
Dr Ian Brewis
Senior Lecturer
- brewisia@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2068 8648
- Adeilad Henry Wellcome ar gyfer Ymchwil Biofeddygol, Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru, Parc y Mynydd Bychan, Caerdydd, CF14 4XN
Trosolwg
I am a Senior Lecturer and my main responsibilities are in my roles as Central Biotechnology Services (CBS) Operational Director and the MSc Medical Research and Innovation Programme Director.
Since 2011 I have been CBS Operational Director (0.7FTE). CBS (http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/cbs) is an ISO 9001:2015 certified Cardiff University Technology Facility based in the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences with a remit across the entire College. We provide genomics and bioinformatics, proteins and diagnostics and cell analysis/imaging platforms, services, training and expertise to local researchers and external organisations. Externally we also offer opportunities for hosting companies and provide laboratory facilities, technological support, academic consultancy and access to other university resources. Options for contract research and managed services are backed up by our proven track record of working with not-for-profit organisations, start-ups, SMEs and corporates. Please contact us at cbsadmin@cardiff.ac.uk and you can follow us on Twitter @CentralBioServ.
Since Oct 2016 I have been the MSc Medical Research and Innovation Programme Director (0.2FTE) with a further remit to co-ordinate the delivery of short courses in Clinical Innovation internally and to external organisations. I have a wide-ranging teaching portfolio (0.1FTE) and I am the School of Medicine C21 Divisional Teaching Lead for Clinical Innovation and the Postgraduate Research (PGR) Representative for Clinical Innovation.
I have experience as an External Examiner for five Masters Programmes at three Russell Group universities: University of Liverpool MRes and MSc in Advanced BIological Sciences (since 2017); Queen Mary University of London MSc Bioinformatics Programme (since 2014); University of York MSc Bioscience Technology Programme (2012-2015) and MSc Post Genomic Biology Programme (2014-2015). I am also an External Examiner at Nottingham Trent University for the MBiol Biochemistry, BSc Biochemistry and BSc Biological Sciences (Biochemistry and Microbiology) Programmes (since 2017). From a research perspective I have served as an External Examiner for 9 PhD theses and 1 MSc thesis at research intensive universities. Formerly in my spare time I was also an Associate Lecturer at the Open University (2010-2017).
From 2010-Dec 2016 I was the MSc Bioinformatics Programme Director (0.3FTE) and my involvement goes back to 2004 when I was closely involved with the establishment of the Programme. Formerly I was the Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Committee Teaching and Training Lead (to Dec 2016). I was recruited to Cardiff in 2003 as part of a large Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative to set up the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit (BBU). I was also tasked to achieve funding, establish and lead a new Proteomics Facility.
This was successful and, as CBS Proteomics Facility Academic Lead, I was responsible for a wide portfolio of projects in extended collaborations with many Cardiff researchers and external clients. Our biggest external contract was with Ovasort Ltd and formerly I was also Scientific Director for the company. They were interested in sperm-based sex-selection in livestock (and to a lesser extent cancer biomarker discovery) and embedded in our laboratories from 2005-2009. CBS Proteomics services officially discontinued in 2014 and this work is now outsourced (primarily to the University of Bristol). Please continue to contact me for proteomics advice and to co-ordinate outsourcing services.
My main research interests are the proteomic and functional characterisation of mammalian sperm cells at fertilization which was conducted in close collaboration with Dr Bart Gadella at Utrecht University, The Netherlands for many years. My preferred career direction has resulted in my own research being a minor activity during my time in Cardiff and I am no longer independently research active. My main association with the field is now as an Editorial Board Member for the journal Reproduction (Impact Factor 3.184; since 2013) and formerly I was also an Editorial Board Member (Associate Editor) for Molecular Human Reproduction (Impact Factor 3.943; 2012-2015).
Before Cardiff I was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham and Birmingham NHS Assisted Conception Unit (2000-2003) and a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Sheffield (1993-2000) and primarily focused on molecular aspects of sperm function. These varied roles also included a wide range of other research projects in reproduction and several years working on commercial projects (and in particular a male fertility test and a study using human stem cell technologies).
