Research

Investigating the early inflammatory events occurring at the initiation of mesothelioma within the pleural cavity

Investigations are underway to try and unpick the inflammatory cascade that is initiated within the pleural cavity following arrival of long, bio-persistent fibres such as asbestos and multi-walled carbon nanotubes.  We aim to determine the stromal-immune micro-environment during pleural cavity inflammation in order to better understand how mesothelioma develops & can be targeted.

This project was initiated as a PhD studentship funded by the Sir John Fisher Foundation and is now part of a wider CRUK programme grant in collaboration with Prof Marion MacFarlane at the University of Cambridge & Prof Daniel Murphy & Dr Seth Coffelt at the University of Glasgow.

These in vitro & in vivo studies are complemented by clinical investigations quantifying the immune environment of pleural fluid isolated from patients with mesothelioma in a collaborative project with Dr Claire Rooney. This study if funded by a Mesothelioma pump-priming grant from the Asthma & Lung UK.