Education

2011: PhD (pass without corrections), Cardiovascular Biology, King’s College London, UK
2006: BSc (1st class honors), Exercise Science, University of Birmingham, UK

Background

During his PhD studies, Colin Evans received funding from the British Heart Foundation to study mechanisms of thrombus resolution (2007-2011). Throughout his postdoctoral training, he was funded by the British Heart Foundation and the British Society for Haematology to study interactions between lung thrombosis and tumorigenesis (2011-2015). Next, Dr. Evans was awarded funding from the University of Cambridge to investigate the regulation of vascular repair by lung thrombosis (2016-2017). Following that project, he was then awarded an American Heart Association Career Development Award to study the impact of lung thrombosis on sepsis-induced lung injury (2019-2022). Most recently, he received an American Heart Association Second Century Early Faculty Independence Award to investigate the role of endothelial metabolism in post-sepsis vascular repair (2023-2026). His start-up funding from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine will be used to explore the vascular response to sepsis-induced thrombosis (2023-present).

Dr. Evans also serves on the Editorial Boards of Thrombosis Journal, Thrombosis Research, and Thrombosis Update. He has obtained grant and travel support from over 15 sources and has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Awards

2023: AHA’s Second Century Early Faculty Independence Award, American Heart Association, USA
2022: Research Leaders Academy, American Heart Association, USA
2022: Investigator Award, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA
2021: Travel Grant, ATVB Council, American Heart Association, USA
2021, 2022: Early Career Travel Award, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, USA
2020, 2021, 2022: Top Quartile Performance Award, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, USA
2019: Career Development Award, American Heart Association, USA
2016: Parke Davis Exchange Fellowship, University of Cambridge, UK
2015: Pump Priming Grant, British Heart Foundation, UK
2015: Early-Stage Start-Up Grant, British Society for Haematology, UK
2014: Junior Research Fellowship, Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, UK
2014: Associate Fellowship, Higher Education Academy, UK
2013: Travel Award, European Respiratory Society, NL
2012: Excellence in Science Award, American Association for the Advancement of Science, USA
2012: Young Investigator Award, Australasian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Australia
2012, 2014: Travel Fellowship, Thrombosis UK, UK
2008: Travel Grant, British Heart Foundation, UK
2007: Non-Clinical PhD Studentship, British Heart Foundation, UK
2006: Undergraduate Achievement Award, Physiological Society, UK

Research Overview

How do blood vessels respond when blocked or injured? Can this response be leveraged to treat inflammatory vascular diseases? The Evans Laboratory studies the vascular response to thrombosis with a view to improving treatments for inflammatory vascular diseases including acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Using clinically relevant disease models and targeted gene editing and drug delivery techniques, the lab focuses on two discrete but related disease areas: (i) thrombus formation and resolution; and (ii) inflammatory lung injury and repair. Upcoming studies will target thrombosis-induced metabolic signaling pathways that control endothelial survival and proliferation for the treatment of sepsis-induced lung injury.

The overall vision of the lab is to improve the understanding and treatment of inflammatory vascular diseases through translational studies of the vascular response to thrombosis. The lab is in a supportive and inclusive environment with emphasis on scientific excellence and professional development. Contact from prospective collaborators and lab members is welcome.