Professor John Upham
Name: John Upham
Research Group/Institute: Lung and Allergy Research Centre
Research Interest/Field: The workings of the immune system in asthma and other chronic lung diseases
What made you decide to work in this field? A desire to help people with lung disease and curiosity about how things in the environment affect the lung.
What is the goal and significance of your research that you would like people to know? our research will lead to better understanding of immunity to viruses in asthma, and will describe for the first time the associations between immune function and the degree of asthma control and pattern of airway inflammation. The findings from the study are likely to produce novel insights into the causes of asthma exacerbations, thus providing an important foundation for improved management, as well as potential for future vaccine development.
If you were at a dinner party and someone asked you what you are researching, what would you say?
People with severe asthma are often unusually vulnerable to infections. Viruses such as the common cold virus and influenza virus can cause severe chest infections and worsening asthma and this may cause people to miss school or work, or even spend time in hospital. Our research suggests that the immune system does not operate normally in people with severe asthma and this makes them prone to virus infections. We are carefully examining different aspects of immune function in a large group of people with severe asthma. We will look to see if particular immune problems are associated with particular types of asthma. This research may lead to novel methods for prevention and treatment of virus infections in people with asthma and other chronic lung diseases.
How does or how has or how will funding from a Foundation help your research project? Support from the Foundation will provide a salary for a talented young scientist who is a vital part of the research team.
What is on your research wish list? Discovering better ways of protecting people with lung disease from virus infections.
What do you like to do when you're not at work?
Spend time with family, cycling, bushwalking.
What would you be doing if you weren't a researcher? Treating patients would take up a greater proportion of my working life.
What are you most proud of? My four daughters. Being able to combine research with good medical care. Doing useful research that makes a difference.
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