Dr Karan Mehul Shah

MSc, PhD, FHEA

School of Medicine and Population Health

Research Associate

Staff Karan Shah
Profile picture of Staff Karan Shah
k.shah@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9025
DU24, D Floor, The Medical School

Full contact details

Dr Karan Mehul Shah
School of Medicine and Population Health
DU24, D Floor
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

I completed my PhD in 2014 at ±¬ÁÏTV, and since then have been working as a Research Associate with a focus on bone biology in the Division of Clinical Medicine. I have developed a strong foundation in research during my PhD and first post-doctoral position (2014-2016) that focussed on understanding the effect of metal debris from hip prostheses on bone tissue. I received the William H. Harriss Award in recognition for ‘outstanding research related to the hip’ by the Orthopaedic research Society in 2014. 

I then transitioned seamlessly into my subsequent area of research in breast cancer induced bone-disease (2016-2021), where I investigated the role of purinergic signalling and LOX in bone metastasis. It is during this position that I developed my interest in the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer progression, which is one of my current research interests. I was awarded an Ideas Grant by the Bone Cancer Research Trust to investigate the role of EVs in pulmonary metastasis in osteosarcoma.

My current research focuses on dissecting the oestrogen signalling biases in chondrosarcoma and breast cancer with a particular interest in GPER. Throughout my research career, I have also maintained a keen interest in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and have been involved in multiple collaborations that aim to understand the regulatory mechanisms and single-cell levels in human tissues and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Research interests

My research interests are strongly aligned with the University’s core cancer strategy, focusing  on translational and precision cancer medicine and improving outcomes for cancer patients. 

The primary focus of my current work is to elucidate the mechanisms of cancer  metastasis, the process responsible for most cancer-related deaths. Specifically, I am  investigating how the primary tumour establishes a pre-metastatic niche in distant organs, with  a key emphasis on the role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs). I explore the regulatory mechanisms governing EV release in osteosarcoma and breast cancer, and the downstream effects these EVs exert on recipient cells at potential metastatic sites. 

Additionally, I maintain a research interest in understanding the oestrogen signalling pathway biases in  chondrosarcoma and breast cancer. 

Funding and awards

  • Co-Principal investigator: ‘Targeting P2X7R to overcome hypoxia mediated progression of  breast cancer’. Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers Fund 2025 Round 4 (£445,677) 

  • Principal investigator: ‘Understanding Chondrosarcoma - from pathogenesis to new treatment  options’. Bone Cancer Research Trust Project Grant 2023 (£162,012). 

  • Principal investigator: ‘Delineating the role of hypoxic extracellular vesicles in pulmonary  metastasis of osteosarcoma’. Bone Cancer Research Trust Ideas Grant 2021 (£19,867). 

  • Co-I: ‘Biological effects of tribocorrosion products on the bone microenvironment and  prosthesis osseo-integration’. Orthopaedic Research UK Post-doctoral Funding 2014  (£93,245.00) 

  • National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Fellowship (BRF-2011-013 and  BRF-2011-020) for ‘The Effect of Metal Ions after Hip Resurfacing on Bone Cell Health’  (£71,187.00) 

  • William H. Harris Award for ‘outstanding work in orthopaedic research related to the hip’  awarded at the Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, USA (2014) 

  • Early Career Researcher Prize for Excellence in Outreach/Public Engagement and Excellence  in Supervision/Teaching by Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health, ±¬ÁÏTV  (2016). 

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Jiang W, Jin Y, Zhang S, Ding Y, Huo K, Yang J, Zhao L, Nian B, Zhong TP, Lu W , Zhang H et al (2022) . Bone Research, 10(1).
  • Jin Y, Liu Q, Chen P, Zhao S, Jiang W, Wang F, Li P, Zhang Y, Lu W, Zhong TP , Ma X et al (2022) . Cell Discovery, 8(1).
  • Tattersall L, Shah KM, Lath DL, Singh A, Down JM, De Marchi E, Williamson A, Di Virgilio F, Heymann D, Adinolfi E , Fraser WD et al (2021) . Journal of Bone Oncology, 31.
  • Steinberg J, Southam L, Fontalis A, Clark MJ, Jayasuriya RL, Swift D, Shah KM, Brooks RA, McCaskie AW, Wilkinson JM & Zeggini E (2021) . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 80(8), 1070-1074.
  • Shah KM, Dunning MJ, Gartland A & Wilkinson JM (2021) . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(10).
  • Steinberg J, Southam L, Roumeliotis TI, Clark MJ, Jayasuriya RL, Swift D, Shah KM, Butterfield NC, Brooks RA, McCaskie AW , Bassett JHD et al (2021) . Nature Communications, 12.
  • Shah KM, Orton P, Mani N, Wilkinson JM & Gartland A (2017) . Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 35(8), 1716-1723.
  • Shah KM, Wilkinson JM & Gartland A (2015) . Journal of Orthopaedic Research.
  • Shah KM, Quinn PD, Gartland A & Wilkinson JM (2015) . Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 33(1), 114-121.
  • Andrews RE, Shah KM, Wilkinson JM & Gartland A (2011) . Bone, 49(4), 717-723.
  • Steinberg J, Shah KM, Gartland A, Zeggini E & Wilkinson JM () . Journal of Orthopaedic Research.

