The impact of inflammation and neutrophil dysfunction in inflammatory lung disease

3rd Supervisor: Professor Brendan Cooper

Internationally, respiratory disease is a leading cause of death and contributes to a significant burden of morbidity and mortality with four million people dying prematurely each year.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive and debilitating disease that effects 10% of adults, is now the third leading cause of death world-wide and is a major cause of morbidity and hospital admissions. Current treatments do not substantially alter mortality or slow disease progression. COPD is a chronic inflammatory condition, where excessive inflammatory proteins and cells destroy lung tissue. Smoking cigarettes is the most important risk factor but only 15% of smokers develop COPD and COPD is seen in never smokers and runs in families, suggesting genetic factors play a role, although studies of gene coding have not identified common factors and we currently cannot predict who will develop disease. Lung destruction continues after smoking cessation. This is also poorly understood but we believe COPD patients have abnormal immune responses that becomes amplified by external factors such as smoking.

The slowly progressive nature of COPD means that most people are diagnosed with moderate to severe disease, and very little is known about early COPD. This is an important omission since understanding inflammatory processes during early disease will likely provide important insights into how we could stop the disease before it becomes too severe and self-perpetuating. COPD is a disease of ageing and is also very variable in presentation and course. Currently we do not understand why the disease is so different in different people.

There is a wealth of data supporting the central role of neutrophils (PMNs) in COPD. Airway neutrophilia is a feature of COPD and correlates with disease severity and decline. PMN proteinases have been shown to cause all facets of disease in cell studies and animal models and are also implicated in many of the co-morbidities that are highly prevalent in COPD.

Our research group is based within the newly built Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a state of the art clinical research/laboratory facility where we see and study patients with COPD to try and improve our understanding of this devastating disease.

We are multi-disciplinary, including basic scientists, doctors, nurses, allied health care professionals and physiologists, working together to understand why patients with COPD differ so dramatically in disease presentation and progression and how neutrophilic inflammation is implicated in these processes.

We are looking for bright and motivated students to join our diverse and dynamic group for PhD studentships which can be tailored to suit the individual, ranging from basic science to clinical studies and trials.

Person Specification
Applicants should have a strong background in Respiratory medicine (as a doctor, nurse, allied health professional) or science (basic, translational, epidemiology or clinical trials). They should have a commitment to research in Respiratory Medicine and hold or realistically expect to obtain at least an Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a relevant subject.

How to apply
Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Elizabeth Sapey ([Email Address Removed])

To apply, please send:
• A detailed CV, including your nationality and country of birth;
• Names and addresses of two referees;
• A covering letter highlighting your research experience/capabilities;
• Copies of your degree certificates with transcripts;
• Evidence of your proficiency in the English language, if applicable.