Dr Paul Eggleton

About me:

Paul Eggleton trained in Medical Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine and Royal College of Surgeons of England under the supervision of Professors Godfrey Smith, Derick Fisher and Neville Crawford. He then conducted post-doctoral research in neutrophil physiology with Professor Alfred Tauber in Boston, USA (1992-94), before joining the MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Oxford (1994-2002), where he conducted his own research in innate immunity (C1q and collectins) under the guidance of Professor Ken Reid FRS.

Dr Eggleton‘s research interest focuses on the understanding of innate and adaptive immunity in the pathology of autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis) and more recently, cancer, with a special interest in the role of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone proteins (calreticulin/calnexin).

Dr Eggleton has made important contributions to medical research through his research in characterizing the immune function of the collectin molecules (SP-A and SP-D) and complement proteins (e.g. C1q). He contributed to the discovery of the lectin pathway of complement activation, which has had far reaching implications how human immunity deals with microbial infections. He is also known for his work shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones – e.g. calreticulin have extracellular immune modulating functions. This has led to a whole new avenue of research into the role of calreticulin in the cell death of cancers and the ability of parasites to avoid immune detection. His recent work has contributed to the discovery of a subset of CD20+, T-cell that appear to have a role in many human pathological processes. In addition, his work on post-translational modification of host proteins by oxidative stress and epigenetic/microbial influences has provided insight as to how autoantibodies are generated in autoimmune disease as well explaining how such autoantibodies are implicated in both pathology and as early diagnostic markers of disease.

His current research with clinical colleagues in Tyne & Wear, Cornwall and Oxford have identified certain lung diseases act as an early trigger for inducing rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr Eggleton was the academic lead for immunology for the University of Exeter Medical School (2008-2017) where he was responsible for the taught course curriculum for the medical school students - years 1 to 5.

Dr Eggleton is an Honorary Professor of Immunology at the University of Exeter Medical School and was Visiting Professor at the University of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he works with Professor Marek Michalak and his team in the Department of Biochemistry, investigating the role of chaperones in multiple sclerosis and tumour immunology. Together they have recently discovered that certain chaperone proteins are implicatated in regulating neuroinflammation processes in the brain. Dr Eggleton is currently Associate Director of Cell Biology at UCB Pharma in the New Medicines Division of the company - http://www.ucbpharma.co.uk/home

Current Industrial Neuroinflammation Interests (2017 onwards).

Directing a neuroinflammation group at UCB Pharma. Investigating a number of druggable CNS pathways within the company with industrial and academic partners.

Interests:

Dr Eggleton‘s research interest focuses on the understanding of innate and adaptive immunity in the pathology of autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis) and more recently, cancer, with a special interest in the role of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone proteins (calreticulin/calnexin).

Dr Eggleton has made important contributions to medical research through his research in characterizing the immune function of the collectin molecules (SP-A and SP-D) and complement proteins (e.g. C1q). He contributed to the discovery of the lectin pathway of complement activation, which has had far reaching implications as to how human immunity deals with microbial infections. He is also known for his work shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones – e.g. calreticulin have extracellular immune modulating functions. This has led to a whole new avenue of research into the role of calreticulin in the cell death of cancers and the ability of parasites to avoid immune detection. His recent work has contributed to the discovery of a subset of CD20+, T-lymphocytes that appear to have a role in many human pathological processes. In addition, his work on post-translational modification of host proteins by oxidative stress and epigenetic/microbial influences has provided insight as to how autoantibodies are generated in autoimmune disease as well explaining how such autoantibodies are implicated in both pathology and as early diagnostic markers of disease of both systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Qualifications:

• 1979–1983: Plymouth University. Plymouth, Devon, England.
  (A) Higher National Diploma in Applied Biology.
  (B) B.Sc. Hons. Biological Sciences – Upper second class (2.i).
• 1985–1987: University College London -Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine.
  M.Phil. Medical Microbiology
  Thesis title: Rapid techniques for the measurement of non-–specific host responses to bacterial infection.
• 1987–1991: University College London - Royal College of Surgeons of England & Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine.
  Ph.D. Biochemistry
  Thesis title: Studies of subpopulation heterogeneity in the circulating neutrophil pool.

Career:

UCB Pharma 2017 onwards

• Assoc Director UCB Pharma

University of Exeter Medical School. UK - 2002-2017

• April 2017-onwards. Hon Professor of Immunology.
• Nov 2002 - March 2017. Senior lecturer in Immunology. Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science.
• 2009-2012 - Elected Member of University Senate

University of Oxford, UK - 1994-2002

June 1994–August 2002. MRC Immunochemistry Unit, Dept. Biochemistry. South Parks Road. Oxford OX1 3QU.

1994-2002 Position: Research Fellow. (Personal fellowships funded by MRC and ARC)

• Laboratory Host: Professor KBM Reid FRS. Project A: Structural and functional characterisation of calreticulin in human leucocytes in relation to autoimmune disease Project B: Role of lung surfactant proteins in innate immunity.

1996-2002. Position: Senior Department Teaching Associate.

• Responsible for designing and managing the first taught D.Phil. course in Biochemistry at the University of Oxford.

1999-2002. Position: University Research Lecturer and Member of congregation, University of Oxford.

Boston University, USA - 1992-1994.

March 1992-May 1994 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine.

• Position; Research Fellow.
• Laboratory host: Professor Alfred. I. Tauber. Project: Characterisation of C1q receptors on human neutrophils.

Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK - .1989-1992

1989–92. Department of Biochemistry, Hunterian Institute,

• Position: Research Associate. (ARC – funded).
• Laboratory host: Professor Neville Crawford. Project: Subpopulation heterogeneity in the circulating neutrophil pool: implications for functional expression in the inflammatory response.

Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London UK - 1983-87.

1983–87. Department of Medical Microbiology.

• Position; Research Assistant. (NETRHA - funded)
• Laboratory host: Dr. G.W. Smith. Project: Rapid detection assays of host response to bacterial disease.