Head of Laboratory Service; Senior Research Fellow

National Heart and Lung Institute (Imperial College London)

Clinical:

Diagnostic service for the measurement of:

• specific IgE to high and low molecular weight allergens
• T cell (“lymphocyte”) proliferation to beryllium
• Precipitins for the identification of specific IgG antibodies to occupational and environmental allergens

Current research interests:

Occupational Asthma

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of high and low molecular weight allergen-related disease, specifically:

• SPIRAL study of laboratory workers and allergy
• cellular and cytokine responses in peripheral blood and mapping of the T cell epitopes
• cellular and molecular response in the lungs of patients challenged with diisocyanates
• Genetic susceptibility to both high and low molecular allergens, in particular:
  • HLA association with the development of sensitisation.
  • IL-13 polymorphisms in the development of sensitisation to occupational allergens

Immunoregulation, focusing on:

• the role of T regulatory cells.
• specific cytokine response.
• IgG, IgG4, IgA antibodies and potential blocking mechanisms

• Development of novel assays for the measurement of specific IgE to low molecular weight allergens

Birth cohort (allergen) studies

Domestic dust exposure and specific serum IgE, IgG and IgG4 levels in children and mothers

Qualifications:

• PhD