Preprints

  • Shah KM, Tattersall L, Hussain A, Macfarlane SC, Williamson A, Acosta-Martin AE, Erler JT, Ottewell PD & Gartland A (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Kreitmaier P, Stergiou OS, Katsoula G, Tutino M, Bittner N, Shah KM, Swift D, Wilkinson JM & Zeggini E (2026) . Ann Rheum Dis.
  • Huo K, Ma X, Xue Y, Zhao L, Wang F, Wang G, You Y, Jiang W, Wang R, Li Y , Shen Q et al (2026) . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
  • Bull EC, Singh A, Harden AM, Soanes K, Habash H, Toracchio L, Carrabotta M, Schreck C, Shah KM, Riestra PV , Chantoiseau M et al (2025) . Molecular Cancer, 24.
  • Katsoula G, Arruda AL, Tutino M, Kreitmaier P, Shah KM, Swift D, Southam L, Wilkinson JM & Zeggini E (2025) . Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 33, S77-S77.
  • Ogunmwonyi I, Snuggs J, Shah KM & Wilkinson JM (2025) . Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 33, S398-S398.
  • Kreitmaier P, Stergiou OS, Katsoula G, Tutino M, Bittner N, Shah KM, Swift D, Wilkinson JM & Zeggini E (2025) . Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 33, S407-S407.
  • Lawrence SR & Shah KM (2024) . Biology, 13(9).
  • Gao J, Pei H, Lv F, Niu X, You Y, He L, Hu S, Shah KM, Liu M, Chen Y , Du B et al (2024) . Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 48, 244-246.
  • Gao J, Pei H, Lv F, Niu X, You Y, He L, Hu S, Shah KM, Liu M, Chen Y , Du B et al (2024) . Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 44, 60-71.
  • He L, Xu Z, Niu X, Li R, Wang F, You Y, Gao J, Zhao L, Shah KM, Fan J , Liu M et al (2023) . Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, 13(7), 2976-2989.
  • Green D, Singh A, Tippett VL, Tattersall L, Shah KM, Siachisumo C, Ward NJ, Thomas P, Carter S, Jeys L , Sumathi V et al (2023) . Journal of Bone Oncology, 39.
  • Tippett VL, Tattersall L, Ab Latif NB, Shah KM, Lawson MA & Gartland A (2023) . Oncogene, 42(4), 259-277.
  • Tattersall L, Gagui DC, Tippett VL, Latif NBA, Shah KM & Gartland A (2022) . Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, 27(4).
  • Jiang W, Jin Y, Zhang S, Ding Y, Huo K, Yang J, Zhao L, Nian B, Zhong TP, Lu W , Zhang H et al (2022) . Bone Research, 10(1).
  • Jin Y, Liu Q, Chen P, Zhao S, Jiang W, Wang F, Li P, Zhang Y, Lu W, Zhong TP , Ma X et al (2022) . Cell Discovery, 8(1).
  • Liu Y, Shah KM & Luo J (2021) . Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9.
  • Tattersall L, Shah KM, Lath DL, Singh A, Down JM, De Marchi E, Williamson A, Di Virgilio F, Heymann D, Adinolfi E , Fraser WD et al (2021) . Journal of Bone Oncology, 31.
  • Steinberg J, Southam L, Fontalis A, Clark MJ, Jayasuriya RL, Swift D, Shah KM, Brooks RA, McCaskie AW, Wilkinson JM & Zeggini E (2021) . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 80(8), 1070-1074.
  • Shah KM, Dunning MJ, Gartland A & Wilkinson JM (2021) . International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(10).
  • Steinberg J, Southam L, Roumeliotis TI, Clark MJ, Jayasuriya RL, Swift D, Shah KM, Butterfield NC, Brooks RA, McCaskie AW , Bassett JHD et al (2021) . Nature Communications, 12.
  • Marino S, Carrasco G, Li B, Shah KM, Lath DL, Sophocleous A, Lawson MA & Idris AI (2020) . Calcified Tissue International, 107(1), 72-85.
  • MacInnes SJ, Hatzikotoulas K, Fenstad AM, Shah K, Southam L, Tachmazidou I, Hallan G, Dale H, Panoutsopoulou K, Furnes O , Zeggini E et al (2019) . Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research, 477(3), 668-668.
  • MacInnes SJ, Hatzikotoulas K, Fenstad AM, Shah K, Southam L, Tachmazidou I, Hallan G, Dale H, Panoutsopoulou K, Furnes O , Zeggini E et al (2019) . Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 477(2), 297-309.
  • Hatzikotoulas K, Roposch A, Case Control Consortium DDH, Shah KM, Clark MJ, Bratherton S, Limbani V, Steinberg J, Zengini E, Warsame K , Ratnayake M et al (2018) . Communications Biology, 1.
  • Steinberg J, Ritchie GRS, Roumeliotis TI, Jayasuriya RL, Clark MJ, Brooks RA, Binch ALA, Shah KM, Coyle R, Pardo M , Le Maitre CL et al (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7(1).
  • Hatzikotoulas K, Roposch A, Shah KM, Clark MJ, Bratherton S, Limbani V, Steinberg J, Zengini E, Warsame K, Ratnayake M , Tselepi M et al (2017) .
  • Shah KM, Orton P, Mani N, Wilkinson JM & Gartland A (2017) . Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 35(8), 1716-1723.
  • Shah KM, Stern MM, Stern AR, Pathak JL, Bravenboer N & Bakker AD (2016) . BoneKEy Reports, 5.
  • Shah KM, Wilkinson JM & Gartland A (2015) . Journal of Orthopaedic Research.
  • Shah KM, Quinn PD, Gartland A & Wilkinson JM (2015) . Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 33(1), 114-121.
  • Andrews RE, Shah KM, Wilkinson JM & Gartland A (2011) . Bone, 49(4), 717-723.
  • Steinberg J, Shah KM, Gartland A, Zeggini E & Wilkinson JM () . Journal of Orthopaedic Research.

