Dr Alan J. Stewart

Reader

Researcher profile

Phone

+44 (0)1334 46 3546

Email

ajs21@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

Research areas

My research is interdisciplinary and sits at the interface between the basic sciences and medicine. Research in my laboratory is focused upon how metal ions are handled in the body and the roles they play in regulating medically/physiologically relevant processes. Collectively, my work provides detailed and reliable data relating to the transport and speciation of metal ions (particularly zinc and calcium) in the circulation and new insights into their cellular functions and role in disease states. Currently my team are examining ways in which defective metal handling contributes to pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, including vascular eye disease and dementia.

PhD supervision

• Claudia Harper
• Keira Hughes
• Quenton Hurst
• Mark Kelly
• Boyang Lin
• Timothy Redpath

Selected publications

• Open access

  Crystallographic and EPR-based characterisation of Cu²⁺-binding to serum albumin: ATCUN coordination and additional sites

  Gucwa, M., Handing, K. B., Bijak, V., Ackermann, K., Chakraborty, A., Pautarak, A., Redpath, T., Lin, B., Sławek, J., Blindauer, C. A., Stewart, A. J., Bode, B. E. & Minor, W., 5 May 2026, In: Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers . 13, 9, p. 3750-3758 9 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Quantitative proteomic profiling of plasma alterations associated with thrombotic risk and insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes

  Harper, C. A. A., Marsh, J. S., Fernandes, M. F., Sagar, R. C., Synowsky, S. A., Ahmed, H., Shirran, S. L., Naseem, K., Ajjan, R. A. & Stewart, A. J., 10 May 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• The role of chemical metals in SARS-CoV-2 infection

  Leal, K. N. S., Rocha, I., Stewart, A. J., Ramos, C. H. I. & Arruda, M. A. Z., 21 May 2026, (Accepted/In press) Understanding metals in the environment and human health. Lodeiro, C. & Oliveira, E. (eds.). Baco Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis Group/CRC Press

  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

• Open access

  Abnormal plasma/serum magnesium, copper and zinc concentrations associate with the future development of cardiovascular diseases

  Lin, B., Alexander, R., Fritzen, R., Mills, S., Stewart, A. J. & McCowan, C., 25 Apr 2025, In: Nutrients. 17, 9, p. 1-14 14 p., 1447.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• FXR activation aids fibrinolysis: targeting PAI-1 in obesity

  Stewart, A. J., 13 Nov 2025, In: Blood. 146, 20, p. 2381-2382 2 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

• Open access

  Investigating the conformational landscape of human histidine-rich glycoprotein using amide HDX-MS

  Hierons, S. J., Lin, B., Fritzen, R., Blindauer, C. A., Ajjan, R. A., Masson, G. R. & Stewart, A. J., Nov 2025, In: Biochemical Journal. 482, 22, p. 1721-1735 15 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Open access

  Properties of the major Zn²⁺-binding site of human alpha-fetoprotein, a potential foetal plasma zinc carrier

  Lu, J., Hierons, S. J., Arya, S., Fritzen, R., Polepalli, S., Khazaipoul, S., Stewart, A. J. & Blindauer, C. A., 4 Feb 2025, In: Chemical Communications. 61, 10, p. 2099-2102 4 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Open access

  Quantitative proteomics identifies plasma protein alterations that associate with metabolic and thrombotic profile changes after bariatric surgery

  Ahmed, H., Fernandes, M. F., Abbas, K., Synowsky, S. A., Shirran, S. L., Ajjan, R. A. & Stewart, A. J., May 2025, In: Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 27, 5, p. 2647-2657 11 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Open access

  The importance of understanding why the Co²⁺-binding ability of albumin is reduced in ischemia

  Stewart, A. J. & Blindauer, C. A., Apr 2025, In: International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 169, 1, p. 441-442 2 p.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

• Open access

  Changes in fibrin clot properties in patients after Roux en-Y gastric bypass surgery

  Abbas, K., Hierons, S. J., Pechlivani, N., Phoenix, F., Alexander, R., King, R., Ajjan, R. A. & Stewart, A. J., Feb 2024, In: Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 8, 2, 8 p., e102361.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

 

See more publications