Antigen Processing & Recognition

BIOGRAPHY

ACADEMIC POSITION:
Professor of Immunobiology and Head of the Division of Cell Signalling and Immunology, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, University of Dundee

EDUCATION:
• BSc Department of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, UK
• DPhil School of Biology, University of Sussex, UK
• Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, USA (1980-1982)
• MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology, UK (1982-1986)

AWARDS:
• Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (2009)
• Fellow of the Royal Society (2005)
• EU Descartes Prize (jointly, 2002)
• The Tenovus Scotland Margaret McClelland Award (2000)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1999)
• Member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (1996)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
We are interested in the earliest stages of the immune response when pathogens and their products are first detected by immune cells. Antigens released at this time are captured and processed by antigen presenting cells, particularly dendritic cells. This key step leads to the display of antigenic peptides on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules and following the migration of dendritic cells displaying these peptide/MHC complexes to lymphoid organs, the activation of the T lymphocytes of the immune system. We use a wide variety of biochemical, cell biological and immunological approaches to investigate these events. Increased knowledge in this area will aid the design of vaccines that trigger robust and effective immune responses.