About

I am a hepatic toxicologist with a strong background in Immunology. I completed my PhD in Toxicology from Heriot Watt University (2013). Since then I have been predominately involved in research and teaching in the fields of toxicology, nanotoxicology and nanomedicine in both academic and industrial settings including employment at the University of Copenhagen, Heriot Watt University, The French Institute of Health and Medical Research and Unilever.

I am University of Derby REF co-lead for Unit of Assessment 3 (Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy).

Teaching responsibilities

I teach across many modules across the Biomedical Science, Human Biology and Forensic Science programmes. I am also the module lead for 'Chemistry of Life' and 'Research Methods and Data Handling'.

Research interests

My main areas of research can be divided into six broad categories:

• 3D cell culture with emphasis on the design and validation of more physiological and pathophysiological in vitro models for next-generation toxicological and drug efficacy testing
• Investigating the role of gut microbiome in the development and progression of liver disease and type II diabetes
• Design and validation of lipid and protein-based nanomedicines
• Micro/nano plastic adverse effects on human health
• E-cigarette toxicity 
• Particulate-induced health effects in extra-pulmonary organs

Membership of professional bodies

• British Toxicology Society
• European registered toxicologist
• Humane Research Trust scientific advisor
• Animal Free Research UK Community of Practice moderator
• Member of Midlands Liver Research Alliance
• Member of East Midlands Microbiome Research Network

Qualifications

• Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• PhD Toxicology
• MRes Immunology
• BSc (Hons) Immunology

Recent conferences

• 2^nd International Summit on Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (May 2024) Prague, Czechia 
• Animal Free Research UK Science Conference (October 2023) Cambridge, UK
• Medilink Midlands event - Introduction to OMICS research (November 2022) Derby, UK
• 13^th International Particle Toxicology Conference (August 2022) Sante Fe, USA
• Workshop of liver disease – NHS Lothian (November 2021) online
• Workshop on harmonization of standard operating procedures (May 2021) online
• Workshop on Nanosafety - InSphero (December 2020) Zurich, Switzerland 
• Cardiff University (September 2019) Cardiff, UK 
• Twelfth International Particle Toxicology Conference (September 2019) Salzburg, Switzerland
• Workshop on harmonization of standard operating procedures - A joined PATROLS and GRACIOUS Nanosafety Cluster event (June 2018) Bilthoven, The Netherlands  
• Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (July 2016) Munich, Germany 
• Technical University of Denmark (April 2016) Copenhagen, Denmark 
• Seventh International Symposium on Nanotechnology, Occupational and Environmental Health (October 2015) Johannesburg, South Africa
• Centre of Biomembranes in Nanomedicine annual meeting (April 2015) Copenhagen, Denmark
• National Research Centre for Working Environment (November 2014) Copenhagen, Denmark
• International user group meeting of InSphero and Cambridge Bioscience (March 2014) Cambridge, UK

Experience in industry

I have industrial experience of being employed at Unilever and have very close ties and active research with a number of industrial partners including InSphero (Switzerland) and Cell Guidance Systems (UK).

International experience

• Editorial board member Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part B
• Editorial board member Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology  
• Editorial board member Discover Toxicology
• Guest editor Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology - “Next generation micro-physiological systems for pragmatic use in regular industrial workflow”

In the media

• The SUN - e-cigarette adverse effects (February 2024)
• Animal Free Research UK Podcast – the use of new approach methodologies for enhancement of science (October 2023)
• BBC East Midlands Today TV - Adverse effects of counterfeit vapes on human health (August 2023)
• BBC Radio Derby - dangers of e-cigarettes to human health (July 2023)
• Daily Express - e-cigarette's toxicity (April 2023)

Recent publications

• 58 peer reviewed manuscripts
• 9 peer reviewed book chapters

For a full list of my publications see my ORCID profile.

