Dr Iwan Robert Evans

MBiochem PhD

Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Lecturer

Dr Iwan Evans
Dr Iwan Evans
Profile picture of Dr Iwan Evans
i.r.evans@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 3695

Full contact details

Dr Iwan Robert Evans
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
Firth Court
Western Bank
91̽»¨
S10 2TN
Profile

For enquiries, please contact – ClinMed-Operational@sheffield.ac.uk

After studying Biochemistry at the University of Oxford (Somerville College), I joined the MRC’s 4-year PhD program in Molecular Cell Biology at UCL’s LMCB. During my PhD I studied the generation of cell-cell repulsion downstream of the Eph receptor family of tyrosine kinases with Prof. Kate Nobes.

To study the regulation of cell migration in vivo, I subsequently joined the laboratory of Prof. Will Wood at the University of Bath. There I investigated how the migration and inflammatory responses of macrophages are controlled using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In 2013, I was awarded a Thomas-Berry and Simpson Fellowship by the School of Medicine & Population Health at the University of 91̽»¨ to establish my own research group focusing on the role apoptotic cells play in regulation of macrophage function.

I was subsequently awarded a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship by Wellcome/The Royal Society, which I activated in 2014. Our lab uses fruit flies and a variety of cell lines (including primary human immune cells) to study regulation of the innate immune system.

Research interests

Lay summary

Immune cells play an important role in the normal development, general upkeep and repair of our bodies, in addition to their roles defending against infection and disease. An important function of a subset of our white blood cells (called macrophages) is to detect, ingest (phagocytose) and degrade debris, dying cells and invading pathogens.

When these processes go wrong it can cause or worsen a wide range of human diseases and conditions including autoimmunity, atherosclerosis, cancer and chronic inflammation, often due to the inappropriate behaviour of the macrophages themselves. A major problem is that we do not fully understand how the function of macrophages is controlled; understanding this would enable the generation of therapies aimed at manipulating macrophage behaviour and so prevent or reduce their contribution to these damaging conditions.

Fruit flies (Drosophila) are considerably simpler than vertebrates such as ourselves, yet the key genes important in macrophage function are also present. This makes it much easier for us to study and identify new genes involved in macrophage functions such as migration, phagocytosis and degradation of ingested material.

Importantly, fruit flies contain a population of cells called hemocytes that are very similar in their function and behaviour to our own macrophages. We study these fly macrophages to understand new mechanisms by which our own immune cells may be controlled.

Contact with cells undergoing a programmed form of death (called apoptosis), which often occurs at sites of injury or pathology, is thought to alter the behaviour of macrophages. This can be helpful in some circumstances but on other occasions it may cause macrophages to contribute to disease progression.

Drosophila hemocytes display altered responses when challenged in the presence of increased levels of cell death. One key area in our lab is to use fruit flies as a model system to understand how apoptotic cells regulate macrophage function. We are also interested in understanding how engulfment of other cargoes is controlled and regulates macrophage behaviour (e.g. pathogenic bugs).


Technical summary

Drosophila hemocytes are a population of highly migratory macrophages that disperse over the entire embryo during development. They represent the cellular arm of the innate immune system in the fly and clear both apoptotic cells and pathogens - without these functions development or survival in the face of infection are strongly perturbed, respectively.

The unparalleled imaging capabilities of hemocytes within the developing embryo, coupled with the well-established and rapid genetics of Drosophila, enable the cell biology underlying macrophage function to be determined in the context of an intact organism.

Clearance of apoptotic cells is crucial for development and this process is known to alter macrophage function. Undigested apoptotic corpses within hemocytes can suppress both their general motility and inflammatory responses. Using this model system we are studying how apoptotic corpses affect macrophage behaviour at a number of stages during the process of apoptotic cell clearance.

We are particularly focused on how the stages post-engulfment can inhibit the migratory machinery of hemocytes. This mechanism could have important consequences for a wide range of human diseases, since it could contribute to the inappropriate or prolonged localisation of macrophages at the numerous sites of pathology that contain high levels of cells dying by apoptosis.

We have established a number of collaborations with groups within the Medical School and Biomedical Science at the University of 91̽»¨ in order to translate our findings into other vertebrate systems (Zeidler, Prince and Johnston Labs).


Current Projects:

  • Anti-inflammatory signalling in Drosophila macrophages.
  • Impact of apoptotic cell clearance on inflammatory responses.
  • Find-me cue signals in vivo.
  • Blood cell proliferation and activation.
  • Macrophage subtypes in health and disease.
Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Coates JA, Brooks E, Brittle AL, Armitage EL, Zeidler MP & Evans IR (2021) . Elife, 10. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Armitage EL, Roddie HG & Evans IR (2020) . Cell Death & Disease, 11(8). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Roddie HG, Armitage EL, Coates JA, Johnston SA & Evans IR (2019) . PLOS Biology, 17(5). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Weavers H, Evans IR, Martin P & Wood W (2016) . Cell, 165(7), 1658-1671. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Rodrigues FSLM, Armitage EL & Wood W (2015) . Current Biology, 25(12), 1606-1612. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bilancia CG, Winkelman JD, Tsygankov D, Nowotarski SH, Sees JA, Comber K, Evans I, Lakhani V, Wood W, Elston TC , Kovar DR et al (2014) . Developmental Cell, 28(4), 394-408. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR & Wood W (2014) . Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 30, 1-8. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Razzell W, Evans IR, Martin P & Wood W (2013) . Curr Biol, 23, 424-429. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Ghai PA, Urbancic V, Tan KL & Wood W (2013) . Cell Death Differ, 20, 709-720. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Comber K, Huelsmann S, Evans I, Sanchez-Sanchez BJ, Chalmers A, Reuter R, Wood W & Martin-Bermudo MD (2013) . J Cell Sci, 126, 3475-3484. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Tucker PK, Evans IR & Wood W (2011) . Dis Model Mech, 4, 126-134. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR & Wood W (2011) . Curr Biol, 21, R173-R174. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stramer B, Moreira S, Millard T, Evans I, Huang CY, Sabet O, Milner M, Dunn G, Martin P & Wood W (2010) . J Cell Biol, 189, 681-689. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Zanet J, Wood W & Stramer BM (2010) . J Vis Exp. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Moreira S, Stramer B, Evans I, Wood W & Martin P (2010) . Curr Biol, 20, 464-470. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Hu N, Skaer H & Wood W (2010) . Development, 137, 1625-1633. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Vlisidou I, Dowling AJ, Evans IR, Waterfield N, ffrench-Constant RH & Wood W (2009) . PLoS Pathog, 5, e1000518. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Defaye A, Evans I, Crozatier M, Wood W, Lemaitre B & Leulier F (2009) . J Innate Immun, 1, 322-334. RIS download Bibtex download

