Dr Karl J Staples BSc (Hons), PhD, FHEA
Associate Professor
Dr Karl Staples is an Associate Professor at the University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine. His research focuses on host-pathogen interactions in chronic inflammatory airways diseases, such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and the contribution of these interactions to exacerbations of these respiratory conditions. To study these interactions he has developed novel ex vivo models of bacterial and viral (incl. influenza, COVID-19) infection using human lung cells and tissue. He is also the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre Respiratory & Critical Care Theme Training Lead and the Clinical & Experimental Sciences Doctoral Programme Lead.
Macrophages are often thought of as the housekeepers of the lung, removing dust and debris that are inhaled, but these cells act as an important brake on the immune system, keeping inflammation to a minimum. This braking effect appears to be reduced in asthma, COPD and by viral infections. My research concentrates on trying to restore this brake and reduce the inflammation in these diseases.
He was introduced to the respiratory immunology field during his doctoral studies with Professor Peter Barnes, FRS, and Dr Robert Newton at the NHLI, Imperial College, London. Here he investigated the mechanisms by which the release of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-5 and GM-CSF from T cells are modulated by anti-inflammatory therapeutics, such as glucocorticoids and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. After an interesting postdoctoral post at Cornell University in New York investigating the function of STAT proteins, the key cytokine signalling molecules, he joined Prof. Löms Ziegler-Heitbrock at the University of Leicester to study cytokine release from macrophages.
A key factor in his move to Southampton was that it allowed him to expand his research interest back into airways disease. This interest led to the award of an Asthma UK project grant in 2008 to study the phenotype and function of macrophages derived from the airway of asthmatics. Since the award of this first grant, he has developed ex vivo models of infection of lung samples that have led to further funding (e.g. BMA, AZ) and multiple publications. These models are being expanded to investigate multiple hypotheses by his growing research team of postdoctoral scientists and PhD students.
Degree Qualifications
- B.Sc. (Hons), Biochemistry (Toxicology), University of Surrey (1996)
- Ph.D., Biochemistry, Imperial College London (2001)
- Postgraduate Certificate, Academic Practice, University of Southampton (2008)
Appointments held
- Research Associate, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, USA 2001-2003
- Research Associate, Division of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Leicester 2003-2006
- Research Fellow, Clinical & Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton 2006-2010
- Senior Research Fellow, Clinical & Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, 2010-2015
- Lecturer, Clinical & Experimental Sciences, University of Southampton, 2016-2018