Dr Kirsty Meldrum

Research Officer

Biomedical Sciences

+44 (0) 1792 205678 ext 1263

kirsty.meldrum@swansea.ac.uk

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

Scopus

About

Kirsty gained her PhD at Imperial College London and Public Health England determining the effects of cerium dioxide nanoparticles and diesel exhaust particles on both in vitro and in vivo models of allergic airway disease.

After gaining her PhD, Kirsty worked within the in Vitro Toxicology Group (IVTG) at Swansea University where she contributed to the research of the Horizon 2020 funded program: PATROLS (Physiologically Anchored Tools for Realistic nanOmateriaL hazard aSsessment). Specifically focusing on the development and implementation of advanced in vitro lung models for toxicology testing of nanomaterials.

Kirsty is currently a Research Officer with the RESPIRE project - funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through their Strategic Priorities Fund Clean Air Programme. This project aims to assess the impact of air pollution (both outdoor and indoor) exposure in pregnancy on child development and health. Kirsty’s focus is on the airways and utilising advanced exposure methods for various pollution components.

Areas Of Expertise

Nanotoxicology
Nanoparticle Characterisation
Airway models
Air Pollution
Nanoparticle-Cell Interactions
Toxicology
Advanced in vitro Exposure Approaches

Publications

Research Highlights

Barosova, H., Meldrum, K., Karakocak, B., Balog, S., Doak, S., Petri-Fink, A., Clift, M., & Rothen-Rutishauser, B. (2021). Inter-laboratory variability of A549 epithelial cells grown under submerged and air-liquid interface conditions. Toxicology in Vitro, 75, 105178
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2021.105178, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56826
Meldrum, K., Evans, S., Vogel, U., Tran, L., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2022). The influence of exposure approaches to in vitro lung epithelial barrier models to assess engineered nanomaterial hazard. Nanotoxicology, 16(1), 114-134.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17435390.2022.2051627, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59667
Evans, S., Lawrence, R., Ilett, M., Burgum, M., Meldrum, K., Hondow, N., Jenkins, G., Clift, M., & Doak, S. (2022). Industrial-relevant TiO2 types do not promote cytotoxicity in the A549 or TK6 cell lines regardless of cell specific interaction. Toxicology in Vitro, 83, 105415
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105415, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60312
Meldrum, K., Amaral Duarte De Moura, J., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2022). Dynamic Fluid Flow Exacerbates the (Pro-)Inflammatory Effects of Aerosolised Engineered Nanomaterials In Vitro. Nanomaterials, 12(19), 3431
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12193431, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61384
Bannuscher, A., Schmid, O., Drasler, B., Rohrbasser, A., Braakhuis, H., Meldrum, K., Zwart, E., Gremmer, E., Birk, B., Rissel, M., Landsiedel, R., Moschini, E., Evans, S., Kumar, P., Orak, S., Doryab, A., Erdem, J., Serchi, T., Vandebriel, R...., & Rothen-Rutishauser, B. (2022). An inter-laboratory effort to harmonize the cell-delivered in vitro dose of aerosolized materials. NanoImpact, 28, 100439
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2022.100439, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62077
Amaral Duarte De Moura, J., Meldrum, K., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2023). Alternative lung cell model systems for toxicology testing strategies: Current knowledge and future outlook. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 147, 70-82.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.12.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62217
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.12.006
Braakhuis, H., Gremmer, E., Bannuscher, A., Drasler, B., Keshavan, S., Rothen-Rutishauser, B., Birk, B., Verlohner, A., Landsiedel, R., Meldrum, K., Doak, S., Clift, M., Erdem, J., Foss, O., Zienolddiny-Narui, S., Serchi, T., Moschini, E., Weber, P., Burla, S...., & Vandebriel, R. (2023). Transferability and reproducibility of exposed air-liquid interface co-culture lung models. NanoImpact, 31, 100466
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2023.100466, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63446
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2023.100466
Meldrum, K., Evans, S., Burgum, M., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2024). Determining the toxicological effects of indoor air pollution on both a healthy and an inflammatory-comprised model of the alveolar epithelial barrier in vitro. Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 21(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-024-00584-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66993
Mitchell, S., Meldrum, K., Bateman, J., Tetley, T., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2024). Development and characterisation of a novel complex triple cell culture model of the human alveolar epithelial barrier. In vitro models, 3(2-3), 125-137.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44164-024-00075-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67177
Wilkinson, R., Meldrum, K., MAGGS, C., Thomas, N., Thomas, B., De Mello, N., & Joyce, N. (2023). Determining the efficacy of disinfectants at nucleic acid degradation. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 134(11)
https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxad244, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67706

