Summary
Rob Snelgrove graduated from Imperial College London with a BSc in Biochemistry and an MRes in Biochemical Research. He subsequently took up a PhD within the group of Professor Tracy Hussell at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London, where the focus of his studies was broadly to investigate the potential to manipulate myeloid cells to modulate immune protection and immunopathology in the context of respiratory infections.
Upon completion of his PhD, Rob was awarded the inaugural Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship by the Wellcome Trust. The majority of his fellowship was spent within the laboratory of Professor J. Edwin Blalock at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), investigating the role of bioactive fragments of the extracellular matrix (termed “matrikines”) in driving neutrophil recruitment during respiratory viral infection.
In 2011, Rob returned to the UK and joined the Inflammation, Repair and Development section the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) at Imperial College as a Research Fellow and was awarded a Career Development Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust to develop an independent research group. In 2016, he was promoted to Senior Research Fellow and was awarded a Value in People Award from the Wellcome Trust. In 2018, Rob was awarded a Senior Research Fellowship in Biomedical Science from the Wellcome Trust and was promoted to Reader in Respiratory Translational Science. In addition to extended research support from the Wellcome Trust, his group have received additional funding through Asthma UK, the MRC, the Rosetrees Trust, Apollo Therapeutics and industrial collaborative awards.
Broadly, Rob’s group are interested in pathways that drive inflammation and remodelling during respiratory infection and in chronic lung disease. Whilst inflammation is important in fighting infection, it must be tightly regulated and appropriate reparative processes instigated. Persistent inflammation and aberrant repair and remodelling are cardinal features of chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. His approach is to understand fundamental biological pathways that are critical in regulating inflammation and repair within the lung, and subsequently define how and why these pathways are subverted or perturbed leading to the chronic inflammation and pathological tissue remodelling seen in these chronic diseases. To dissect these pathways, Rob’s team use complex animal models, primary human cells and patient samples from numerous clinical collaborators.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Turnbull A, Pyle C, Patel D, et al., 2020, Abnormal pro-gly-pro pathway and airway neutrophilia in pediatric cystic fibrosis, Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Vol:19, ISSN:1569-1993, Pages:40-48
Patel DF, Peiro T, Bruno N, et al., 2019, Neutrophils restrain allergic airway inflammation by limiting ILC2 function and monocyte-dendritic cell antigen presentation, Science Immunology, Vol:4, ISSN:2470-9468, Pages:1-18
Singanayagam A, Snelgrove RJ, 2019, Less burn, more fat: electronic cigarettes and pulmonary lipid homeostasis, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Vol:129, ISSN:0021-9738, Pages:4077-4079
Salek-Ardakani S, Bell T, Jagger CP, et al., 2019, CD200R1 regulates eosinophilia during pulmonary fungal infection in mice, European Journal of Immunology, ISSN:0014-2980
Snelgrove RJ, Patel DF, 2019, Zooming into the Matrix: Using Nonlinear Optical Microscopy to Visualize Collagen Remodeling in Asthmatic Airways, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol:200, ISSN:1073-449X, Pages:403-413
Bell TJ, Brand OJ, Morgan DJ, et al., 2019, Defective lung function following influenza virus is due to prolonged, reversible hyaluronan synthesis, Matrix Biology, Vol:80, ISSN:0945-053X, Pages:14-28
