Honorary Professor John Upham
Honorary Professor

John Upham

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Background

John Upham is a clinical scientist and physician with longstanding research interests in the immunological basis of asthma and chronic lung disease, the role of dendritic cells in allergy and virus infections of the lung, and the development of novel approaches to severe asthma treatment.

John is highly influential in his field, with > 195 publications, > 5,400 citations and an H index of 46. Since 2009, he has 112 publications (1st/senior author on 45%) with a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 2.03. Moreover, 21.5% of publications are in the top 10% of most-cited publications worldwide (field-weighted). His publications have been cited in >20 different subject areas, demonstrating translation to fields other than Medicine. His research has international reach with citations in 80 countries (Scopus Dec 2018).

In the last 10 years, he has secured over $24 million in research funding. John has been awarded 8 NHMRC Project grants (4 as CIA in the last 5 years), 2 NHMRC CRE (“Closing the gap in Indigenous Lung Health” and “Severe Asthma”), and 1 NHMRC Development Grant. He currently holds NHMRC grants of $7.5 million, including $2.96 million as CIA. John was regularly an invited (9x), plenary (3x) and Chair (9x) at national and international conferences in the last 5 years. In recognition of his international standing and influence in the field, he was elected Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (2004) and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (2015).

Availability

Honorary Professor John Upham is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cardiovascular medicine and haematology Clinical sciences Immunology Respiratory diseases

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia

Research interests

  • Immune function and susceptibility to virus infections in asthma and COPD

  • Plasmacytoid dendritic cells

    Type I interferon production Immune regulation

  • Severe asthma: towards evidence-based assessment and management

  • Innate immunity and bacterial infections of the lungs

    Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease in children Lung health in Indigenous children

  • Allergy and immune tolerance

Research impacts

John is currently the President (2021-22) of the Thoracic Society of Australia and Zealand and is a key member of the NHMRC funded Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Asthma Treatable Traits. He has played a leadership role in organising and co-chairing three recent national symposia on severe asthma to facilitate research collaboration, build research and clinical capacity, and improve models of care for severe asthma. He has been a member of multiple advisory boards to pharmaceutical companies, both international and national (AstraZeneca, GSK, Novartis, Nycomed, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Mundipharma, Menarini), and has provided advice to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. His research has provided new treatment options for severe asthma, and guided the appropriate length of antibiotic treatment for Indigenous children with pneumonia, protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis. John's research will inform best use of influenza vaccination in COPD, and guide the use of conjugate vaccines to improve immunity to Haemophilus in Indigenous children. He contributed to Clinical Practice Guidelines for the use of omalizumab and mepolizumab in Australia and he was part of the working group that prepared a web-based Severe Asthma Toolkit for the Severe Asthma CRE.

Search Professor John Upham’s works on UQ eSpace

381 works between 1983 and 2025
All (381) Journal Article (234) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (142)

321 - 340 of 381 works

2006

Journal Article

Dendritic cells in allergic disease - innocent bystanders or prime suspects?

Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Rate, Angela and Upham, John W. (2006). Dendritic cells in allergic disease - innocent bystanders or prime suspects?. Allergy & Clinical Immunology International, 18 (2), 71-75. doi: 10.1027/0838-1925.18.2.71

Dendritic cells in allergic disease - innocent bystanders or prime suspects?

2006

Journal Article

Dendritic cell immaturity during infancy restricts the capacity to express vaccine-specific T-cell memory

Upham, John W., Rate, Angela, Rowe, Julie, Kusel, Merci, Sly, Peter D. and Holt, Patrick G. (2006). Dendritic cell immaturity during infancy restricts the capacity to express vaccine-specific T-cell memory. Infection and Immunity, 74 (2), 1106-1112. doi: 10.1128/IAI.74.2.1106-1112.2006

Dendritic cell immaturity during infancy restricts the capacity to express vaccine-specific T-cell memory

2006

Book Chapter

Dendritic cells

Upham, J. W. and Hughes, T. (2006). Dendritic cells. Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine. (pp. 10-15) edited by Geoffrey J. Laurent and Steven D. Shapiro. Oxford: Elsevier Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B0-12-370879-6/00111-3

Dendritic cells

2005

Journal Article

Contemporaneous maturation of immunologic and respiratory functions during early childhood: Implications for development of asthma prevention strategies

