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Bruno Gran

Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

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Biography

An overview of some key areas of our research in neuroimmunology can be found in recent review articles, including:

  • O'Brien et al. 2010. T-cell based immunotherapy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Immunotherapy 2:99-115
  • Nyirenda et al., 2009. Modulation of regulatory T cells in health and disease: role of toll-like receptors. Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets 8, 124-9
  • O'Brien et al., 2008. Role of the innate immune system in autoimmune inflammatory demyelination. Current Medicinal Chemistry 15, 1105-15

Expertise Summary

The expertise of our research group is in the immunology of the nervous system, with a special focus on neuroimmunology of MS.

We use cellular and molecular immunology techniques, tissue culture, molecular biology, experimental models, and clinical studies to address scientific questions in MS, with an emphasis on the mechanisms of nervous tissue damage and repair by cells of the immune system.

Teaching Summary

Multiple sclerosis, diseases of the spinal cord, neuroimmunology, general neurology.

See also: http://www.nuh.nhs.uk/neurology/DrBGran.aspx

Research Summary

We study the interaction of the innate and adaptive immune system in multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Current research in our laboratory focuses on… read more

Recent Publications

Current Research

We study the interaction of the innate and adaptive immune system in multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Current research in our laboratory focuses on how Toll-like receptors (TLRs) modulate the function of human regulatory T cells (Tregs). Such cells inhibit the function of effector T cells, which are involved in initiating and maintaining inflammatory responses that cause damage to the central nervous system in MS. We have found that certain TLRs can reduce the function of Tregs, thus facilitating increased inflammatory activity in MS. Another line of research focuses on how TLRs and other innate immune receptors regulate inflammatory activity in the immune system and the CNS in an experimental model of MS.

Additional research interests include the role of infections in MS and other immune-mediated diseases of the nervous system, and the use of new experimental treatments in patients with MS.

Past Research

Previous research, part of which is still ongoing, has focused on the recognition of myelin antigens by human T cell receptors and on the role of heterodimeric cytokines (IL-12, IL-23, and IL-27) in the pathogenesis of inflammatory demyelination.

Future Research

We are interested in research collaborations that can facilitate the application of basic neuroimmunology work to the treatment of patients with MS.

The Clinical Trial section of our website contains more details on completed and current trials involving patients with MS.

School of Clinical Sciences

D Floor, East Block
Queen's Medical Centre
Nottingham, NG7 2UH

telephone: +44 (0) 115 823 0695
fax: +44 (0) 115 823 0704
email: scs-enquiries@nottingham.ac.uk