To study immune regulation of organ fibrosis with a view to identifying novel anti-fibrotic therapeutic approaches. Dr Prakash Ramachandran Clinician Scientist and Honorary Consultant Hepatologist Centre for Inflammation Research Contact details Website: Academic Profile Work: +44 (0)131 242 6654 Email: Prakash.Ramachandran@ed.ac.uk Group MembersFabioColella - Postdoctoral Research FellowMalgorzata Grzelka - Clinical Research Fellow (Primary supervisor)Li Jia - PhD student (CSC funded)Juliet Luft - Postdoctoral Research Fellow in BioinformaticsEleni Papachristoforou - PhD Student (MRC DTP Precision medicine)Ravinder Parhar - PhD student (MRC DTP Precision medicine)Dr Sebastian Wallace - Clinical Research Fellow (co-supervisor)BackgroundOrgan fibrosis (or scarring) is estimated to contribute to 45% of deaths in the Western world. However, there are currently no effective anti-fibrotic therapies. Fibrosis is the result of a complex multi-cellular response to chronic injury, which invariably incorporates the activation of immune cells within the damaged organ. By understanding the biology of the immune response in scar formation and scar resolution, novel treatments could be developed to treat patients with fibrotic diseases.Research OverviewOur research is focused on understanding the role of the innate immune system in fibrosis and fibrosis resolution in the liver and other organs. In particular, cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage have been shown to be key orchestrators of tissue scarring, and hence represent an attractive therapeutic target. However, macrophages are heterogeneous plastic cells, with multiple subpopulations of varied origin and phenotype. In order to develop effective anti-fibrotic therapies which can modulate macrophage function, it is imperative to fully understand macrophage heterogeneity.To address this, we employ cutting-edge techniques (including single-cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, multiparameter flow cytometry and imaging) to study a range of primary human samples and fibrosis models. We recently defined a novel population of pathogenic macrophages in the fibrotic niche of fibrotic human liver tissue (Nature, 2019) and are now actively working to identify approaches to selectively inhibit the function of these macrophages and reduce tissue scarring.Biographical ProfileI undertook medical training and an intercalated BSc (hons) in Pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 2003. I subsequently completed a Wellcome Trust funded PhD at the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, under the supervision of Professor John Iredale, Professor Stuart Forbes and Dr David Kluth. I proceeded to finish my specialty clinical training in hepatology, gastroenterology and general medicine, working in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen. I was awarded an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship in 2015, entitled “The Role of Tissue-resident Hepatic Macrophages in the Resolution of Chronic Liver Injury”. The work during this Fellowship has provided several new insights into the biology of macrophages in fibrosis.Other ResponsibilitiesHonorary Consultant Hepatologist, Royal Infirmary of EdinburghAlumniDr Eleni Sutherland - Postdoctoral Research AssistantHonours and Awards2020 Emerging Leader Award, European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)2020 Sir Francis Avery Jones Research Medal, British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG)2020 Rising Star Award, United European Gastroenterology (UEG)2019 Dame Sheila Sherlock Research Prize, British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL)2015 Clinician Scientist Fellowship, MRC2011 Travel award, British Association for the Study of the Liver (BASL)2011 Young investigator award, European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)2011 Young investigator award and oral presentation at plenary session, EASL2011 1st prize in oral plenary session and Pushpa Chopra award at Medical Research Society/Academy of Medical Sciences Clinician Scientists in Training annual meeting2008 Research Training Fellowship, Wellcome TrustCollaboratorsProfessor William Alazawi, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of LondonDr Jenna Cash, Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghDr Bryan Conway, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghDr Laura Denby, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of EdinburghDr Donald Dunbar, Edinburgh Genomics, University of EdinburghProfessor Jonathan Fallowfield, Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghProfessor Neil Henderson, Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghDr Tim Kendall, Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghProfessor Damian Mole, Centre for Inflammation Research, University of EdinburghDr Thomas Otto, Institute for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of GlasgowProfessor Jeffrey Pollard, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of EdinburghDr Chris Weston, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham Go to the Edinburgh Research Explorer Sources of FundingMedical Research CouncilWellcome TrustGuts UKKidney Research UKMore information of funding at Prakash Ramachandran's Research Explorer profile. This article was published on 2024-09-10
