John obtained his BSc in Molecular Biology from University College London in 2004. Following this, he undertook his MRes and PhD at the University of Edinburgh on the Wellcome Trust funded Molecular Basis of Disease programme. The focus of his PhD work was exploring mechanisms used by gastrointestinal worms to modulate the host's adaptive immune system in order to improve their own survival. As part of these studies he identified a novel mechanism by which helminths secrete TGF-β homologues to suppress the inflammatory response.

After his PhD John moved in 2009 as a visiting research fellow to the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, where he developed an interest in novel functions of immune cell populations during infection. During this time his work predominantly focused on understanding innate cell responses towards the commensal microbiota during acute pathogen infection.

John established his research group at The University of Manchester in 2014; his group is translationally focussed and integrates fundamental research with patient cohorts. His group is particularly interested in identifying new approaches to modulate myeloid cells and characterising changes to their features that can be used as disease biomarkers. John also plays a significant role in lecturing major undergraduate immunology courses and co-directs an integrated MB-PhD programme in inflammation biology.

Myeloid Cells in Precision Medicine

The lab is focussed on understanding the mechanisms that regulate myeloid cells, particularly monocytes and macrophages, in health and disease with a view to supporting the development of targeted therapies. We also investigate whether the activation of myeloid cells can be used as a precision medicine tool to identify groups of patients that are responsive to particular treatments.

There are two current research themes in the lab:

Gut and Oral Macrophages - In collaboration with the Konkel Lab, we are investigating how gut and oral macrophages differentiate and their roles in health and inflammation. We are particularly interested in the functions of gut macrophages in allergic-type (type 2) inflammation.

Stroke Immunology - A poorly understood complication of a stroke (when blood stops flowing to a part of your brain) is aberrant activation of the immune system. Working with Prof. Stuart Allan (Brain Inflammation Group), Prof. Craig Smith (Stroke Medicine, Salford Royal Hospital) and the Stroke-IMPaCT network we are trying to understand how interactions between the immune system and brain lead to post-stroke infection and cognitive decline.

Rufus Daw - Postdoctoral Researcher

Sabrina Tamburrano - Postdoctoral Researcher

Tom Williams - Postdoctoral Researcher

Natasha Carmichael - MB-PhD Student

Harry Deijnen - PhD Student

Esther Nansubuga - MB-PhD Student

Joana Costa Oliveira - PhD Student

Hayley Bridgeman - Technician

Alexandra Matejcikove - Technician

Mon: 09:15 - 17:00

Tue: 08:30 - 16:30

Wed: 08:30 - 16:30

Thu: 08:30 - 16:30

Fri: 08:30 - 16:30