Research Interests

primary cilia, inflammatory signalling, mechanosignalling, structure-function, organ-on-a-chip

Prof Knight’s research examines the interplay between the structure and the function of primary cilia and implications for disease aetiology. This has potential impact in the development of cilia therapies which modulate cilia signalling pathways. 

Part of this work involves the area of mechanobiology and the role of primary cilia in regulating how living cells ‘sense and respond’ to mechanical forces. These mechanosensory processes influence the behaviour of many tissues and therefore have application in various medical therapies from regenerative medicine to pharmaceuticals.

Overlapping with his work on primary cilia, Prof Knight leads a large organ-on-a-chip research team developing disease models for therapeutic testing and understanding fundamental biology. 

Studies are examining primary cilia in a variety of tissues and disease processes including  kidney, blood vessel, cartilage, bone, cancer,  inflammation, and stem cell differentiation. 

I am happy for individuals outside my research group (particularly early career researchers) to present at one of my (online) group meetings – please contact me if you are interested.

Cilia Research Projects

The following are funded research projects related to cilia research.

Organ-on-a-chip model of breast cancer bone metastases

Awarded to: Martin KNIGHT (Queen Mary University of London)
Funding source: CRUK and EPSRC  /  Value: £268,700
Dates: December 2020 - May 2023