My PhD (1994) on the biochemistry of mammalian glycolipid anchors was conducted as a Research Assistant at the University of Leeds and also involved spending extended time with collaborators at the University of Dundee. Prior to this I was a Research Assistant at the University of York (1989-1990) where I investigated the biochemistry of the Fallopian tube. Lastly I also studied for my first degree at the University of York and graduated in 1989 with a BSc (Hons) in Biology (Cell Biology and Biochemistry).
Bywgraffiad
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
1994 The University of Leeds, PhD in Biochemistry
1989 The University of York, BSc (Hons) Biology (Cell Biology and Biochemistry)
CAREER OVERVIEW
PRESENT CARDIFF RESPONSIBILITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
Since 2016 MSc Medical Research and Innovation Programme Director
Since 2016 Based at College level in the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences as part of the Clinical Innovation Hub
Since 2015 School of Medicine Divisional Teaching Lead for Clinical Innovation (and previously the TIME Institute)
Since 2011 School of Medicine Postgraduate Research (PGR) Representative for Clinical Innovation (and previously the TIME Institute)
Since 2011 Central Biotechnology Services (CBS) Operational Director
Since 2008 Senior Lecturer
PREVIOUS CARDIFF RESPONSIBILITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
2013-2016 Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Committee Teaching and Training Lead
2010-2016 MSc Bioinformatics Programme Director
2011-2015 TIME (Translation, Innovation, Methodologies and Engagement) Institute
2004-2015 Cardiff University School of Medicine
2006-2014 CBS Proteomics Facility Academic Lead
2006-2011 Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology and Central Biotechnology Services (CBS)
2003-2008 Lecturer at Cardiff University School of Medicine (formerly University of Wales College of Medicine)
2003-2006 Joint Head of Bioinformatics in the Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit (BBU)
2003-2006 Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology and Department of Psychological Medicine
2003-2005 Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham
2003-2004 University of Wales College of Medicine
APPOINTMENTS BEFORE CARDIFF
2000-2003 Senior Research Fellow (RA2 Lecturer B equivalent) at the University of Birmingham (Reproductive Biology and Genetics Group, School of Medicine and The Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital)
1993-2000 Postdoctoral Research Associate (RA1A) at the University of Sheffield (Molecular Reproduction and Development Group, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jessop Hospital for Women)
1990-1993 Research Assistant (RA1B) at the University of Leeds (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
1989-1990 Research Assistant (RA1B) at the University of York (Department of Biology)
Cyhoeddiadau
2017
- Brewis, I., Watkinson, M. and Von Ruhland, C. 2017. Heads you win, tails you lose: filtration processing for the microscopical examination of sperm heads. Journal of Microscopy 265(3), pp. 335-340. (10.1111/jmi.12505)
2016
- Webber, J. P.et al. 2016. Prostate stromal cell proteomics analysis discriminates normal from tumour reactive stromal phenotypes. Oncotarget 7, pp. 20124-20139. (10.18632/oncotarget.7716)
2014
- Webber, J.et al. 2014. Proteomics analysis of cancer exosomes using a novel modified aptamer-based array (SOMAscanTM) platform. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics 13(4), pp. 1050-1064. (10.1074/mcp.M113.032136)
- Alsagaby, S. A.et al. 2014. Proteomics-based strategies to identify proteins relevant to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Journal of Proteome Research 13(11), pp. 5051-5062. (10.1021/pr5002803)
2012
- Hoogendoorn, B.et al. 2012. Gene and protein responses of human lung tissue explants exposed to ambient particulate matter of different sizes. Inhalation Toxicology 24(14), pp. 966-975. (10.3109/08958378.2012.742600)
- Tsai, P. J.et al. 2012. Involvement of complexin 2 in docking, locking and unlocking of different SNARE complexes during sperm capacitation and induced acrosomal exocytosis. Plos One 7(3), article number: e32603. (10.1371/journal.pone.0032603)
2011
