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Research project

Dr P Howarth: 'Wessex severe asthma cohort'

Staff

Other researchers

Professor Donna Davies

Research interests

  • Mechanisms of lung diseases
  • Viral-induced exacerbations of lung disease
  • Asthma
Connect with Donna

Email: [email protected]

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.
Connect with Ratko

Email: [email protected]

Research outputs

Randomised controlled trials in severe asthma
Thomas Brown, Thomas Jones, Kerry Gove, Clair Barber, Scott Elliott, Anoop Chauhan, Peter Howarth, L. Aitkin, S. Babu, P. Dennison, R. Djukanovic, C. Grainge, L. Hewitt, N. Jayasekera, R. Kurukulaaratchy, S. Kerley, L. Lau, D. Laws, J. Owen, E. Ray, D. Reynish, H. Rupani & O. Scullion-Win, 2018, European Respiratory Journal, 52(6)
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01444-2018
Type: article
Genome-wide posttranscriptional dysregulation by microRNAs in human asthma as revealed by Frac-seq.
Rocio, Teresa Martinez-Nunez, Hitasha Rupani, Manuela Platé, Mahesan Niranjan, Rachel C. Chambers, Peter H. Howarth & Tilman Sanchez-Elsner, 2018, The Journal of Immunology, 201(1), 251-263
DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701798
Type: article
Multitissue transcriptomics delineates the diversity of airway T cell functions in asthma
Akul Singhania, Joshua C. Wallington, Caroline G. Smith, Daniel Horowitz, Karl J. Staples, Peter H. Howarth, Stephan D Gadola, Ratko Djukanovic, Christopher H. Woelk & Timothy S.C. Hinks, 2018, American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 58(2), 261-270
DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0162OC
Type: article
Increased expression of p22phox mediates airway hyperresponsiveness in an experimental model of asthma
Chandran Nagaraj, Hans Michael Haitchi, Akos Heinemann, Peter Howarth, Andrea Olschewski & Leigh M Marsh, 2017, Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, 27(18), 1460-1472
DOI: 10.1089/ars.2016.6863
Type: article
CD48 on blood leukocytes and in serum of asthma patients varies with severity
Roopesh S. Gangwar, Y. Minai-Fleminger, M. Seaf, A. Gutcold, A. Shikotra, C. Barber, A. Chauhan, S. Holgate, P. Bradding, P. Howarth, R. Elishar, N. Berkman & F. Levi_Schaffer, 2017, Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 72(6), 888-895
DOI: 10.1111/all.13082
Type: article