University of Exeter Medical School

Dr Joanne Boldison

Dr Joanne Boldison

Research Fellow

 J.Boldison@exeter.ac.uk

 RILD Building 

 

University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK

Overview

Dr Joanne Boldison completed her degree in Applied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2006 at the University West of England, which included a year as a visiting undergraduate scientist in the Cell Biology Department at the University of Cincinnati, USA. Following her undergraduate degree she took up the role of laboratory technician in the Diabetes and Metabolism Unit at the University of Bristol. In 2008, she went on to undertake her doctoral studies in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bristol with a focus on autoimmunity. In particular, research into ocular inflammation that focused on CD8 T cells and their regulatory mechanisms in a model of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis.

Following her PhD, Dr Boldison moved to Cardiff University to continue her postdoctoral studies, to work with Professor Susan Wong and the Diabetes Research Group studying the immune pathology of type 1 diabetes.

Qualifications

  • BSc (hons), University West of England
  • PhD, University of Bristol

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Research

Research interests

Joanne’s overall research interest is to increase understanding of the immune pathology of type 1 diabetes, focusing specifically on the role of B cells in the inflammatory process and how they interact with other immune cell subsets.

Specifically, 1) dissecting B Cell: Dendritic Cell crosstalk and mechanisms during the development of disease and uncovering immune dysregulation in individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. 2) identifying the role of islet-specific B cells and their importance in pancreatic beta cell destruction 3) understand B cell cooperation with immune cells and pancreatic beta cells during disease development.

Research projects

  • Gene signatures of pancreatic islet B cells
  • Immune cell interactions in type 1 diabetes

Grants/Funding:

  • Current - E3 independent research fellowship
  • 2019 - Diabetes UK early career small award
  • 2019 - Wellcome ISSF Engagement grant (co-applicant)

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Publications

Journal articles

Boldison J, Long AE, Aitken RJ, Wilson IV, Megson C, Hanna SJ, Wong FS, Gillespie KM (2021). Activated but functionally impaired memory Tregs are expanded in slow progressors to type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia, 65(2), 343-355. Abstract.
Boldison J, Thayer TC, Davies J, Wong FS (2021). Natural Protection from Type 1 Diabetes in NOD Mice is Characterized by a Unique Pancreatic Islet Phenotype. Diabetes, 70(4), 955-965. Abstract.  Author URL.
Boldison J, Da Rosa LC, Wong FS (2021). Regulatory B Cells in Type 1 Diabetes. Methods Mol Biol, 2270, 419-435. Abstract.  Author URL.
Boldison J, Wong FS (2021). Regulatory B Cells: Role in Type 1 Diabetes. FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, 12  Author URL.
Thayer TC, Kakabadse D, Boldison J, Wong FS (2020). Assessing Immune Responses in the Nonobese Diabetic Mouse Model of Type 1 Diabetes. , 2128, 269-289. Abstract.
Boldison J, Da Rosa LC, Davies J, Wen L, Wong FS (2020). Dendritic cells license regulatory B cells to produce IL-10 and mediate suppression of antigen-specific CD8 T cells. Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 17(8), 843-855. Abstract.
Boldison J, Da Rosa LC, Buckingham L, Davies J, Wen L, Wong FS (2019). Phenotypically distinct anti-insulin B cells repopulate pancreatic islets after anti-CD20 treatment in NOD mice. Diabetologia, 62(11), 2052-2065. Abstract.
Da Rosa LC, Boldison J, De Leenheer E, Davies J, Wen L, Wong FS (2018). B cell depletion reduces T cell activation in pancreatic islets in a murine autoimmune diabetes model. Diabetologia, 61(6), 1397-1410. Abstract.
Epps SJ, Boldison J, Stimpson ML, Khera TK, Lait PJP, Copland DA, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2018). Re-programming immunosurveillance in persistent non-infectious ocular inflammation. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 65, 93-106. Abstract.
Boldison J, Wong FS (2016). Immune and Pancreatic β Cell Interactions in Type 1 Diabetes. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 27(12), 856-867. Abstract.
Thayer TC, Pearson JA, De Leenheer E, Hanna SJ, Boldison J, Davies J, Tsui A, Ahmed S, Easton P, Siew LK, et al (2016). Peripheral proinsulin expression controls low-avidity proinsulin-reactive cd8 t cells in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes, 65(11), 3429-3439. Abstract.
Boldison J, Khera TK, Copland DA, Stimpson ML, Crawford GL, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2015). A novel pathogenic RBP-3 peptide reveals epitope spreading in persistent experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. Immunology, 146(2), 301-311. Abstract.
Crawford GL, Boldison J, Copland DA, Adamson P, Gale D, Brandt M, Nicholson LB, Dick AD (2015). The role of Lipoprotein-Associated phospholipase A2 in a murine model of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. PLoS ONE, 10(4). Abstract.
Lee HS, Burkhardt BR, Mcleod W, Smith S, Eberhard C, Lynch K, Hadley D, Rewers M, Simell O, She JX, et al (2014). Biomarker discovery study design for type 1 diabetes in the Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) study. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 30(5), 424-434. Abstract.
Boldison J, Chu CJ, Copland DA, Lait PJP, Khera TK, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2014). Tissue-resident exhausted effector memory CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells accumulate in the retina during chronic experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. Journal of Immunology, 192(10), 4541-4550. Abstract.
Khera TK, Copland DA, Boldison J, Lait PJP, Szymkowski DE, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2012). Tumour necrosis factor-mediated macrophage activation in the target organ is critical for clinical manifestation of uveitis. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 168(2), 165-177. Abstract.
Shah S, Hess-Wilson JK, Webb S, Daly H, Godoy-Tundidor S, Kim J, Boldison J, Daaka Y, Knudsen KE (2008). 2,2-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene stimulates androgen independence in prostate cancer cells through combinatorial activation of mutant androgen receptor and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. Molecular Cancer Research, 6(9), 1507-1520. Abstract.
Hess-Wilson JK, Webb SL, Daly HK, Leung YK, Boldison J, Comstock CES, Sartor MA, Ho SM, Knudsen KE (2007). Unique bisphenol a transcriptome in prostate cancer: Novel effects on ERβ expression that correspond to androgen receptor mutation status. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(11), 1646-1653. Abstract.
Hess-Wilson JK, Boldison J, Weaver KE, Knudsen KE (2006). Xenoestrogen action in breast cancer: Impact on ER-dependent transcription and mitogenesis. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 96(3), 279-292. Abstract.