Patel DF, Gaggar A, Blalock JE, et al., 2019, Response to Comment on "An extracellular matrix fragment drives epithelial remodeling and airway hyperresponsiveness", Science Translational Medicine, Vol:11, ISSN:1946-6234
Dean CH, Snelgrove RJ, 2018, New rules for club development: new insights into human small airway epithelial club cell ontogeny and function, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol:198, ISSN:1073-449X, Pages:1355-1366
Snelgrove RJ, Patel DF, Patel T, et al., 2018, The enigmatic role of the neutrophil in asthma: Friend, foe or indifferent?, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, Vol:48, ISSN:0954-7894, Pages:1275-1285
Snelgrove RJ, Lloyd CM, 2018, Tasting type 2 inflammation in the airways, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Vol:142, ISSN:0091-6749, Pages:403-404
Patel DF, Snelgrove RJ, 2018, The multifaceted roles of the matrikine Pro-Gly-Pro in pulmonary health and disease, European Respiratory Review, Vol:27, ISSN:0905-9180
Snelgrove RJ, Lloyd CM, 2017, An NLRP3, IL-1 beta, Neutrophil Axis in the Respiratory Tract Leaves You Breathless, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol:196, ISSN:1073-449X, Pages:253-254
Baker K, Raemdonck K, Snelgrove RJ, et al., 2017, Characterisation of a murine model of the late asthmatic response, Respiratory Research, Vol:18, ISSN:1465-9921
Low CM, Akthar S, Patel D, et al., 2017, The development of novel LTA4H modulators to selectively target LTB4 generation, Scientific Reports, Vol:7, ISSN:2045-2322
Weiss G, Lai C, Fife ME, et al., 2016, Reversal of TREM-1 ectodomain shedding and improved bacterial clearance by intranasal metalloproteinase inhibitors, Mucosal Immunology, Vol:10, ISSN:1933-0219, Pages:1021-1030
Baker K, Raemdonck K, Dekkak B, et al., 2016, Role of the ion channel, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), in allergic asthma, Respiratory Research, Vol:17, ISSN:1465-993X
Castanhinha S, Sherburn RT, Walker SA, et al., 2015, Pediatric severe asthma with fungal sensitization is mediated by steroid-resistant IL-33, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Vol:136, ISSN:1097-6825, Pages:312-322.e7
Sanders RD, Grover V, Goulding J, et al., 2015, Immune cell expression of GABA(A) receptors and the effects of diazepam on influenza infection, Journal of Neuroimmunology, Vol:282, ISSN:0165-5728, Pages:97-103
Stack G, Jones E, Marsden M, et al., 2015, CD200 Receptor Restriction of Myeloid Cell Responses Antagonizes Antiviral Immunity and Facilitates Cytomegalovirus Persistence within Mucosal Tissue, PLOS Pathogens, Vol:11, ISSN:1553-7366
Snelgrove R, Kheradmand F, 2014, Leukotriene A(4) Hydrolase: The Janus Enzyme Shows Its Ugly Side in Smokers, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol:190, ISSN:1073-449X, Pages:5-7
Eltom S, Dale N, Raemdonck KRG, et al., 2014, Respiratory Infections Cause the Release of Extracellular Vesicles: Implications in Exacerbation of Asthma/COPD, PLOS One, Vol:9, ISSN:1932-6203
Stacey MA, Marsden M, Pham TAN, et al., 2014, Neutrophils Recruited by IL-22 in Peripheral Tissues Function as TRAIL-Dependent Antiviral Effectors against MCMV, Cell Host & Microbe, Vol:15, ISSN:1931-3128, Pages:471-483
Findlay EG, Danks L, Madden J, et al., 2014, OX40L blockade is therapeutic in arthritis, despite promoting osteoclastogenesis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol:111, ISSN:0027-8424, Pages:2289-2294
Baker KE, Raemdonck K, Dale N, et al., 2014, Determination Of The Key Effector Cells Involved In The Late Asthmatic Response, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol:189, ISSN:1073-449X
Sanders RD, Godlee A, Fujimori T, et al., 2013, Benzodiazepine Augmented gamma-Amino-Butyric Acid Signaling Increases Mortality From Pneumonia in Mice, Critical Care Medicine, Vol:41, ISSN:0090-3493, Pages:1627-1636
