status
Complete
Co-investigator
Project
Funder
Grant
Started
Status
Project
RISE: Establishing super-Resolution Imaging in Hull for impactful multimorbidity ReSEarch MRC Equipment bid 2024 - Confocal Imaging ZEISS Elyra 7 with Lattice SIM²
Funder
Medical Research Council
Grant
£718,262.00
Started
1 October 2024
Status
Ongoing
Project
TARGETING THE MYOSIN LIGHT CHAIN PHOSPHATASE WITH PEPTIDE DISRUPTORS: A NOVEL ANTIPLATELET THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Funder
British Heart Foundation
Grant
£110,680.00
Started
3 July 2023
Status
Ongoing
Project
Wolfson Equipment bid 2023 - Confocal Imaging ZEISS Elyra 7 with Lattice SIM²
Funder
Wolfson Foundation
Grant
£500,000.00
Started
1 October 2024
Status
Ongoing
Project
ThrombiGlow: ‘Smart’ Multimodal Platelet Specific ‘Theranostic’ Drug Delivery Imaging
Funder
British Heart Foundation
Grant
£107,146.99
Started
1 February 2017
Status
Complete
Postgraduate supervision
Platelet Biology
If self funded students wish to approach me to investigate the possibility of completing a PhD, then please email me directly using simon.calaminus@hyms.ac.uk