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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

Multidimensional endotypes of asthma
Timothy Hinks, Xiaoying Zhou, Karl Staples, Borislav Dimitrov, Alexander Manta, Tanya Petrossian, Pek Lum, Caroline Smith, Jon Ward, Peter Howarth, Andrew Walls, Stephan D. Gadola & Ratko Djukanović, 2015, The Lancet, 385(Supplement 1), S42
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60357-9
Type: article
A microRNA network dysregulated in asthma controls IL-6 production in bronchial epithelial cells
Rocio T. Martinez-Nunez, Victor P. Bondanese, Fethi Louafi, Ana S. Francisco-Garcia, Hitasha Rupani, Nicole Bedke, Stephen Holgate, Peter H. Howarth, Donna E. Davies & Tilman Sanchez-Elsner, 2014, PLoS ONE, 9(10), e111659
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111659
Type: article
Asthmatic and normal respiratory epithelial cells respond differently to mechanical apical stress
Christopher Grainge, Patrick Dennison, Laurie Lau, Donna Davies & Peter Howarth, 2014, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 190(4), 477-480
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201401-0107LE
Type: article
TNF-? mediated bronchial barrier disruption and regulation by src-family kinase activation
Michelle A. Hardyman, Emily Wilkinson, Emma Martin, Nivenka P. Jayasekera, Cornelia Blume, Emily J. Swindle, Neil Gozzard, Stephen T. Holgate, Peter H. Howarth, Donna E. Davies & Jane E. Collins, 2013, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 132(3), 665-675.e8
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.03.005
Type: article
CaMKII is essential for the proasthmatic effects of oxidation
Philip N. Sanders, Olha M. Koval, Omar A. Jaffer, Anand M. Prasad, Thomas R. Businga, Jason A. Scott, Patrick J. Hayden, Elizabeth D. Luczak, David D. Dickey, Chantal Allamargot, Alicia K. Olivier, David K. Meyerholz, Alfred J. Robison, Danny G. Winder, Timothy S. Blackwell, Ryszard Dworski, David Sammut, Brett A. Wagner, Garry R. Buettner, Robert M. Pope, Francis J. Miller, Megan E. Dibbern, Hans Michael Haitchi, Peter J. Mohler, Peter H. Howarth, Joseph Zabner, Joel N. Kline, Isabella M. Grumbach & Mark E. Anderson, 2013, Science Translational Medicine, 5(195), 195ra97
DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3006135
Type: article