Holt, Patrick G., Upham, John W. and Sly, Peter D. (2005). Contemporaneous maturation of immunologic and respiratory functions during early childhood: Implications for development of asthma prevention strategies. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 116 (1), 16-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2005.04.017

Contemporaneous maturation of immunologic and respiratory functions during early childhood: Implications for development of asthma prevention strategies

2005

Journal Article

Environment and development of atopy

Upham, John W. and Holt, Patrick G. (2005). Environment and development of atopy. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 5 (2), 167-172. doi: 10.1097/01.all.0000162310.79555.ed

Environment and development of atopy

2005

Journal Article

The CD14 C-159T polymorphism is not associated with asthma or asthma severity in an Australian adult population

Kedda, M-A., Lose, F., Duffy, D., Bell, E., Thompson, P. J. and Upham, J. (2005). The CD14 C-159T polymorphism is not associated with asthma or asthma severity in an Australian adult population. Thorax, 60 (3), 211-214. doi: 10.1136/thx.2004.028449

The CD14 C-159T polymorphism is not associated with asthma or asthma severity in an Australian adult population

2005

Conference Publication

Toll-like receptor 2 ligands inhibit Th2 responses to mite allergen

Taylor, R. C., Richmond, P. and Upham, J. W. (2005). Toll-like receptor 2 ligands inhibit Th2 responses to mite allergen. 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology/14th International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshops, Melbourne, Australia, 29 November - 2 December 2005. OXFORD: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING.

Toll-like receptor 2 ligands inhibit Th2 responses to mite allergen

2005

Conference Publication

Airway epithelial cells from healthy children inhibit dendritic cell activation and cytokine synthesis

Rate, A., Kicic, A., Stick, S. M. and Upham, J. W. (2005). Airway epithelial cells from healthy children inhibit dendritic cell activation and cytokine synthesis. 35th Annual SCientific Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology/14th International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshops, Melbourne, Australia, 29 November -2 December 2005. OXFORD: Wiley.

Airway epithelial cells from healthy children inhibit dendritic cell activation and cytokine synthesis

2005

Journal Article

Maternal reactivity to fetal alloantigens is related to newborn immune responses and subsequent allergic disease

Prescott, S. L., Taylor, A., Roper, J., Wahdan, A., Noakes, P., Thornton, C., Dunstan, J. and Upham, J. W. (2005). Maternal reactivity to fetal alloantigens is related to newborn immune responses and subsequent allergic disease. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 35 (4), 417-425. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02171.x

Maternal reactivity to fetal alloantigens is related to newborn immune responses and subsequent allergic disease

2005

Conference Publication

Influence of APC maturity on the expression of allergen specific T cell memory

Yerkovich, ST, Mus, A and Upham, JW (2005). Influence of APC maturity on the expression of allergen specific T cell memory. 35th Annual SCientific Meeting of the Australasian-Society-for-Immunology/14th International HLA and Immunogenetics Workshops, Melbourne AUSTRALIA, NOV 29-DEC 02, 2005. OXFORD: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING.

Influence of APC maturity on the expression of allergen specific T cell memory

2005

Journal Article

Cytosine–phosphate–guanine motifs fail to promote T-helper type 1-polarized responses in human neonatal mononuclear cells

Prescott, S. L., Irwin, S., Taylor, A., Roper, J., Dunstan, J., Upham, J. W., Burgner, D. and Richmond, P. (2005). Cytosine–phosphate–guanine motifs fail to promote T-helper type 1-polarized responses in human neonatal mononuclear cells. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 35 (3), 358-366. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02187.x

Cytosine–phosphate–guanine motifs fail to promote T-helper type 1-polarized responses in human neonatal mononuclear cells

2005

Conference Publication

Numbers of circulating plasmacytoid and myeloid dendritic cell subsets in infancy are differentially associated with risk for respiratory viral infections and allergic sensitisation

Upham, J. W., Rate, A., Kusel, M., Sly, P. D. and Holt, P. G. (2005). Numbers of circulating plasmacytoid and myeloid dendritic cell subsets in infancy are differentially associated with risk for respiratory viral infections and allergic sensitisation. 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology and 14th International HLA & Immunogenetics Workshop, Melbourne, Australia, 29 November-2 December 2005. OXFORD: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING.