Selected publications

• Guraka A, Mierlea S, Drake SJ, Shawa IT, Waldron J, Corcoran M, Dowse D, Walkman D, Burn L, Sivasubramaniam S, Kermanizadeh A. 2024. A comprehensive toxicological analysis of panel of unregulated e-cigarettes to human health. Toxicology 509: 153964
• Guraka A, Souch G, Duff R, Brown D, Moritz W, Kermanizadeh A. 2024. Microplastic-induced hepatic adverse effects evaluated in advanced quadruple cell human primary models following three weeks of repeated exposure. Chemosphere 364: 143032
• Guraka A, Sreedharan S, Arasaradnam R, Tripathi G, Kermanizadeh A. 2024. The role of gut microbiome in development and progression of type 2 diabetes and liver disease. Accepted in Nutrition Reviews
• Williamson J, Kermanizadeh A. 2024. A review of toxicological profile of Fentanyl - a 2024 update. Toxics 12: 690
• Guraka A, Duff R, Waldron J, Tripathi G, Kermanizadeh A. 2024. Co-culture of gut bacteria and metabolite extraction using fast vacuum filtration and centrifugation. Methods and Protocols 7: 74
• Hristozov D, Badetti E, Bigini P, Brunelli A , Dekkers S, Diomede L, Doak SH, Fransman W, Gajewicz-Skretna, Giubilato E, Gómez-Cuadrado L, Grafström R, Gutleb RC, Halappanavar S, Hischier R, Hunt N, Katsumiti A, Kermanizadeh A, Marcomini A, Moschini E, Oomen A, Pizzol L, Rumbo C, Schmid O, Shandilya N, Stone V, Stoycheva S, Stoeger T, Suarez Merino B, Tran L, Tsiliki G, Vogel UB, Wohlleben W, Zabeo A. 2024. Next generation risk assessment approaches for advanced nanomaterials: current status and future perspectives. NanoImpact 35: 100523
• Allison R, Guraka A, Shawa IT, Tripathi G, Moritz W, Kermanizadeh A. 2023. Drug induced liver injury - a 2023 update. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews 26: 442-467
• Yu H, O’Neill S, Kermanizadeh A. 2023. AIMS: An automatic semantic machine learning microservice framework to support biomedical and bioengineering research. Bioengineering 10: 1134
• Sreedharan S, Zouganelis G, Drake SJ, Tripathi G, Kermanizadeh A. 2023. Nanomaterial-induced toxicity in pathophysiological models representative of individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews 26: 1-27
• Kermanizadeh A, Valli J, Sanchez K, Hutter S, Pawlowska A, Whyte G, Moritz W, Stone V. 2022. Particulate and drug induced toxicity assessed in novel quadruple cell human primary hepatic disease models of steatosis and pre-fibrotic NASH. Archives of Toxicology 96: 287-303
• Kermanizadeh A, Jacobsen NR, Mroczko A, Brown D, Stone V. 2022. Acute hazard assessment of silver nanoparticles following intratracheal instillation, oral and intravenous injection exposures. Nanotoxicology 15: 1295-1311
• Verdon R, Stone V, Murphy F, Johnston, H, Doak S, Honarvar N, Vogel U, Haase A, Kermanizadeh A. 2022. The application of existing genotoxicity. methodologies for grouping of nanomaterials: Towards an integrated approach to testing and assessment. Particle and Fibre Toxicology 19: 32
• Kermanizadeh A, Jacobsen NR, Murphy F, Powell L, Parry L, Zhang H, Moller P. 2020. A review of the current state of nanomedicines for targeting and treatment of cancers - achievements and future challenges. Advanced Therapeutics DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000186
• Kermanizadeh A, Powell LG, Stone V. 2020. A review of hepatic nanotoxicology - summation of recent findings and considerations for the next generation of study designs. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews 23: 137-176
• Kermanizadeh A, Berthing T, Guzniczak E, Wheeldon M, Whyte G, Vogel U, Moritz W, Stone V. 2019. Assessment of nanoparticle-induced hepatotoxicity using a 3D human primary multi-cellular microtissue exposed repeatedly over 21 days - suitability of the in vitro test system as an in vivo surrogate. Particle and Fibre Toxicology 16: 42
• Kermanizadeh A, Brown DM, Moritz W, Stone V. 2019. The importance of inter-individual Kupffer cell variability in the governance of hepatic toxicity in a 3D primary human liver microtissue model. Nature Scientific Reports 9: 7295
• Kermanizadeh A, Brown DM, Stone V. 2019. The variances in cytokine production profiles from non- or activated THP-1, Kupffer cell and human blood derived primary macrophages following exposure to either alcohol or a panel of engineered nanomaterials. Plos One 14: e0220974
• Kermanizadeh A, Jacobsen NR, Roursgaard M, Loft S, Møller P. 2017. Hepatic hazard assessment of silver nanoparticle exposure in healthy and chronically alcohol fed mice. Toxicological Sciences 158: 176-187
• Kermanizadeh A, Gosens I, MacCalman L, Johnston H, Danielsen PH, Jacobsen NR, Lenz AG, Fernandes T, Schins RPF, Cassee FR, Wallin H, Kreyling W, Stoeger T, Loft S, Møller P, Tran L, Stone V. 2016. A multilaboratory toxicological assessment of a panel of 10 engineered nanomaterials to human health - ENPRA project - the highlights, limitations, and the current and future challenges. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part B 19: 1-28
• Kermanizadeh A, Balharry D, Wallin H, Loft S, Møller P. 2015. Nanomaterial translocation - the biokinetics, tissue accumulation, toxicity and fate of materials in secondary organs - a review. Critical Reviews in Toxicology 45: 837-872