- Sexton, K. J.et al. 2011. Proteomic profiling of human respiratory epithelia by iTRAQ reveals biomarkers of exposure and harm by tobacco smoke components. Biomarkers 16(7), pp. 567-576. (10.3109/1354750X.2011.608855)
2010
- Welton, J. L.et al. 2010. Proteomics analysis of bladder cancer exosomes. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 9(6), pp. 1324-1338. (10.1074/mcp.M000063-MCP201)
- Brewis, I. A. and Topley, N. 2010. Proteomics and peritoneal dialysis: early days but clear potential. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 25(6), pp. 1749-1753. (10.1093/ndt/gfq145)
- Alnagar, F., Brennan, P. and Brewis, I. A. 2010. Bicarbonate-dependent serine/threonine protein dephosphorylation in capacitating boar spermatozoa. Journal of Andrology 31(4), pp. 393-405. (10.2164/jandrol.109.008383)
- Brewis, I. and Brennan, P. 2010. Proteomics technologies for the global identification and quantification of proteins. In: Donev, R. ed. Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology., Vol. 80. Elsevier, pp. 1-44., (10.1016/B978-0-12-381264-3.00001-1)
2009
- Brennan, P.et al. 2009. Quantitative nuclear proteomics reveals new phenotypes altered in lymphoblastoid cells. Proteomics - Clinical Applications 3(3), pp. 359-369. (10.1002/prca.200800137)
2007
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 2007. Multiple proteins present in purified porcine sperm apical plasma membranes interact with the zona pellucida of the oocyte. Molecular Human Reproduction 13(7), pp. 445-454. (10.1093/molehr/gam030)
- Brewis, I. A. 2007. Protein chips and disease biomarkers. Plasma Protein Monitor 1, pp. 47-48.
- Brewis, I. A. 2007. The way forward for clinical proteomics. Plasma Protein Monitor 1, pp. 55-56.
- Connor, S. J.et al. 2007. Understanding the physiology of pre-fertilisation events in the human spermatozoa - a necessary prerequisite to developing rational therapy. Society of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 63, pp. 237-255.
2006
- Brewis, I. A. 2006. The human plasma proteome. Plasma Protein Monitor 1, pp. 39-40.
2005
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 2005. Capacitation-dependent concentration of lipid rafts in the apical ridge head area of porcine sperm cells. Molecular Human Reproduction 11(8), pp. 583-590. (10.1093/molehr/gah200)
- Moseley, F. L. C.et al. 2005. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation, hyperactivation and progesterone-induced acrosome reaction are enhanced in IVF media: an effect that is not associated with an increase in protein kinase A activation. Molecular Human Reproduction 11(7), pp. 523-529. (10.1093/molehr/gah188)
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 2005. Molecular mechanisms during sperm capacitation. Human Fertility 8(4), pp. 253-261. (10.1080/14647270500420178)
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 2005. The spermatozoon at fertilisation: Current understanding and future research directions. Human Fertility 8(4), pp. 241-251. (10.1080/14647270500420160)
- Brewis, I. A. 2005. Proteomics – possibilities and pitfalls. Plasma Protein Monitor 1, pp. 22-23.
2004
- Kilani, Z.et al. 2004. Evaluation and treatment of familial globozoospermia in five brothers. Fertility and Sterility 82(5), pp. 1436-1439. (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.03.064)
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 2004. Sperm proteome mapping of a patient who experienced failed fertilization at IVF reveals altered expression of at least 20 proteins compared with fertile donors: case report. Human Reproduction 19(6), pp. 1438-1447. (10.1093/humrep/deh224)
- Lefievre, L.et al. 2004. Four zona pellucida glycoproteins are expressed in the human. Human Reproduction 19(7), pp. 1580-1586. (10.1093/humrep/deh301)
2003
- Lefièvre, L.et al. 2003. Physiological and proteomic approaches to studying prefertilization events in the human. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 7(4), pp. 419-427. (10.1016/S1472-6483(10)61885-8)
2002
- Ivic, A.et al. 2002. Critical evaluation of methylcellulose as an alternative medium in sperm migration tests. Human Reproduction 17(1), pp. 143-149. (10.1093/humrep/17.1.143)
- Barratt, C. L.et al. 2002. Functional genomics in reproductive medicine. Human Fertility 5(1), pp. 3-5., article number: 10.1080/1464727992000199681.
