Research centres - Leicester, UK

RESEARCH CENTRES

Division of Nephrology, University of Leicester
Leicester General Hospital
Leicester, United Kingdom

Head of the Unit

John Feehally MA DM FRCP
John Feehally has led a research group in Leicester investigating the immunopathogenesis of IgA nephropathy since 1989.
He is also co-editor of the successful postgraduate text, Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. He is a Section Editor for Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation and Associate Editor of Nephron Clinical Practice.
Contact Information
Tel: +44 116 258 4132
Fax: +44 116 273 4674
Email: jf27@le.ac.uk

Clinical Staff

John Feehally, Jonathan Barratt, and Ursula Montogmery are clinicians as well as members of the IgA nephropathy research group.
They are part of a large nephrology and transplantation service based in Leicester providing a clinical service for a population of ~£1.5 million people.
The unit is staffed by 10 consultant nephrologists and 2 transplant surgeons, supported by 10 nephrology registrars/fellows.

Research and Laboratory

Jonathan Barratt PhD MRCP
Jonathan Barratt is a UK Department of Health/Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist, and a Clinical Lecturer. He has worked in Leicester since 1996 and completed a PhD on ‘Characterisation of a novel receptor for IgA expressed by human mesangial cells’ in 2001.
His research interests are in pathogenic mechanisms of glomerular injury and glomerulosclerosis in IgA nephropathy, particularly the role of the glomerular mesangial cell IgA receptor.
Contact Information
Tel: +44 116 258 4132
Fax: +44 116 258 4764
Email: jb81@le.ac.uk

Elaine Foster BSc
Elaine Foster is a research associate. She has worked in the group since 1995 She contributes to all aspects of the group’s laboratory research and has special expertise in molecular biology.
Contact Information
Tel: +44 116 258 4111
Fax: +44 116 258 4764
Email: emb7@le.ac.uk

Karen Molyneaux PhD
Karen Molyneaux has worked as a research associate in the group since 2002. She has a PhD in genetics, and her current research interest is in the characterisation of the mesangial cell IgA receptor.
Contact Information
Tel: +44 116 258 4702
Fax: +44 116 258 4764
Email: km65@le.ac.uk

Ursula Montgomery MB MRCP
Ursula Montgomery is a clinical research fellow. She has worked in the group since 2001. Her research interest is in T cell control of antigen-specific IgA responses in IgA nephropathy
Contact Information
Tel: +44 116 258 4132
Fax: +44 116 273 4764
Email: um7@le.ac.uk

Alice C Smith BSc PhD
Alice Smith (former surname Allen) is a non-clinical Lecturer. She has worked in the IgA nephropathy group in Leicester since 1989, completing a PhD in 1996
Her field of interest is the immunopathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. She has made a number of original observations on the altered control of IgA production, and abnormal glycosylation of IgA, and continues actively to work in both these fields.
Contact Information
Tel: +44 116 258 8039
Fax: +44 116 273 4764
Email: aa50@le.ac.uk

CONTACTS
E-Mail	jf27@le.ac.uk
Fax	+44 116 258 4764
Full postal address	Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, United Kingdom

IgAN RESEARCH INTERESTS
CLINICAL RESEARCH

• Recurrent IgA nephropathy in transplants
• Critical reviews of current treatment approaches to treatment of IgA nephropathy
• New approaches to the treatment of IgA nephropathy

BASIC RESEARCH

RESEARCH PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS LIST

• IgA glycosylation
We were among the first to describe altered glycosylation of IgA1 in both the serum and the kidney in IgA nephropathy, and we continue to investigate its pathogenic significance.

• Mesangial cell IgA receptors
We have described a novel Fc-specific IgA receptor in human mesangial cells, and are continuing work to further characterise this receptor.

• Cellular control of IgA synthesis
We have described exaggerated polymeric IgA responses in IgA nephropathy, failure of affinity maturation in the IgA response and abnormal systemic responses to mucosal antigens. We have also described abnormalities in the T cell repertoire in the marrow and the mucosal immune system, and in T cell homing. Studies of T cell control of IgA production continue.

• Characterisation of IgA abnormalities in hepatic IgA nephropathy
The mechanisms underlying mesangial IgA deposition in chronic liver disease have not yet been elucidated, nor have any putative structural abnormalities of the IgA1 molecule such as are seen in primary IgA nephropathy. We are characterising IgA1 in hepatic IgA nephropathy in collaboration with Dr. Shideh Pouria, King’s College, London, UK

Fellows program: Specify if the Unit accepts from other Countries for:
Short(1-2 month) well focused trained programs either clinically or laboratory oriented: Yes
Long (at least 1 year) research fellowships: Yes
Specify corresponding availability of grants: None
Specify if the Unit may provide help for accommodation: Yes

Prerequisites for Fellowship
Language: English

Work/Research experience:
• Research Scientists should be post-doctoral
• Clinician Scientists should have a minimum of 2 years research experience

Other prerequisites: Written support from present institution

PUBLICATIONS LIST

IgAN Publications 2000-2003

1.	Feehally J Treating IgA nephropathy – who, when and how? Nephron Clinical Practice 2003; 93:c47-c48 Pubmed Link
2.	Smith AC, Feehally J New insights into the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy Springer Seminars in Immunopathology 2003 [in press]
3.	Buck KS, Foster EM, Watson D, Barratt J, Pawluczyk IZA, Knight JF, Feehally J, Allen AC. Expression of T cell receptor variable region families by bone marrow gd T cells in patients with IgA nephropathy. Clin Exp Immunol 2002;127(3):527-532. Pubmed Link
4.	Feehally J, Allen AC Abnormalities of IgA1 production in IgA nephropathy Nephrology 2002; 7: S100-S105 Pubmed Link
5.	Tagboto S, Feehally J, Carr SJ IgA nephropathy, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and crescentic glomerulonephritis in a patient with the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome Am J Nephrol 2001; 21: 58-62 Pubmed Link
6.	Allen AC, Bailey EM, Brenchley PEC, Buck KS, Barratt J, Feehally J Mesangial IgA1 in IgA nephropathy exhibits aberrant O-glycosylation Kidney Int 2001; 60:969-973 Pubmed Link
7.	Feehally J Predicting prognosis in IgA nephropathy Am J Kidney Dis 2001; 38: 881-3 Pubmed Link
8.	Barratt J, Allen AC, Feehally J Immunoglobulin A nephropathy In: Immunologic Renal Disease, Ed. Couser WG, Neilson EG 2001[in press]
9.	Barratt J, Greer M, Pawluczyk I, Allen AC, Bailey EM, Buck K, Feehally J Identification of a novel Fc alpha receptor expressed by human mesangial cells Kidney Int 2000; 57; 1936-1948 Pubmed Link
10.	Zickerman AM, Allen AC, Talwar V, Olczak SA, Brownlee A, Holland M, Furness PN, Brunskill NJ, Feehally J IgA myeloma presenting as Henoch-Schönlein purpura with nephritis Am J Kidney Dis 2000; 36:E19 Pubmed Link
11.	Feehally J Immunoglobulin A nephropathy Horizons in Medicine 11, ed Pusey CD, Royal College of Physicians of London 2000: 285-300 Pubmed Link
12.	Allen AC, Feehally J IgA1 glycosylation and the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy Am J Kidney Dis 2000; 35: 551-556 Pubmed Link
13.	Floege J, Feehally J IgA nephropathy: recent developments J Amer Soc Nephrol 2000; 11: 2395-2403 Pubmed Link