Respiratory research in Leicester is carried out by a team of clinical and non-clinical academics from both University and NHS backgrounds engaged in internationally competitive research.

The University of Leicester has a deserved international reputation in respiratory research with genuine strengths in both basic and clinical research in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cough and other respiratory diseases. The Respiratory Sciences theme contributes substantially to the Institute for Lung Health (ILH) and has strong and developing links with basic and clinical respiratory scientists at the University of Nottingham through RSCEM (Respiratory Science Collaboration – East Midlands).

A central question being addressed by members of the theme is what is the pathogenesis of environmentally-driven lung disease? Theme members come together to address this question from a diversity of perspectives, encompassing fundamental molecular and cellular investigations, through to clinical, epidemiological approaches. The main areas of research are chronic lung diseases; asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis (a common form of obstructive lung disease), and infectious lung diseases associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza.

Follow this link to the College's Respiratory Theme website.

3i Respiratory Sciences theme membership

For more information on specific research interests click on the links

Professor Andy Wardlaw T cell homing to the lung, eosinaphil trafficking and activation of asthma, immunopathology of asthma and genetics of COPD.

Professor Peter Andrew Molecular and cellular studies of host and bacterial responses in infection and disease and pathogen/environmental interactions especially involving Streptococcus pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes.

Professor Mike Barer Interface between bacterial physiology and human infections, principally those involving the gastrointrestinal tract and tuberculosis.

Professor Peter Bradding The pathophysiology of asthma with a particular focus on ion channels and mast cell-airway smooth muscle.

Professor Chris Brightling Immunopathogeneis of airway disease namely asthma, chronic obstrutive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic cough.

Professor Karl Nicholson Respiratory viral infections, viral vaccines and antiviral agents and influenza vacine evaluation studies.

Professor Chris O'Callaghan Research into Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) and runs the national diagnostic service for PCD. Studies of ciliated respiratory epithelium during chronic diseases (asthma and cystic fibrosis) and infectious disease.

Professor Wilhelm Schwaeble Molecular mechanisms involved in the induction and maintenance of inflammation and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Characterisation of a novel pathway of the innate anti-microbial immune response, the lectin pathway of complement activation. Development of therapeutic approaches to treat inflammatory disease and limit tissue injury. Analysis of human gene polymorphisms leading to predispositions for infectious disease.

Dr Yassine Amrani Use of traslational bench-to-bedside research to identify novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of COPD.

Dr Caroline Beardsmore Paediatric respiratory physiology based in a clinical environment; mechanics of breathing, devlopment and clinical physiology.

Dr Primrose Freestone Studies into 'Microbial Endocrinology', relationship between stress and stress hormones and the progress of human and animal infection.

Dr Erol Gaillard Airway epithelial cell biology especially the role of epithelial ion channels and their impact on mucocililary clearance in conditions like asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD.

Dr Pranab Haldar Epidemiology of latent and active tuberculosis.

Dr Galina Mukamolova Molecular mechanisms of bacterial domancy and resuscitation.

Dr Helen O'Hare Essential serine threonine protein kinases of Mycrobacterium tuberculosis.

Dr Hitesh Pandya Paediatric clinical pharmacology, in particular investigations of biomarkers associated with management and treatment of childhood asthma.

Dr Salman Siddiqui Structure function relationships in large and small conducting airways in asthma and COPD. Applied physiology and functional imaging.

Dr Iain Stephenson Serological responses to 'bird flu' and evaluation of flu candidates.

Dr Cordula Stover Role of complement in chronic disease. Special interest in the role of properdin, a key regulator of complement activation.

Dr Russell Wallis Understanding the molecular changes that occur during initiation of the classical and lectin pathways of complement activation. Specific interests include characterising the interactions between components that trigger complement activation.