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Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

Inflammation

This research group studies the role of oxidative-nitrative stress in patients with inflammatory diseases.

Inflammation is a component of many chronic human diseases and associated processes, e.g. inflammatory joint disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, atherogenesis, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and tumour invasion. Moreover, the inflammatory response is inextricably linked with the generation of oxidising and nitrating free radicals, which cause tissue damage under some conditions, but which are also involved in a more subtle redox-regulation of inflammatory molecular pathways. Our large collaborative group, with strong academic-clinical links, hosts a substantial number of postgraduate students in training.

The group specialises in:

  • Metabolism and therapeutic implications of hydrogen sulphide, nitric oxide, nitrite and nitrate in vascular dysfunction, neurogenic inflammation and inflammatory joint disease
  • Redox-regulation of proteins involved in the inflammatory response, e.g. peroxiredoxins and transcription factors
  • Diagnostic autoantibodies to oxidatively modified proteins, e.g. C1q and calreticulin, in autoimmune inflammatory diseases
  • Role of oxidative-nitrative stress in apoptosis and resolution of inflammation
Dr Paul Eggleton Senior Lecturer In Immunology & Visiting Professor, University Of Alberta
Dr Mark Gilchrist  
Dr Richard Haigh  
Miranda Smallwood  
Dr Emma Taylor Lecturer
Professor Paul Winyard Professor Of Experimental Medicine
Anthony Woolf  

Peninsula Oxidative Stress Research Forum

The Peninsula Oxidative Stress Research Forum (POSReF) serves an interdisciplinary consortium of researchers in the South-West Peninsula, all with a common interest in oxidative stress and the overlapping topics of nitrosative stress, nitric oxide biology, vascular biology and inflammation. 

The forum was established in 2003 because it was evident that Oxidative Stress Research within multiple disciplines clearly represents a strong focus of research activity.

Researchers regularly attending the forum come from diverse disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology (plant and animal), physiology, pharmacology, rheumatology, dermatology, experimental medicine, and many others. Attendees are drawn from researchers within the Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, and the commercial biotechnology sector within the Peninsula.

Meetings are held roughly bimonthly on Wednesday afternoons. Typically there are two talks at each meeting which usually start at 4.45pm. (tea/coffee), with the first talk starting at 5.15pm. The formal finish is usually at about 7.15 p.m., but there are opportunities to network informally both before and after the scientific session.

Meetings are held near Ashburton, just off the A38, in order to facilitate travel from across the region. The current venue is the Lavender House Hotel. POSReF is organised by Professor Paul Winyard.

We look forward to meeting you there! Please email: Susan Westoby if you would like to be placed on the POSReF email distribution list, which provides notice of forthcoming meetings.

Some of the meetings are sponsored by external companies such as laboratory suppliers, government bodies, etc. If you would like to sponsor one of the meetings, please contact Susan Westoby.

Email: Professor Paul Winyard. if you wish to contact POSReF

Past Events

Speakers and Talks