Dr Laurice Fretwell

About

As Course Director for the School of Human Sciences, I work across all disciplines to enhance teaching, learning, the student experience and graduate outcomes. Alongside my strategic responsibilities, I continue to teach and supervise student research projects in areas such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, cardiovascular disease, and barriers to accessing healthcare. I have experience with face-to-face and online delivery, and particularly enjoy creating active learning spaces that allow for free-flowing discussions.

I have significant experience in programme development and validations, including setting up and leading programmes in collaboration with local NHS Trusts, which has supported the quality-focused aspects of my current role.

I am very passionate about opening doors for all and creating opportunities for students to achieve their best outcomes and enjoy working with industrial partners to help increase employability-focused activities and ensure that our curricula are suited to future sector needs.

Research interests

After graduating from BSc (Hons.) Physiology and Pharmacology, I completed my PhD at Nottingham Trent University into the role of BKCa channels in adenosine-receptor mediated cytoprotection (using H9c2 cells and ventricle strips to model hypoxia-reoxygenation injury).

I was then awarded a Career Development Fellowship in Cardiovascular Pharmacology & Drug Discovery at the University of Nottingham, where I monitored regional haemodynamic responses in vivo and developed skills in pressure myography.

Since then, I have supervised PhD and MRes students and am keen to pursue research and collaborate in the following areas:

Cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology
Respiratory physiology and pharmacology
Clinical physiology
Barriers preventing certain patient groups from accessing healthcare (e.g. cardiac rehabilitation)

Recent publications

Driskel M, Horsley A, Fretwell L, Clayton N, Al-Aloul M. (2019) Lung clearance index in detection of post-transplant bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. ERJ Open Res. 5: 00164-2019
Carter JJ, Fretwell LV, Woolard J. (2017) Effects of 4 multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors on regional hemodynamics in conscious, freely moving rats. FASEB J. 31(3):1193-1203
Fretwell LV, Woolard J. (2013) Cardiovascular responses to retigabine in conscious rats--under normotensive and hypertensive conditions. Br J Pharmacol. 169(6):1279-89
Baker JG, Kemp P, March J, Fretwell L, Hill SJ, Gardiner SM. (2011) Predicting in vivo cardiovascular properties of β-blockers from cellular assays: a quantitative comparison of cellular and cardiovascular pharmacological responses. FASEB J. 25(12):4486-97
Fretwell L, Dickenson JM. (2011) Role of large-conductance Ca²+-activated K+ channels in adenosine A₁ receptor-mediated pharmacological postconditioning in H9c2 cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 89(1):24-30
Fretwell L, Dickenson JM. (2009) Role of large-conductance Ca(2+) -activated potassium channels in adenosine A(1) receptor-mediated pharmacological preconditioning in H9c2 cells. Eur J Pharmacol. 618(1-3):37-44

Membership of professional bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Authority

Professional interests

I lead on the enhancement and embedding of employability activity across the School of Human Sciences. As part of this, I am always interested to speak to employers about how we can work together to provide work experience or volunteering for our students and ensure that we produce highly-skilled workplace-ready graduates.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons.) Physiology and Pharmacology, Nottingham Trent University
PhD: The role of BKCa channels in adenosine receptor-mediated cytoprotection, Nottingham Trent University

International experience

I have previously been an international lead; I led on internationalisation of the curriculum, developed and led international student trips that included cross-disciplinary activities plus subject-specific learning, and deepened my understanding of international recruitment. In particular, I visited Hong Kong on several occasions to attend recruitment fairs and build relationships with alumni and academic partners.

Teaching responsibilities

I am module leader for our Industrial Placement Year modules, and teach on different modules on Human Biology and Biomedical Health. I also supervise undergraduate and postgraduate student research projects.