The Cambridge Centre for Lung Infection at Royal Papworth Hospital has an international reputation for basic, translational, and clinical research.
The research programme is led by Professor Andres Floto (Professor of Respiratory Biology, University of Cambridge) with research laboratories within the Molecular Immunity Unit, based at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and at Royal Papworth Hospital.
The team’s research focuses on three main areas:
- Using forward and reverse genetics to understand host susceptibility and pathogen virulence during bacterial infection
- Defining new drug targets for novel antibiotic and host-directed therapies
- Evaluating new anti-inflammatory agents for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and non-CF lung disease (through experimental medicine studies).
Professor Floto also leads the UK Cystic Fibrosis Innovation Hub based in Cambridge; a strategic partnership between the University of Cambridge and the UK CF Trust dedicated to:
- Developing new antibiotics for Mycobacterium abscessus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (c/w Professors Sir Tom Blundell, Biochemistry; Chris Abell, Chemistry; Julian Parkhill (WT Sanger Institute);
- Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (IPSC)-derived epithelial cells to create personalized drug regimens in vitro and, following genome editing, to eventually deliver regenerative therapy for damaged CF lungs (c/w Professor Ludovic Vallier, WT Sanger Institute);
- Using machine learning approaches to predict and hopefully prevent acute pulmonary exacerbations in CF (c/w Dr John Winn, Microsoft Research);
- Creating a National Collaborative Research Framework to support UK-based CF researchers
The CCLI also has an excellent track record in leading and participating in Industry-sponsored commercial studies (led by Dr Charles Haworth) focused on new therapies for CF and non- CF bronchiectasis.