Research Associate in Epithelial Cell Biology and Inflammatory Pathways.

Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators in Response to Air Pollution Exposure among Asthmatic versus Healthy Adults’

This project is an NIEHS- funded project that investigates the role of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in the respiratory tract of asthmatic and non-asthmatic subjects in the resolution of PM2.5-induced inflammation. This project is in collaboration with Professor Jim Zhang of the Environmental Sciences Department of Duke University.

The post holder will use nasal epithelial cells and bronchial epithelial cells that have already been collected in a previous study (INHALE) to conduct ex-vivo PM2.5 exposure studies on these epithelial cells maintained in culture. These cells have already been obtained from healthy volunteers and from participants suffering from asthma. Various outputs will be measured including cytokine expression, SPMs release and aspects of mitochondrial function and underlying energetics using the Seahorse Platform. Data collected from these cells will then be associated with the clinical and physiologic profiles of these participants.

All this cellular data together with other data collected from these participants will be used to develop models of the impact of pollution on personal health in both outdoor and indoor urban environments by integrating across biological length scales. The ultimate objective of this research is to determine whether these data can help us determine the susceptibility of an individual to the effects of environmental pollution on their respiratory system.

*Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as a Research Assistant within the salary range £43,003 - £46,297 per annum