Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science (IBBS)

Pharmacology and Clinical Immunology

Head of Division:  Dr Janis Shute

The Allergy and Inflammation group led by Professor Tara Dean focuses on the early life onset of allergic disease and mechanisms of airway inflammation. The research achievements of the group include: the development and delivery of major epidemiological studies; immunological and pharmacological investigation of airways inflammation; health technology assessments; and systematic reviews.

The Respiratory Immunopharmacology group led by Dr Janis Shute is investigating mechanisms and biomarkers of lung inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis and novel strategies to improve inhaled drug delivery in these patients. In collaboration with the University of Southampton, the group are jointly developing novel inhibitors of neutrophil elastase, a key mediator of tissue damage in the lung. Other research within the group investigates the role of coagulation factors in bronchial epithelial damage and repair in normal and asthmatic airways; endothelial dysfunction and the links between inflammatory markers and oxidative stress markers.

The Neuropharmacology Research group led by Dr Ivor Ebenezer is concerned with the regulatory mechanisms involved in the short and long term control of food intake and energy homeostasis and their roles in obesity. In particular, the group examines the roles that leptin, GABA, serotonin and cholecystokinin (CCK) play in the control of food intake and energy homeostasis.

Dr Jerome Swinny leads the Neurochemical Anatomy & Psychopharmacology Group and has research interests in the molecular dissection of brain circuitry, high resolution localisation of neurotransmitter receptors in the brain, and the consequences of stress on neuronal function within different brain regions with a special emphasis on the development of mood disorders.

Dr Anthony Lewis leads the Ion Channel Research Group and has a career-long interest in studying the physiology and biophysics of plasma membrane ion channel proteins and their roles in the cellular physiology of human health and disease. His research has focused on mammalian and microbial potassium channel physiology; defining structure-function relationships, interactions with accessory proteins and their functional regulation utilizing an integrated electrophysiological, biochemical and molecular approach to answer key physiological questions.

The Dysglycaemia, Oxidative stress and the Vascular Endothelium (DOVE) Project is a clinical collaboration between Dr David Laight and the Academic Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, that aims to examine the roles and interactions of both traditional and non-traditional metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes mellitus. Research is particularly concerned with assessing markers of oxidative stress, endothelial function, glycaemic control, insulin resistance and inflammation in diabetic subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease. The impact of antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties of drugs and natural products (nutraceuticals) are some recent topics of investigation. In addition, Dr Laight has a research interest in the vascular effects of non-freezing cold injury and tissue cold preservation.

Dr James Brown is collaborating with the Gastroenterology Department at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth in a study investigating mechanisms of disease progression in inflammatory bowel disease, and in particular the role of dietary PUFA. In addition, Dr Brown has a research interest in dysfunction of gastrointestinal motility.