Dr Sabeel Valappil
MBChB Assessment Lead
Biography
Sabeel is MBChB Assessment Lead and oversees the planning, resourcing, delivery, and evaluation of all assessments of student performance in the MBChB programme. He provides expertise and strategic input while working closely with the academic and operational teams, including counterparts at Warwick Medical School which is the contingency Medical School for CMS, to ensure the smooth and efficient development and delivery of assessments. Sabeel is a microbiologist with several years of teaching, assessment and research experience in academia. His current research broadly falls into pedagogic research and basic science (microbiology and biomedical science) research. He is especially interested in complex network patterns of the human microbiome and antibacterial-controlled delivery systems to treat biofilm infections.
Teaching and Supervision
Sabeel is the programme leader for BSc Microbiology and assessment lead for MBChB. He teaches on various programmes within the Chester Medical School. MD4008 - Introduction to Microbiology MD5401 - Foundations of Science and Medicine MD5026 - Immunology MD5028 - Advanced Microbiology MD6028 - Virology MD6030 - Medical Microbiology MD6033 - Clinical Immunology
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Sabeel has attracted research grants worth over £1.5 million and concentrates his research on the following areas: Pedagogic research: This research focuses on the use of digital platforms for specific teaching and authentic assessment in clinical education, particularly the role of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in assessments. Development of antibacterial materials: Antibiotic-resistance is increasingly becoming a key public health risk and threatening decades of advances in the treatment of infections. His research focus in biomaterials that can be tailor-made to promote a specific biological response. Currently he is leading research on the controlled delivery of antibacterial ions from Nanocomposites and Phosphate-based glasses e.g., silver, copper, zinc, gallium and scandium. Production of nanocomposites includes the development of biocompatible and biodegradable materials such as carboxy methyl cellulose, lactoferrin and Polyhydroxyalkanoates (an emerging class of bio polymeric material derived from bacteria). In vitro modelling of the biofilm ecosystem: This research involves developing, validating and utilising a diverse range of biologically relevant laboratory models of biofilm environments, such as the constant-depth film fermenter, to develop treatments and inform patient care. As part of a joint BBSRC/Unilever research project, Sabeel’s group work on utilising next-generation sequencing such as microbiome 16S rRNA, metagenomics of DNA and RNA to gain functional insights into biofilm communities. Non-invasive early detection of shifts in microbial community structure: To facilitate research in this area, bioinformatics tools and data analyses of complex network patterns of human microbiomes are utilised. Imaging systems, such as Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence (QLF), have also been used to analyse in situ biofilm community structure to establish its link with an individual’s health status. People living with systemic conditions often report disordered eating behaviours, which has implications for diet and health outcomes. As part of a joint BBSRC/GSK research project, Sabeel and his collaborators work to measure non-pathological eating traits to explore associations between the incidence of systemic conditions, body satisfaction, and oral health in a UK population sample. Sabeel has published 43 peer reviewed journal articles, 80 national/international conference abstracts and 2 invited book chapters. Journal Articles 43. Valappil, S.P., Abou Neel EA, Hossain, K. M. Z, Paul, W., Durgadas C.V.Wade B, Ansari T.I., Hope C.K, Higham, S.M., Sharma, C.P., 2023; Novel Lactoferrin-Conjugated Gallium Complex to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa Wound Infection. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 258:128838. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128838 . 42. Smout, E., Palanisamy, N., Valappil, S. P. (2023). Prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in India between 2000 and 2022: a systematic review and meta-analysis Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01287-z. 41. Smith, P M., Bowles, J., Jellicoe, M., Mathur, M., Molyneux, L., Randell L.A., Smith, R.N., Valappil, S. P. (2023). Introducing open-book examinations in clinical education: A case study. Developing Academic Practice, Vol. 2023, No. Special, pp 71-81. https://doi.org/10.3828/dap.2023.5. 40. Rajadorai, S., Harris, G., Robinson, A., Miles, E. J., Roberts, J. M., Cooper, L., Abou Neel, E.A., Higham, SM., Flannigan N.L., Valappil, S. P. (2022). Antibacterial, remineralising zinc oxide-doped phosphate-based glasses. Materials Letters. 