Dr Ke Ning

MD, PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

Non-clinical Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience

k.ning@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2245
+44 114 222 2278 (Administrator: Heather Cartledge)
Room B46, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)

Full contact details

Dr Ke Ning
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room B46
Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)
385a Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2HQ
Profile

I graduated in Medicine from First Military Medical University (Southern Medical University) in China in 1985. I undertook my Specialist Training in Neurosurgery at Sun Yatsen University of Medical Science in China and got a M.Sc in Neurosurgery in 1991.

I obtained my PhD in neuroscience at the Third Military Medical University in China In 1996 and was promoted to an associate professor in neurosurgery at Southern Medical University in China in 1997.

Since 1999, I have undertaken full time research in neuroscience in the USA, Canada and the UK. I joined the University of Sheffield as a Lecturer in Translational neuroscience in 2006 and was promoted to a Senior Lecturer in Translational Neuroscience in 2011.

I have been closely involved in translational neuroscience research and teaching in motor neuron diseases.

Research interests

The focus of my research is the use of viral vector-mediated gene therapy and stem cell strategies to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). ALS/MND is a common adult onset neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive degeneration of motor neurones in the brainstem and spinal cord.

There is no effective treatment or cure for MND/ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders. Gene therapy approaches offer a promising strategy for delivery of genes to enhance motor neuron survival. New approaches for the treatment of neurological disorders have been developed by using lentiviruses and other viruses (Adeno-associate virus AAV6, AAV9 and so on).

These vectors have been refined to a very high safety and efficiency levels. Lentiviruses are particularly advantageous for use in gene transfer to the nervous system. Numerous animal studies have now been undertaken with these vectors and correction of disease models has been obtained.

Recent studies have demonstrated very good efficacy of Lentiviral- or AAV9-mediated gene therapy approaches in ALS, SMA and other degenerative disorders. These studies provide great optimism for the future utility of lentiviral or AAV gene delivery as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.

