University of EdinburghInstitute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research
Queen’s Medical Research Institute at Edinburgh BioQuarter

Edinburgh Metabolism

Ruth Andrew, PhD

Professor of Pharmaceutical Endocrinology

Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research
Queen’s Medical Research Institute
Edinburgh BioQuarter, EH16 4TJ

Ruth Andrew

Profile

Ruth Andrew graduated as a pharmacist from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK in 1989 and carried out her PhD in pharmaceutical analysis using GC-MS to study synthesis and metabolism of adrenal medullary hormones in hypertensive subjects. She gained a lectureship in the University of Edinburgh in 1994 and was awarded a Chair in Pharmaceutical Endocrinology in 2015. She specialises in understanding regulation of glucocorticoid action in metabolic and inflammatory diseases and has developed innovative tools to study steroid metabolism and flux in vivo, most recently by mass spectrometry imaging. She also is the Director of the Mass Spectrometry Core of the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility; this laboratory supports a broad spectrum support for clinical researchers requiring small molecule analysis in their research programmes, including studies of toxicology, drug discovery, experimental physiology and pathology. She plays an active role in undergraduate and post-graduate teaching in Endocrine Pharmacology.

Research area

My research interests are in steroid biochemistry and applied mass spectrometry. I study glucocorticoids and their actions on fuel metabolism and inflammation. I have a particular interest in 5alpha-reductase as a regulator of hormone action. My other area is in the application of mass spectrometry to enable tracking of steroid metabolism, using stable-isotope tracers and also advanced methods of MS detection e.g. imaging.

Team

Shazia Khan

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Spha Ntshangase

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Haolan Tu

PhD Student

Publications

Showing 12 most recent publications

Talanta. 2026 Aug 13 (online); 2027 Feb;312(Pt B):130455 · PMID: 42628455; DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2026.130455

Estrogenic profiles in lungs from a rat model of pulmonary arterial hypertension measured by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

James W Weatherill, Hicham Labazi, Nina Denver, Joanna P Simpson, Scott G Denham, Natalie Zm Homer, Margaret R MacLean, Ruth Andrew

PubMed ↗

Research funding

Funding details

Medical Research CouncilJames W. WeatherillMR/N013166/1

British Heart FoundationMargaret R. MacLeanRG/F/21/110047

Sci Signal. 2026 May;19(936):eaeg3389 · PMID: 42085532; DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aeg3389

LIPID MAPS: Powering discovery in lipidomics

Lauren Cockayne, Matthew J Conroy, Chetin Baloglu, Eoin Fahy, Gerhard Hagn, Oswald Quehenberger, Aaron M Armando, Gabriele Lombardi Bendoula, Jean-Marie Galano, Ángel Sánchez-Illana, Thierry Durand, Nadja Kampschulte, Paul D Kennedy, Miguel Gijón, Hiroshi Tsugawa, Makoto Arita, Kirk Maxey, Meghan Truskowski, Ondrej Kuda, Shazia Khan, Natalie Z M Homer, Yuki Matsuzawa, Rosario Domingues, Peter J Meikle, Corey Giles, Kevin Huynh, Robert C Murphy, Zidan Wang, Yu Xia, Xue Li Guan, Kim Ekroos, Gerhard Liebisch, Alfred H Merrill, Andrea F Lopez-Clavijo, Dominic Campopiano, Craig E Wheelock, Shankar Subramaniam, Robert Andrews, Laura Goracci, Zhixu Ni, Maria Fedorova, Simon Andrews, William Griffiths, Ruth Andrew, Edward A Dennis, Valerie B O'Donnell

PubMed ↗

Research funding

Funding details

Medical Research CouncilMR/Y000064/1

Cayman Chemical

Avanti Research

Larodan

Br J Pharmacol. 2026 May;183(10):2236-2255 · PMID: 41456844; DOI: 10.1111/bph.70297

Pharmacological inhibition of hydroxysteroid 11-beta dehydrogenase type 1 (11-βHSD1) after myocardial infarction preserves cardiac function in a translational mini-pig model

Sara Al Disi, Raimondo Ascione, Shazia Khan, Thomas Johnson, Eva Sammut, Vito Domenico Bruno, Daniel Baz Lopez, Carol-Anne James, Joanna Simpson, Natalie Z Homer, Michael Millar, Trisha Singh, Alex von Kreigsheim, Nick L Mills, Brian R Walker, Ruth Andrew, Scott P Webster, Andrew Whittaker, Adrian Freeman, Gillian A Gray

PubMed ↗

Research funding

Funding details

British Heart FoundationTG/18/1/33048

Heart Research UKRG2694

WellcomeSara Al Disi218471/Z/19/Z

British Heart FoundationNick L. MillsCH/F/21/90010

J Physiol. 2026 Mar 4. · PMID: 41779124

Abcc1 deficiency protects from corticosterone but not cortisol-induced adiposity and insulin resistance in a sex-specific manner

Mhairi A Paul, Boglarka Nagy, Sofia Laforest, Joanna P Simpson, William Mungall, Natalie Z M Homer, Robert K Semple, Ruth Andrew, Roland H Stimson & Mark Nixon.

