School of Environment & Life Sciences

Dr Lucy Smyth

Lecturer in Human Physiology

Peel Building Room G44
T: +44 (0)161 295 5723
E: l.smyth@salford.ac.uk
SEEK: Research profile

Office Times

Tuesdays 10am - 11am and 12noon - 1pm

Biography

I graduated from Salford University in 1994 in Biological and Biochemical science. Following a masters in Immunology + Immunogenetics (Manchester University), I completed my PhD at the University of Sheffield to study the role of mast cells in allergic disease in the absence of IgE. This study was the initiation of my published career in lung immunology. Post doctoral work in Sunderland and Newcastle focused on ‘tissue restricted lymphocyte’ action during lung transplant rejection. Research was directed to identify and blockade adhesion proteins that facilitated recognition and destruction events during rejection.

I then spent 2 years at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research undertaking studies of T cell responses to HPV in cervical cancer patients and identifying the role of the oncofetal antigen 5T4. Returning to lung immunology, I worked in the University Hospital of South Manchester (UHSM) North West Lung Centre (NWLC) Labs and the Medicines Evaluation Unit (MEU) for 7 years undertaking lab management roles, clinical studies, clinical trials, and collaborative work with industry. Work characterized the pathobiology of respiratory diseases; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, while pharmacological studies characterized the action of novel therapeutic drugs.

From 2010, I accepted a lecturing position (Biomedical Science and Human Physiology) at the university of Salford in the school of Environment + Life sciences (ELS) where I continue to publish on respiratory disease and enjoy bringing clinical aspects to both teaching and research. My aim is to share my passion with students so they too can better understand pathological processes in disease, and become the next generation of scientists developing improved treatments for patients.

Teaching

Dr Lucy Smyth is a lecturer in Biomedical Science + Human Physiology in the school of environment + life sciences.

My research of lung fibrosis underpins and informs ELS teaching that is showcased through delivery of modules in the biosciences area, most notably, delivery of upto nine 40credit lab research projects per year. Taught modules that research is integrated into include ‘advances in pathophysiology’, ‘immunology’, ‘human physiology’, ‘pathophysiology’, ‘biomedical research skills’ and ‘applied biotechnology’.

I am also the Bioscience (lab based) ‘Placement Tutor’ for ELS. Bioscience placements are a key feature in ELS programmes providing students 9-12 months laboratory research experience in a professional environment to subsequently graduate with ‘BSc hons with professional studies’. Statistics show good employment figures for placement students, many of whom go onto PhDs. Ongoing collaborations via this research with the University Hospital of South Manchester (UHSM) provides upto 10 placement student opportunities /year. Links with Manchester Royal infirmary, UHSM, Wigan Hospital and Oldham Royal Hospital enable Biomedical science students to undertake their registration portfolio while on placement. This can provide students fantastic employment opportunities as a Biomedical scientist in the NHS after graduation.

I am also Programmes Admissions Tutor for the Biomedical sciences in ELS.

Research Interests

Fibrosis Inflammation + Repair (FIR) / Respiratory Diseases.

Lung disease is extremely prevalent in the UK, affecting >8 million people and their clinical care comes at great cost to the NHS. Asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are the two most common conditions each requiring research to further understand the lung pathology and to advance future treatments.

To do this we have good links with clinical research groups located in local NHS hospitals which enables us to undertake 'translational science' investigations on clinical samples.

Two key areas of interest:

1. Lung fibrosis and 'cellular remodelling' events

2. Altered adaptive immunity associated with lung inflammation

1. Lung fibrosis is commonly associated with COPD but can also occur without a cause (idiopathic). Lung epithelia cells normally have the potential to regenerate in response to damage and fibroblasts provide an extracellular scaffold for elasticity. In fibrotic disease this regeneration becomes defective and accelerated causing the airway thickening. This condition has a very poor prognosis; on average patients survive only 2-3 years from diagnosis. Research at Salford investigates cellular ‘remodelling’ events in lung fibrosis and evaluates fibrosis reversal strategies.

2. During lung infections airways are characteristically infiltrated by large numbers of T lymphocytes that partly provide our protective immune responses. T lymphocytes have the ability to recognise and aid clearance of previously encountered infections, however, inflammation during the absence of infection (ie in Asthma and COPD) indicates altered adaptive immunity is contributing to the disease pathology.

A family of CD4 T-helper lymphocytes (regulatory T cells or Tregs) can suppress activated lymphocytes. Tregs are present at inflammatory loci in a number of conditions including COPD, and Asthma but it is not known why the inflammation is ongoing in their presence.

Research at Salford aims to enhance understanding of the role of Tregs in lung disease.

Qualifications and Memberships

PhD: Mast Cell Activation events in the absence of IgE sensitization in allergic disease. (University of Sheffield)
MSc: Immunology + Immunogenetics (University of Manchester)
BSc: Biological + Biochemical Science
FHEA: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy FHEA
ILM: Institute of Leadership + Management L5.
British Thoracic Society
British Society for Immunology
British Association for Lung Research
European Respiratory Society