A Principal Investigator of a British Heart Foundation (BHF)-funded research laboratory that is focused on understanding the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular complications of cancer
Dr Aburima received his Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Medicine in 2002 from Al-Fateh University in Libya. Shortly afterwards, he moved to England and obtained a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Bradford and a Doctorate in Medical Sciences from the Hull YorkMedical School. On the completion of his PhD, he worked as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate for Professor Khalid Naseem for six years, after which Dr Aburima was retained and appointed to the position of Independent Research Fellow (Principle Investigator). Dr Aburima is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2019.
Platelet activation is a series of overlapping events that are triggered by exposure of platelets to the thrombogenic subendothelial matrix. Many of these events rely on platelet-matrix interaction, platelet-platelet and platelet-leukocyte communication, which culminate in signal transduction across the plasma membrane of the receiving cell. Consequently, there has been widespread use of anti-platelet drugs to combat cardiovascular diseases and that is a testimony to their central role in determining the outcome of the disease.The focus of research in my laboratory is the role of blood platelets in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and immune suppression. My programme of research is focused on examining mechanism(s) that lead to platelet dysfunction, which can, in turn, contribute to bleeding, atherothrombosis, immune cell exhaustion and tumour metastasis.
Dr Aburima regularly delivers formal lectures to MBBS students as part of the core medical curriculum and the Scholarship and Special Interest Programmes (SSIP).
Core modules
• Fluid Homeostasis and Blood
• You Are What You Eat.
• Kidney Function and Failure
• Healthy Heart and Lungs
Scholarship and Special Interest Programme (SSIP)
• Nomenclature of Lipids and Lipid Metabolism.
• Haemostasis and Thrombosis.
• Blood platelets beyond haemostasis.
• Clinical Problem Solving Sessions.
• How To Win a Nobel Prize.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaburima
Published articles
2017
- MZ Yusuf, Z Raslan, L Atkinson, A Aburima, SG Thomas, KM Naseem and SDJ Calaminus. "Prostacyclin reverses platelet stress fiber formation causing platelet aggregate instability". Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 17;7(1):5582.
- Aburima A, Walladbegi K, Wake J and Naseem KM. “cGMP signalling inhibits platelet shape change through regulation of the RhoA-Rho Kinase-MLC phosphatase signalling pathway”. J Thromb Haemost-in press.
2015
- Raslan Z, Magwenzi S, Aburima A, Taskén K, Naseem KM."Targeting of type I protein kinase A to lipid rafts is required for platelet inhibition by the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-signaling pathway.” J Thromb Haemost. 2015 Sep;13(9):1721-34.
- Kahal H, Aburima A, Ungvari T, Rigby AS, Coady AM, Vince RV, Ajjan RA, Kilpatrick ES, Naseem KM, Atkin SL. “The effects of treatment with Liraglutide on atherothrombotic risk in obese young women with polycystic ovary syndrome and controls.” BMC Endocr Disord. 2015 Apr 2;15:14.
- Magwenzi S, Woodward C, Wraith KS, Aburima A, Raslan Z, Jones H, McNeil C, Wheatcroft S, Yuldasheva N, Febbriao M, Kearney M, Naseem KM. “Oxidised LDL activates blood platelets through CD36-NADPH oxidase-mediated inhibition of the cGMP/Protein kinase G signalling cascade.” Blood. 2015 Apr 23;125(17):2693-703.
2014
- Spurgeon BE, Aburima A, Oberprieler NG, Taskén K, Naseem KM. “Phosphospecific flow cytometry for large-scale signaling profiling and drug screening in human platelets.” J Thromb Haemost. 2014 Oct;12(10):1733-43.
- Aye MM, Kilpatrick ES, Aburima A, Wraith KS, Magwenzi S, Spurgeon B, Rigby AS, Sandeman D, Naseem KM, Atkin SL. “Acute hypertriglyceridemia induces platelet hyperactivity that is not attenuated by insulin in polycystic ovary syndrome.” J Am Heart Assoc. 2014 Feb 28;3(1):e000706.
2013
- Aburima A, Wraith KS, Raslan Z, Law R, Magwenzi S, Naseem KM. “cAMP signalling regulates platelet myosin light chain phosphorylation and shape change through targeting of the RhoA-Rho Kinase signalling pathway.” Blood. 2013 Nov 14;122(20):3533-4.
- Wraith KS, Magwenzi S, Aburima A, Wen Y, Leake D, Naseem KM. “Oxidized low-density lipoproteins induce platelet activation and shape change through a novel CD36-RhoA/Rho kinase dependent pathway.” Blood. 2013 Jul 25;122(4):580-9.
- Kahal H, Aburima A, Ungvari T, Rigby A, Dawson A, Coady AM, Vince RV, Ajjan RA, Kilpatrick ES, Naseem KM, Atkin SL. “Polycystic ovary syndrome has no independent effect on vascular, inflammatory or thrombotic markers when matched for obesity.” Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2013 Aug;79(2):252-8.
2010
- Roberts W, Magwenzi S, Aburima A, Naseem KM. “Thrombinspondin-1 induces platelet activation through CD36-dependent inhibition of the cAMP/Protein kinase A signalling cascade.” Blood. 2010 Nov 18;116(20):4297-306.
- Aburima A, Riba R, Naseem KM. “Peroxynitrite causes phosphorylation of vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein through PKC-and PKG dependent mechanisms." Platelets. 2010;21(6):421-8.
2009
- Roberts W, Michno A, Aburima A, Naseem KM. "Nitric oxide inhibits von Willebrand factor-mediated platelet adhesion and spreading through regulation of integrin alpha(IIIb)beta and myosin light chain." J Thromb Haemost. 2009 Dec;7(12):2106-15.2008
- Riba R, Patel B, Aburima A, Naseem KM. "Globular adiponectin increases cGMP formation in blood platelets independently of nitric oxide." J Thromb Haemost. 2008 Dec;6(12):2121-31.
Published reviews
- Raslan Z, Aburima A, Naseem KM. “The Spatiotemporal Regulation of cAMP Signaling in Blood Platelets-Old Friends and New Players.” Front Pharmacol. 2015 Nov 10;6:266.
- Aburima A, Naseem KM. “Platelet myosin light chain phosphatase: keeping it together.” Biochem Soc Trans. 2014 Apr;42(2):279-83.
Current Project
Rewiring the SNARE complex in platelets:
This is a BHF fully-funded project aimed at identifying new partners for the SNARE complex with a specific focus on the secretion machinery.
Platelet biomarkers for disease progression:
This is a collaborative project aimed at examining the use of platelets as surrogate biomarkers for cancer progression and response to therapy.
Chronic Kidney disease and platelet dysfunction:
This project is focused on understanding the effect of uraemic toxins on platelet function in patients with advanced kidney failure.