Research Groups

Respiratory Infection Group

  Professor Brown leads a research group presently consisting of four post-doctoral research associates and one PhD student investigating the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pneumoniae lung infections. Present research focuses on the role of surface lipoproteins for S. pneumoniae virulence and as potential vaccine candidates, and the importance of complement for immunity to S. pneumoniae. Pivotal findings have been the identification of two protein antigen vaccine candidates effective at preventing serious S. pneumoniae infections, and the demonstration of the unexpected importance of the classical complement pathway for innate immunity. The group is funded by the MRC, Wellcome Trust, and British Lung Foundation and has several close collaborations, including with Imperial College, Glasgow University, University of Pennsylvania, and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.

Lung Pathobiology Group

  Dr Robin McAnulty's research group focusses on investigating the pathogenesis of diseases in which inflammation and aberrant deposition of extracellular matrix proteins are key features. Diseases of particular interest include pulmonary fibrosis, asthma and mesothelioma. We encompass a wide spectrum of research, from fundamental basic studies through to translational research utilising our expanding banks of tissue and cells. A major emphasis of the groups’ research is to understand the role and interactions between stimulatory and inhibitory mediators (e.g. transforming growth factor beta isoforms and prostaglandin E2 respectively) in regulating the response to tissue injury, repair and connective tissue disease. We are also developing a major interest in understanding the role of epigenetics in fibroproliferative disease.

Airway Regeneration and Carcinogenesis Group

  Sam Janes trained in respiratory medicine in North West Thames region and completed an MSc in Respiratory Medicine in 1999. He completed an MRC Training Fellowship and post-doctoral period working in the CRUK Lincoln’s Inn Fields Institute with Fiona Watt working on integrin adhesion molecules and cancer cell survival. He then won an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship and now leads a group interested in the role of stem cells in lung disease pathogenesis including cancer formation and treatment of lung disease using cell therapies in the Centre for Respiratory Research. He works as a consultant for the NHS in Respiratory and General Medicine with a particular interest in Lung Cancer, bronchoscopy and early lung cancer detection.

Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Group

 

The major research focus of Rachel Chambers’ group is centred on the elucidation of the cellular mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in driving lung injury, inflammation and fibrosis, with a particular emphasis on the contribution of the coagulation proteinases and their main signalling receptors, the proteinase-activated receptors (PARs). This research is based within the clinical settings of chronic and acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis and airway remodelling in COPD. The group’s experimental approach integrates fundamental basic studies in cell and disease model systems through to translational research using primary human cells and tissues.

Rachel Chambers’ group encompasses an active and dynamic group of scientists, clinician scientists and PhD students and is supported by grants obtained from major funding agencies, including The Medical Research Council, The British Lung Foundation, The Wellcome Trust and The Rosetrees Trust. The group is also part of a European Union Framework 7-funded network (eurIPFnet) of respiratory scientists and clinicians engaged in deciphering key patomechanisms leading to lung fibrosis and have strong collaborative links with several industrial partners, including GlaxoSmithKline.

Lung Regeneration and Cancer Lab

  Irreversible lung damage is a leading cause of death and disease, costing the UK economy billions of pounds per year. Diseases caused by irreversible lung damage include squamous, small and non-small cell lung cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and various  heritable and spontaneous genetic disorders. Unfortunately treatment options for lung disease remain limited and survival rates for lung cancer in particular have not improved for over 60 years. 
The goal of my laboratory's research is to increase our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms driving lung cancer and lung regeneration.  We hope to exploit this knowledge in order to develop more effective treatments for repairing irreversibly damaged lungs.
Please visit my lab's website for more information: