Epithelial Cell Biology in ENT Research (EpiCENTR) Group

EpiCENTR brings together fundamental biologists with clinician scientists from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children to address unmet clinical needs using stem cell and epithelial biology research methods. We are based within the Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, a new research facility opened in 2019.

More information about our research can be found here.

Stem Cell Biology and Ageing

We study how airway epithelial stem cells (basal cells) maintain and repair the respiratory epithelium during tissue homeostasis and ageing. Our work focuses on the molecular mechanisms that regulate stem cell behaviour, including interactions with the extracellular matrix.

We aim to define how age-associated changes in epithelial stem cells contribute to impaired regeneration and chronic lung disease. Specifically, we are working on how the transcription factor p63 controls airway stem cell identity, function and ageing, as well as how hemidesmosomes contribute to airway basal cell function.

Developing Regenerative Therapies

We investigate cell- and gene-based approaches to repair or replace damaged airway epithelium. This includes developing methods to expand airway epithelial basal cells ex vivo and to engineer epithelial cells for regenerative applications. As an initial application, we demonstrated proof-of-concept for a combined cell and gene therapy approach in epidermolysis bullosa.

Our ongoing work focuses on how epithelial cells can be expanded, genetically modified and delivered safely and effectively, with the aim of developing regenerative therapies for airway disease.