Professor Dean Naisbitt BSc, PhD

Senior Lecturer Pharmacology & Therapeutics

    Research

    Research Interest 1

    The major aim of my research is exploration of the chemical and cellular basis of hypersensitivity reactions to drugs and chemicals. More specifically, these studies attempt to relate drug metabolism and covalent binding of chemicals to protein to the basic immunology and functioning of immune cells. These studies provide further insight into the critical question of how low molecular weight chemicals cause serious tissue injury in man.

    • My research group has published 65 full research articles and/or reviews in internationally recognised journals.

    Specific projects
    1. Investigation of the phenotype, specificity and cytokine profile of drug-specific T-cell lines and clones from hypersensitive patients
    2. Characterization of the role of metabolism in drug hypersensitivity reactions
    3. In vitro induction of drug-specific T-cell responses using blood from drug-naïve human donors
    4. Investigation of the chemical and cellular basis of contact sensitisation mediated by exposure to hair dyes
    5. Investigation of the molecular and chemical basis of differential (Th1, Th2 and Th0) drug-specific lymphocyte activation
    6. Transcriptional profiling of T-cell clones from hypersensitive patients
    7. Exploration of the interaction of drug & chemical haptens with protein
    8. Evaluation of the T-cell stimulatory capacity of peptide vaccines in patients with pancreatic cancer
    9. Investigation of the immunological mechanisms of drug-induced allergic events in patients with cystic fibrosis
    10. Development of an animal model of drug-induced allergic disease

    Research Grants

    Bench Fees for Luis Castrejon.

    CONSEJO NACIONAL DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGIA (MEXICO)

    February 2008 - January 2010

    Definition of chemical and immunological signals associated with the development of contact dermatitis.

    BRITISH SKIN FOUNDATION (UK)

    January 2006 - December 2008

    Signalling and function of immunomodulatory biologics

    REPUBLIC OF IRAQ MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

    October 2014 - September 2017

    Quantitative high-throughput proteomics for biomedical research.

    MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

    March 2005 - March 2008

    Bridging and accelerating the translation of novel scientific findings for health and wealth gain

    MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

    March 2014 - August 2015

    Chic-FILI—Definition of the chemical and immunological characteristics of flucloxacillin-induced liver injury

    EUROPEAN COMMISSION

    September 2012 - August 2013

    The immunological response consequences of metabolic drug activation by dendritic cells.

    WELLCOME TRUST (UK)

    April 2006 - April 2009

    A prospective investigation of drug-specific B-cell responses in allergic patients with cystic fibrosis

    UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN (NIGERIA)

    December 2011 - November 2014

    Molecular basis of T-cell triggering in patients with drug allergy

    THE HIGHER COMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN IRAQ (HCED) (IRAQ)

    October 2012 - September 2016

    Development of an in vivo mouse model to study the role of metabolism in drug-induced cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions

    ASTRAZENECA LIMITED (UK)

    October 2009 - September 2013

    A prospective investigation of β-lactam allergy in patients with cystic fibrosis to define drug immunogenicity

    CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST (UK)

    December 2011 - August 2016

    Development of an in vivo model of drug-induced cutaneous toxicity.

    WELLCOME TRUST (UK)

    July 2001 - September 2001

    The role of drug-specific T-cells in allergic reactions to drugs

    ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA

    October 2011 - September 2014

    Mechanistic basis of dapsone hypersensitivity

    ROYAL EMBASSY OF SAUDI ARABIA

    July 2014 - June 2017

    The Chemical and Cellular Basis of Drug Hypersensitivity.

    WELLCOME TRUST (UK)

    January 2000 - January 2004

    The role of peripheral and liver-associated T lymphocytes in pathogenesis of alcholic liver disease.

    ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK)

    May 2004 - October 2005

    Research Collaborations

    Andrea Cavani

    External: University of Rome

    Characterization of skin resident T-cells

    Stefan Martin

    External: University of Frankfurt (Germany)

    Development of in vitro T-cell priming assays

    Dr Daniel Peckham

    External: The University of Leeds

    Immune mechanisms of drug allergy in patients with cystic fibrosis

    Werner Pichler

    External: Aachen University

    T-cell projects

    L Trepanier

    External: University of Wisconsin

    T-cell experiments in experimental models

    JF Nicolas

    External: ADER Fez

    Developing models of drug allergy