Howarth, Clare, Dr

Dr Clare Howarth

School of Psychology

Senior Lecturer

c.howarth@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 6511

Interdisciplinary Centre of the Social Sciences (ICOSS)

Full contact details

Dr Clare Howarth
School of Psychology
Interdisciplinary Centre of the Social Sciences (ICOSS)
219 Portobello
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S1 4DP

Profile

In 2003 I graduated from Imperial College London with an MSci (hons) in Physics with a year in Europe. I then pursued a PhD in Neuroscience with Prof. David Attwell at University College London, where I studied Brain Energy Supply and Use. During my PhD we demonstrated, for the first time, pericyte regulation of blood flow at the capillary level and produced a novel model of energy use within the cerebellum.

After my PhD, I was awarded a Sir Henry Wellcome Fellowship to work with Prof. Brian MacVicar (University of British Columbia, Canada) and Prof. Nicola Sibson (University of Oxford). Using a variety of optical imaging techniques, we demonstrated a role for astrocytes in the regulation of brain blood flow to CO2.

In 2013 I was awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Advanced Fellowship and I moved to ��«Ӱҵ to establish my own research group within the Neurovascular and Neuroimaging Research Group. In 2015 I was awarded a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship (funded by the Wellcome Trust and Royal Society). My research group uses a multimodal imaging approach to investigate how blood flow in the brain is controlled. We are particularly interested in which cells regulate brain blood flow and whether this regulation becomes dysfunctional in ageing and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

Qualifications

MSci (Hons) Physics with a year in Europe (Imperial College London)
PhD Neuroscience (University of London: University College London)

Research interests

The brain is an energetically expensive organ, with only limited energy reserves. In order to maintain normal brain function, it is essential that increases in neuronal activity are matched with local increases in blood flow, which supplies the extra oxygen and glucose needed by the neurons. In addition to being essential for normal brain function, this increase in blood flow and oxygenation underlies commonly used functional neuroimaging signals e.g. BOLD fMRI. The cellular mechanisms responsible for this local increase in blood flow are still incompletely understood. By combining several imaging techniques (including 2 photon microscopy, 2D-OIS and MRI) with electrophysiology and optogenetic approaches, we are investigating the involvement of glial cells (astrocytes) and inhibitory interneurons in the regulation of brain blood flow. This research will inform our understanding of how the healthy brain functions and will also help us to understand what BOLD fMRI can (and can’t) tell us about neural activity.

There is increasing evidence that brain blood flow is altered in aging and in diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. We are examining when, and how, neurovascular coupling is altered, and what the impact of these changes could be. This research will not only increase our understanding of such diseases but may offer us novel therapeutic targets to pursue.

Current research interests include:
• Investigating vascular-based therapeutic targets to alter disease progression in mouse models of dementia
• Cellular mechanisms of neurovascular coupling in health and aging
• Neurovascular coupling in Alzheimer’s disease
• Neurovascular function in mouse models of multimorbidity (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease and atherosclerosis)
• Neurovascular coupling in a zebrafish model of hyperglycemia