2001
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 2001. Solubilized zona pellucida proteins and progesterone induce calcium influx and the acrosome reaction in capacitated dog spermatozoa. Molecular Reproduction and Development 60(4), pp. 491-497. (10.1002/mrd.1114)
- Hosseinzadeh, S.et al. 2001. Co-incubation of human spermatozoa with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar E causes premature sperm death. Human Reproduction 16(2), pp. 293-299. (10.1093/humrep/16.2.293)
2000
- Hosseinzadeh, S.et al. 2000. Coincubation of human spermatozoa with chlamydia trachomatis in vitro causes increased tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins. Infection and Immunity 68(9), pp. 4872-4876. (10.1128/IAI.68.9.4872-4876.2000)
- Brewis, I.et al. 2000. Measurement of intracellular calcium concentration and plasma membrane potential in human spermatozoa using flow cytometry. Journal of Andrology 21(2), pp. 238-249. (10.1002/j.1939-4640.2000.tb02101.x)
1999
- Brewis, I. A. 1999. Proteomics in reproductive research: The potential importance of proteomics to research in reproduction. Human Reproduction 14(12), pp. 2927-2929. (10.1093/humrep/14.12.2927)
- Brewis, I. A. and Wong, C. H. 1999. Gamete recognition: sperm proteins that interact with the egg zona pellucida. Reproduction 4(3), pp. 135-142. (10.1530/ror.0.0040135)
1998
- Moore, H. D., Samayawardhena, L. A. and Brewis, I. A. 1998. Sperm maturation in vitro: co-culture of spermatozoa and epididymal epithelium. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. Supplement 53, pp. 23-31.
- Brewis, I. A. 1998. Tyrosine phosphorylation of a 95 kDa protein and induction of the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa by recombinant human zona pellucida glycoprotein 3. Molecular Human Reproduction 4(12), pp. 1136-1144. (10.1093/molehr/4.12.1136)
- Fisher, H. M.et al. 1998. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase is involved in the induction of the human sperm acrosome reaction downstream of tyrosine phosphorylation. Molecular Human Reproduction 4(9), pp. 849-855. (10.1093/molehr/4.9.849)
1997
- Brewis, I. A. and Moore, H. D. 1997. Molecular mechanisms of gamete recognition and fusion at fertilization. Human Reproduction 12(Sup.), pp. 156-165.
1996
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 1996. Recombinant human zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 induces calcium influx and acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa. Molecular Human Reproduction 2(8), pp. 583-589. (10.1093/molehr/2.8.583)
1995
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 1995. Structures of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchors of porcine and human renal membrane dipeptidase: comprehensive structural studies on the porcine anchor and interspecies comparison of the glycan core structures. Journal of Biological Chemistry 270(39), pp. 22946-22956. (10.1074/jbc.270.39.22946)
1994
- Leese, H. J.et al. 1994. Biochemistry of tubal secretions. In: Grudzinskas, J. G. et al. eds. The Fallopian Tube: clinical and surgical aspects. London: Springer, pp. 53-62.
- Brewis, I. A., Turner, A. J. and Hooper, N. M. 1994. Activation of the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane dipeptidase upon release from pig kidney membranes by phospholipase C. Biochemical Journal -London- 303, pp. 633-638.
1993
- Brewis, I. A., Hooper, N. M. and Turner, A. J. 1993. Identification of the site of attachment of the glycolipid anchor in porcine membrane dipeptidase. Biochemical Society Transactions 21, pp. 44S-44S. (10.1042/bst021044s)
- Brewis, I.et al. 1993. Membrane peptidase expression by confluent cultures of Caco-2 cells. Biochemical Society Transactions 21, pp. 252S-252S. (10.1042/bst021252s)
- Brewis, I. A.et al. 1993. Structural determination of the glycolipid anchors of human and porcine membrane dipeptidases. Biochemical Society Transactions 21(1), pp. 46S-46S. (10.1042/bst021046s)
- Howell, S.et al. 1993. Mosaic expression of membrane peptidases by confluent cultures of Caco-2 cells. FEBS Letters 317(1-2), pp. 109-112. (10.1016/0014-5793(93)81502-Q)
1992
- Brewis, I. A., Winston, R. M. L. and Leese, H. J. 1992. Energy metabolism of the human Fallopian tube. Reproduction 95(1), pp. 257-262. (10.1530/jrf.0.0950257)