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Dr Linda King

Linda King
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Associate Professor

Linda’s background is in pathophysiology and biochemistry, specifically focused on myocardial ischaemia and glucose metabolism. She now works on plant biodiversity, human health and climate change in ancient Egypt. She is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

[email protected]

Faculty:
Faculty of Science and Engineering
School:
Life Sciences
Location:
Cambridge
Areas of Expertise:
Education and teaching , Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Supervision:
Yes
Background

Linda completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Oxford and Imperial College, looking at the changes in the heart due to diabetes. She has been at ARU since 2012, having previously taught at the University of Cambridge. She was Deputy Head of the School of Life Sciences from 2015-2024, responsible for student experience, and learning, teaching and curriculum development.

Linda has extensive teaching experience covering a wide range of biomedical subjects, including physiology, cell biology, biochemistry, genetics and development.

Research interests

Having previously worked in the area of heart disease and diabetes, Linda's research interests have now changed direction, focussed on the effects of climate change in ancient Egypt. She brings her expertise in molecular cell biology, pathology and pharmacology to the study of the effects of climate and environment on human disease, use of plants as medicine and changes in biodiversity, working in a cross-disciplinary team with colleagues from the universities of Manchester, Cambridge and London.

Areas of research supervision
  • Changes in climate and plant biodiversity in ancient Egypt
  • Epidemiology of disease in ancient Egypt
  • Medicinal use of plants in ancient Egypt
  • Paleogenomics and paleoproteomics
Teaching

Module leader for Molecular Cell Biology and Biological and Trace Evidence Analysis.

Contributes to:

  • Introduction to Cell Biology and Biochemistry
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Principles of Genetics
  • Metabolism and its Control
  • Preparation for Research
  • Human Pathology
  • Specialist Topics in Biomedical Science
  • Pharmacology and Translational Medicine
  • Physiology of Organ Systems
  • Personal Development Tutorials
Qualifications
  • BSc (Hons) in Physiology and Genetics, University of the Witwatersrand
  • MSc Medicine, University of Cape Town
  • PhD Medicine, University of Cape Town
  • PGCert in Higher Education and Learning, ARU
Selected recent publications

Hearn, T. J., Ampiah, M., King L. and Whitmore, D. (2025) 'Photoperiodic and intrinsic circadian regulation of heart rate in Daphnia pulex', Biology Letters, 21:6, 20250142. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0142

Enuwosa, E., Gautam, L., King L. M. and Chichger, H. (2021) 'Saccharin and sucralose protect the glomerular microvasculature in vitro against VEGF-induced permeability', Nutrients, 13, 2746.

Rolev, K., OʼDonovan, D. G., Coussons, P., King, L., Rajan, M. S. (2018) 'Feasibility Study of Human Corneal Endothelial Cell Transplantation Using an In Vitro Human Corneal Model', Cornea, 37(6), pp. 778-784.

McRobie, H. R., King, L. M., Fanutti, C., Symmons, M. F. and Coussons, P. J. (2014) 'Agouti signalling protein is an inverse agonist to the wildtype and agonist to the melanic variant of the melanocortin- 1 receptor in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)', FEBS letters 588, pp. 2335-2343.

McRobie, H. R., King, L. M. and Coussons, P. (2014) 'Agouti signalling protein (ASIP) acts as an inverse agonist to the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) in the wild type grey squirrel (S. carolinensis) and as agonist to the melanic variant (MC1R Delta 24)', Journal of investigative dermatology, 134(8), S2.

McRobie H. R., King, L. M., Fanutti, C., Coussons, P. J., Moncrief, N. D. and Thomas, A. P. M. (2014) 'Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene sequence variation and melanism in the gray (Sciurus carolinensis), fox (Sciurus niger), and red (Sciurus vulgaris) squirrel', Journal of Heredity, 105(3), pp. 423-428.

Desrois, M., Sidell, R. J., Gauguier, D., King, L. M., Radda, G. K. and Clarke, K. (2004) 'Initial steps of insulin signaling and glucose transport are defective in the type 2 diabetic rat heart', Cardiovascular Research, 61, pp. 288-296.

King, L. M. and Wilkins, M. R. (2002) Natriuretic peptide receptors and the heart, Heart, 87(4), pp. 314-315.

King, L. M., Sidell, R. J., Wilding, J. R., Radda, G. K. and Clarke, K. (2001) 'Free fatty acids, but not ketone bodies, protect diabetic rat hearts during low-flow ischemia', American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 280(3), H1173 - H1181.

Recent presentations and conferences

King, L. M., Lewis, L., Gil, C., Bunbury, J., Kan, Y. C., David, A. R. (2026) 'Climate change and biodiversity in Ancient Egypt: a database of plant remains', International Workshop of African Archaeobotany, Cairo, November.

Kan, Y.-C., Bunbury, J., King, L. M., Litherland, P., Issa, R. and Sims, C. (2026) 'The Macroscopic and Molecular Evidence for a New Kingdom Wet Period from the Tomb of Thutmose II, Luxor, Egypt', International Workshop of African Archaeobotany, Cairo, November.