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Eyre B, Shaw K, Sharp P, Boorman L, Lee L, Shabir O, Berwick J & Howarth C (2022) . Scientific Reports, 12.
Shabir O, Pendry B, Lee L, Eyre B, Sharp P, Rebollar M, Drew D, Howarth C, Heath P, Wharton S , Francis S et al (2022) . eLife, 2022(11).
Howarth C, Mishra A & Hall C (2020) . Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 376(1815).
Shabir O, Sharp P, Rebollar MA, Boorman L, Howarth C, Wharton SB, Francis SE & Berwick J (2020) . Scientific Reports, 10(1).
Lee L, Boorman L, Glendenning E, Christmas C, Sharp P, Redgrave P, Shabir O, Bracci E, Berwick J & Howarth C (2020) . Cerebral Cortex, 30(4), 2452-2464.
Sharp P, Ameen-Ali K, Boorman L, Harris S, Wharton S, Howarth C, Shabir O, Redgrave P & Berwick J (2019) . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.
Chhabria K, Vouros A, Gray C, MacDonald R, Jiang Z, Wilkinson R, Plant K, Vasilaki E, Howarth C & Chico T (2019) . DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms, 12(9).
Chhabria K, Plant K, Bandmann O, Wilkinson R, Martin C, Kugler E, Armitage P, Santoscoy P, Cunliffe V, Huisken J , Mcgown A et al (2018) . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.
Howarth C, Sutherland B, Choi HB, Martin C, Lind B, Khennouf L, LeDue J, Pakan J, Ko R, Ellis-Davies G , Lauritzen M et al (2017) . Journal of Neuroscience, 37(9), 2403-2414.
Hall CN, Howarth C, Kurth-Nelson Z & Mishra A (2016) . Philosophical Transactions B, 371(1705).
Spain A, Howarth C, Krapitchev A, Sharp T, Sibson NR & Martin C (2015) . Neuropharmacology, 99, 210-220.
Couch Y, Martin CJ, Howarth C, Raley J, Khrapitchev AA, Stratford M, Sharp T, Sibson NR & Anthony DC (2013) . Neuroimage, 75C, 185-194.
Howarth C, Gleeson P & Attwell D (2012) . JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, 32(7), 1222-1232.
Hall CN, Klein-Fluegge MC, Howarth C & Attwell D (2012) . JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 32(26), 8940-8951.
Howarth C, Peppiatt-Wildman CM & Attwell D (2010) . JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, 30(2), 403-414.
Schoelvinck ML, Howarth C & Attwell D (2008) . NEUROIMAGE, 40(4), 1460-1468.
Peppiatt CM, Howarth C, Mobbs P & Attwell D (2006) . NATURE, 443(7112), 700-704.

