Dr Sammy El-Mansi

Profile

I am a vascular biologist interested in how cells within blood vessels sense and respond to mechanical stimuli to maintain vascular homeostasis or initiate disease. I am particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms by which endothelial cells detect changes in their mechanical environment and translate these signals into changes in vascular inflammation, haemostasis and thrombosis.

I am funded by the British Heart Foundation as an Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellow, where my research investigates the role of endothelial PIEZO1 as a molecular driver of thrombotic disease.

Research

Group members

Current and incoming researchers: Recruiting 2027.

Summary

My research currently focuses on endothelial mechanotransduction, with a particular focus on the mechanically activated ion channel PIEZO1 and its role in regulating von Willebrand factor (VWF) secretion from Weibel-Palade bodies. I use advanced live-cell imaging, microfluidics, proximity proteomics and in vivo models to investigate how mechanical forces regulate endothelial function and contribute to vascular disease.

Publications

• El-Mansi S, Al-Saegh M, Rolas L et al. (2026). Endothelial PIEZO1 regulates Weibel-Palade body exocytosis.. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1182/blood.2025032021

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/handle/123456789/131234
• El-Mansi S, Deegan KM, Nightingale TD (2026). Endothelial β-PIX (ARHGEF7) supports actomyosin mediated expulsion of VWF through dynamic reorganization of the cytoskeleton. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e25-10-0483

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/handle/123456789/127863
• Mobayen G, El-Mansi S, Chion A et al. (2025). Probing rare von Willebrand disease–causing mutations in the D4 and C-domains of von Willebrand factor. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.rpth.2025.102922

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/handle/123456789/107520
• El-Mansi S, Mitchell TP, Mobayen G et al. (2024). Myosin-1C augments endothelial secretion of von Willebrand factor by linking contractile actomyosin machinery to the plasma membrane. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2024012590

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/handle/123456789/96705
• El-Mansi S, Robinson CL, Kostelnik KB et al. (2023). Proximity proteomics identifies septin and PAK2 as decisive regulators of actomyosin expulsion of von Willebrand factor. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022017419

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/handle/123456789/83425
• El-Mansi S, Nightingale TD (2021). Emerging mechanisms to modulate VWF release from endothelial cells. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2020.105900

  
  

  QMRO: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/handle/123456789/93888
• El-Mansi S, Irwin A, McKinney C et al. (2018). 7 Assessing adenoviral delivery of angiotensin-(1–9) to prevent human vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in vitro and neointima formation in vivo. Oral Presentations

  
  

  DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2018-scf.7

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• El-mansi S, Bradshaw AC (2017). Assessing adenoviral-mediated delivery of Angiotensin-(1-9) to prevent human vascular smooth muscle cell migration. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: doi

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• El-Mansi S, Deegan KM, Donker L et al. (publicationYear). Endothelial β-PIX (ARHGEF7) drives exocytosis through enabling the dynamic reorganisation of the cytoskeleton. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1101/2025.05.06.652370

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref
• El-Mansi S, Al-Saegh M, Rolas L et al. (publicationYear). Force sensing by Piezo1 regulates endothelial secretory granule exocytosis. nameOfConference

  
  

  DOI: 10.1101/2025.09.26.678766

  
  

  QMRO: qmroHref

Collaborators

Internal

• Prof Thomas D. Nightingale – Centre for Microvascular Research
• Prof Sussan Nourshargh – Centre for Microvascular Research
• Dr Mathieu-Benoit Voisin – Centre for Microvascular Research
• Prof Martin Knight – Institute of Bioengineering
• Prof Wael Awad – Barts Health NHS Trust / Queen Mary University of London

External

• Prof Serge Mostowy – Infection and Immunity
• Prof David Beech – University of Leeds
• Prof Katrin Schäfer – University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
• Prof Manfred Frick – University of Ulm, Germany
• Dr Thomas A. J. McKinnon – Imperial College London

News

• Stunning image of how signals move through the heart wins photo prize (New Scientist), October 2023
• Mending a broken heart – The British Heart Foundation photography competition winners (BBC Science Focus), October 2023

Teaching

I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate researchers - providing training in experimental approaches including fluorescence microscopy, live-cell imaging, endothelial cell culture and molecular biology.