Pubmed Link ↗
Visual abstract for Abcc1 deficiency protects from corticosterone but not cortisol-induced adiposity and insulin resistance in a sex-specific manner
Visual abstract ↗

Research funding

Funding details

British Heart FoundationMark NixonPG/22/11004

British Heart FoundationMark NixonFS/18/20/33449

The Physiological SocietyMhairi A. Paul

British Heart FoundationMark NixonRE/24/130012

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Pharmacother. 2026 Feb;12(2):97-107 · PMID: 41544653; DOI: 10.1093/ehjcvp/pvag003

Cardiovascular safety of 5α-reductase inhibitors in people with benign prostatic hyperplasia and type 2 diabetes: a propensity score-matched analysis

Haolan Tu, Chengsheng Ju, Stuart J McGurnaghan, Luke A K Blackbourn, Scottish Diabetes Research Network Epidemiology Group, Ewan Pearson, Li Wei, Ruth Andrew

PubMed ↗
Graphical abstract comparing cardiovascular outcomes among men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and type 2 diabetes receiving 5α-reductase inhibitors or tamsulosin.
Graphical abstract ↗Tu et al. (2026), European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy. DOI: 10.1093/ehjcvp/pvag003. CC BY 4.0. Original image reproduced unchanged.

Research funding

Funding details

Medical Research CouncilMR/W006804/1

Eur Heart Journal. 2026 Jan 20 · DOI:

Estriol attenuates visceral adiposity and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation via ERα-mediated signaling

Smriti Sharma, Joshua P Dignam, Gregor Aitchison, Rosemary Gaw, Ioannis Stasinopolous, Ayman Gebril, Martin Wabitsch, Ruth Andrew, Margaret R MacLean.

Pubmed Link ↗
Graphical abstract showing estriol signalling through ERα in adipocytes and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.
Graphical abstract ↗Sharma et al. (2026), European Heart Journal Open. DOI: 10.1093/ehjopen/oeag001. CC BY 4.0.

Research funding

Funding details

British Heart FoundationRG/F/21/110047

Medical Research CouncilMR/T015713/1

German Federal Ministry of Education and ResearchMartin Wabitsch01GL2407A

Br J Pharmacol. 2025 Nov 30 · PMID: 41320177

Cytochrome P450 1A1 influences obesity-induced pulmonary hypertension

Joshua P. Dignam, Smriti Sharma, Gregor Aitchison, Ayman Gebril, Ioannis Stasinopoulos, Sofia Laforest, Chelbi Coyle, Ruth Andrew, Natalie Z. M. Homer, Sébastien Bonnet, Sandra Breuils-Bonnet, Martin Wabitsch, Margaret R. MacLean.

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Research funding

Funding details

British Heart FoundationRG/F/21/110047

Medical Research CouncilMR/T015713/1

Sci Signal. 2025 May;18(887):eadw1245 · PMID: 40392938; DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adw1245

Technical recommendations for analyzing oxylipins by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Nils Helge Schebb, Nadja Kampschulte, Gerhard Hagn, Kathrin Plitzko, Sven W Meckelmann, Soumita Ghosh, Robin Joshi, Julia Kuligowski, Dajana Vuckovic, Marina T Botana, Ángel Sánchez-Illana, Fereshteh Zandkarimi, Aditi Das, Jun Yang, Louis Schmidt, Antonio Checa, Helen M Roche, Aaron M Armando, Matthew L Edin, Fred B Lih, Juan J Aristizabal-Henao, Sayuri Miyamoto, Francesca Giuffrida, Arieh Moussaieff, Rosário Domingues, Michael Rothe, Christine Hinz, Ujjalkumar Subhash Das, Katharina M Rund, Ameer Y Taha, Robert K Hofstetter, Markus Werner, Oliver Werz, Astrid S Kahnt, Justine Bertrand-Michel, Pauline Le Faouder, Robert Gurke, Dominique Thomas, Federico Torta, Ivana Milic, Irundika H K Dias, Corinne M Spickett, Denise Biagini, Tommaso Lomonaco, Helena Idborg, Jun-Yan Liu, Maria Fedorova, David A Ford, Anne Barden, Trevor A Mori, Paul D Kennedy, Kirk Maxey, Julijana Ivanisevic, Hector Gallart-Ayala, Cécile Gladine, Markus Wenk, Jean-Marie Galano, Thierry Durand, Ken D Stark, Coral Barbas, Ulrike Garscha, Stacy L Gelhaus, Uta Ceglarek, Nicolas Flamand, Julian L Griffin, Robert Ahrends, Makoto Arita, Darryl C Zeldin, Francisco J Schopfer, Oswald Quehenberger, Randall Julian, Anna Nicolaou, Ian A Blair, Michael P Murphy, Bruce D Hammock, Bruce Freeman, Gerhard Liebisch, Charles N Serhan, Harald C Köfeler, Per-Johan Jakobsson, Dieter Steinhilber, Michael H Gelb, Michal Holčapek, Ruth Andrew, Martin Giera, Garret A FitzGerald, Robert C Murphy, John W Newman, Edward A Dennis, Kim Ekroos, Ginger L Milne, Miguel A Gijón, Hubert W Vesper, Craig E Wheelock, Valerie B O'Donnell