Conferences

Elvers KT, Boldison J, Bingley PJ, Wong FS, Williams AJK (2016). Characterisation of epitope specific autoimmune responses associated with progression to Type 1 diabetes.  Author URL.
Beers G, Boldison J, Copland DA, Adamson PS, Nicholson LB, Dick AD (2014). Characterising the role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A<sub>2</sub> (Lp-PLA<sub>2</sub>) in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU).  Author URL.
Boldison J, Copland D, Dick A, Nicholson L (2014). PD-1 regulates the local tissue microenvironment during chronic intraocular inflammation.  Author URL.
Beers G, Boldison J, Copland D, Adamson P, Nicholson L, Dick A (2013). Characterising the role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A<sub>2</sub> (Lp-PLA<sub>2</sub>) in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU).  Author URL.
Boldison J, Copland D, Lait P, Khera T, Dick A, Nicholson L (2013). Exhausted effector memory CD8 T cells expand in chronic EAU.  Author URL.
Boldison J, Copland D, Dick A, Nicholson L (2013). Tissue resident CD8 T cell regulation of the retinal microenvironment during chronic experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU).  Author URL.
Boldison J, Kerr EC, Lait P, Copland D, Dick A, Nicholson L (2011). Secondary progressive uveitis is characterised by a late accumulation of cytotoxic lymphocytes.  Author URL.
Khera TK, Copland DA, Boldison J, Lait PJP, Szymkowski DE, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2011). TNF-mediated macrophage activation in the target organ is critical for clinical manifestation of uveitis.  Author URL.
Lait PJP, Boldison J, Lucas R, Kerr EC, Copland DA, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2011). The prodrome in experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) is conditioned by a non-specific increase in immunosurveillance.  Author URL.
Boldison J, Khera TK, Copland DA, Kerr EC, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2010). Analysis of the immune response to RBP-3 recombinant subunit proteins in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis (EAU).  Author URL.
Khera TK, Copland DA, Boldison J, Olleros ML, Garcia I, Szymkowski DE, Dick AD, Nicholson LB (2010). The dominant-negative soluble TNFα inhibitor XPro1595 can suppress Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis (EAU).  Author URL.

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards

  • Diabetes UK early career small award

Committee/panel activities

  • School of Medicine Early Career Researcher Committee at Cardiff University

Editorial responsibilities

  • Reviewer for
    • Immunology
    • Clinical and Experimental Immunology
    • Endocrine

Invited lectures

  • JDRF Discovery Day, 2019
  • Cardiff University Infection and Immunity Technologies Day, 2018. Invited talk: Multi-parameter flow cytometry
  • JDRF Discovery day, 2019
  • Hagedorn EASD Oxford Workshop, 2017. Invited talk: Innate stimuli and B cell regulation in Type 1 Diabetes

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