Thoracic Research
Clinical and basic scientific research into many aspects of respiratory disease is active throughout Wales. A number of research institutions have an international reputation for excellence. Selected profiles are provided below.
Swansea School of Medicine
Dr Keir Lewis, who is a Senior Lecturer at Swansea School of Medicine and an Honorary Respiratory Consultant with Hywel Dda NHS Trust, has a wide variety of research activities but has a principle interest in smoking cessation and sleep disturbed breathing.
MD projects supervised
1. Dr Amit Benjamin: Sleep disturbed breathing and cardiovascular disease; 2006-2009 (Completed)
2. Mr Imran Alam: Role of bariatric surgery in metabolic control and treatment of sleep disturbed breathing in morbidly obese; 2006-2010 (Completed)
3. Dr Robin Ghosal: Using new biological tools to detect and monitor lung cancer; 2007- 2010 (Completed)
4. Mr David Owens: Evaluation of the assessment and treatment of nasal obstruction due to septal deformity using Cottle's rhinospirometry. (2009-present; MSc)
5. Sian Hall: Enrolled MSc
Collaborations and active projects
Local
Dr MJ Lewis: Dept Sports Science, Swansea University.
Dr T Claypole, Dept of Engineering and Printing, Swansea University.
Dr PD Lewis: Dept Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, Swansea University.
Prof M Blagrove, Dept Psychology, Swansea University.
Prof P Nithiarasu et al Dept of Engineering and Centre for Nanohealth, Swansea University.
International
Randomised control trial of Auto-SVï£ Ventilation in chronic heart failure patients with sleep disturbed breathing.
Dr M Arzt and Prof M Pfeiffer Regensburg, Germany.
Prof Escourou, Paris, France. Prof F Series, Canada.
Measurement of exhaled volatile organic compounds in lung cancer.
Dr D Hao, Calgary, Canada.
Research opportunities
Contact Dr Lewis.
k.e.lewis@swansea.ac.uk
01554 783133
Asthma & Allergy group, Swansea University
This group resides within the Swansea School of Medicine, and boasts an international research reputation. The group's focus is the genetic and immune aspects of asthma. As well as Professor Julian Hopkin, who heads this Experimental Medicine Unit, the team comprises Clinical Senior Lecturer, Gwyneth Davies, Immunology Lecturer, William Walker and Visiting Research Fellow Keiko Tenaka. Taro Shirakawa is a standing Visiting Professor based at the Japanese National Genotyping Centre and is a Professor at Kyoto University. Professors Hopkin and Shirakawa shared the 2001 Daiwa-Adrian Prize in Medicine for their work on the genetics of asthma and allergy.
The group's key achievements recently have been the demonstration of how genetic variants of Th-2 immune signalling (particularly through the ligand IL-13 and the transduction molecule STAT 6) impact on the production of reagenic antibody IgE, the promotion of asthma, and protection from parasitic worm infection. Current main efforts are focused on:
• Thorough definition of how genetic interactions between multiple variants in Th-2 immune signalling interact to predict the phenotypes of allergy, asthma and low parasitic worm burdens;
• Deriving a functional and structural understanding of how these variants change function;
• Advancing molecular approaches to the inhibition of Th-2 immune signalling as a prospective foundation for novel therapies for asthma and allergy;
• Exploration of the role of mast cell chymase in IgE mediated inflammation of the skin.
• Recent work is focused on the role of obesity in asthma with particular regard to Th2 signalling
Research Opportunities for Trainees
The Clinical Lecturer post offers an exciting opportunity for physicians in training to work towards an MD, or for a young clinical academic to undertake post-graduate research. Clinical speciality of respiratory medicine, immunology or infection are all appropriate. The research opportunities at the Experimental Medicine Unit lie in genetic epidemiology or the molecular biology of Th-2 immune signalling, in relation to asthma, allergy and parasitic worm infection and investigation of the role of obesity in asthma with particular regard to Th2 signalling. There are excellent research facilities available within the School's new £50M Institute of Life Science with strong academic supervision. A limited commitment to clinical medicine (approximately 2 to 3 sessions per week) is integral. The post holder will also teach on the Graduate Entry medicine (GEM) programme with up to 5 lectures annually.
