Understanding inflammation and repairing lung disease

Research

Pioneering spatial map of the airways could transform understanding of asthma

Our researchers have revealed a never-before-seen view of how cells are organised within the airway wall, showing how these ‘cellular ecosystems’ are disrupted in asthma and laying the groundwork for more targeted and effective treatments.

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Section Leadership

Heads of Section

  • Rob Snelgrove (Non-Clinical) 
  • Sejal Saglani (Clinical) 

Section Leads

  • People and Culture Lead: Chloe Bloom  
    • Deputy: Kyle Mincham
  • Education Lead: James Pease
    • Deputy: Coen Wiegman
  • Research Lead: Phil Molyneaux
    • Deputy: Charlotte Dean

 

Respiratory disease is driven not only by its causes, but by how the body responds to injury, infection, and environmental exposure. Our research focuses on the mechanisms of inflammation and immune regulation that shape disease, determine severity, and influence how tissues repair or become chronically damaged.

We investigate the molecular, cellular, and physiological processes underlying inflammation and repair, with a focus on conditions including asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, and acute lung injury. This includes studying airway inflammation, immune cell function and signalling, and the contributions of environmental exposures and infections to disease progression and acute exacerbations. We also examine tissue remodelling, regeneration, and the diverse patterns of disease observed in airway conditions to identify new therapeutic targets and improve clinical outcomes.

 

Our work spans: 

  • Inflammatory mechanisms and immune signalling pathways
  • Asthma, COPD and airway inflammation
  • Acute exacerbations and host responses to infection
  • Tissue injury, repair and regeneration
  • Fibrosis and structural lung disease
  • Environmental exposures and inflammatory responses
  • Early-life development and disease origins
  • Translational lung research and experimental models
  • Clinical studies and patient-focused research
  • Therapeutic targets and drug development

Inflammation and repair team members

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Dr Pankaj K Bhavsar FRSB

Dr Pankaj K Bhavsar FRSB
Senior Research Fellow

Professor Sir Peter J Barnes FMedSci, FRS

Professor Sir Peter J Barnes FMedSci, FRS
Senior Research Investigator

Professor Ian M Adcock

Professor Ian M Adcock
Professor of Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology

Professor Sara M Rankin

Professor Sara M Rankin
Professor of Leukocyte and Stem Cell Biology

Professor Louise E Donnelly

Professor Louise E Donnelly
Professor of Respiratory Cell Biology

Professor James E Pease

Professor James E Pease
Professor of Leukocyte Biology

Professor Robert J Snelgrove

Professor Robert J Snelgrove
Professor of Respiratory Science

Professor Clare M Lloyd

Professor Clare M Lloyd
Vice Dean (People & Culture) Faculty of Medicine

Dr Sarah Essilfie-Quaye

Dr Sarah Essilfie-Quaye
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Research Fellow.

Dr James Harker

Dr James Harker
Associate Professor in Respiratory Science