Eltom S, Dale N, Raemdonck K, et al., 2013, Role Of Extracellular Vesicles In The Exacerbations Of Asthma And COPD, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol:187, ISSN:1073-449X
Hardison MT, Brown MD, Snelgrove RJ, et al., 2012, Cigarette smoke enhances chemotaxis via acetylation of proline-glycine-proline., Front Biosci (elite Ed), Vol:4, Pages:2402-2409
Snelgrove RJ, Cornere MM, Edwards L, et al., 2012, OX40 Ligand Fusion Protein Delivered Simultaneously With the BCG Vaccine Provides Superior Protection Against Murine Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol:205, ISSN:0022-1899, Pages:975-983
Snelgrove RJ, 2012, Pulmonary innate lymphoid cells regulate repair and remodeling after acute lung injury, Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy, Vol:10, ISSN:1478-7210, Pages:281-284
Hussell T, Godlee A, Salek-Ardakani S, et al., 2012, Respiratory viral infections: knowledge based therapeutics, Current Opinion in Immunology, Vol:24(4), Pages:438-443
Snelgrove RJ, 2011, Leukotriene A(4) hydrolase: an anti-inflammatory role for a proinflammatory enzyme, Thorax, Vol:66, ISSN:0040-6376, Pages:550-551
Peirce MJ, Brook M, Morrice N, et al., 2010, Themis2/ICB1 Is a Signaling Scaffold That Selectively Regulates Macrophage Toll-Like Receptor Signaling and Cytokine Production, PLOS One, Vol:5, ISSN:1932-6203
O'Reilly PJ, Hardison MT, Jackson PL, et al., 2009, Neutrophils contain prolyl endopeptidase and generate the chemotactic peptide, PGP, from collagen, Journal of Neuroimmunology, Vol:217, ISSN:0165-5728, Pages:51-54
Didierlaurent A, Goulding J, Patel S, et al., 2008, Sustained desensitization to bacterial Toll-like receptor ligands after resolution of respiratory influenza infection, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol:205, ISSN:0022-1007, Pages:323-329
Goulding J, Snelgrove R, Saldana J, et al., 2007, Respiratory infections: do we ever recover?, Proc Am Thorac Soc, Vol:4, ISSN:1546-3222, Pages:618-625
Thorpe C, Edwards L, Snelgrove R, et al., 2007, Discovery of a vaccine antigen that protects mice from Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, Vaccine, Vol:25, ISSN:0264-410X, Pages:2252-2260
Gwyer E, Snelgrove R, Hussell T, 2006, The therapeutic potential of positive and negative immune cell co-stimulation during inflammation, Biochemical Society Transactions, Vol:34, ISSN:0300-5127, Pages:1032-1036
Humphreys IR, Edwards L, Snelgrove RJ, et al., 2006, A critical role for ICOS co-stimulation in immune containment of pulmonary influenza virus infection, European Journal of Immunology, Vol:36, ISSN:0014-2980, Pages:2928-2938
Snelgrove RJ, Edwards L, Williams AE, et al., 2006, In the absence of reactive oxygen species, T cells default to a Th1 phenotype and mediate protection against pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection, Journal of Immunology, Vol:177, ISSN:0022-1767, Pages:5509-5516
Shelgrove R, Gwyer E, Hussell T, 2006, Modulation of immunity to respiratory viral infection, Future Virology, Vol:1, ISSN:1746-0794, Pages:471-481
Snelgrove RJ, Edwards L, Rae AJ, et al., 2006, An absence of reactive oxygen species improves the resolution of lung influenza infection, European Journal of Immunology, Vol:36, ISSN:0014-2980, Pages:1364-1373
Humphreys IR, Stewart GR, Turner DJ, et al., 2006, A role for dendritic cells in the dissemination of mycobacterial infection, Microbes and Infection, Vol:8, ISSN:1286-4579, Pages:1339-1346
Snelgrove RJ, Edwards L, Barclay AN, et al., 2005, CD200 governs compartmentalization and resolution of inflammatory responses to respiratory infection, Immunology, Vol:116, ISSN:0019-2805, Pages:103-104
Didierlaurent A, Snelgrove R, Edwards L, et al., 2005, TLR5 signalling alters subsequent immune responses in the lung, Immunology, Vol:116, ISSN:0019-2805, Pages:26-26
Gwyer EL, Edwards L, Snelgrove RJ, et al., 2005, Parameters affecting the expression and function of the late co-stimulatory molecule OX40, Immunology, Vol:116, ISSN:0019-2805, Pages:7-7
Henson SM, Snelgrove R, Hussell T, et al., 2005, An IL-7 fusion protein that shows increased thymopoietic ability, Journal of Immunology, Vol:175, ISSN:0022-1767, Pages:4112-4118
Edwards L, Williams AE, Krieg AM, et al., 2005, Stimulation via Toll-like receptor 9 reduces Cryptococcus neoformans-induced pulmonary inflammation in an IL-12-dependent manner, European Journal of Immunology, Vol:35, ISSN:0014-2980, Pages:273-281
Williams AE, Edwards L, Humphreys IR, et al., 2004, Innate imprinting by the modified heat-labile toxin of Escherichia coli (LTK63) provides generic protection against lung infectious disease, Journal of Immunology, Vol:173, ISSN:0022-1767, Pages:7435-7443
Hussell T, Snelgrove R, Humphreys IR, et al., 2004, Co-stimulation: novel methods for preventing viral-induced lung inflammation, Trends in Molecular Medicine, Vol:10, ISSN:1471-4914, Pages:379-386
Snelgrove R, Williams A, Thorpe C, et al., 2004, Manipulation of immunity to and pathology of respiratory infections., Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy, Vol:2, ISSN:1478-7210, Pages:413-426
Conference
Humphreys IR, Stacey MA, Marsden M, et al., 2014, Neutrophils recruited by IL-22 in peripheral tissues function as TRAIL-dependent antiviral effectors against MCMV, 2nd Annual Meeting of the International-Cytokine-and-Interferon-Society (ICIS), ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, Pages:48-49, ISSN:1043-4666
Bell TJ, Snelgrove RJ, Hussell T, 2013, Accumulation of airway hyaluronic acid after influenza infection: consequences for innate immunity, Annual Congress of the British-Society-for-Immunology, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages:86-87, ISSN:0019-2805
Stack G, Marsden M, Stacey M, et al., 2013, CD200 receptor signalling facilitates murine cytomegalovirus persistence in mucosal tissue, Annual Congress of the British-Society-for-Immunology, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages:30-30, ISSN:0019-2805
Stacey MA, Marsden M, Dolton G, et al., 2013, Neutrophils deliver TRAIL mediated protection from acute cytomegalovirus infection, Annual Congress of the British-Society-for-Immunology, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages:114-114, ISSN:0019-2805
Stacey M, Marsden M, Dolton G, et al., 2013, IL-22 driven neutrophils afford critical protection from acute murine cytomegalovirus infection, 100th Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists, AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS, ISSN:0022-1767
Fujimori T, Snelgrove R, Hussell T, 2013, TAM receptors and their role in the regulation of lung innate immunity, 100th Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Immunologists, AMER ASSOC IMMUNOLOGISTS, ISSN:0022-1767
Fujimori T, Snelgrove R, Hussell T, 2012, TAM receptors and their role in the regulation of lung innate immunity, European Congress of Immunology, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages:219-219, ISSN:0019-2805
Bell TJ, Snelgrove RJ, Hussell T, 2012, Increased hyaluronic acid in the airway following influenza infection contributes to heightened susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection, European Congress of Immunology, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages:215-216, ISSN:0019-2805
Marsden M, Stacey MA, Jones E, et al., 2011, CD200 receptor signaling promotes the establishment of virus persistence in mucosal tissue through inhibition of innate immunity, Annual Congress of the British-Society-for-Immunology, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages:200-200, ISSN:0019-2805
Stacey MA, Marsden M, Dolton G, et al., 2011, A tissue-restricted antiviral function of interleukin-22 in murine cytomegalovirus infection, Annual Congress of the British-Society-for-Immunology, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Pages:119-119, ISSN:0019-2805