All Research

Journal Articles

Mitchell, S., Meldrum, K., Bateman, J., Tetley, T., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2024). Development and characterisation of a novel complex triple cell culture model of the human alveolar epithelial barrier. In vitro models, 3(2-3), 125-137.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44164-024-00075-2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67177
Meldrum, K., Evans, S., Burgum, M., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2024). Determining the toxicological effects of indoor air pollution on both a healthy and an inflammatory-comprised model of the alveolar epithelial barrier in vitro. Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 21(1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-024-00584-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa66993
Wilkinson, R., Meldrum, K., MAGGS, C., Thomas, N., Thomas, B., De Mello, N., & Joyce, N. (2023). Determining the efficacy of disinfectants at nucleic acid degradation. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 134(11)
https://doi.org/10.1093/jambio/lxad244, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67706
Amaral Duarte De Moura, J., Meldrum, K., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2023). Alternative lung cell model systems for toxicology testing strategies: Current knowledge and future outlook. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 147, 70-82.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.12.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62217
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.12.006
Braakhuis, H., Gremmer, E., Bannuscher, A., Drasler, B., Keshavan, S., Rothen-Rutishauser, B., Birk, B., Verlohner, A., Landsiedel, R., Meldrum, K., Doak, S., Clift, M., Erdem, J., Foss, O., Zienolddiny-Narui, S., Serchi, T., Moschini, E., Weber, P., Burla, S...., & Vandebriel, R. (2023). Transferability and reproducibility of exposed air-liquid interface co-culture lung models. NanoImpact, 31, 100466
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2023.100466, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63446
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2023.100466
Bannuscher, A., Schmid, O., Drasler, B., Rohrbasser, A., Braakhuis, H., Meldrum, K., Zwart, E., Gremmer, E., Birk, B., Rissel, M., Landsiedel, R., Moschini, E., Evans, S., Kumar, P., Orak, S., Doryab, A., Erdem, J., Serchi, T., Vandebriel, R...., & Rothen-Rutishauser, B. (2022). An inter-laboratory effort to harmonize the cell-delivered in vitro dose of aerosolized materials. NanoImpact, 28, 100439
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2022.100439, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62077
Meldrum, K., Amaral Duarte De Moura, J., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2022). Dynamic Fluid Flow Exacerbates the (Pro-)Inflammatory Effects of Aerosolised Engineered Nanomaterials In Vitro. Nanomaterials, 12(19), 3431
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12193431, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61384
Evans, S., Lawrence, R., Ilett, M., Burgum, M., Meldrum, K., Hondow, N., Jenkins, G., Clift, M., & Doak, S. (2022). Industrial-relevant TiO2 types do not promote cytotoxicity in the A549 or TK6 cell lines regardless of cell specific interaction. Toxicology in Vitro, 83, 105415
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105415, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60312
Meldrum, K., Evans, S., Vogel, U., Tran, L., Doak, S., & Clift, M. (2022). The influence of exposure approaches to in vitro lung epithelial barrier models to assess engineered nanomaterial hazard. Nanotoxicology, 16(1), 114-134.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17435390.2022.2051627, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59667
Barosova, H., Meldrum, K., Karakocak, B., Balog, S., Doak, S., Petri-Fink, A., Clift, M., & Rothen-Rutishauser, B. (2021). Inter-laboratory variability of A549 epithelial cells grown under submerged and air-liquid interface conditions. Toxicology in Vitro, 75, 105178
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tiv.2021.105178, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56826

Taught Modules

PM-130 Fundamental Research Skills

This module is designed to develop the skills required for students of biochemistry and genetics degree programmes. Students meet with their tutors and will be given a series of assignments designed to develop skills in key areas such as essay writing, presentations and general numeracy.
PM-351 Nanotoxicology

Nanomaterials are comprised of very small particles that provide many of the products we use increased strength, chemical reactivity or conductivity. They can also be the by-product of e.g. industrial processes or they can occur naturally, as with soot from forest fires or volcanic ash. The particles range in size from approximately 1 to 100 nanometres; that is 1 / 1,000,000,000th of a metre. Due to their small size they can readily enter our bodies through a number of exposure routes, of which inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin, as well as injection into the circulation are dominant. These particles have unique properties compared to their larger counterparts and we are only beginning to understand what their health effects may be. The purpose of this module is to give an introduction into the field of nanoscience, nanotechnology and the potential risks posed by this new Industrial Age to humans.
PM-M28 Nano(geno)toxicology

The field of nanotechnology is ever increasing in size, and the number of nano-sized (1-100nm) particles being produced on a daily basis is at the tonnage level. Although nanotechnology-based applications are considered to be advantageous for a plethora of human activities, the potential risks posed by human exposure to nanoparticles is a constantly developing field of research. The purpose of this module therefore is to introduce to the student to particle toxicology and how it can impact upon human health. Further to this, the students will undertake a specific practical component to complement that of the theoretical content of the module. To this extent, the students will undertake a week-long, 'mini-project', covering the major areas of nanoparticle toxicology. From this approach, it is intended that the student will experience the key practical approaches taken in the field.

Dr Kirsty Meldrum

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