All publications

Journal articles

David T, Morillo R, Howarth C, Berwick J & Lee L (2023) . Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 145(3).
Eyre B, Shabir O, Lee L, Francis S, Howarth C & Berwick J (2022) . Alzheimer's & Dementia, 18(S6).
Eyre B, Shaw K, Sharp P, Boorman L, Lee L, Shabir O, Berwick J & Howarth C (2022) . Scientific Reports, 12.
Shabir O, Pendry B, Lee L, Eyre B, Sharp P, Rebollar M, Drew D, Howarth C, Heath P, Wharton S , Francis S et al (2022) . eLife, 2022(11).
Howarth C, Mishra A & Hall C (2020) . Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences, 376(1815).
Bin Dawood A, Dickinson A, Aytemur A, Howarth C, Milne E & Jones M (2020) . Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 4, 235-249.
Shabir O, Sharp P, Rebollar MA, Boorman L, Howarth C, Wharton SB, Francis SE & Berwick J (2020) . Scientific Reports, 10(1).
Lee L, Boorman L, Glendenning E, Christmas C, Sharp P, Redgrave P, Shabir O, Bracci E, Berwick J & Howarth C (2020) . Cerebral Cortex, 30(4), 2452-2464.
Sharp P, Ameen-Ali K, Boorman L, Harris S, Wharton S, Howarth C, Shabir O, Redgrave P & Berwick J (2019) . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.
Chhabria K, Vouros A, Gray C, MacDonald R, Jiang Z, Wilkinson R, Plant K, Vasilaki E, Howarth C & Chico T (2019) . DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms, 12(9).
Chhabria K, Plant K, Bandmann O, Wilkinson R, Martin C, Kugler E, Armitage P, Santoscoy P, Cunliffe V, Huisken J , Mcgown A et al (2018) . Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.
(2017) . The Journal of Neuroscience, 37(18), 4860-4860.
Howarth C, Sutherland B, Choi HB, Martin C, Lind B, Khennouf L, LeDue J, Pakan J, Ko R, Ellis-Davies G , Lauritzen M et al (2017) . Journal of Neuroscience, 37(9), 2403-2414.
Hall CN, Howarth C, Kurth-Nelson Z & Mishra A (2016) . Philosophical Transactions B, 371(1705).
Tyler CW, Howarth C & Likova LT (2016) . Frontiers in Neuroscience, 10, 185-185.
Spain A, Howarth C, Krapitchev A, Sharp T, Sibson NR & Martin C (2015) . Neuropharmacology, 99, 210-220.
Couch Y, Martin CJ, Howarth C, Raley J, Khrapitchev AA, Stratford M, Sharp T, Sibson NR & Anthony DC (2014) . NeuroImage, 94, 413.
Howarth C (2014) . Front Neurosci, 8, 103.
O'Brien ER, Howarth C & Sibson NR (2013) . FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE, 7.
Couch Y, Martin CJ, Howarth C, Raley J, Khrapitchev AA, Stratford M, Sharp T, Sibson NR & Anthony DC (2013) . Neuroimage, 75C, 185-194.
Howarth C, Gleeson P & Attwell D (2012) . JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, 32(7), 1222-1232.
Hall CN, Klein-Fluegge MC, Howarth C & Attwell D (2012) . JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 32(26), 8940-8951.
Howarth C, Gordon GR & MacVicar BA (2011) Bidirectional control of arteriole diameter by astrocytes. Experimental Physiology(96), 393-399.
Howarth C, Peppiatt-Wildman CM & Attwell D (2010) . JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, 30(2), 403-414.
Riera JJ, Schousboe A, Waagepetersen HS, Howarth C & Hyder F (2008) . NEUROIMAGE, 40(4), 1436-1459.
Schoelvinck ML, Howarth C & Attwell D (2008) . NEUROIMAGE, 40(4), 1460-1468.
Howarth C & Attwell D (2006) . NEURON, 52(2), 224-225.
Peppiatt CM, Howarth C, Mobbs P & Attwell D (2006) . NATURE, 443(7112), 700-704.
Howarth C, Hutton C & Deichmann R (2006) Improvement of image quality of T1-weighted anatomical brain scans. Neuroimage(29), 930-937.
Howarth C, Marshall H, Larkman DJ, Herlihy AH, Oatridge A & Bydder GM (2002) Contrast-enhanced magic angle MR imaging of the Achilles Tendon. American Journal of Roentgenology(179), 187-192.
Berwick J () Bidirectional alterations in brain temperature profoundly modulate spatiotemporal neurovascular responses in-vivo. Communications Biology.
Shabir O, Pendry B, Lee L, Eyre B, Sharp P, Rebollar MA, Howarth C, Heath PR, Wharton SB, Francis SE & Berwick J () .
Shabir O, Pendry B, Heath PR, Rebollar MA, Howarth C, Wharton SB, Berwick J & Francis SE () .
Sharp PS, Ameen-Ali K, Boorman L, Harris S, Wharton S, Howarth C, Redgrave P & Berwick J () .
Misra A, Freeman R, Hall C & Howarth C () Key relationships between non-invasive functional neuroimaging and the underlying neuronal activity. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences.

Chapters

Gordon GR, Howarth C & MacVicar BA (2016) In Roach RC, Hackett PH & Wagner PD (Ed.), Hypoxia (pp. 209-219). Springer US
Howarth C, Gordon GR & MacVicar BA (2012) Astrocyte regulation of neurovascular control In Kettenmann & Ransom (Ed.), Neuroglia

