Sarah Walmsley's research focuses on the regulation of neutrophil apoptosis by hypoxia. Professor Sarah Walmsley Chair of Respiratory Medicine Centre for Inflammation Research Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 242 6785 Email: sarah.walmsley@ed.ac.uk Daga Harezga (Admin Support): dharezga@ed.ac.uk Web: Academic Profile Group MembersSimone Arienti - Medical Research Foundation PhD studentPatricia Coelho - Research FellowRob Grecian - CRUK ECAT FellowAnanda Mirchandani - Wellcome Postdoctoral Clinical FellowTyler Morrison - ECAT VTracie Plant - ECAT Fellow (jointly with Professor Moira Whyte)Leila Reyes - Postdoctoral Research FellowEilise Ryan – Clinical Research FellowPranvera Sadiku - Research FellowManuel Sanchez Garcia - Postdoctoral Research FellowEmily Watts - SCREDS lectureshipResearch OverviewTo date there are no effective treatments for neutrophilic inflammation which is central to the pathology of a number of important respiratory diseases including COPD, bronchiectasis and ARDS. Neutrophils as key effectors of the innate immune response are required to function at sites of inflammation that are relatively oxygen deplete – hypoxic. Unique to the neutrophil hypoxia is a profound survival stimulus. Neutrophils both sense oxygen and respond to changes in oxygenation via the HIF pathway, which involves regulation of the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) by von Hippel Lindau protein and a group of oxygen sensitive hydroxylases – prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) containing enzymes and factor inhibiting HIF (FIH). Preliminary data suggest a direct role for this oxygen sensing pathway in the regulation of neutrophil apoptosis at sites of hypoxia. I aim to elucidate the mechanisms regulating HIF-1alpha expression in neutrophils and determine the importance of these pathways for neutrophilic inflammation in vivo.The following PDF provides a brief visual summary of this group’s current research. Document Walmsley Group graphic summary (665.32 KB / PDF) You can view a full catalogue of graphical research summaries for each group in the Centre for Inflammation Research by visiting our Research page.Visit CIR’s Research pageCurrent ProjectsRegulation of neutrophilic inflammation by the HIF/PHD pathwayNeutrophil energetics and oxygen sensingThe role of hypoxia in determining cellular outcomes to pulmonary infection and its importance in the pathogenesis of COPDThe role of Sema3F in regulating neutrophil recruitment and retention at sites of inflammationHow does hypoxia, via the HIF pathway, regulate neutrophil activation and survivalBiographical ProfileI am a medical graduate of Edinburgh University. My current position is Wellcome Senior Clinical Fellow, University of Edinburgh; Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine. I previously held a Wellcome Intermediate Clinical Fellowship with Professor Moira Whyte, University of Sheffield and prior to that held a MRC Training Fellowship with Professor Edwin Chilvers in the Division of Respiratory Medicine, University of Cambridge. My research focuses on the regulation of neutrophil apoptosis by hypoxia.I am a Wellcome Senior Clinical Fellow and practising Respiratory Physician. Following a MRC Training Fellowship in Cambridge during which I obtained my PhD, I moved to the University of Sheffield where I was awarded a Wellcome Intermediate Clinical Fellowship. This enabled me to develop my research programme under the sponsorship of Professor Moira Whyte and complete my specialist clinical training in Respiratory Medicine, culminating in my award of a Wellcome Senior Clinical Fellowship and my move to the MRC/University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research. My research focuses on defining how oxygen sensing and metabolic regulation influence phagocyte host defence. More specifically through a better understanding of the mechanisms by which hypoxia regulates key neutrophil functions and survival responses, I aim to validate the therapeutic potential of selective manipulation of these pathway in patients with chronic neutrophil-dominant inflammatory lung diseases. Go to the Edinburgh Research Explorer Sources of FundingMedical Research CouncilWellcome TrustMore information on funding at Sarah Walmsley's Research Explorer profile. This article was published on 2024-09-10