  • SMA Trust Project
  • MRC Project
  • MNDA Project
Publications

Journal articles

  • Cai H, Liu D, Xue W-W, Ma L, Xie H-T & Ning K (2024) . Translational Neuroscience, 15(1), 20220359.
  • Ning K, Sandoval-Castellanos A, Bhargava A, Zhao M & Xu J (2023) . Neural Regeneration Research, 18(7), 1411-1411.
  • Wu B, Feng J, Guo J, Wang J, Xiu G, Xu J, Ning K, Ling B, Fu Q & Xu J (2022) . Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 13(1).
  • Bhargava A, Sandoval Castellanos AM, Shah S & Ning K (2022) . Interface Focus, 12(5).
  • Karyka E, Berrueta Ramirez N, Webster CP, Marchi PM, Graves EJ, Godena VK, Marrone L, Bhargava A, Ray S, Ning K , Crane H et al (2022) . Life Science Alliance, 5(8), e202101145-e202101145.
  • Wang J, Hao R, Jiang T, Guo X, Zhou F, Cao L, Gao F, Wang G, Wang J, Ning K , Zhong C et al (2022) . Cell & Bioscience, 12(1).
  • Ren J, Wang X, Dong C, Wang G, Zhang W, Cai C, Qian M, Yang D, Ling B, Ning K , Mao Z et al (2022) . Stem Cells.
  • Zhang S, Cooper-Knock J, Weimer AK, Shi M, Moll T, Marshall JNG, Harvey C, Nezhad HG, Franklin J, Souza CDS , Ning K et al (2022) . Neuron.
  • Castelli LM, Cutillo L, Souza CDS, Sanchez-Martinez A, Granata I, Lin Y-H, Myszczynska MA, Heath PR, Livesey MR, Ning K , Azzouz M et al (2021) . Molecular Neurodegeneration, 16(1).
  • Wind M, Gogolou A, Manipur I, Granata I, Butler L, Andrews PW, Barbaric I, Ning K, Guarracino MR, Placzek M & Tsakiridis A (2021) . Development, 148(6).
  • de Matos AM, Blázquez-Sánchez MT, Bento-Oliveira A, de Almeida R, Nunes RS, LOpes P, Machuqueiro M, Cristovão J, Gomes CM, Souza CS , El Idrissi IG et al (2020) . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
  • Zhou X, Ning K, Ling B, Chen X, Cheng H, Lu B, Gao Z & Xu J (2019) . Stem Cells and Development, 28(21), 1463-1472.
  • Gao S, Guo X, Zhao S, Jin Y, Zhou F, Yuan P, Cao L, Wang J, Qiu Y, Sun C , Kang Z et al (2019) . Cell Death & Disease, 10(8).
  • Matos AM, Man T, Idrissi I, Souza CC, Mead E, Dunbar C, Wolak J, Oliveira MC, Evans D, Grayson J , Partridge B et al (2019) . Pure and Applied Chemistry, 91(7).
  • Zhu L, Sun C, Ren J, Wang G, Ma R, Sun L, Yang D, Gao S, Ning K, Wang Z , Chen X et al (2019) . Cell Death & Disease, 10(2).
  • Sun C, Zhu L, Ma R, Ren J, Wang J, Gao S, Yang D, Ning K, Ling B, Lu B , Chen X et al (2019) . Cell Death & Disease, 10(2).
  • Alrafiah A, Karyka E, Coldicott I, Iremonger K, Lewis K, Ning K & Azzouz M (2018) . Molecular Therapy - Methods and Clinical Development, 9, 81-89.
  • Castelli LM, Lin YH, Ferraiuolo L, Sanchez-Martinez A, Ning KE, Azzouz M, Whitworth A, Shaw PJ & Hautbergue GM (2018) . Therapeutic Targets for Neurological Diseases, 4.
  • Jin Y, Wang J, Li H, Gao S, Shi R, Yang D, Wang X, Wang X, Zhu L, Wang X , Chen C et al (2018) . EBioMedicine, 34, 231-242.
  • Ciervo Y, Ning K, Jun X, Shaw PJ & Mead RJ (2017) . Molecular Neurodegeneration, 12, 85-85.
  • Dong C-M, Wang X-L, Wang G-M, Zhang W-J, Zhu L, Gao S, Yang D-J, Qin Y, Liang Q-J, Chen Y-L , Deng H-T et al (2017) . Cell Death and Disease, 8(9).
  • Bowerman M, Becker CG, Yáñez-Muñoz RJ, Ning K, Wood MJA, Gillingwater TH, Talbot K & UK SMA Research Consortium (2017) . Dis Model Mech, 10(8), 943-954.
  • Hautbergue GM, Castelli LM, Ferraiuolo L, Sanchez-Martinez A, Cooper-Knock J, Higginbottom A, Lin YH, Bauer CS, Dodd JE, myszczynska MA , Alam SM et al (2017) . Nature Communications, 8.
  • Godena VK & Ning K (2017) . Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 2(1).
  • Wang X, Dong C, Sun L, Zhu L, Sun C, Ma R, Ning K, Lu B, Zhang J & Xu J (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6.
  • Seytanoglu A, Alsomali NI, Valori CF, McGown A, Kim HR, Ning K, Ramesh T, Sharrack B, Wood JD & Azzouz M (2016) . Neuroscience, 322, 287-297.
  • Little D, Valori CF, Mutsaers CA, Bennett EJ, Wyles M, Sharrack B, Shaw PJ, Gillingwater TH, Azzouz M & Ning K (2015) . Molecular Therapy, 23(2), 270-277.
