Professor Steven Edwards B.Sc., Ph.D
Professor Infection Biology & Microbiomes
- +44 (0)151 794 5815 / +44 (0)151 794 5815 Ext. 5815
- Work email S.W.Edwards@liverpool.ac.uk
Research
Research Overview
My expertise is in the molecular and cellular biology of human neutrophils and macrophages, and how these cells become activated during infections and in inflammatory diseases. My approach involves application of a variety of -omics technologies to understand how these cells are switched on and off in health and disease. A major aim of my research in inflammatory diseases (typified by rheumatoid arthritis) is to identify ways to specifically down regulate the harmful consequences of neutrophil activation (e.g. release of reactive oxidants, granule enzymes and cytokines/chemokines) without impairing the ability of these cells to protect from infections. In my research on infections, I investigate ways to boost the activity of these cells to provide better host defence. My research has led to many national and international collaborations with clinicians and industry, and more recently I have developed research and academic collaborations with staff in Chulalongkorn University and Khon Kaen University in Thailand. In the latter, we are investigating how the innate immune system may contribute to liver damage and cholangiocarcinoma in individuals infected with the food-borne liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, and the role that Helicobacter pylori may play in immuno-pathogenesis of this disease that results in thousands of deaths per year.
Research Interest 1
Regulation of function of blood phagocytes during infections; cancer cell killing; inflammatory disease, especially rheumatoid arthritis; cytokine regulated processes; role of gene expression in rescue of neutrophils from apoptosis; molecular processes that up- or down-regulate phagocyte function and identification of new targets for the design of novel pro or anti-inflammatory agents. Apoptosis in
cancer cells. Transcriptomics using next generation sequencing.
Research Grants
Generation of new diagnostic tools to identify those at risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma following infection with the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini and the Helicobacter pylori
BRITISH COUNCIL (UK)
February 2021 - March 2022
Role of Helicobacter in persistent immune activation and development of cholangiocarcinoma following infection with the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini
ROYAL SOCIETY
December 2020 - December 2024
Evaluation of novel mechanisms for inhibiting rheumatoid arthritis
AINTREE ARTHRITIS TRUST (UK)
October 2017 - September 2024
Role of neutrophils in inflammation induced liver cancer following liver fluke infection
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY (BEIS) (UK)
April 2016 - June 2017
Secukinumab, neutrophils and vitamin D in Psoriatic Arthritis
NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS UK LTD (UK)
May 2015 - December 2019
Transnational Education-Seed Funding award
BRITISH COUNCIL (UK)
April 2016 - December 2016
From calcium to gene transcription: elucidation of spatio-temporal encoding of intracellular signals in neuronal cells.
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2005 - January 2011
ICAC (Integrated Clinical Arthritis Centre) Grant.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
April 2002 - October 2004
Neutrophil and endothelial interactions in systematic vasculitis.
MERSEY KIDNEY FIRST (UK)
October 2000 - September 2003
Effects of Ehrlichia phagocytophila on neutrophil function in sheep.
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
May 1999 - May 2002
Wellcome VIP Award (Mr Arjen Van't Hof)
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2009 - December 2009
Value in People Award Scheme
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2008 - September 2009
Adrenergic receptors and immunity in CRPS
PAIN RELIEF FOUNDATION (UK)
August 2011 - September 2012
A novel mechanism to block exacerbations in COPD: implications for the development of new therapeutics.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
June 2010 - May 2011
Wellcome VIP Award
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
July 2009 - September 2009
Molecular and physiological characterisation of rank position within dominance hierarchies.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2005 - August 2007
ARC Senior Lecturer (Clinical) in Rheumatology.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
May 2004 - March 2009
VIP AWARD
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2009 - September 2010
WELLCOME VIP 2007/08
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
September 2008 - October 2008
Nada Alqadri - bench fees
ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA
October 2014 - September 2015
PHD Studentship pain relief foundation - Skin immune changes in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
PAIN RELIEF FOUNDATION (UK)
October 2009 - March 2013
Evaluation of novel therapies targeting adhesive/invasive E.Coli
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE (UK)
November 2007 - March 2012
VIP - Support for Gareth Wright's Studentship
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
April 2010 - September 2011
Neutrophil function in inflammation
AINTREE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
October 2012 - January 2017
Neutrophil function in rheumatoid arthritis: relation to inflammatory burden and therapeutic intervention
AINTREE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
October 2009 - September 2010
The relationship between oxygen concentrations and apoptosis in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
AINTREE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (CHARITY) (UK)
October 2003 - September 2006
CASE: A systems based approach to studying neutrophil gene expression
UCB PHARMA LTD (UK)
October 2010 - March 2015
Functional activation of FcyRIIIb in inflammatory neutrophils.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
September 1998 - September 2001
Analysis of markers for the prognosis and treatment of neuroblastoma in children.
