The World Health Organisation has estimated that every hour 1500 people will die of an infectious disease. In the UK almost 2m people suffer from chronic immune-regulated inflammatory diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Researchers at Birmingham are investigating immune regulation in health and disease together with mechanisms of infection and antibiotic resistance to help design better therapies for the future.
We employ a large and successful cohort of internationally recognised scientists looking at fundamental mechanisms involved in immune regulation, infection and immune mediated inflammation. Key research areas are Rheumatoid Arthritis, inflammatory liver and kidney disease, lupus, ocular inflammation, type 1 diabetes, hepatitis C, bacterial pathogenesis and antibiotic resistance.
Our strengths in these areas are recognised through the establishment by the Medical Research Council of the Birmingham Centre for Immune Regulation and the award of a National Institute for Health Biomedical Liver Research Unit which has allowed us to develop platforms for translation of our basic laboratory work into trials in cell and immunotherapy in liver disease. We also receive programme level funding from most of the major sponsors of medical research in all our areas of specialisation.
Value is added to our research groups through the provision of state of the art laboratory facilities and an excellent range of key technologies. Translation to and from patients is facilitated through good links with clinical colleagues and infrastructure arrangements with local Trusts and other partnership organisations such as the Health Protection Agency.
Successful collaboration of scientists working in the School is promoting new areas for development and strength in vaccinology, ageing monoclonal antibody and cell therapies.