Numbers of circulating plasmacytoid and myeloid dendritic cell subsets in infancy are differentially associated with risk for respiratory viral infections and allergic sensitisation

2004

Journal Article

HLA-DR expression on neonatal monocytes is associated with allergen-specific immune responses

Upham, John W., Holt, Patrick G., Taylor, Angie, Thornton, Catherine A. and Prescott, Susan L. (2004). HLA-DR expression on neonatal monocytes is associated with allergen-specific immune responses. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 114 (5), 1202-1208. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2004.06.051

HLA-DR expression on neonatal monocytes is associated with allergen-specific immune responses

2004

Journal Article

Functional maturation of CD4 +CD25 +CTLA4 +CD45RA + T regulatory cells in human neonatal T cell responses to environmental antigens/allergens

Thornton, C. A., Upham, J. W., Wikstrom, M. E., Holt, B. J., White, G. P., Sharp, M. J., Sly, P. D. and Holt, P. G. (2004). Functional maturation of CD4 +CD25 +CTLA4 +CD45RA + T regulatory cells in human neonatal T cell responses to environmental antigens/allergens. Journal of Immunology, 173 (5), 3084-3092. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.173.5.3084

Functional maturation of CD4 +CD25 +CTLA4 +CD45RA + T regulatory cells in human neonatal T cell responses to environmental antigens/allergens

2004

Journal Article

Higher Prostaglandin E2 Production by Dendritic Cells from Subjects with Asthma Compared with Normal Subjects

Long, Julie A., Fogel-Petrovic, Mirjana, Knight, Darryl A., Thompson, Philip J. and Upham, John W. (2004). Higher Prostaglandin E2 Production by Dendritic Cells from Subjects with Asthma Compared with Normal Subjects. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 170 (5), 485-491. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200311-1595OC

Higher Prostaglandin E2 Production by Dendritic Cells from Subjects with Asthma Compared with Normal Subjects

2004

Journal Article

The Role of Dendritic Cells in Asthma

Holt, P. G. and Upham, J. W. (2004). The Role of Dendritic Cells in Asthma. Current Opinion In Allergy And Clinical Immunology, 4 (1), 39-44. doi: 10.1097/00130832-200402000-00009

The Role of Dendritic Cells in Asthma

2004

Journal Article

Activated human dendritic cells express inducible cyclo-oxygenase and synthesize prostaglandin E2 but not prostaglandin D2

Fogel-Petrovic, Mirjana, Long, Julie A., Knight, Darryl A., Thompson, Philip J. and Upham, John W. (2004). Activated human dendritic cells express inducible cyclo-oxygenase and synthesize prostaglandin E2 but not prostaglandin D2. Immunology and Cell Biology, 82 (1), 47-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1711.2004.01213.x

Activated human dendritic cells express inducible cyclo-oxygenase and synthesize prostaglandin E2 but not prostaglandin D2

2003

Journal Article

Why are dendritic cells important in allergic diseases of the respiratory tract?

Upham, John W. and Stumbles, Philip A. (2003). Why are dendritic cells important in allergic diseases of the respiratory tract?. Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 100 (1), 75-87. doi: 10.1016/S0163-7258(03)00094-9

Why are dendritic cells important in allergic diseases of the respiratory tract?

2003

Journal Article

Airway dendritic cells: Co-ordinators of immunological homeostasis and immunity in the respiratory tract

Stumbles, Philip A., Upham, John W. and Holt, Patrick G. (2003). Airway dendritic cells: Co-ordinators of immunological homeostasis and immunity in the respiratory tract. APMIS, 111 (7-8), 741-755. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0463.2003.11107806.x

Airway dendritic cells: Co-ordinators of immunological homeostasis and immunity in the respiratory tract

2003

Journal Article

The Role of Dendritic Cells in Immune Regulation and Allergic Airway Inflammation

Upham, John W. (2003). The Role of Dendritic Cells in Immune Regulation and Allergic Airway Inflammation. Respirology, 8 (2), 140-148. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1843.2003.00465.x

The Role of Dendritic Cells in Immune Regulation and Allergic Airway Inflammation

