Introduction

The Respiratory Science theme encompasses all research being undertaken within the University of Leicester which is pertinent to respiratory disease.  The membership of theme is drawn from those academic members of staff who expressed an interest in being part of the respiratory theme when the themes were being formed. The 51 members of the theme are drawn from a number of departments within the University. 16 are Professors. Some members would see Respiratory Science as a primary focus of their research, whereas to others it is more peripheral.  The research is based on three groups of diseases, airway disease (asthma and COPD), infectious disease (pneumonia and TB) and lung cancer. Overall the programmes of research within the theme encompass the research disciplines of inflammation, infection and immunity, cell and molecular biology, genetics, exercise and rehabilitation science and health services research. Theme members are located at Glenfield Hospital, the Leicester Royal Infirmary and the main University campus. As befits a clinically orientated theme about half the members are clinically trained and most of these would regard Respiratory as their primary home.  One of the most important and unique aspects of the Respiratory theme is the close interaction between investigators based in the University and those based in the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL). 

The Respiratory theme builds on the success of the Institute for Lung Health which was recognised by Senate in 2000 and brings together all the respiratory research and clinical activity in Leicester under one umbrella grouping. The main aim of the ILH was always to promote respiratory research in the city. It has been very productive, with 193 publications on PubMed showing an affiliation to the ILH, (including six papers in the New England Journal of Medicine and three in the Lancet with ILH members as principal investigators), over the last ten years. 

Aims of the theme

The aim of the Respiratory Science theme is to enhance the quality, breadth and coherence of research in Respiratory Medicine in Leicester as measured by increasing external research income, increasing the number of publications in high impact journals and making observations that will have a significant impact on the welfare of people with respiratory disease. It seeks to do this by:

• Developing and implementing a strategy for Respiratory research in Leicester.
• Creating and developing the identity of the theme.
• Placing studentships and other ‘initiative’ funding in a strategic manner to either support development of new areas or bolster existing areas of excellence.
• Identifying areas where developments such as new appointments or infrastructure are needed and to gain funding to fill those gaps.
• Identifying areas where there are natural collaborations that are not being fully exploited and encouraging those collaborations.
• Identifying and exploiting funding opportunities.
• Identifying individuals who are relatively isolated, supporting them and helping them to develop collaborations and so improve their productivity.
• Mentoring junior members of staff to allow them to fulfil their potential as scientists.
• Building on our existing relationships to further develop interactions encourage with the pharmaceutical industry particularly AstraZeneca, GSK and Novartis, all of whom have major respiratory programmes.

For further information, please contact Professor Andy Wardlaw, Theme Leader, Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflmmation. Tel: On campus 83-3734, off campus 0116 256 3734. General enquiries to Yasmin Godhania Tel: 0116 2523022 Email: yg27@le.ac.uk