Pawel Swietach's Biography

Pawel Swietach, Professor of Physiology, University of Oxford

Research in my lab is driven by an interest in how biological processes are affected by chemical acidity. All tissues are exquisitely sensitive to changes in acidity (often expressed on a pH scale), therefore the remit of our research is broad. However, our two main pillars relate to the heart and to cancer. Acidity has a powerful effect on cardiac biology and is particularly important in cardiac diseases. In tumors, acidity is a chemical signature that influences disease progression. By discovering the mechanisms of these pH-responses, we hope to deliver new insights that may lead to better diagnosis, management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Most of our work is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF).