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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

Mechanical strain causes adaptive change in bronchial fibroblasts enhancing profibrotic and inflammatory responses
Wiparat Manuyakorn, David Smart, Fabio Bucchieri, Hans Haitchi, Stephen Holgate, Peter Howarth & Donna Davies, 2016, PLoS ONE, 11(4), 1-16
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153926
Type: article
Inhibition of Pim1 kinase, new therapeutic approach in virus-induced asthma exacerbations
Maaike De Vries, N. Bedke, N.P. Smithers, M. Loxham, P.H. Howarth, M.C. Nawijn & D.E. Davies, 2016, European Respiratory Journal, 47(3), 783-791
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00171-2015
Type: article
Microbes and asthma opportunities for intervention
2016, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 137(3), 690-697
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.01.004
Type: article
temperature-controlled laminar airflow in severe asthmas for exacerbation reduction (The LASER Trial)
W. Storrar, C. Fogg, T. Brown, P. Dennison, L.M. Yu, A. Dewey, R. Luengo-Fernandez, T. Dean, N. Rahman, A. Mansur, P.H. Howarth, P. Bradding & A.J. Chauhan, 2016, Trials, 17(15), 1-13
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-015-1134-y
Type: article
Innate and adaptive T cells in asthmatic patients
Timothy Hinks, Xiaoying Zhou, Karl J. Staples, Borislav D. Dimitrov, Alexander Manta, Tanya Petrossian, Pek Y. Lum, Caroline G. Smith, Jon A. Ward, Peter H. Howarth, Andrew F. Walls, Stephan D. Gadola & Ratko Djukanović, 2015, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 136(2), 323-333
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.01.014
Type: article