NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre 2017-2022

Staff

Lead researcher

Professor Robert Read

Chair of Infectious Diseases

Email: r.c.read@soton.ac.uk

Other researchers

Professor Chris Byrne

Professor of Endocrinol & Met

Email: c.d.byrne@soton.ac.uk

Professor Cyrus Cooper

Prof Rheumatology Clinical Epidemiology

Research interests

Key research contributions have been:
discovery of the developmental influences which contribute to the risk of osteoporosis and hip fracture in late adulthood
demonstration that maternal vitamin D insufficiency is associated with sub-optimal bone mineral accrual in childhood

Email: cc@mrc.soton.ac.uk

Professor Philip Calder

Head of School

Email: p.c.calder@soton.ac.uk

Professor Ratko Djukanovic

Professor of Medicine

Research interests

Professor Djukanovic has a lifelong interest in asthma, especially its severe forms. where his focus is on: 1) underlying pathobiological mechanisms of asthma, 2) stratification of asthma into clinical phenotypes and mechanism-based endotypes, 3) unmet needs of severe asthma management. He also has an interest in the mechanisms and treatments of severe viral infections of the lung.
Underlying mechanisms of asthma: Professor Djukanovic has conducted pioneer studies into the pathology of asthma, applying research bronchoscopy (with endobronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage) and sputum induction. He led the initial task forces which defined the use of these two techniques, thereby paving the way for standardised research approches that enabled in-depth descriptions of the roles of various inflammatory cells and their mediators. He developed an explant model, consisting of bronchial biopsies placed into tissue culture, that could be stimulated ex vivo with relevant triggers, applying as needed, novel agents not yet approved for in vivo use in humans volunteers.
Stratification of asthma into clinical phenotypes and mechanism-based endotypes: Professor Djukanovic led the discovery of biomarkers using omics technology (transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, breathomics). After the first ever study of transcriptomics biomarkers in the epithelium of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), together with a colleague from Amsterdam and two colleagues from Imperial College, London, he created a large (€27 milllion) programme for severe asthma (U-BIOPRED), funded by the EU Innovative Medicines Initiative. This has resulted in more than 100 publications, providing insight into novel phenotypes and endotypes of asthma.