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Prof Mahdad Noursadeghi
Professor of Infectious Diseases
Div of Infection & Immunity
Faculty of Medical Sciences
- Joined UCL
- 1st Oct 2005
Research summary
My group investigate host-pathogen interactions in order to increase our mechanistic understanding of protective and pathogenic immune responses in infectious diseases, and inform the development of novel therapies or approaches for patient stratification. We particularly focus on innate immunity by modelling host-pathogen interactions in human macrophages. Although macrophages are important sentinels of the immune system, which can sense and respond to danger, restrict pathogens by intracellular killing pathways and regulate wide-ranging immune responses, they also host a number of important human pathogens such as HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Hence we are interested in the mechanisms by which these pathogens can either evade host defence mechanisms in macrophages or stimulate harmful immune responses. Our work extends from in vitro laboratory models to challenge experiments in humans and sampling of tissues at the site of disease in order to understand host-pathogen interactions in vivo. In view of the multivariate complexity of the immune response in infectious diseases, we use genome‑wide transcriptional profiling strategies in order to obtain a systems level view together with detailed molecular resolution. Within the Division of Infection & Immunity at UCL, we work closely with Professor Benny Chain’s group who focus on developing computational approaches to interrogate high dimensional data in immunology.
Teaching summary
I am programme director for the intercalated BSc in Immunology and Cell Pathology. I also teach within the MSc programme in Infection and Immunity, Phase 2 Medicine lecture programme and within the UCL MB/PhD programme.
Education
- Royal College of Physicians
- Doctorate, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians | 2011
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
- Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2003
- Royal College of Physicians
- Doctorate, Member of the Royal College of Physicians | 1998
- United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St.. Thomas's Hospitals
- Doctorate, Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery | 1995
- United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St.. Thomas's Hospitals
- First Degree, Bachelor of Science (Honours) | 1992
Biography
I studied Medicine at Guy's Hospital followed by postgraduate training in General Medicine at the National Hospital at Queen Square, Royal Brompton Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital and Newham General Hospotal. I then undertook an MRC Research
Training Fellowship and completed a PhD in Immunology at Imperial College London, focussing on the role of acute phase responses in host defence against infection, under the supervision of Professor Jon Cohen and Professor Mark Pepys. I completed specialist training in Infectious Diseases in posts at University College London Hospitals, Northwick Park Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital before returning to laboratory science with a
Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship at UCL leading to my current research post. In addition, I participate in clinical services at UCLH as an Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases and
Acute Medicine.