PubMed ↗

Research funding

Funding details

Medical Research CouncilValerie B. O'DonnellMR/Y000064/1

National Institutes of HealthFrancisco J. SchopferR01GM125944

National Institutes of HealthBruce FreemanR01HL132550

National Institutes of HealthBruce FreemanP01HL103455

National Institutes of HealthBruce FreemanR33HL157069

National Institutes of HealthBruce D. HammockU54NS127758

National Institutes of HealthEdward A. DennisR35GM139641

National Institutes of HealthGinger L. MilneR21AG081823

National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesDarryl C. ZeldinZ01ES025034

National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesBruce D. HammockR35ES030443-01

National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesBruce D. HammockP42ES004699

United States Department of AgricultureJohn W. Newman2032-51530-025-00D

Medical Research CouncilMichael P. MurphyMC_UU_00028/4

European UnionMichal Holčapek101095860

European UnionMaria Fedorova; Rosário DominguesCA19105

European Union847419

WellcomeMichael P. Murphy220257/Z/20/Z

German Research FoundationNils Helge SchebbSCHE 1801

German Research FoundationMaria FedorovaFE 1236/5-1

German Research FoundationMaria FedorovaFE 1236/8-1

German Research FoundationRobert Gurke; Dominique ThomasSFB 1039/Z01

German Federal Ministry of Education and ResearchMaria Fedorova031L0315A

German Federal Ministry of Education and ResearchMaria Fedorova01EJ2205A

São Paulo Research FoundationSayuri Miyamoto2013/07937-8

Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIJulia KuligowskiCP21II/00003

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades / Agencia Estatal de InvestigaciónÁngel Sánchez-IllanaJDC2022-049354-I

European UnionÁngel Sánchez-IllanaJDC2022-049354-I

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaNicolas FlamandRGPIN-2021-03777

Alzheimer's AssociationIrundika H. K. DiasAARGD-22-926459

Endocr Connect. 2025 May;14(5):e240638 · PMID: 40132139; DOI: 10.1530/ec-24-0638

Luteal phase oral dexamethasone administration alters endometrial steroid milieu

Natalie Z M Homer, Moira Nicol, Mayank Madhra, Gregorio Naredo-Gonzalez, Sofia Laforest, Ov D Slayden, Stephen G Hillier, Brian R Walker, Pamela Warner, Ruth Andrew, Hilary O D Critchley

PubMed ↗

Research funding

Funding details

Medical Research CouncilMR/J003611/1

Medical Research CouncilMR/N022556/1

British Heart FoundationBrian R. WalkerRG11/4/28734

WellcomeBrian R. Walker107049/Z/15/Z

Nat Communications. 2025 Jan 9;16(1):545 · PMID: 39788946

The NE/AAT/CBG axis regulates adipose glucocorticoid exposure.

Luke D Boyle, Allende Miguelez-Crespo, Mhairi Paul, Elisa Villalobos, Julia NC Toews, Lisa Ivatt, Boglarka Nagy, Marisa Magennis, Natalie ZM Homer, Ruth Andrew, Victor Viau, Geoffrey L Hammond, Roland H Stimson, Brian R Walker & Mark Nixon.

Pubmed Link ↗
Boyle et al Figure.jpg
Research summary figure ↗

Research funding

Funding details

British Heart FoundationMark NixonFS/18/20/33449

WellcomeBrian R. Walker107049/Z/15/Z

ExpandCollapse 8 earlier publications

Talanta. 2025 Jan 1:282:126954. · PMID: 39423636

Spatial lipidomic profiles of atherosclerotic plaques: A mass spectrometry imaging study.

Sphamandla Ntshangase, Shazia Khan, Louise Bezuidenhout, Taťána Gazárková, Jakub Kaczynski, Stephanie Sellers, Nicholas Jw Rattray, David E Newby, Patrick Wf Hadoke, Ruth Andrew

Pubmed Link ↗

Research funding

Funding details

British Heart FoundationRE/08/001

Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (Wyeth)

European Regional Development FundTaťána GazárkováCZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/15_003/0000465

Eur J Endocrinol. 2024 Nov 27;191(6):535-544 · PMID: 39546623

Proof of concept for a superior therapeutic index of corticosterone compared with hydrocortisone in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Catriona J Kyle, Luke D Boyle, Mark Nixon, Natalie ZM Homer, Joanna P Simpson, Alison Rutter, Lynne E Ramage, Alex Kelman, Ellen M Freel, Ruth Andrew, Brian R Walker, Roland H Stimson.

Pubmed Link ↗

Research funding

Funding details

International Fund raising for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Chief Scientist OfficeSCAF/17/02

Wellcome107049/Z/15/Z

British Heart FoundationRG/11/4/28734

BMJ Open. 2024 Sep 16;14(9):e085365. · PMID: 39284691

Preterm birth as a determinant of neurodevelopment and cognition in children (PRENCOG): protocol for an exposure-based cohort study in the UK.

James P Boardman, Ruth Andrew, Mark E Bastin, Cheryl Battersby, G David Batty, Manuel Blesa Cábez, Simon R Cox, Jill Hall, Lauren Ingledow, Riccardo E Marioni, Neena Modi, Lee Murphy, Alan J Quigley, Rebecca M Reynolds, Hilary Richardson, Sarah J Stock, Michael J Thrippleton, Athanasios Tsanas, Heather C Whalley

Pubmed Link ↗

Research funding

Funding details

Medical Research CouncilMR/X003434/1

J Endocrinol. 2024 Jun 1:JOE-24-0024. · PMID: 38829241

ATP-binding cassette family C member 1 constrains metabolic responses to high-fat diet.

Elisa Villalobos, Allende Miguelez-Crespo, Ruth A Morgan, Lisa Ivatt, Mhairi Paul, Joanna P Simpson, Natalie ZM Homer, Dominic Kurian, Judit Aguilar, Rachel Kline, T Wishart, Nicholas Morton, Roland H Stimson, Ruth Andrew, Brian R Walker, Mark Nixon.

Pubmed Link ↗

Research funding

Funding details

WellcomeBrian R. Walker

Society for EndocrinologyElisa Villalobos

British Heart FoundationMark Nixon

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilThomas M. WishartBBS/E/RL/230001C

Br J Pharmacol. 2024 Apr;181(8):1256-1267. · PMID: 37990638

5α-Tetrahydrocorticosterone: A topical anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid with an improved therapeutic index in a murine model of dermatitis

Dawn EW Livingstone, Karen Sooy, Catherine Sykes, Scott P Webster, Brian R Walker, Ruth Andrew 1

Pubmed Link ↗
Visual abstract for 5α-Tetrahydrocorticosterone: A topical anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid with an improved therapeutic index in a murine model of dermatitis
Visual abstract ↗

Research funding

Funding details

Medical Research CouncilMC_PC_12014

Wellcome097817/Z/11/B

British Heart FoundationFS/10/49/28675

British Heart FoundationRG-05-008

British Heart FoundationRE/08/001

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2024 Apr;100(4):317-327. · PMID: 38229583

Plasma steroid concentrations reflect acute disease severity and normalise during recovery in people hospitalised with COVID-19

Kerri Devine, Clark D Russell, Giovanny R Blanco, Brian R Walker, Natalie ZM Homer, Scott G Denham, Joanna P Simpson , Olivia C Leavy, Omer Elneima, Hamish J C McAuley, Aarti Shikotra, Amisha Singapuri, Marco Sereno, Ruth M Saunders , Victoria C Harris, Linzy Houchen-Wolloff, Neil J Greening, Nazir I Lone, Mathew Thorpe, William Greenhalf, James D Chalmers, Ling-Pei Ho, Alex Horsley, Michael Marks, Betty Raman, Shona C Moore, Jake Dunning, Malcolm G Semple, Ruth Andrew, Louise V Wain, Rachael A Evans, Christopher E Brightling, John Kenneth Baillie, Rebecca M Reynolds; ISARIC4C Investigators and PHOSP-COVID Study Collaborative Group.

Pubmed Link ↗

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