Morriston Hospital, Swansea
Permanent Staff
Dr NK Harrison MA MD FRCP
Dr EN Evans MD FRCP
Current Research Fellow:
Dr Mat Jones
Research interests
Interstitial lung disease
Pulmonary fibrosis
Pathogenesis of cough in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Higher degrees
1. Dr Ben Hope-Gill: A study into the pathogenesis of cough in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis MD, University of Sheffield 2004
2. Dr Mat Jones - registered for MD (University of Swansea) and Dip Med Education (Cardiff University) 2009 - present
Active projects
• A study of mechanical stimulation of cough in IPF
• Studies of the role of neurotrophic factors in the pathogenesis of cough
• Recruiting for the National TIPAC trial - randomised placebo study of cotrimoxazole in the treatment of IPF
• Recruiting for - randomised placebo study of nebulised colistin in the treatment of chronic pseudomonas infection in bronchiectasis
Research opportunities
Please contact Dr NK Harrison:
Respiratory Unit
Morriston Hospital
ABM University Trust
Swansea SA6 6NL
Tel: 01792 703213
Fax: 01792 703845
Bangor
Dr Damian McKeon is a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Bangor University and a Consultant Respiratory Physician with Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital. His principle research focus is bronchiectasis and chronic inflammatory pulmonary disease, and has recently be co-awarded an All Wales Respiratory Research Grant (£330,000) from WORD. Dr Grant Benfield has an interest in COPD.
Research staff
One SIFT funded Thoracic Fellow, who is looking to pursue an MD thesis.
Collaborations
Bangor University
University of Cambridge
Active Projects
Pulmonary Inflammation and Connective Tissue Disease.
Research opportunities
The Faculty of Medical Sciences at Bangor University is rapidly developing and there are many potential research opportunities including taking on higher degrees. With the merger of the North Wales Trusts, which will render it one of the largest Trusts in the UK, there will be many avenues for high quality clinical research and a very large patient population.
Follow this link for Bangor University
Contact:
damian.mckeon@nww-tr.wales.nhs.uk
d.mckeon@bangor.ac.uk
Llandough Hospital, Cardiff
There a number of active research groups within Llandough hospital including:
Interstitial Lung disease
Dr Ben Hope-Gill
Series of studies in progress exploring the mechanisms of cough in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Collaborations include:
- Dr Kim Harrison (Swansea)
- Professor Ken Jones (UWIC)
- Dr Robin McAnulty (UCL)
- Dr Surrinder Birring (Kings)
Studies in process examining quality of care and service delivery for patients with ILD. Collaborations include:
- Dr Anthony Byrne (Cardiff)
- Dr Jo Hayes (Cardiff)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Professor Dennis Shale, Dr Ramsey Sabit
Established research programme resulting in the award of several higher research degrees and high impact factor peer reviewed papers. Particular areas of interest include the systemic effects of chronic respiratory disease and the interrelationship with the cardiovascular system.
Cystic Fibrosis
Dr Ian Ketchell
Assisted Ventilation
Dr Simon Barry
Interest in development of shared network for chronic and acute NIV in Wales as a basis for future studies on the role of long term NIV in COPD. Comparisons of daytime vs night time ventilation in NIV patients and home vs hospital set-up for chronic NIV patients.
Lung Immunology
Simon Barry MRCP DTMH PhD
Dr Barry has an interest in lung immunology and specifically T cell responses in infections such as tuberculosis. His expertise is in flow cytometry gained whilst undertaking his PhD in the Royal Free Hospital, London working with Professor George Janossy. He would like to develop his interest to explore the possibilites of lung focussed immunoassays that can distinguish active from latent TB, the immune response in Sarcoidosis, environmental mycobacteria and rapid immunodiagnosis of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients.
SpRs and StRs in or planning Research
Current
Registrar: Llifon Edwards
Hospital: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ), Wellington
University: Cardiff
Area of research: COPD
Registrar: Mike Pynn
University: Swansea University
Area of research: Asthma and allergy
Registrar: Claire Kilduff
Hospital: Llandough Hospital
Area of research: ILD
Registrar: Yasir Syed
Hospital: Prince Phillip
University: Swansea
Area of research: Lung cancer
Registrar: Matt Brouns
Hospital: Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Maseru
Area of research: TB and HIV