  • Dong C-M, Wang X-L, Wang G-M, Zhang W-J, Zhu L, Gao S, Yang D-J, Qin Y, Liang Q-J, Chen Y-L , Deng H-T et al (2014) . Cell Death Dis, 5, e1116.
  • Yang D-J, Wang X-L, Ismail A, Ashman CJ, Valori CF, Wang G, Gao S, Higginbottom A, Ince PG, Azzouz M , Xu J et al (2014) . Cell Death Dis, 5, e1096.
  • Ning K (2013) Differentiation of Human-Adipose Derived Stem Cells into neuron-like cells which are compatible with photocurable three-dimensional scaffolds.. Tissue Eng Part A..
  • Nanou A, Higginbottom A, Valori CF, Wyles M, Ning K, Shaw P & Azzouz M (2013) . Mol Ther, 21(8), 1486-1496.
  • Brockington A, Ning K, Heath PR, Wood E, Kirby J, Fusi N, Lawrence N, Wharton SB, Ince PG & Shaw PJ (2013) . Acta Neuropathol, 125(1), 95-109.
  • Ismail A, Ning K, Al-Hayani A, Sharrack B & Azzouz M (2012) . TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE, 3(2), 132-142.
  • Ismail A, Ning K, Sharrack B & Azzouz M (2011) Impact of PTEN modulation on motor neuron survival in experimental models of motor neuron disease. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, 22(10), A62-A62.
  • Little D, Ning K, Nanou A, Wang LG, Canton I, Battaglia G & Azzouz M (2011) Polymersome mediated gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, 22(10), A83-A84.
  • Ning K, Drepper C, Valori CF, Wyles M, Ismail A, Higginbottom A, Herrmann T, Shaw PJ, Sendtner M & Azzouz M (2011) PTEN signalling in motor neuron disease (ALS & SMA). HUMAN GENE THERAPY, 22(10), A64-A64.
  • Nanou A, Higginbottom A, Wyles M, Ning K, Shaw P & Azzouz M (2011) Gene therapy approaches to evaluate neuroprotection in experimental models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, 22(10), A64-A64.
  • Kirby J, Ning K, Ferraiuolo L, Heath PR, Ismail A, Kuo S-W, Valori CF, Cox L, Sharrack B, Wharton SB , Ince PG et al (2011) . Brain, 134(Pt 2), 506-517.
  • Willmann R, Dubach J & Chen K (2011) . Neuromuscular Disorders, 21(1), 74-77.
  • Valori CF, Ning K, Wyles M, Mead RJ, Grierson AJ, Shaw PJ & Azzouz M (2010) . Sci Transl Med, 2(35), 35ra42.
  • Ning K, Miller LC, Laidlaw HA, Watterson KR, Gallagher J, Sutherland C & Ashford MLJ (2009) . J Biol Chem, 284(14), 9331-9340.
  • Valori CF, Ning K, Wyles M & Azzouz M (2008) . Curr Gene Ther, 8(6), 406-418.
  • Li L, El-Hayek YH, Liu B, Chen Y, Gomez E, Wu X, Ning K, Li L, Chang N, Zhang L , Wang Z et al (2008) . Stem Cells, 26(8), 2193-2200.
  • Ning K, Miller LC, Laidlaw HA, Burgess LA, Perera NM, Downes CP, Leslie NR & Ashford MLJ (2006) . EMBO J, 25(11), 2377-2387.
  • Liu B, Liao M, Mielke JG, Ning K, Chen Y, Li L, El-Hayek YH, Gomez E, Zukin RS, Fehlings MG & Wan Q (2006) . J Neurosci, 26(20), 5309-5319.
  • Mirshamsi S, Laidlaw HA, Ning K, Anderson E, Burgess LA, Gray A, Sutherland C & Ashford MLJ (2004) . BMC Neurosci, 5, 54.
  • Ning K, Li L, Liao M, Liu B, Mielke JG, Chen Y, Duan Y, El-Hayek YH & Wan Q (2004) . Nat Neurosci, 7(5), 489-490.
  • Ning K, Pei L, Liao M, Liu B, Zhang Y, Jiang W, Mielke JG, Li L, Chen Y, El-Hayek YH , Fehlings MG et al (2004) . J Neurosci, 24(16), 4052-4060.
  • Peters PJ, Ning K, Palacios F, Boshans RL, Kazantsev A, Thompson LM, Woodman B, Bates GP & D'Souza-Schorey C (2002) . Nat Cell Biol, 4(3), 240-245.
  • Muchowski PJ, Ning K, D'Souza-Schorey C & Fields S (2002) . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 99(2), 727-732.
  • Ning K, Wang ZG, Chen CC, Li JM & Zhu PF (1999) Effects of excitatory amino acids and nimodipine on calcium currents in cultured rat cortical neurons.. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao, 20(4), 329-332.
  • Ning K () . European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, 2(2), 68-68.
  • Grayson JD, Baumgartner MP, Santos Souza CD, Dawes SJ, El Idrissi IG, Louth JC, Stimpson S, Mead E, Dunbar C, Wolak J , Sharman G et al () . Chemical Science.