306, 130813. 39. Valappil SP, Abou Neel EA, Pickup DM, Burden E, Sahdev R, Miles EJ, Cooper L, Ansari TI, Hanna JV, Higham SM (2022). Antibacterial, Remineralising and Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibiting Scandium-doped Phosphate Glasses for Treatment of Dental Caries. Dental Materials. 38, 94-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2021.10.014. 38. Roberts JM, Bradshaw DJ, Lynch RJM, Higham SM, Valappil SP (2021). Quantifying the Demineralisation of Enamel Using a Hyperspectral Camera Measuring Fluorescence Loss. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102603. 37. Roberts JM, Bradshaw DJ, Lynch RJM, Higham S. Valappil SP (2021). The Cariogenic Effect of Starch on an Oral Microcosm Grown Within the Dual Constant Depth Film Fermenter. PLoS One https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258881. 36. Abou Neel, E. A., Hossain, K. M. Z., Abuelenain, D. A., Abuhaimed, T., Ahmed, I., Valappil, S. P., Knowles, J. C. (2021). Antibacterial effect of titanium dioxide-doped phosphate glass microspheres filled total-etch dental adhesive on S. mutans biofilm. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 108, 102886. 35. Abou Neel EA, Kiani, A, Valappil SP, Moradan NM, Baek SY, Hossain KMZ, Felfel RM, Ahmed I, Divakarl K, Chrzanowski W, Knowles JC.2019 Glass microparticle- versus microsphere-filled experimental dental adhesives. Journal of Applied Polymer Science.136, 47832. 34. Owens, G.J., Lynch, R.J.M., Hope, C.K., Cooper, L., Higham, S.M., Valappil, S. P. (2017); Evidence of an In Vitro Coupled Diffusion Mechanism of Lesion Formation within Microcosm Dental Plaque. Caries Research. 51,188-197. 33. Lackey, B., Nunes, Q., Higham, S.M., Fernig, D., Valappil, S.P. (2016); In silico analyses of heparin binding protein expression in human periodontal tissues. BMC Research Notes. 9, 53-60. 32. Sadeq, A., Risk, J.M., Pender, N., Higham, S.M., Valappil, S.P. (2015); Evaluation of the co-existence of the red fluorescent plaque bacteria P.gingivalis with S. gordonii and S. mutans in white spot lesion formation during orthodontic treatment. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. 12,232-237. 31. Sahdev, R, Ansari, T., Higham, S.M., Valappil, S.P. (2015); Potential use of gallium-doped phosphate-based glass material for periodontitis treatment. Journal of Biomaterials Applications. 30,85-92. 30. Valappil SP, Owens, G.J., Miles, E.J., Farmer N.L., Cooper, L., Miller G., Clowes, R., Lynch R.J.M and Higham S M (2014). Effect of Gallium on Growth of Streptococcus mutans NCTC10449 and Dental Tissues. Caries Research 48,137-146. 29. Pickup DM, Newport RJ., Barney, E., Kim, J.Y., Valappil SP and Knowles JC (2014). Characterisation of phosphate coacervates for potential biomedical applications. Journal of Biomaterials Applications 28, 1226 -1234. 28. Valappil SP and Higham S M (2014). Antibacterial Effect of Gallium and Silver on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Treated with Gallium-Silver-Phosphate Based Glasses. Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering 24, 1589-1594. 27. Valappil SP, Yiu H H P, Bouffier L, Hope C K, Evans G, Claridge J B, Higham S M, and Rosseinsky M J (2013). Effect of Novel Antibacterial Gallium-Carboxymethyl Cellulose on Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Dalton Transactions 42, 1778 – 1786. 26. Valappil SP, Coombes M, Wright L, Owens GJ, Lynch RJM, Hope CK and Higham SM (2012) Role of Gallium and Silver from Phosphate Based Glasses on in vitro dual species oral biofilm models of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus gordonii. Acta Biomaterialia 8, 1957–1965. 25. Hope C K, de Josselin de Jong, E, Valappil, SP, Higham, SM (2011) Photobleaching of Intrinsic Red Fluorescence in Oral Biofilms and Extracted Teeth. Journal of Periodontal Research 46, 228-234. 24. Misra SK, Ansari T, Valappil SP, Mohn D, Philip SE, Stark WJ, Roy I, Knowles JC, Salih V, Boccaccini AR (2010) Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) multifunctional composite scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Biomaterials. 31, 2806-2815. 23. Misra SK, Ansari T, Mohn D, Valappil SP, Brunner TJ, Stark WJ, Roy I, Knowles JC, Sibbons PD, Boccaccini AR and Salih V (2010) Effect of nanoparticulate bioactive glass on bioactivity and cytocompatibility of P(3HB) composites. Journal of Royal Society Interface. 7, 453-465. 22. Misra SK, Ohashi F, Valappil SP, Knowles JC, Roy I, Silva SRP, Salih V, Boccaccini AR (2010) Characterisation of carbon nanotube (MWCNT) containing P(3HB)/bioactive glass composites for tissue engineering applications. Acta Biomaterialia. 6,735-742. 21. Chrzanowski W, Valappil SP, Dunnill CW, Abou Neel E A, Lee K, Parkin IP, Wilson M, Armitage DA, Knowles JC (2010) Impaired Bacterial Attachment To Light Activated Ni-Ti alloy. Materials Science and Engineering: C 30. 