Associate Professor in the School of Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Leeds
Dr Eric Hewitt is an Associate Professor in the School of Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Leeds.
His research expertise spans cell biology and immunology, with recent work focusing on the molecular cell biology of human disease and the development of methods to inject molecules into cells.
Eric is an experienced PhD supervisor, and his research group has hosted PhD students funded by the BBSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, Kidney Research UK, as well as scholarship-funded and self-funded international students. In addition, he has sat on PhD interview panels, been an internal and external examiner, and reviewed doctoral training programmes.
Eric was also recently awarded a Leeds Institute of Teaching Excellence (LITE) fellowship to investigate the awarding gap that exists in higher education between white and minoritised ethnic students, with a particular emphasis on the role of assessment type.
Recent Publications
2022. Probing RNA Conformations Using a Polymer-Electrolyte Solid-State Nanopore.. ACS nano. 16(12), pp. 20075-20085 
2020. Macromolecular Crowding Enhances the Detection of DNA and Proteins by a Solid-State Nanopore. Nano Letters. 20(7), pp. 5553-5561
2019. Structural mapping of oligomeric intermediates in an amyloid assembly pathway. eLife. 8
2018. A new era for understanding amyloid structures and disease. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 19(12), pp. 755-773
2015. pH-induced molecular shedding drives the formation of amyloid fibril-derived oligomers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112(18), pp. 5691-5696
Latest Project
Cell biology and immunology of amyloid disease
The formation of insoluble amyloid fibrils is associated with a spectrum of devastating human disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes and dialysis related amyloidosis (DRA). In these disorders the formation of amyloid fibrils results in cellular dysfunction and tissue destruction. Understanding the mechanisms of amyloid toxicity is a priority if we are to develop new therapeutics for the amyloidoses.
Our goal is to determine how the structure and physical properties of amyloid fibrils and their assembly intermediates affects the function and viability of cells. This involves a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary approach in which information obtained structural biology techniques is integrated with cell biological analyses. Currently, we are studying the oligomeric assembly intermediates and fibrils formed by the amyloidogenic sequences, α-synuclein (Parkinson’s), amyloid-β (Alzheimer’s) and β2-microglobulin (DRA). We are examining the uptake of amyloid aggregates by cells, the pathological interactions between amyloid and cellular components, the induction of inflammatory responses, and the effects of amyloid on cellular physiology and cell viability. These experiments use an array of techniques, including plate-based assays for cell viability and metabolism, live cell confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, subcellular fractionation and proteomics. In addition, we are exploring a novel single molecule platform for the delivery of amyloid aggregates into the cytoplasm of cells with colleagues in the School Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Lysosomes in health and disease
Lysosomes are membrane bound organelles whose functions include the degradation of cellular and extracellular material. We are studying the role of lysosomes in amyloid disease and our work suggests that this organelle is a key target for amyloid toxicity. In another project we are studying specialized lysosomes known as secretory lysosomes, which function as regulated secretory organelles in immune cells.
Research projects
Any research projects I’m currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all research projects allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.
Latest Project
Link to Eric’s webpage:
https://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/molecular-and-cellular-biology/staff/84/dr-eric-hewitt
Link to Eric’s LITE fellowship: https://teachingexcellence.leeds.ac.uk/research/fellowships/what-is-the-role-of-assessment-type-in-awarding-gaps/
