Clinical Reader in Paediatric Immunology and Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Honorary Consultant Paediatric Immunologist, Great North Children's Hospital
Director of the Northern Deanery Academic Foundation Pragramme
Designated Individual – Newcastle upon Tyne Foundation Hospital Trust Tissue Bank
Research and Development Lead – Child Health
Bio-Bank working party member – University of Newcastle/– Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital Trust
Lecturer in Immunology for CSIM2, CSIM3, MRes Biomolecular Sciences
MD, MRCP, FRCPCH, DCH, Dip Med Sci
European Society of Immunodeficiency Genetics Working Party Member
European Society of Immunodeficiency Inborn Errors Working Party Member
European Society of Immunodeficiency
British Society of Immunology
British Paediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases Group
Member of UK Paediatric Vaccine Group
Member of committee compiling international guidelines for the management of patients with 22q11 deletion
Polysaccharide Antibody Responses
VDJ recombination in Primary Immunodeficiency
Immune Reconstitution post Bone Marrow Transplantation
Immunodeficiency in DiGeorge syndrome
Defects in Non homologous end joining and human disease
Investigations into VDJ recombination ability in patients with severe immunodeficiency and sensitivity to ionising radiation. We have established a fibroblast assay to measure VDJ recombination in vitro and are looking at VDJ recombination in a family with severe T cell immunodeficiency. We aim to utilise this assay with other patients with impaired VDJ recombination to examine fidelity.
A study to determine whether preterm infants can make a protective antibody response to the pneumococcal serotypes in Prevenar conjugate heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine following the national UK immunisation schedule:
This is a multicentre clinical study with Alan Fenton in Neonatolgy to assess the efficacy of a new conjugated pneumococcal vaccine in pre-term neonates. This has established a multivalent pneumococcal ELISA assay in Newcastle, and will compliment some of the current research into the nature of the pneumococcal antibody response.
An investigation into the basis of polysaccharide antibody deficiency in paediatric patient groups with poor IgG responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide:
An ongoing project to investigate in detail the phenotypic profile of paediatric patients with polysaccharide antibody deficiency.
DNA repair disorders and Immunodeficiency:
Ongoing collaborations with Penny Jeggo at the University of Sussex, examining DNA repair disorders and their contribution to human immunodeficienies.
Assessment of Disease causing RAG mutations in T-B- SCID and Omenn Syndrome:
This project is looking at whether differences in RAG gene mutations can explain the different clinical presentations of RAG deficient Omenn Syndrome, combined immunodeficiency and RAG deficient T-B- SCID. Currently, 1 MSc student working with me and Dr Pete Middleton (Academic Heamatology).
Investigating a new human innmunodeficiency related to NEMO defects:
A collaborative project with Jean-Laurent Casanova in Paris to investigate a new human immunodeficiency related to NEMO defects.
I am setting up a project to investigate The Role of Regulatory T cells in Thymic Dysregulation and Autoimmunity in DiGeorge Association.
I am establishing a project in collaboration with Anne Dickinson, Xiao Wang,(Academic Haematology) to look at Regulatory T cell function. I am also looking to identify DiGeorge thymus by ultrasound and correlate this with immune function.
Prinicipal investigator
Undergraduate Research student supervisor
Postgraduate Research student supervisor
Postgraduate Research student assessor
Postgraduate Research student examiner
I am currently supervising 1 PhD student
Identification of non-HLA gene polymorphisms association with post transplant complications following bone marrow transplantation using a genome -wide scanning methodology. (2006-2009)
I am currently supervising 3 MD students:
The Impact of a Conjugate Pneumcoccal Vaccine (Prevenar) on the Epidemiology and Aetiology of Childhood Pneumonia in the North East (2009-2011)
Antibody avidity in preterm infants (2008-2010)
Enhanced surveillance of pneumococcal empyema (2007-2009)
I have successfully supervised the following:
MD student 2006-2008
The Role of Regulatory T cells in Thymic Dysregulation and Autoimmunity in DiGeorge Association. – Awarded February 2009 With Commendation
MD student 2004-2006
A study to determine whether preterm infants can make a protective antibody response to the pneumococcal serotypes in Prevenar conjugate heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine following the national UK immunisation schedule – Awarded December 2007
MRes Student project 1 2006
Do differences in GvHD-associated cytokine polymorphisms account for the development of Omenn’s syndrome rather than T-B- Severe combined immunodeficiency in patients with defects in RAG genes? Distinction
MRes Student project 2 2006
Do differences in GvHD-associated cytokine polymorphisms account for the development of Omenn’s syndrome rather than T-B- Severe combined immunodeficiency in patients with defects in RAG genes? Distinction
BMedSci student 2002-2003
In vitro Interferon g (IFN g) production as an aid in the diagnosis of mycobacterial infection and illness, including tuberculosis, in children.
MSc Student project 2008
Assessment of Disease causing RAG mutations in T-B- SCID and Omenn Syndrome - Pass
MSc Student project 2006
Autozygosity mapping of chromosome 7 region - Search for a New Gene Causing Omenn’s Syndrome variant of T Cell Negative Severe Combined immunodeficiency - Merit
I am a member of the UK Paediatric Vaccine Group. I have spoken at parent’s days for 4 national charities; The Bubble Foundation UK, The Chronic Granulomatous Disease Research Trust, Max Appeal and the Velocardiofacial Syndrome charity. I am an editorial board member of the Open Transplant Journal. I have regularly reviewed articles for national and international journals. I have reviewed grant proposals. I have been a specialist advisor to the Gene Therapy Advisor Committee in 2005 and 2007. I am research and development lead for Child Health and a member of the Clinical Research Centre Executive Board. I am the Designated Individual of the Therapeutic Human Tissue Banks for the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust.
Leukaemia Research Fund -2009 Investigating Early Haematopoietic Development in Ligase IV and XLF Deficient Patients using induced pluripotent stem cells. £165,845 (with LM Lako).
The Oddfellows (Bubble Foundation) - 2009 Measuring Antibody Quality in Premature Babies Following Vaccination £18486
SPARKS – 2009 A study to determine the antibody response to Haemophilus Influenzae type b and Neisseria Meningitidis type C vaccines in UK preterm and term infants immunised with Prevenar conjugate heptavalent pneumococcal vaccine. £18973
Tiny Lives – 2008. Measuring pneumococcal serotypes in nasal swabs from Premature Babies Following Vaccination £16200
Bubble Foundation UK – 2008. Continuing studies into a New Gene Causing Omenn’s Syndrome variant of T Cell Negative Severe Combined immunodeficiency (with AJ Cant). £26,881
Bubble Foundation UK – 2008. Data collection and analysis co-ordinator for paediatric bone marrow transplantation unit (with AJ Cant). £8,833
Bubble Foundation UK – 2008. Continuing studies into a New Gene Causing Omenn’s Syndrome variant of T Cell Negative Severe Combined immunodeficiency (with AJ Cant). £39,785
Bubble Foundation UK – 2007 - 2008. Research development and support officer. £21,000
Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund – 2008-2009.
Identification of non-HLA gene polymorphisms association with post transplant complications following bone marrow transplantation using a genome -wide scanning methodology. (with PG Middleton) £121027
I teach immunology to the 2nd year medical students (CSIM 2)
I teach immunology to the medical students on the accelerated medical degree
I teach immunology to the 4th year medical students (CSIM 3) and I am the Theme Leader for 'Immunology in Medicine'
I give 2 lectures on two MRes courses on immunodeficiency, bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy :
MRes Transplantation Sciences
Mres Immunobiology