Dr Ray Camilleri

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences

Biological Sciences

Contact Details

Ray graduated with a BSc Honours degree in Medical Biochemistry from Royal Holloway, University of London and then successfully completed a PhD CASE studentship in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Royal Holloway and Zeneca Agrochemicals. He then began a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at University College London investigating the molecular biological aspects of beta2-glycoprotein I in antiphospholipid syndrome, and fibrinogen and its association with the thrombophilic markers Factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene mutation G20210A and MTHFR C677T in venous thrombosis, stroke, recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy complications. Since then, Ray’s research has been focused on the genetic and phenotypic links between von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Ray became a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Westminster in 2011, where he taught and supervised both undergraduate and postgraduate students, led an integrated part-time BSc Applied Biomedical Science degree, was Admissions Tutor for Biomedical Sciences and was Director of Studies of a PhD student who successfully defended their thesis. Ray joined the academic staff at the University of Worcester in September 2017 as a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences and Course Leader of the BSc Biomedical Science degree. He is also Admissions Tutor for Biomedical Sciences and a member of the Worcester Biomedical Research Group and Health, Life and Environment Research Ethics Committee.

Qualifications

BSc (Honours) in Medical Biochemistry (BSc (Hons))
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE)
PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PhD)

Teaching & Research

Teaching

These specifically revolve around haematology, and in particular red blood cell haematology and the anaemias and thrombosis and haemostasis, but I also enjoy teaching human anatomy and physiology, fundamentals of disease diagnosis, processes in pathology, biology of disease and certain aspects of biochemistry, cell biology and genetics.

I am currently the module leader and teach on the following modules:

BIOL1004 Human Anatomy and Physiology (Level 4/Year 1)
BIOS2400 Project Development (Level 5/Year 2)
BIOS2401 Professional Aspects of Biomedical Science (Level 5/Year 2)
BIOS3401 Haematology and Transfusion Science (Level 6/Year 3)

I also teach and/or mark on the following modules:

BIOS3002 Independent Study
BIOS3113 The Biochemistry of Cancer

Research

My research interests broadly cover the molecular biological and biochemical aspects of various thrombotic and haemostatic disorders. This has included work on the genotype of the glycoprotein 2GPI and its relationship with antiphospholipid syndrome. It has also included studies on fibrinogen and its association with Factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene mutation G20210A and MTHFR C677T in patients suffering from pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, cerebral vascular attack, foetal loss and severe obstetric complications. Most recently, I have undertaken research on the molecular biological and functional aspects of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) and its correlation with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a disorder characterised by widespread microvascular platelet-rich thrombi, which result in profound thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia.

I am also a member of the Worcester Biomedical Research Group.

Professional Bodies

International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)
British Society for Haemostasis and Thrombosis (BSHT)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Publications

Scully M, Thomas M, Underwood M, Watson H, Langley K, Camilleri RS, Clark A, Creagh D, Rayment R, McDonald V, Roy A, Evans G, McGuckin S, Ni Ainle F, Maclean R, Lester W, Nash M, Scott R, OBrien P; collaborators of the UK TTP Registry. (2014) Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and pregnancy: presentation, management and subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Blood, 124: 211-219

Camilleri RS, Scully M, Thomas M, Mackie IJ, Liesner R, Chen WJ, Manns K, Machin SJ. (2012) A phenotype-genotype correlation of ADAMTS13 mutations in congenital TTP patients treated in the United Kingdom. J Thromb Haemost, 10: 1792-1801

Bramham K, Hilton R, Horsfield C, McDonald V, Camilleri R, Hunt BJ. (2011) ADAMTS13 deficiency: can it cause chronic renal failure? Nephrol Dial Transplant, 26: 742-744

Camilleri RS, Cohen H, Mackie IJ, Scully M, Starke RD, Crawley JTB, Lane DA, Machin SJ. (2008) Prevalence of the ADAMTS13 missense mutation R1060W in late onset adult TTP. J Thromb Haemost, 6: 331-338

Camilleri RS and Cohen H. (2005) No association between pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis and the -455G/A beta-fibrinogen gene polymorphism. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis, 16: 193-198

Camilleri RS, Peebles D, Portmann C, Everington T, Cohen H. (2004) -455G/A beta-fibrinogen gene polymorphism, factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A mutation and MTHFR C677T, and placental vascular complications. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis, 15: 139-147

Nash MJ, Camilleri RS, Kunka S, Mackie IJ, Machin SJ, Cohen H. (2004) The anticardiolipin assay is required for sensitive screening for antiphospholipid antibodies. J Thromb Haemost, 2: 1077-1081

Camilleri RS, Mackie IJ, Humphries SE, Machin SJ, Cohen H. (2003) Lack of association of beta2-glycoprotein I polymorphisms Val247Leu and Trp316Ser with antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with thrombosis and pregnancy complications. Br J Haematol, 120: 1066-1072

Nash MJ, Camilleri RS, Liesner R, Mackie IJ, Machin SJ, Cohen H. (2003) Paradoxical association between the 316 Trp to Ser beta 2-glycoprotein I (Beta2GPI) polymorphism and anti-Beta2GPI antibodies. Br J Haematol, 120: 529-531

Pennaneach C, Camilleri R, Gardiner C, Mackie IJ, Machin SJ. (2003) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Evaluation of the Roche LightCycler (PCR) System. Report number MHRA 03093. Published by HMSO, Norwich (ISBN 1 84182 764 9)

Starke R, Drummond O, MacGregor I, Biggerstaff J, Gale R, Camilleri R, Mackie I, Machin, S, Harrison P. (2002) The expression of prion protein by endothelial cells: a source of the plasma form of prion protein? Br J Haematol, 119: 863-873

External Responsibilities

External Examiner of BSc Biomedical Sciences modules at the University of Bradford