Conference proceedings papers

Howarth C, Lee L, Shabir O & Berwick J (2022) Investigating the involvement of nitric oxide in neurovascular coupling. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 42(1_SUPPL) (pp 60-60)
Hall C, Shih A, Korte N, Mae M & Howarth C (2022) Pericytes in disease. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 42(1_SUPPL) (pp 277-277)
Lee L, Boorman L, Glendenning E, Christmas C, Sharp PS, Bracci E, Berwick J & Howarth C (2019) The contribution of specific inhibitory cortical interneurons to neurovascular coupling. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 39 (pp 19-19)
Howarth C, Sutherland BA, Choi HB, Martin C, Lind BL, Khennouf L, Pakan JMP, Ellis-Davies GCR, Lauritzen MJ, Sibson NR , Buchan AM et al (2016) ASTROCYTES CONTRIBUTE TO THE CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW RESPONSE TO HYPERCAPNIA. JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM, Vol. 36 (pp 528-529)
Wong L, Sharp P, Howarth C, Hoggard N, Berwick J & Francis S (2016) . Heart, Vol. 102(Suppl 6) (pp A123.2-A124), 6 June 2016 - 8 June 2016.
Peppiatt CM, Howarth C, Mobbs P & Attwell D (2005) Pericyte regulation of capillary diameter in rat retina. FASEB JOURNAL, Vol. 19(4) (pp A716-A716)

Preprints

Eyre B, Shaw K, Drew D, Rayson A, Shabir O, Lee L, Francis S, Berwick J & Howarth C (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Eyre B, Shaw K, Francis S, Howarth C & Berwick J (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Lee L, Boorman L, Glendenning E, Shen C, Berwick J & Howarth C (2022) , bioRxiv.
Boorman LW, Harris SS, Shabir O, Lee L, Eyre B, Howarth C & Berwick J () , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Eyre B, Shaw K, Sharp P, Boorman L, Lee L, Shabir O, Berwick J & Howarth C () , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Shabir O, Sharp P, Rebollar MA, Boorman L, Howarth C, Wharton SB, Francis SE & Berwick J () , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Chhabria K, Vouros A, Gray C, MacDonald RB, Jiang Z, Wilkinson RN, Plant K, Vasilaki E, Howarth C & Chico TJA () .

Research group

Neuroscience and Cognition

Research Group members:

Dave Drew (Technician)

Postdoctoral Staff:

Dr Osman Shabir
Dr Bethany Eyre
Llywelyn Lee

Postgraduate students:

Naomi King
Marilina Douloudi
Shannon O'Connor
Dirk Goldschmitt
Runchong Wang
Rahul Sidhu
Alicia Halliday

Grants

2023-2026 MRC project grant: Massaging brain vessels with vasomotion: Targeting the vasculature to alter disease progression in mouse models of dementia (with Dr Jason Berwick, Dr Chris Martin and Dr Julie Simpson)
2020-2023 British Heart Foundation project grant: Atherosclerosis, the brain and vascular dementia – the role of inflammation in neurovascular function (with Professor Sheila Francis (PI), Dr Jason Berwick, Professor Stuart Allan and Dr Emmanuel Pinteaux)
2015-2022 Wellcome Trust/Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship
2016-2019 NC3Rs project grant: Developing a zebrafish model of neurovascular coupling (with Professor Tim Chico, Dr Vincent Cunliffe, Dr Robert Wilkinson, Professor Oliver Bandmann)

Teaching activities

Research Project Supervision

MSc Cognitive Neuroscience and Human Neuroimaging
MSc Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience
MSc Systems Neuroscience

Undergraduate teaching

PSY346: Psychology Dissertation Research Project
PSY331: Extended Essay in Psychology

Postgraduate teaching

PSY6122: Current Issues in Psychological Research - Module Organiser
PSY6315: Systems Neuroscience

Professional activities and memberships

Within the Department:

Director of Postgraduate Research
Research Cluster Deputy Lead (Cognitive and Neural Processes Across the Lifespan)

External:

“Interpreting BOLD” conference organiser and founder (with Dr Catherine Hall, University of Sussex and Dr Anusha Mishra, Oregon Health & Science University)
Board of Directors: International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow & metabolism (ISCBFM)
MRC Neurosciences and Mental Health Board Member

PhD Opportunities

I am happy to receive applications for PhD study in my area of research.

We advertise PhD opportunities (Funded or Self-Funded) on

For further information, please see the department PhD Opportunities page.

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School of Psychology

School of Psychology

Dr Clare Howarth

Featured publications

Journal articles

All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

Preprints

Neuroscience and Cognition

Links