Showing articles associated with Irina Udalova
Irina Udalova is a Professor of Molecular Immunology at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, NDORMS and heads and an expert in the genomics of inflammation.
What is your main area(s) of interest/expertise?
My main area of interest is in control of innate cell phenotype and function in inflammation. By combining the state-of-the art functional genomic approaches with classical molecular and cellular immunology the laboratory is unravelling the transcriptional circuitry that control myeloid cells, the cells that first see and fight pathogens. I am also interested in the heterogeneity of myeloid cells and in the control of their development under inflammatory emergency.
What are you working on right now?
I am a part of the Oxford Covid19 immunology work package (WP3) that aims to better understand the role of myeloid cells in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. We aim to identify pathogenic myeloid cell populations that contribute to vascular damage and activation of enhanced blood clotting observed in some patients. Using our expertise and prior knowledge, we also aim to tease out the molecular mechanisms that might control abnormal myeloid responses.
Why is Oxford a good place to work in this field of research?
Oxford is well known for its strong faculty in immunology. What makes WP3 so exciting is a new alliance formed between Oxford immunology and Oxford Haematology streams via a common interest in coagulation abnormalities and pathogenic microvascular thromboses, common in COVID-19. Via research on neutrophil function in vascular inflammation and neutrophil-platelet interactions we are well positioned to bridge the two streams.
Find out more about Irina
