Summary of Research
The research in our group revolves around the cellular and molecular biology of macrophages. Macrophages are major cellular effectors of innate immunity and inflammation, but are also involved in normal growth and development and tissue repair. Our research involves the use of cell and molecular biological approaches, on genome-wide scale, to understand how these cells differentiate from their common precursors in the bone marrow under the influence of factors such as macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) and interleukin 34 (IL34), how mature cells of this lineage are able to respond to environmental signals such as microorganisms, and their functions in normal embryological development and postnatal growth. We are especially interested in comparative analysis of the way that macrophages recognise potential pathogens, the way that function has evolved between species, and how it varies amongst individuals within a species. Our research utilises mouse, rat, chicken, dog, cat, sheep, cattle, pig and human systems to investigate different aspects of macrophage biology.
The laboratory coordinates a BBSRC-funded resource of information on macrophage biology, gene regulation and gene function at www.macrophages.com