Professor Daniel A. Tennant

Professor Daniel A. Tennant

Department of Metabolism and Systems Science
Professor of Biochemistry
Theme Lead (Metabolism) and Deputy Head of Department

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 8651
Email
d.tennant@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
Address
Hypoxia and Metabolism Group
Department of Metabolism and Systems Science
University 麻豆精选
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Professor Daniel Tennant is a Professor of Biochemistry in the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science, situated on the second floor of the Institute of Biomedical Research. He uses stable isotope tracers to investigate changes in the use of nutrients in conditions where oxygen is limiting (hypoxia), or in the presence of genetic mutations that induce a hypoxia-like response. Dan applies the fundamental knowledge gained from these research projects to understand the pathogenesis of diseases where changes in oxygenation play a role; in particular, cancer.

Dan also directs the Metabolic Tracer Analysis Core (MTAC) within the Department in order to develop novel means to analyse cellular and tissue metabolism using stable isotope tracer molecules, and collaborates with groups worldwide who are interested in using these techniques to study the metabolism of their system, or the metabolism of labelled product.

Professor Tennant publishes both primary research and reviews in high impact journals, including Nature Communications, Cell Metabolism, Nature Reviews Cancer and Cell, and is regularly asked to speak at international conferences.

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. (2005), Manchester University
  • MSci (2002) in Biochemistry, Cambridge University
  • BA (2001) in Natural Sciences, Cambridge University

Biography

Dan Tennant graduated with a BA (Hons) and MSci from the University of Cambridge in 2002. He went on to Manchester University to undertake a PhD studying diabetic neuropathy under the supervision of Professors Caroline Dive and David Tomlinson. During this time, he developed a strong interest in low oxygen (hypoxia) and the means by which Schwann cell dysfunction is elicited by the combination of this and hyperglycaemia.

In 2005, Dan moved to the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute of Cancer Research in Glasgow under the supervision of Professor Eyal Gottlieb, investigating tumour hypoxia and metabolism, and in particular a family of enzymes that sense cellular oxygen levels, known as Prolyl Hydroxylases (PHDs).

In 2011, Dan started his own group at the University 麻豆精选 to investigate the ways in which cells alter their metabolism in order to survive hostile environments. He is currently funded by a Cancer Research UK Programme Foundation Award and project grants from multiple funders to study the role of hypoxia and genetic pseudohypoxia in determining physiological and pathophysiological metabolism.

Teaching

Postgraduate supervision

Dan Tennant is currently supervising doctoral students in projects investigating:

  • How cells modulate their metabolism in response to hypoxia
  • How tumour-associated genetic perturbations induce metabolic transformation

For any doctoral research enquiries, please see those associated with Professor Tennant on or email: d.tennant@bham.ac.uk

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listings.

Research

Research Groups and Centres

 MTAC – Metabolic Tracer Analysis Core

Publications

Eales K.L, Wilkinson E.A, Cruickshank G.S, Tucker J.H.R and Tennant D.A. (2018) Sci Rep. 8(1):14358

Hollinshead K.E.R, Munford H, Eales K.L , Bardella C, Li C, Escribano-Gonzalez C, Thakker A, Nonnenmacher Y, Kluckova K, Jeeves M, Murren R, Cuozzo F, Ye D, Laurenti G, Zhu W, Hiller K, Hodson D.J, Hua W, Tomlinson I.P, Ludwig C, Mao Y, Tennant D.A. (2018) . Cell Reports 22(12), 3107

Kluckova K and Tennant D.A. (2018). Cell Tissue Res 1-12

Bennett C.D, Kohe S.E, Gill S.K, Davies N.P, Wilson M, Storer L.C.D, Ritzmann T, Paine S.M.L, Scott I.S, Nicklaus-Wollenteit I, Tennant D.A, Grundy R.G, Peet A.C (2018). Sci Rep. 8(1):11992

Chong M, Jayaraman A, Marin S, Slivanov P.R, de Atauri Carulla P.R, Tennant D.A, Cascante M, Günther U.L, Ludwig C. (2017) . Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 56(15), 4140

McNee G, Williams D.S, Wenbin W, Barkhuisen A, Bartlett D.B, Essex S, Anandram S, Filer A, Moss P.A.H, Pratt, G, Basu S,  Davies C.C, Tennant, D.A (2017) .  Leukemia. 31(2), 373. Commentary in Lancet Oncology news section. 

Laurenti G and Tennant D.A (2016)  Biochemical Society Transactions. 44 (4), 1111-1116

Eales K.L, Hollinshead K.E, Tennant D.A (2016)  Oncogenesis. Jan 25;5:e190. doi: 10.1038/oncsis.2015.50

Lussey-Lepoutre C, Hollinshead K.E, Ludwig C, Menara M, Morin A, Castro-Vega L.J, Parker SJ, Janin M, Martinelli C, Ottolenghi C, Metallo C, Gimenez-Roqueplo A.P, Favier J, Tennant D.A (2015)  Nature Communocations. Nov 2;6:8784. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9784.

Ludwig C, Williams D.S, Bartlett D.B, Essex S, McNee G, Allwood J.W, Jewell E, Barkhuisen A, Parry H, Basu S, Dunn W.B, Moss P.A.H, Pratt G and Tennant D.A (2015)  Blood Cancer Journal, 5:e359

For a full list of