Conference proceedings

  • Bhargava A, Ramesh T, Shaw PJ & Ning K (2022) Identification of Arfaptin-2 as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Using iPSC-Derived Motor Neurons and Zebrafish as Models of ALS. MOLECULAR THERAPY, Vol. 30(4) (pp 298-299)
  • Bradley S, Godena VK, Azzouz M & Ning K (2019) Spinal muscular atrophy: The combined effect of coSMN expression and PTEN depletion in vitro. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A20-A20)
  • Ning K, Godena VK, Souza CDS, Arya S, Gillingwater TH, Talbot K & Azzouz M (2019) PTEN as therapeutic target for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A26-A26)
  • Ren J, Ning K & Xu J (2019) Establishing cerebral organoids as models for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A28-A28)
  • Mohammedeid A, Bhargava A, Godena VK, Kong S, Tennore R, Grierson AJ, Xu J, Shaw PJ, Azzouz M & Ning K (2019) Arfaptin-2 as a therapeutic target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A19-A20)
  • Ciervo Y, Coldicott I, Myszczynska M, Stopford M, Allen C, Grierson A, Xu J, Ferraiuolo L, Ning K, Shaw PJ & Mead RJ (2019) Adipose derived stem cells for cell therapy of motor neuron disease (MND). HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A16-A16)
  • Godena V, Arya S, Gillingwater TH, Hammond S, Bowerman M, Wood M, Talbot K, Azzouz M & Ning K (2019) A stem cell model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA): Assessing combinatorial drug therapies. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 30(8) (pp A12-A13)
  • Alsomali N, Seytanoglu A, Valori C, Kim HR, Ning K, Ramesh T, Sharrack B, Wood JD & Azzouz M (2014) Deficiency in Gle1, an mRNA export mediator, inhibits Schwann cell development in the zebrafish embryo. FEBS JOURNAL, Vol. 281 (pp 771-771)
  • Mohammedeid A, Ning K, Kong SC, Azzouz M & Grierson A (2014) Regulation of protein aggregation by Arfaptin2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 25(5) (pp A14-A14)
  • Little D, Valori C, Wyles M, Shaw P, Azzouz M & Ning K (2013) Systemic delivery of scAAV9 expressing PTEN siRNA prolongs survival in a model of spinal muscular atrophy. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 24(5) (pp A27-A27)
  • Binny C, Karyka E, Ning K, Bennett E, Ince P, Shaw P & Azzouz M (2013) Efficient scAAV9-mediated delivery of SMN to motor neurons in neonatal and juvenile mice. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 24(5) (pp A38-A38)
  • Brockington A, Ning K, Heath P, Wood E, Malik K, Fusi N, Wharton S, Ince PG & Shaw PJ (2012) . JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY, Vol. 83(3)
  • Valori CF, Ning K, Wyles M, Mead RJ, Grierson AJ, Shaw PJ & Azzouz M (2010) Systemic delivery of scAAV9 expressing SMN prolongs survival in a mouse model of SMA. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 21(10) (pp 1424-1425)
  • Azzouz M, Valori C, Ning K & Wyles M (2010) Current Advances in Gene Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 21(10) (pp 1388-1389)
  • Valori C, Ning K, Wyles M & Azzouz M (2010) Complete Rescue of SMA Mouse Model by Systemic Delivery of scAAV9 Mediating SMN Replacement. NEUROLOGY, Vol. 74(9) (pp A287-A287)
  • Nanou A, Higginbottom A, Valori C, Wyles M, Ning K, Shaw P & Azzouz M (2010) Oxidative Stress as Target for Neuroprotection in Experimental Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). NEUROLOGY, Vol. 74(9) (pp A436-A436)
  • Ning K, Drepper C, Ismail A, Valori CF, Wyles M, Higginbottom A, Herrmann T, Shaw P, Sharrack B, Sendtner M & Azzouz M (2010) PTEN Depletion Rescues the beta-Actin Deficit in Axonal Growth Cones in Motoneurons from a Mouse Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. NEUROLOGY, Vol. 74(9) (pp A489-A489)
  • Goodhead LH, Ning K, Azzouz M, Kingsman SM, Mitrophanous KA & Ralph GS (2008) Optimizing EIAV vectors and delivery routes for ALS gene therapy. HUMAN GENE THERAPY, Vol. 19(4) (pp 405-405)
  • Ning K & Wan Q (2007) Regulation of NMDA receptors by the phosphatase PTEN. JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Vol. 102 (pp 147-147)
  • El-Hayek YH, Gomez G, Ning K, Liao MX & Wan Q (2006) . INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE, Vol. 24(8) (pp 590-591)
  • Ning K, Pei L, Liao M, Liu B, Zhang Y, Jiang W, Mielke JG, Li L, Chen YH, El-Hayek YH , Fehlings MG et al (2004) Dual neuroprotective signaling mediated by downregulating two distinct phosphatase activities of PTEN. JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Vol. 90 (pp 146-146)

Preprints

  • Castelli LM, Cutillo L, Souza CDS, Sanchez-Martinez A, Granata I, Myszczynska MA, Heath PR, Livesey MR, Ning K, Azzouz M , Shaw PJ et al (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Wang J, Hao R, Guo X, Zhou F, Cao L, Gao F, Wang G, Ning K, Chen X, Huang Y , Xu J et al () , Research Square Platform LLC.
  • Wind M, Gogolou A, Manipur I, Granata I, Butler L, Andrews PW, Barbaric I, Ning K, Guarracino MR, Placzek M & Tsakiridis A () .
Research group
  • Dr Ana Maria Sandoval (Postdoctoral Research Associate)
  • Jie Ren (PhD student)
  • Anushka Bhargava (PhD student)
Teaching interests

The focus of my teaching is the use of inquiry-based learning (IBL) methods to teach (MSc lectures) or supervise undergraduate projects (SSC) and graduate (MSc and PhD) students.

I am the representative ECG (The Early Career Group) committee member for the Division of Neuroscience for postdoctoral training at the University of Sheffield. I am a primary supervisor for MSc and PhD students and a mentor for Medical students.

Current Projects
  1. Characterisation of the motor neurons obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  2. SMN Replacement Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Clinical Development
  3. Arfapin 2 regulates protein aggregation and survival in ALS
  4. Characterisation of electrophysiology in motor neuron disease
  5. PTEN signalling in motor neuron survival
  6. Development and validation of a human brain microphysiological system derived from induced pluripotent stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Links

Administrator: Heather Cartledge contact