225-234. 20. Valappil S P, Ready D, Abou Neel E A, Pickup D M, O'Dell L A, Chrzanowski W, Pratten J, Newport R J, Smith M E, Wilson M and Knowles J C (2009) Controlled delivery of antimicrobial gallium ions from phosphate-based glasses. Acta Biomaterialia,5.1198-1210. 19. Abou Neel EA, Pickup DM, Valappil SP, Newport RJ and Knowles JC (2009) Bioactive functional materials: a perspective on phosphate-based glasses. Journal of Materials Chemistry,19.690-701. 18. Pickup DM, Valappil SP, Moss RM, Twyman HL, Guerry P, Smith ME, Wilson M, Knowles JC and Newport RJ (2009) Preparation, structural characterisation and antibacterial properties of Ga-doped sol-gel phosphate-based glass. Journal of Material Science,44.1858-67. 17. Abou Neel E A, Chrzanowski W, Valappil S P, O'Dell L A, Pickup D M, Smith M E, Newport R J and Knowles J C (2009) Doping of a high calcium oxide metaphosphate glass with titanium dioxide. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids,355.991-1000. 16. Pickup D M, Moss R M, Qiu D, Newport R J, Valappil S P, Knowles J C and Smith M E (2009) Structural characterization by x-ray methods of novel antimicrobial gallium-doped phosphate-based glasses. Journal of Chemical Physics,130.064708. 15. Mehdawi I, Abou Neel E A, Valappil S P, Palmer G, Salih V, Pratten J, Spratt D A and Young A M (2009) Development of remineralizing antibacterial dental materials. Acta Biomaterialia. 5, 2525-2539 . 14. Valappil S P, Knowles J C and Wilson M 2008; Effect of silver-doped phosphate-based glasses on bacterial biofilm growth. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 74.5228-30 . 13. Valappil, S.P., Ready, D., Abou Neel, E. A., Pickup, D. M., Chrzanowski, W., O’Dell, L.A., Newport, R.J., Smith, M.E., Wilson, M., Knowles J.C., 2008; Antimicrobial Gallium-doped Phosphate-based Glasses. Advanced Functional Materials 18, 732-741 12. Valappil, S.P., Rai, R., Bucke, C., Roy, I. 2008; Polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis in Bacillus cereus SPV under varied limiting conditions and an insight into the biosynthetic genes involved. Journal of Applied Microbiology .doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03678.x 11. Valappil, S.P., Pickup, D.M., Carroll, D.L., Hope, C.K., Pratten, J., Newport, R.J., Smith, M.E., Wilson, M., Knowles J.C., 2007; Effect of silver content on the structure and antibacterial activity of silver-doped phosphate-based glasses. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 51, 4453-61. 10. Valappil, S.P., Misra, S.K., Boccaccini, A.R., Keshavarz, T., Bucke, C., Roy, I. 2007; Large scale production and efficient recovery of P (3HB) with improved material properties from a newly isolated Bacillus sp. Journal of Biotechnology 132, 251-258.. 9. Valappil, S.P., Peiris, D., Langley, G.J., Herniman, J., Boccaccini, A.R., Bucke, C., Roy, I. 2007; Identification and Characterization of a newly isolated Polyhydroxyalkanoate producing Bacillus spp. with potential for novel copolymer production Journal of Biotechnology 127, 475-487. 8. Valappil, S.P., Boccaccini, A.R., Bucke, C., Roy, I. 2007; Polyhydroxyalkanoates in Gram positive bacteria: insights from the genera Bacillus and Streptomyces. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 91, 1-17. 7. Ahmed, I., Abou Neel, E.A., Valappil, S.P., Nazhat, S.N., Pickup, D.M., Carta, D., Carroll, D.L., Newport,R.J.,Smith, M.E., Knowles, J.C.2007; The structure and properties of silver-doped phosphate- based glasses. Journal of Biomaterials Science. 42, 9827–9835. 6. Skelton, K.L., Glenn, J.V., Clarke, S.A., Georgiou. G.,Valappil S.P., Nazhat, S.N., Knowles, J.C., Jordan, G.R.2007; Effect of ternary phosphate based glass compositions on osteoblast and osteoblast-like proliferation, differentiation and death in vitro. Acta Biomaterialia. 3, 563-572. 5. Misra, S.K, Watts, P S, Valappil, S.P., Roy, I., Silva, SRP., Boccaccini, A.R. 2007; Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/bioglass® composite films containing carbon nanotubes. Nanotechnology.18, 075701-075708. 4. Misra, S.K, Nazhat, S.N.,Valappil, S.P., Torbati, M.M., Roy, I., Boccaccini, A.R. 2007; Fabrication and characterisation of biodegradable Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) P3HB composite films containing Bioglass®. Biomacromolecules. 8, 2112-2119. 3. Misra, S.K, Valappil, S.P., Roy, I., Boccaccini, A.R. 2006; Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)/inorganic phase composites for tissue engineering applications Biomacromolecules 7, 2249-2258. 2. Valappil, S.P., Misra, S.K., Boccaccini, Roy, I. 2006; Biomedical applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates, animal testing and in vivo tissue responses. Expert Review on Medical Devices.3, 853-868. 1. Verma, S., Bhatia, Y., Valappil, S.P., Roy, I. 2002; A possible role of poly-3-hydroxybutyric acid in antibiotic production in Streptomyces Archives of Microbiology 179, 66-69.