Professor David Dockrell

We study how macrophage innate immune functions protect healthy individuals against infection, and how these responses are disrupted by disease. We use a range of models to examine macrophage function, with the aim of limiting our reliance on antimicrobial therapy and providing an alternative strategy for treatment of infection. 

Group Members

Jennifer Marshall, Research Assistant

Brian McHugh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Clark Russell, ECAT Lecturer

Jelimo Chepsat, WT OHMD PhD student

Paula Lusaretta Parga, PhD student (Bogaert group)

Dina Nahhas, PDRA (Granneman lab)

Background

Macrophages play a key role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. We are interested in understanding how key macrophage innate immune functions protect healthy individuals against infection, despite recurring challenge, and how these core responses are perturbed by human disease inducing susceptibility to infection. In particular we are interested in how HIV and how chronic obstructive pulmonary disease alter macrophage responses. We believe that by optimising innate immune responses as part of an innate host-based immunotherapy we can limit our reliance on antimicrobial therapy and provide an alternative strategy to that focused on targeting pathogens by vaccine responses or with antimicrobials to which they can develop resistance.

Research Overview

We study a variety of bacterial infections but focus in particular on Streptococcus pneumoniae and other respiratory pathogens. We also examine Staphylococcus aureus, And other gram-positive infections. We are also interested in how HIV and other viral infections alter the macrophage responses to bacteria. We use a variety of models to interrogate the macrophages' function both in isolation and as part of an immune cell network. These approaches include working with patients with chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and HIV. While primary focus has been on tissue resident macrophages we also explore host responses in other myeloid cells including neutrophils and interactions between myeloid cells and T-cells. We focus on microbicidal mechanisms, mitochondrial responses, mechanisms of phagocytosis and cell death paradigms. We are also interested in developing effective screening approaches to identify and manipulate key innate immune responses.

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Biographical Profile

I am a clinician scientist who graduated from Trinity College Dublin and received further training at the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota. I am a former Wellcome Trust Senior Clinical Fellow. Before moving to Edinburgh I was co-director of the Florey Institute, a cross faculty multidisciplinary centre, which focused on studying host-pathogen interactions in the context of Gram-positive bacteria. Since 2021 I have been Director of the Centre of Inflammation Research in the Institute of Regeneration and Repair and since 2023 I have been a co-director of Edinburgh Infectious Diseases. Since 2022 I have been Commissioner for Human Medicines at the MHRA. 

Public Engagement

• Festival of the Mind
• British HIV Association Guidelines member
• British Lung Foundation roles on Infection issues
• Member of the Commission on Human Medicines - chair Infection Expert Advisory
• Irish Clinical Academic Training- Member External Advisory Board

Publications

Funding

More information on funding at David Dockrell's Research Explorer profile.