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2028
    Minimising Oral Corticosteroid use in Asthma using Treatable Traits (2021 MRFF Chronic Respiratory Conditions grant Administering Institution University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Centre of Research Excellence in Asthma Treatable Traits (CREATT) (administered by University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Diagnostic utility of tests of latent tuberculosis in immune compromised contacts exposed to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (2021 Metro South SERTA Novice Researcher Grant administered by MSHHS)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Reducing acute severe respiratory events in health care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic with OM85
    NHMRC MRFF Coronavirus Research Response
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Understanding how azithromycin prevents exacerbations in severe asthma
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Anti-viral immune dysfunction in severe asthma varies across inflammatory phenotypes
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Multicentre randomised controlled trial on duration of antibiotics for children with chronic wet cough - (Children's Hospital Foundation grant administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Abberant immune responses to viruses in severe asthma: what role does IL-33 play? (Seed Grant awarded by NHMRC CCRE in Severe Asthma APP1078579 administered by the University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2022
    A multi-centre double-blind RCT on community-acquired pneumonia in Indigenous children and a developing country (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Menzies School of Health Research)
    Menzies School of Health Research
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Improving asthma through lifestyle interventions: how much exercise is best?
    Asthma Australia Incorporated
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Using influenza vaccination to understand and improve anti-viral immunity in COPD
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2020
    National Clinical Centre of Research Excellence in Severe Asthma (NHMRC CRE administered by the University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Anti-viral immunity in asthma: a detailed assessment of TLR7 function and the regulation of interferon a/B synthesis
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Protracted bacterial bronchitis: long term outcomes, systemic and airway predictors of recurrence (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Menzies)
    The Menzies Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Centre of Research Excellence in Lung Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children (NHMRC CRE administered by Menzies School of Health Research)
    Menzies School of Health Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Defective toll-like receptor 7 signalling in plasmacytoid dendritic cells underlies the inception of virus-associated asthma
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Influenza vaccination and asthma
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Microbial immunity in a large population of adult asthmatics with suboptimal disease control
    PA Research Foundation Private Practice Trust Fund Research Support Grants
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    The airway epithelium in paediatric respiratory diseases
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Allergic sensitization to grass pollens in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma in subtropical regions of Australia (Year 2)
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Understanding immune responses to influenza vaccination in people with asthma
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Development of the major Bahia grass pollen allergen, Pas n 1, as an immunodiagnostic test for subtropical grass pollen allergy
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: what is the natural history and role of innate immunity dysfunction?
    Financial Markets Foundation for Children
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Allergic sensitization to grass pollens in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma in subtropical regions of Australia
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Allergy to subtropical grass pollens in Australia: IgE cross-reactivity between subtropical and temperate grass pollens
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Antiviral innate immunity in asthma: why are some people with asthma susceptible to virus infections?
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Prevention of allergic asthma through induction of tolerance in allergen-sensitised T cells
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2015
    The AMAZES Study: Asthma and Macrolides: the AZithromycin Efficacy and Safety study (NHMRC Project Grant administered by University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Anti-viral immunity in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    Princess Alexandra Hospital R&D Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Antiviral innate immunity in asthma: why are some people with asthma susceptible to virus infections?
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Protracted bronchitis in children: what is the natural history and role of innate immunity dysfunction?
    Royal Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2007
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    Developmental aspects of respiratory inflammation, allergy and asthma (UWA_lead institution)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant

Availability

Honorary Professor John Upham is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Immune dysregulation in asthma and host defence against respiratory viruses

    Our program of translational research is focussed on the study of immune function and dysfunction in asthma, and host defence against respiratory viruses, especially human rhinoviruses. We are interested in the mechanisms leading to excessive airway inflammation in asthma, and why people with asthma are unusually susceptible to asthma attacks during respiratory viral infections. Our aim is to discover new therapeutic targets in severe asthma.

    Research Projects

    • The function of key immune cells such as antigen presenting cells and NK cells
    • The role of polarizing cytokines such as IL-33, IL-25 and TSLP in altering host defence against viruses.
    • How macrolide antibiotics alter immune function

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Honorary Professor John Upham directly for media enquiries about:

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Dendritic cells
  • Immunity
  • Lung infections
  • Lungs - virus infections
  • Virus infections of the lung

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