Rate My Professor Joanna Howarth

Dr Joanna Howarth is an Associate Professor in Medical Education at Bristol Medical School within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Bristol. She earned her B.Sc.(Sur.), M.Sc., and Ph.D. from the University of Bristol. Throughout her career at the University of Bristol, Howarth has transitioned from pioneering research in stem cells and neuroregeneration to advancing innovative practices in medical education. As a member of the Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration Research Group, she has contributed to projects enhancing neuroscience teaching and served as co-principal investigator on neuroscience teaching innovations starting in 2015. She is also a Senate member from 2023 to 2026 and participates in the MBChB Medicine programme leadership.

In her early research, Howarth focused on molecular mechanisms supporting neuronal protection and regeneration, utilizing viral gene delivery systems and microRNAs. Key publications include 'MiR-3120 Is a Mirror MicroRNA That Targets Heat Shock Cognate Protein 70 and Auxilin Messenger RNAs and Regulates Clathrin Vesicle Uncoating' (2012, RNA Biology), 'Axotomy-Induced miR-21 Promotes Axon Growth in Adult Dorsal Root Ganglion Sensory Neurons' (2011, PLoS One), 'Use of Viral Gene Delivery Systems to Investigate the Neuroprotective Roles of Hsp70 and Hsp40 Proteins' (2008, Methods in Molecular Biology), 'Hsp40 Molecules That Target to the Ubiquitin-proteasome System Decrease Inclusion Formation in Models of Polyglutamine Disease' (2007, Human Molecular Genetics), and several others on heat shock proteins and polyglutamine diseases between 2005 and 2012, amassing over 447 citations. More recently, her work emphasizes medical pedagogy, with publications such as 'The Simplified BrainTower and Pipe Cleaners: Model Building as a Learning Tool in Neuroscience' (2025, Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education), a chapter on 'Using digital multisource feedback to provide medical students with formative feedback on their workplace behaviour and professional progress' (2025, Taylor & Francis), and 'How Anatomy continues to inspire Medical Students at Bristol Medical School: Experiences of the Foundations of Medicine Conference' (2019). For her contributions to the MB21 Year 1 team, she received the University of Bristol Education Excellence Award and Vice-Chancellor's Education Award in 2018.