Medicine, University of Southampton

Professor Calder was appointed to a personal Chair in Nutritional Immunology in 2002. His research focuses on understanding the influence of dietary fatty acids on aspects on cell function and human health, in particular in relation to cardiovascular disease, inflammation and immunity. He has been awarded the Sir David Cuthbertson Medal by the UK Nutrition Society (1995), the Belgian Danone Institute Chair (2004), the Nutricia International Award (2007), the ESPEN Cuthbertson Lecture (2008), and the New Zealand Nutrition Society’s Muriel Bell Award (2009). Professor Calder is a Visiting Professor at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is listed on isiHighlyCited.

Qualifications

BSc(Hons), Biochemistry, Massey University (1980)
PhD, Biochemistry, University of Auckland (1987)
DPhil, Biochemistry, University of Oxford (1995)

Appointments held

Nuffield Medical Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, 1987-1991

Departmental Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, 1991-1995

Lecturer in Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, 1995-1998

Reader in Human Nutrition, University of Southampton, 1998-2002

Professor of Nutritional Immunology, University of Southampton, 2002-present

Professor Calder is interested in the interaction between nutrition and immune function especially as it relates to human health. The main focus of his research aims to identify the influence of dietary fatty acids on the immune and inflammatory systems and to understand the mechanisms of action of specific fatty acids. A combination of in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches is used to study the functional responses of neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes. A range of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of the n-3 family of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly those found in fish oils, have been identified. It has been ascertained that these fatty acids work in part by antagonising the production and actions of arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids and in part by eicosanoid-independent mechanisms. The findings of this research aid our knowledge of the health benefits of naturally-occurring fatty acids and provide information to underpin the design of nutritionally-based therapies for use in situations where components of the immune and inflammatory systems are under or over active.

Current projects investigate:

• The effect of increased intake of salmon by pregnant women on nutrient status and markers of immunity in newborn infants and their subsequent risk of allergic disease
• Dose and time dependence of incorporation of marine n-3 fatty acids into transport, functional and storage pools in humans
• The effect of chemical formulation of marine n-3 fatty acids on their bioavailability and incorporation into blood pools in humans
• The effect of marine n-3 fatty acids on inflammatory markers in lean and obese humans
• The mechanisms by which fatty acids exert anti-inflammatory actions (in vitro studies)
• Differential sensitivity to marine n-3 fatty acids according to genotype
• The effect of high dose marine n-3 fatty acids in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (in collaboration with Professor C Byrne and Professor G Clough)
• The effect of prebiotics on immune responses in older humans

Academic unit:  Human Development and Health