Book chapters

  • Gartland A, Shah KM & Tattersall L (2026) , ATP (pp. 521-543). Elsevier

Conference proceedings

  • Katsoula G, Arruda AL, Tutino M, Kreitmaier P, Shah KM, Swift D, Southam L, Wilkinson JM & Zeggini E (2025) Transcriptome regulation analysis in osteoarthritis primary tissues identifies high-confidence effector genes. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, Vol. 33 (pp 1136-1136)
  • Hatzikotoulas K, Roposch A, Shah KM, Clark MJ, Bratherton S, Limbani V, Warsame K, Ratnayake M, Tselepi M, Schwartzentruber J , Steinberg J et al (2017) . Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Vol. 25 (pp S36-S37). Las Vegas, USA, 27 April 2017 - 27 April 2017.
  • Steinberg J, Ritchie G, Roumeliotis T, Jayasuriya R, Brooks R, Binch A, Shah K, Coyle R, Pardo M, Le Maitre C , Ramos Y et al (2017) . Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Vol. 25 (pp S209-S210)
  • Shah K, Quinn P, Wilkinson M & Gartland A (2012) SPECIATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF COBALT AND CHROMIUM IN OSTEOBLASTS AND OSTEOCLASTS USING MICROFOCUS X-RAY FLUORESCENCE AND X-RAY ABSORPTION NEAR-EDGE STRUCTURE. OSTEOPOROSIS INTERNATIONAL, Vol. 23 (pp S592-S592)
  • Shah K, Patel V, Wang N & Gartland A (2010) The Effect of ATP on cancer cell proliferation in vitro -involvement of multiple P2X Receptors. PURINERGIC SIGNALLING, Vol. 6(1) (pp 140-140)

Preprints

  • Katsoula G, Arruda AL, Tutino M, Reimann E, Kreitmaier P, Shah KM, Swift D, Southam L, Suutre S, Velazquez Silva GL , Tootsi K et al (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Shah KM, Tattersall L, Hussain A, Macfarlane SC, Williamson A, Acosta-Martin AE, Erler JT, Ottewell PD & Gartland A (2022) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Tattersall L, Shah KM, Lath DL, Singh A, Down JM, De Marchi E, Williamson A, Di Virgilio F, Heymann D, Adinolfi E , Fraser WD et al (2021) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Steinberg J, Ritchie GRS, Roumeliotis TI, Jayasuriya RL, Brooks RA, Binch ALA, Shah KM, Coyle R, Pardo M, Le Maitre CL , Ramos YFM et al (2016) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Steinberg J, Southam L, Butterfield NC, Roumeliotis TI, Fontalis A, Clark MJ, Jayasuriya RL, Swift D, Shah KM, Curry KF , Brooks RA et al () .
Professional activities and memberships

Member of the European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) Academy, 2024–28 

Bone Research Society committee member, 2024–27 

International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies (IFMRS) Future Global  Leaders Committee member 2024–27