Rheumatology (Bloomsbury)

Lead investigator: Professor Mike Ehrenstein

This research group focuses on how biologic therapy can be utilised as a molecular scalpel to understand the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic disease, in particular systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, both in terms of loss of immune tolerance and ongoing inflammation, to develop novel (and safer) therapies and improve existing therapies, and to target therapies to patients most likely to benefit through biomarker identification. One impact of this research was the BEAT-LUPUS trial which arose from experimental medicine studies looking at the immune consequences of B cell depletion (rituximab) in patients with SLE and was one of the first trials to test combination biologic therapy (belimumab after rituximab) for patients with SLE. Following identification of a biomarker that predicts response to belimumab after rituximab, IgA2 anti-DNA antibodies, a biomarker enrichment trial is planned for patients with SLE.

Group members

• Dr Daniel McCluskey, Postdoctoral Fellow

Lead investigator: Professor Elizabeth Jury

The group investigates lipid metabolism and how this can influence immune cell function in patients with autoimmunity. The group also uses multi-omic and clinical data and machine learning analysis to stratify patient subgroups according to disease severity, cardiovascular disease risk and response to therapies.

Group members

• Alexandra Oppong, PhD student

Lead investigator: Professor Anisur Rahman, Professor Ian Giles

The APS Group focuses on the structure, function, origin, and pathogenic consequences of the antiphospholipid antibodies. These antibodies are linked to a predisposition to arterial and venous clotting and an increase in the risk of pregnancy losses - the clinical condition known as the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. They are working on understanding at a cellular level how these antibodies cause clinical effects and on the development of a novel therapeutic agent.

Group members

• Abida Rym, Clinical Research Fellow, PhD student

Lead investigator: Professor Ian Giles

Professor Giles’ group studies factors affecting the outcomes of pregnancy in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and antiphospholipid syndrome. This includes changes in the immune system and metabolomics profiles as well as effects of medication.

Group members

• Bethan Goulden, Clinical Research Fellow, PhD student

Lead investigator: Professor Coziana Ciurtin

This group works on investigating the impact of puberty and sex determinants on immune system function using a gender-diverse adolescent cohort, including trans-gender individuals, aiming to understand why girls and females are more predisposed to developing autoimmune diseases. They are also working on understating the molecular causes that drive immune system dysregulation in lupus and Sjogren disease with onset in childhood and their role in causing damage and increased comorbidity risk in young people with these conditions.

Group members, Adolescent Rheumatology

• Dr Maria Leandro, Consultant
• Dr Hannah Peckham, Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Dr Ania Radziszewska, Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Junjie Peng, PhD student
• Heather Thorn, Research Manager (until 1 September)
• Kathryn O'Bryan, Research Manager (maternity leave)

Lead investigators: Dr Elizabeth Rosser

Our group focuses on understanding the nature of the environmental signals that drive pathogenic B cell differentiation in paediatric and adolescent rheumatic disease. We use a multi-layered experimental approach to:

1. characterise how B cell biology is altered in these diseases;
2. identify potential metabolic signals, such as those from the gut-microbiota or diet, that may be modulating B cell function.

Our group is funded by a senior research fellowship awarded to Dr Rosser by the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research in 2022.

Group members

• Dr Diana Matei, Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Dr Ben Ingledow, Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Beth Jebson, PhD student [50% ICH]
• Vicky Alexiou, PhD student
• Persephone Jenkins, Research Assistant
• Chadwick Pils, Research Assistant

Lead investigator: Dr Thomas McDonnell

The McDonnell group works on discovering new antibodies in diseases with difficult diagnosis, whilst also characterising the underlying structural abnormalities which lead to the development of these autoantibodies. The diseases the group currently work on vary from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren Disease and Antiphospholipid Syndrome, to Chronic Histiocytic Intravillousitis and Cardiovascular Disease. The group also maintains strong links with other departments including Biochemical Engineering, Biophysics, Archaeology and the Fetal Medicine Unit.

Group members

• Christophe Lalaurie, Research Fellow
• Emily Cornish, PhD student, Obstetric Registrar
• Lucia Martin, Senior Research Technician

Lead investigator: Dr George Robinson

The Robinson group focuses on understanding both immune and metabolic pathological mechanisms of systemic lupus erythematosus across age, with a focus on younger patients and associated comorbidities including cardiovascular disease. This research uses rare patient cohorts to combine immunological laboratory techniques, in-depth multi-omic (immune-phenotype, proteomic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic) data, and artificial intelligence modelling to understand the disease.

Group members

• Heather Cross, PhD student

Lead investigator: Dr Venkat Reddy

I am a clinical academic. I have three key areas of research interests spanning the life course in healthy ageing and autoimmune disease:

1. Targeting of B lineage cells including anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies such as Rituximab and Obinutuzumab; CAR-T cells and T cell engagers; 
2. Signalling pathways and metabolic programming of B and T cells 
3. Interactions between the immune and musculoskeletal systems.

Lead Investigator: Dr. Muhammad Shipa

This group is at the forefront of integrating omics and machine learning to transform the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s disease, and other rare conditions. In collaboration with leading researchers, the team is dedicated to identifying distinct disease endotypes and novel biomarkers that are essential for customising precision medicine. The goal is to develop an advanced machine learning platform that not only predicts patient responses to biologic therapies but also discovers new therapeutic targets, effectively translating groundbreaking immunological discoveries with next-generation clinical practice.

Lead investigator: Prof. Jo Cambridge

This group focuses on B cell depletion (an idea it introduced with the now retired Professor Jo Edwards over 20 years ago to treat rheumatoid arthritis). It explores more precisely how the technique works and tries to explain the marked variation in response between different patients.

• Dr Maria Leandro
• Dr Madhura Castelino
• Dr Jessica Manson
• Professor Debajit Sen

• Dr Ania Radziszewska
• Dr Hannah Peckham
• Dr Daniel McCluskey
• Dr Diana Matei
• Dr Ben Ingledow

• Dr Bethan Goulden
• Rym Abida MD
• Dr Christophe Lalaurie

• Heather Thorn
• Lucia Martin-Gutierrez

• Persephone Jenkins
• Chadwick Pils

• Mr Junjie Peng
• Alexandra Oppong
• Beth Jebson
• Vicky Alexiou
• Emily Cornish
• Heather Cross

• Esther Geary
• Samia Jahangir
• Neil McCarthy