All publications

Journal articles

  • Brooks EC, Zeidler MP, Ong ACM & Evans IR (2024) . Frontiers in Immunology, 14. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Coates JA, Brooks E, Brittle AL, Armitage EL, Zeidler MP & Evans IR (2021) . Elife, 10. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Tardy OR, Armitage EL, Prince LR & Evans IR (2021) . Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 9. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Armitage EL, Roddie HG & Evans IR (2020) . Cell Death & Disease, 11(8). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Roddie HG, Armitage EL, Coates JA, Johnston SA & Evans IR (2019) . PLOS Biology, 17(5). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Davidson AJ, Millard TH, Evans IR & Wood W (2019) . Journal of Cell Science, 132(5). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Weavers H, Evans IR, Martin P & Wood W (2016) . Cell, 165(7), 1658-1671. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Pueyo JI, Magny EG, Sampson CJ, Amin U, Evans IR, Bishop SA & Couso JP (2016) . PLOS Biology, 14(3). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Rodrigues FSLM, Armitage EL & Wood W (2015) . Current Biology, 25(12), 1606-1612. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bilancia CG, Winkelman JD, Tsygankov D, Nowotarski SH, Sees JA, Comber K, Evans I, Lakhani V, Wood W, Elston TC , Kovar DR et al (2014) . Developmental Cell, 28(4), 394-408. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR & Wood W (2014) . Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 30, 1-8. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Razzell W, Evans IR, Martin P & Wood W (2013) . Curr Biol, 23, 424-429. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Ghai PA, Urbancic V, Tan KL & Wood W (2013) . Cell Death Differ, 20, 709-720. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Comber K, Huelsmann S, Evans I, Sanchez-Sanchez BJ, Chalmers A, Reuter R, Wood W & Martin-Bermudo MD (2013) . J Cell Sci, 126, 3475-3484. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Tucker PK, Evans IR & Wood W (2011) . Dis Model Mech, 4, 126-134. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR & Wood W (2011) . Curr Biol, 21, R173-R174. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR & Wood W (2011) Understanding in vivo blood cell migration--Drosophila hemocytes lead the way. Fly (Austin), 5, 110-114. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Zanet J, Wood W & Stramer BM (2010) Live imaging of Drosophila melanogaster embryonic hemocyte migrations.. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE(36). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stramer B, Moreira S, Millard T, Evans I, Huang CY, Sabet O, Milner M, Dunn G, Martin P & Wood W (2010) . J Cell Biol, 189, 681-689. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Zanet J, Wood W & Stramer BM (2010) . J Vis Exp. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Moreira S, Stramer B, Evans I, Wood W & Martin P (2010) . Curr Biol, 20, 464-470. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Hu N, Skaer H & Wood W (2010) . Development, 137, 1625-1633. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR (2010) Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular repulsion from ephrin ligands : a potential functional role for the Ena/VASP family downstream of Eph receptors.. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Vlisidou I, Dowling AJ, Evans IR, Waterfield N, ffrench-Constant RH & Wood W (2009) . PLoS Pathog, 5, e1000518. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Defaye A, Evans I, Crozatier M, Wood W, Lemaitre B & Leulier F (2009) . J Innate Immun, 1, 322-334. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Evans IR, Renne T, Gertler FB & Nobes CD (2007) . J Cell Sci, 120, 289-298. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wells CM, Bhavsar PJ, Evans IR, Vigorito E, Turner M, Tybulewicz V & Ridley AJ (2005) . Exp Cell Res, 310, 303-310. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Woods E, Holmes N, Albaba S, Evans IR & Balasubramanian M () . Clinical Genetics. RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Tucker P, Evans I & Wood W (2009) . MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT, Vol. 126 (pp S312-S312) RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

  • Hayman DJ, Morrin LM, Halder S, Phillips EJ, Simons MJP & Evans IR (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Brooks EC, Zeidler MP, Ong ACM & Evans IR (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Coates JA, Brittle A, Armitage EL, Zeidler MP & Evans IR () . RIS download Bibtex download
  • Armitage EL, Roddie HG & Evans IR () . RIS download Bibtex download
Research group
  • Elliot Brooks (IICD, MRC Dimen student)
  • Olivier Tardy (IICD, MRC Dimen student)

Lab Members

  • Juliette Howarth, MBB masters student 
Teaching interests
  • Use of flies in biomedical research.
  • Cell biology.
  • Drosophila genetics.
  • Macrophages in health and disease.
  • Haematopoiesis.
Professional activities and memberships
  • Member of the , University of 91̽»¨.
  • Fellowships and beyond network (founder and coordinator).
  • Wellbeing Champion for IICD.
  • Member of the British Society for Cell Biology.
  • Member of the British Society for Developmental Biology.
  • Member of the Genetics Society.
  • Royal Society International Exchanges Grant Panel member.
  • IICD Fellows rep.
  • Medical School Research Day committee member.