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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

Evaluation of a rapid lateral flow immunoassay for Staphylococcus aureus detection in respiratory samples
2013, Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 75(1), 28-36
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2012.09.011
Type: article
Case series reporting the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil in treatment-resistant asthma
Christopher L. Grainge, N.P. Jayasekera, Patrick Dennison, Hitasha Rupani, Ramesh J. Kurukulaaratchy & P. Howarth, 2013, European Respiratory Journal, 42, 1134-1137
DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00026413
Type: article
Barrier responses of human bronchial epithelial cells to grass pollen exposure
Cornelia Blume, Emily J. Swindle, Patrick Dennison, Nivenka P. Jayasekera, Sarah Dudley, Phillip Monk, Heidrun Behrendt, Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber, Stephen T. Holgate, Peter H. Howarth, Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann & Donna E. Davies, 2012, European Respiratory Journal
DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00075612
Type: article
Genome-wide association study to identify genetic determinants of severe asthma
Y. I. Wan, N. R. G. Shrine, M. Soler Artigas, L. V. Wain, J. D. Blakey, M. F. Moffatt, A. Bush, K. F. Chung, W. O. C. M. Cookson, D. P. Strachan, L. Heaney, B. A. H. Al-Momani, A. H. Mansur, S. Manney, N. C. Thomson, R. Chaudhuri, C. E. Brightling, M. Bafadhel, A. Singapuri, R. Niven, A. Simpson, J. W. Holloway, P. H. Howarth, J. Hui, A. W. Musk, A. L. James, M. A. Brown, S. Baltic, M. A. R. Ferreira, P. J. Thompson, M. D. Tobin, I. Sayers & I. P. Hall, 2012, Thorax, 67(9), 762-768
DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2011-201262
Type: article
Mepolizumab for severe eosinophilic asthma (DREAM): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
2012, The Lancet, 380(9842), 651-659
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60988-X
Type: article