About
I am a Lecturer in Clinical Genetics at the University of Derby, where I perform biomarker discovery and teach undergraduate and postgraduate students on human metabolic diseases. My research career centres around investigating the molecular link between lifestyle factors and metabolic health.
I have an established track record spanning 17 years in research on lifestyle factors and metabolic health. In my research career, I have published 18 peer-reviewed international publications. As an independent faculty researcher within the Biomedical and Clinical Science research theme, I design and direct research projects in the areas relevant to human metabolic health.
The current live projects are designed to identify the biomarkers differentially regulated in obese patients responding to various tiers of weight loss treatments. Within these projects, I supervise two PhD students.
My research project outputs on lifestyle factors and metabolic health are building a REF impact case study for UoA3, REF2027. My expertise in research and research-informed teaching supports the Biomedical and Clinical Science research theme, and I facilitate this as a Lead of Genomics in the facility of OMICS research in metabolism at the University of Derby.
I use my career to positively champion and mentor fellow aspiring Biomedical Scientists to professionally progress in the subject area. I actively teach in the Biomedical Science discipline, where I lead a Level 7 module on Professional Skills in Biomedical Science and Level 5 module on Diagnostic Molecular Biology.
Recent publications
2025
Chambers, J., Clare, Chidley, C., Wisniewska, A. and Duggirala, A. (2025). Molecular Effects of Physical Activity and Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(4), pp.637–637
Kolawole, E., Duggirala, A., Gronow, O., Wisniewska, A., Hu, J. and Tan, B.K. (2025). Differential Expression of Maternal Plasma microRNAs and Their Respective Gene Targets Can Predict Early Fetal Growth Restriction. Life, 15(2), pp.167–167.
2021
Spencer L, Dimitriadis G K, Duggirala A, Bate D, Davasgaium A, Al-Hasani, D Miras Alexander, Carel Vincent R, Randeva Harpal, Tripathi G. 3 mg Liraglutide ameliorates inflammation and improves hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis by modulation of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate signalling in super-responders, BES adstract 2021.
2018
Claire Hudson, Tomomi E. Kimura, Aparna Duggirala, Graciela B. Sala-Newby, Andrew C. Newby & Mark Bond. Dual Role of Creb in The Regulation of VSMC Proliferation: Mode of Activation Determines Pro- or Anti-Mitogenic Function. Scientific Reports. Accepted on 8 March 2018.
2016
Gaunt TR, Shihab HA, Hemani G, Min JL, Woodward G, Lyttleton O, Zheng J, Duggirala A, McArdle WL, Ho K, Ring SM, Evans DM, Davey Smith G, Relton CL. Systematic identification of genetic influences on methylation across the human life course. Genome Biol. 2016 Mar 31; 17:61.
Kimura TE, Duggirala A, Smith MC, White S, Sala-Newby GB, Newby AC, Bond M The Hippo pathway mediates inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by cAMP. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2016 Jan;90:1-10
2015
Relton CL, Gaunt T, McArdle W, Ho K, Duggirala A, Shihab H, Woodward G, Lyttleton O, Evans DM, Reik W, Paul YL, Ficz G, Ozanne SE, Wipat A, Flanagan K, Lister A, Heijmans BT, Ring SM, Davey Smith G. Data Resource Profile: Accessible Resource for Integrated Epigenomic Studies (ARIES). Int J Epidemiol. 2015 Aug; 44(4):1181-90.
Duggirala A, Delogu F, Angelini TG, Smith T, Caputo M, Rajakaruna C, Emanueli C.Non coding RNAs in aortic aneurysmal disease. Front Genet. 2015 Apr 1;6; 125.
Smith MC , Duggirala A, Kimura TE, Sala-Newby GB Newby AC , M. Bond. Cytoskeletal remodelling and inhibition of MKL dependent transcription underlies the anti-mitogenic effects of cAMP in smooth muscle cells Abstracts / Atherosclerosis 244 (2016) e1ee12
Duggirala A, Kimura TE, Graceila Newby, Newby AC, Bond M. cAMP inhibits expression of the proangiogenic factor CCN1/CYR61 in vascular smooth muscle cells by inhibiting RhoA and actin-dependent regulation of MRTF. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2015 Feb; 79: 157-68.
2014
Kimura TE, Duggirala A, Hindmarch CC, Hewer RC, Cui MZ, Newby AC, Bond M. Inhibition of Egr1 expression underlies the anti-mitogenic effects of cAMP in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2014 Feb 15; 72C: 9-19.
Elliott HR, Tillin T, McArdle WL, Ho K, Duggirala A, Frayling TM, Davey Smith G, Hughes AD, Chaturvedi N, Relton CL Differences in smoking associated DNA methylation patterns in South Asians and Europeans. Clin Epigenetics. 2014 Feb 3; 6(1):4.
2012
Elliott HR, Walia GK, Duggirala A, Groom A, Umakar SR, Chandak GR, Gupta V, Laakso M, Dekker JM, The RISC Consortium, Walker M, Ebrahim S, Davey Smith G, Relton CL. Migration and DNA methylation : A comparison of methylation patterns in type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes between Indians and Europeans. Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical metabolism; 2012
2011
Kenchappa P, Duggirala A, Sharma S, Das TP, Garg P and Hasnain SE. "Phenotypic and Genotypic characterization of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) other than Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from Ocular Infections". Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; 2011 52(12):9018-22
2007
Duggirala A, Kenchappa P, Sharma S, Das TP, Garg P and Hasnain SE. High-resolution genome profiling of ocular isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from patients with keratitis and endophthalmitis and from normal asymptomatic subjects. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; 2007: (48) 3239-3245.
Duggirala A, Joseph J, Sharma S, Nutheti R, Garg P, Das TP. Activity of newer fluoroquinolones against gram positive and gram-negative bacteria isolated from ocular infections: an in vitro comparison. Indian journal of ophthalmology; 2007 : 55(1):15-9
2004
Kenchappa P, Duggirala A, Ahmed N , Pathengay A, Das TP, Hasnain SE, Sharma S. FAFLP genotyping demonstrates the role of biofilm producing methicillin resistant periocular Staphylococcus epidermidis strains in Postoperative Endophthalmitis. BMC Ophthalmology, 6:1. 5,
Subhan S, Jose RJ, Duggirala A, Hari R, Krishna PV, Reddy SB. Diagnosis of Herpes simplex virus-1 keratitis: Comparison of Giemsa stain, Immunofluorescence Assay and Polymerase Chain Reaction. Curr Eye Res. 2004; 29:20
