Archives of Inflammation

Simon C Afford
Reader in Inflammatory and Malignant Liver Disease Immunity & Infection(UoB) SIMON CHARLES AFFORD The Centre for Liver Research, School of Immunity and Infection, Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Birmingham.

Biography

Research grants awarded National and International 2015 – Hb Products Inc., Industry collaboration “ The use of Hemapure an artificial oxygen carrier as a substitute for packed red blood cells in normothermic machine perfusion . £20,000 2014- 2018 Government of Iraq PhD Studentship “Targetting the CD40L/Receptor system for the treatment of HCC £118,296 2013 - 2018. MRC UK PBC consortium bid. Joint research theme lead for immune mediated bile duct destruction and fibrosis. Afford (Birmingham) and Kirby (Newcastle). Birmingham Share £1.2M in total – Afford share 20% 2013 – 2014 Biogen Idec - Industry collaboration – The function of Fn14 and TWEAK in an experimental murine model of liver fibrosis £25000 2012-2015 Brazilian Government/UoB International Office CAPES PhD Studentship for Priscilla De Campos (Albert Einstein Institute San Paulo Br.) “Characterisation of the Hepatocyte Autophagic Response During Oxidative Stress and HCV Infection in the Human Liver”. (Principle Supervisor – Co supervisors Z Stamataki, R.H.Bhogal) Overseas clinical research fellowship £95,000 2012-2015 Brazilian Government/UoB International Office CAPES PhD Studentship Luis Gustavo Guedes Diaz (Albert Einstein Institute San Paulo Br.) Exploitation of the CD40ligand/receptor system for therapeutic treatment of HCC and Cholangiocarcinoma (Principle Investigator – Co supervisors P. Searle, D. Palmer) Overseas clinical research fellowship £95,000 2012 – 2015 MRC Clinical Training Fellowship for Mr Barnaby Stevenson “ The role of TWEAK and Fn14 in cholangiocyte differentiation and function during inflammatory liver disease” (Principle Supervisor – DHA sponsor) £210,000 2013-2017 NIHR BRU renewal – Gastrointestinal Disease – Translational Research Programme £6,562,000 in total – (Research Area 4 and 6 Cancer Immunotherapy Theme Lead .) 2011–2014 BBSRC PhD Studentship for Ms Annika Willhelm – The Functional Significance of Fn14 in Hepatic Progenitor Cell Differentiation and Liver Fibrosis (Principle Supervisor) £81,000 2009-2012 Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship for Mr Ricky Bhogal “CD40 as a regulator of cell survival and function during hypoxia and ischemia reperfusion injury” (Principle Supervisor – DHA sponsor) £238,000 2010 - 2013 – MRC PhD Studentship for Ms Mamoona Munir “The role of TNF receptors in chronic hepatic inflammation and hepatic ductular regeneration”. (Principle Supervisor ) £70,000 approx 2008 - 2013 BBSRC PhD student quota allocation bid for University of Birmingham School of Medicine – Support for ten students commenced 2009. (Consortium Member and PI other applicants and PIs A. Logan, J. Franklin, David Adams, M. Overduin, David Sansom, Roy Bicknell). Total value of award £1,500,000 approx. 2007 – 2010 BBSRC Standard Response Mode Project Grant. The role of tumour necrosis factor superfamily receptors and the innate immune system in liver inflammation and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. (Principle Investigator, co investigators DHA, JC, SY) £479,287 2006 - 2009 MRC Clinical Training Fellowship for Edward Alabraba. The role of macrophage CD154 in promotion of chronic liver inflammation and apoptosis. (Principle supervisor – sponsor D.H.Adams) £174,000 2005 –2008 Childrens Liver Disease Foundation PhD Studentship Functional characterisation of Fibrocystin Mutations in Biliary Atresia (Principle supervisor) £75,000 2004 – 2007 BBSRC. Project Grant. Modelling chronic tissue inflammation with primary human cell co-culture systems: The importance of CD40/CD40ligand interactions (Principle Investigator) £260, 000 2000 – 2004 European Commission Project Grant. Characterisation of the regulation and function of VAP 1 on intrahepatic endothelium and determination of its role in inflammatory liver disease (The Therapeutic Utilization of a Novel Enzyme with Unique Adhesion Properties – TUNEUP). (D.H.Adams, M.J.Wakelam, S.C.Afford and P.Lalor) £209,000 2000 – 2003 Genetics Institute USA. Project Grant The expression and function of TRADE a novel member of the TNF receptor superfamily in the human liver. (Principle Investigator) £ 93,000 1999-2002 BBSRC Project Grant. The Functional significance of CD40 expression in hepatocytes and intrahepatic endothelium (Principle Investigator) £170,452 1996 – 1998 The Wellcome Trust Project Grant. Novel Markers of inflammation and cellular phenotype in human liver diseases: Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies with clinical or therapeutic potential. (Adams and Afford -1996) £32,041 1994 - 1996 Amgen Inc. Project Grant. The potential use of GCSF in Human Liver Transplantation. (Principle Investigator) £25,000 1994 - 1996 Alchemes. The role of anti integrin peptides in the regulation of neutrophil migration following preservation/reperfusion injury in an aortic allograft model in rats. (D.H.Adams, S.C.Afford and M.D’Silva. £15,000. 1989 - 1992 Chest Heart and Stroke Association UK. Personal Career Development Award. The molecular nature of lung alpha-1- antitrypsin £69,000

Research Interest

Chronic inflammation which fails to resolve is a characteristic feature of many life threatening liver diseases including primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, liver allograft rejection and liver cancer. The overall aim of my research is to investigate the basic mechanisms that regulate inflammatory responses in the liver. Severe inflammation can lead to permanent tissue damage including fibrosis, loss of organ function and in some cases malignant disease including hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma. My group focuses predominantly on the cell and molecular mechanisms which control primary liver cell survival including the intracellular signalling pathways which direct cholangiocyte and hepatocyte survival, apoptosis, autophagy, and cellular transition.