NEUROBLASTOMA RESEARCH FUND (UK)
February 1999 - September 2005
Shaayau Shehu - bench fees
ASSOCIATION OF COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITIES (UK)
August 2014 - August 2016
Bacterial oligomannan as a cause of intramucosal neutrophil dysfunction in Crohn's Disease.
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)
April 2001 - March 2003
Bridging and accelerating the translation of novel scientific findings for health and wealth gain
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
March 2014 - August 2015
Investigating neutrophil function in juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
April 2007 - March 2008
The Role of Neutrophils in bacterial infections following renal transplantation.
LIVERPOOL KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FUND (UK)
October 2006 - March 2010
Research into mechanisms of inflammation (A0318/CF).
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST CHARITABLE FUNDS (UK)
September 2005 - August 2008
The role of toll like receptors (TLR) and neutrophils in Severe Resporatory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Bronchiolitis
BRITISH LUNG FOUNDATION (UK)
December 2007 - February 2010
Functional phosphoproteomics to analyse signalling networks regulated by Fc gamma receptors.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
October 2004 - September 2007
Bacterial oligomannan as a cause of intramucosal neutrophil dysfunction in Chrohn's disease.
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS FOUNDATION
February 2001 - January 2003
VIP 2007/08 AWARD
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2007 - September 2008
VIP AWARD - Dr Tarja K Kinnunen
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
April 2010 - July 2010
Wellcome VIP Award
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
September 2008 - August 2011
Centre for Multi-parameter Imaging of Living Cells.
HIGHER EDUCATION FUND COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND (UK)
January 2001 - December 2001
Regulation of Mcl-1 expression in CML
LEUKAEMIA RESEARCH FUND
October 2007 - May 2011
Comparison of neutrophil protein expression between patients with systemic sclerosis and controls.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
November 2006 - October 2009
Induction of cancer cell apoptosis by inhibition of NF-kB and COX-2 mediated expression of Mc1-1 using time lapse imaging of individual living cells.
NORTH WEST CANCER RESEARCH FUND
February 2005 - January 2008
A multidisciplinary approach to the identification of herring (Clupea harengus L.) stock components west of the British Isles using biological tags and genetic markers (WESTHER).
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
January 2003 - June 2006
Skin Immune Changes in Complex Regional Pain
PAIN RELIEF FOUNDATION (UK)
January 2013 - March 2013
Macrophage dysfunction in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
February 2003 - January 2006
Effects of anti-TNF alpha therapy in rheumatoid arthritis on innate and specific immunity.
AINTREE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (CHARITY) (UK)
April 2002 - January 2005
VIP AWARD
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
July 2009 - August 2009
Mutational analysis of human Bfl-1 to define structure/function relationships.
ROYAL SOCIETY (CHARITABLE)
June 2005 - September 2005
The development of a novel mechanism to inhibit neutrophil function selectively as a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
AINTREE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UK)
December 2003 - March 2006
Cellular Localisation of Proteins Produced by Neuroblastroma Cells in Relation to Expression of Apoptosis Genes and Subsequent Affect of Therapeutic Agents.
ROYAL LIVERPOOL CHILDRENS HOSP TRUST FUND
June 1999 - July 2002
VIP AWARD
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
October 2009 - September 2010
A Novel mechanism for control of apoptosis via post-translational modifiction of Mcl-1
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN
June 2008 - August 2011
Neutrophil function in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis.
ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH (UK)
October 2005 - September 2007
Identification of the Anti-Apoptotic Proteins Mc1-1 and A1 in Ovine Cells.
WELLCOME TRUST (UK)
July 2001 - September 2001