Our lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms that drive the resolution of inflammation and how these processes engage successful tissue repair after injury. Dr Christopher Lucas Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow / Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine Centre for Inflammation Research Contact details Website: Academic Profile Work: +44 (0)131 242 6662 Email: christopher.lucas@ed.ac.uk Group MembersFinn Bruton - Research TechnicianNaomi Gachanja - PhD studentMagdalena Oremek – Research technicianJillian Stephen - Postdoctoral Research FellowResearch OverviewLung epithelial injury is the near-universal outcome of multiple pulmonary insults. Rapid restoration of epithelial integrity prevents organ dysfunction and superadded bacterial infection, but aberrant tissue repair is a frequent and often fatal outcome in disease. By understanding how the immune response assists with lung regeneration we aim to develop new treatments that promote lung repair after serious infection or damage. In particular, macrophage-derived signals are critical in regeneration but these remain poorly understood. We are investigating how macrophage-epithelial communication contributes to tissue repair and how this can be exploited therapeutically to treat disease.The following PDF provides a brief visual summary of this group’s current research. Document Lucas Group graphic summary (353.7 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 pageBiographical ProfileI undertook medical training and a BSc (Hons) in Physiology at the University of Edinburgh. I subsequently completed a Wellcome Trust funded PhD at the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research under the Edinburgh Clinical Academic Track (ECAT) scheme, investigating the role of immune cell apoptosis in the resolution of infection-driven lung inflammation under the supervision of Professors Adriano Rossi and Chris Haslett. I then completed my clinical training in respiratory medicine and am currently a Wellcome Trust Clinical Career Development Fellow investigating immune cell driven lung epithelial repair after acute injury.Honours and AwardsWellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship, 2017Scadding-Morriston-Davies Award, 2017Banff International Inflammation Workshop Prize, 2017Myre Sim Travel Grant, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 2016Methven Prize, Scottish Thoracic Society Meeting, 2016Myre Sim Award, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 2015Ker Memorial Prize, Edinburgh Infectious Diseases Society, 2014Myre Sim Award, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 2013UK Adhesion Meeting Prize, 2013Methven Prize, Scottish Thoracic Society Meeting, 2011Banff International Inflammation Workshop Prize, 2011AlumniAmanda Croasdell Lucchini, Postdoctoral ResearcherJennifer Felton, PhD studentLaura Hoodless, MSc studentSidharth Sharma, BSc Hons studentKeith Allan, BSc Hons studentMark Tait, BSc Hons studentOther ResponsibilitiesHonorary Consultant Respiratory Physician, Royal Infirmary of EdinburghCo-lead investigator ICECAP consortium, a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ICECAP website.CollaboratorsProfessor Adriano Rossi, University of EdinburghDr David Dorward, University of EdinburghProfessor Ian Dransfield, University of EdinburghProfessor Chris Haslett, University of EdinburghDr Carl Tucker, University of EdinburghProfessor Tim Walsh, University of EdinburghProfessor Jurgen Schwarze, University of EdinburghProfessor Kodi Ravichandran, University of Virginia, Charlottesville Go to the Edinburgh Research Explorer Highlighted publications Tissue-Specific Immunopathology in Fatal COVID-19. Dorward DA, Russell CD, Um IH, Elshani M, Armstrong SD, Penrice-Randal R, Millar T, Lerpiniere CEB, Tagliavini G, Hartley CS, Randle NP, Gachanja NN, Potey PMD, Dong X, Anderson AM, Campbell VL, Duguid AJ, Al Qsous W, BouHaidar R, Baillie JK, Dhaliwal K, Wallace WA, Bellamy COC, Prost S, Smith C, Hiscox JA, Harrison DJ, Lucas CD. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Jan 15;203(2):192-201. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202008-3265OC.Mcl-1 protects eosinophils from apoptosis and exacerbates allergic airway inflammation. Felton JM, Dorward DA, Cartwright JA, Potey PM, Robb CT, Gui J, Craig RW, Schwarze J, Haslett C, Duffin R, Dransfield I, Lucas CD, Rossi AG. Thorax. 2020 Jul;75(7):600-605. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2019-213204. Epub 2020 Apr 17.Interpreting an apoptotic corpse as anti-inflammatory involves a chloride sensing pathway. Perry JSA, Morioka S, Medina CB, Iker Etchegaray J, Barron B, Raymond MH, Lucas CD, Onengut-Gumuscu S, Delpire E, Ravichandran KS. Nat Cell Biol. 2019 Dec;21(12):1532-1543. doi: 10.1038/s41556-019-0431-1. Epub 2019 Dec 2.A noncanonical role for the engulfment gene ELMO1 in neutrophils that promotes inflammatory arthritis. Arandjelovic S, Perry JSA, Lucas CD, Penberthy KK, Kim TH, Zhou M, Rosen DA, Chuang TY, Bettina AM, Shankman LS, Cohen AH, Gaultier A, Conrads TP, Kim M, Elliott MR, Ravichandran KS. Nat Immunol. 2019 Feb;20(2):141-151. doi: 10.1038/s41590-018-0293-x. Epub 2019 Jan 14.Mer-mediated eosinophil efferocytosis regulates resolution of allergic airway inflammation. Felton JM, Lucas CD, Dorward DA, Duffin R, Kipari T, Vermeren S, Robb CT, MacLeod KG, Serrels B, Schwarze J, Haslett C, Dransfield I, Rossi AG. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018 Dec;142(6):1884-1893.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.01.029. Epub 2018 Feb 8.FundingWellcome TrustUKRI (UK Research and Innovation)Chief Scientist OfficeMedical Research ScotlandPathological SocietyNC3RsInformation on funding at Dr Chris Lucas' Research Explorer profile. This article was published on 2024-09-10