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

377 works between 1983 and 2025
All (377) Journal Article (230) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (142)

341 - 360 of 377 works

2002

Journal Article

Dendritic cell maturation and IL-12 synthesis induced by the synthetic immune-response modifier S-28463

Fogel, Mirjana, Long, Julie A., Thompson, Philip J. and Upham, John W. (2002). Dendritic cell maturation and IL-12 synthesis induced by the synthetic immune-response modifier S-28463. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 72 (5), 932-938.

Dendritic cell maturation and IL-12 synthesis induced by the synthetic immune-response modifier S-28463

2002

Journal Article

Basic Science Funding in Australia: Lessons from the EU

Stumbles, Philip A., Upham, John W. and Nelson, Delia J. (2002). Basic Science Funding in Australia: Lessons from the EU. Nature Immunology, 3 (10), 885-885. doi: 10.1038/ni1002-885

Basic Science Funding in Australia: Lessons from the EU

2002

Journal Article

Distinct Phenotypic Adhesion Molecule Expression on Human Cord Blood Progenitors During Early Eosinophilic Commitment: Upregulation of β7 Integrins

Lundahl, J., Sehmi, R., Moshfegh, A., Hayes, L., Howie, K., Upham, J. and Denburg, J. A. (2002). Distinct Phenotypic Adhesion Molecule Expression on Human Cord Blood Progenitors During Early Eosinophilic Commitment: Upregulation of β7 Integrins. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 56 (2), 161-167. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3083.2002.01117.x

Distinct Phenotypic Adhesion Molecule Expression on Human Cord Blood Progenitors During Early Eosinophilic Commitment: Upregulation of β7 Integrins

2002

Conference Publication

The synthetic immune response modifier induces dendritic cells to mature and synthesize cytokines via a pathway distinct from lipopolysaccharide

Fogel, MF, Long, JAL, Thompson, PJT and Upham, JWU (2002). The synthetic immune response modifier induces dendritic cells to mature and synthesize cytokines via a pathway distinct from lipopolysaccharide. 21st Congress of the European-Academy-of-Allergology-and-Clinical-Immunology, Naples Italy, Jun 01-05, 2002. COPENHAGEN: BLACKWELL MUNKSGAARD.

The synthetic immune response modifier induces dendritic cells to mature and synthesize cytokines via a pathway distinct from lipopolysaccharide

2002

Journal Article

Rapid response of circulating myeloid dendritic cells to inhaled allergen in asthmatic subjects

Upham, J. W., Wood, L. J., Denburg, J. A. and Byrne, P. M. (2002). Rapid response of circulating myeloid dendritic cells to inhaled allergen in asthmatic subjects. Clinical And Experimental Allergy, 32 (6), 818-823. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2002.01375.x

Rapid response of circulating myeloid dendritic cells to inhaled allergen in asthmatic subjects

2002

Journal Article

Retinoic Acid Modulates IL-5 Receptor Expression and Selectively Inhibits Eosinophil-Basophil Differentiation of Hemopoietic Progenitor Cells

Upham, John W., Sehmi, Roma, Hayes, Lisa M., Howie, Karen, Lundahl, Joachim and Denburg, Judah A. (2002). Retinoic Acid Modulates IL-5 Receptor Expression and Selectively Inhibits Eosinophil-Basophil Differentiation of Hemopoietic Progenitor Cells. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 109 (2), 307-313. doi: 10.1067/mai.2002.121527

Retinoic Acid Modulates IL-5 Receptor Expression and Selectively Inhibits Eosinophil-Basophil Differentiation of Hemopoietic Progenitor Cells

2002

Conference Publication

The synthetic immune response modifier R-848 induces dendritic cells to mature and synthesize a diverse range of cytokines via a pathway distinct from lipopolysaccharide

Fogel, M., Long, J. A., Thompson, P. J. and Upham, J. W. (2002). The synthetic immune response modifier R-848 induces dendritic cells to mature and synthesize a diverse range of cytokines via a pathway distinct from lipopolysaccharide. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, New York City, NY United States, 1-6 March 2002. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Mosby. doi: 10.1016/S0091-6749(02)81297-0

The synthetic immune response modifier R-848 induces dendritic cells to mature and synthesize a diverse range of cytokines via a pathway distinct from lipopolysaccharide

2001

Journal Article

Rapid dendritic cell recruitment to the bronchial mucosa of patients with atopic asthma in response to local allergen challenge

Jahnsen, F. L., Moloney, E. D., Hogan, T., Upham, J. W., Burke, C. M. and Holt, P. G. (2001). Rapid dendritic cell recruitment to the bronchial mucosa of patients with atopic asthma in response to local allergen challenge. Thorax, 56 (11), 823-826. doi: 10.1136/thorax.56.11.823

Rapid dendritic cell recruitment to the bronchial mucosa of patients with atopic asthma in response to local allergen challenge

2001

Conference Publication

Regulation of IL-5 receptor on eosinophil progenitors in allergic inflammation: role of retinoic acid

Denburg, Judah A., Sehmi, Roma and Upham, John (2001). Regulation of IL-5 receptor on eosinophil progenitors in allergic inflammation: role of retinoic acid. 23rd Symposium of the Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA 2000), Hakone, Japan, 18-23 May 2000. Basel, Switzerland: Karger. doi: 10.1159/000053724

Regulation of IL-5 receptor on eosinophil progenitors in allergic inflammation: role of retinoic acid

2000

Journal Article

Simplified quantitation of myeloid dendritic cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry

Upham, J. W., Lundahl, J., Liang, H., Denburg, J. A., O'Byrne, P. M. and Snider, D. P. (2000). Simplified quantitation of myeloid dendritic cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry. Cytometry, 40 (1), 50-59. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0320(20000501)40:13.0.CO;2-P

Simplified quantitation of myeloid dendritic cells in peripheral blood using flow cytometry

2000

Conference Publication

Modulation of eosinophil progenitor growth and IL5R alpha expression on CD34+cells by retinoic acid

Lacosta, S., Sehmi, R., Upham, J., Hayes, L., Tavernier, J. and Denburg, J. A. (2000). Modulation of eosinophil progenitor growth and IL5R alpha expression on CD34+cells by retinoic acid. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, San Diego California USA, 3-8 March 2000. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Mosby. doi: 10.1016/S0091-6749(00)91195-3

Modulation of eosinophil progenitor growth and IL5R alpha expression on CD34+cells by retinoic acid

1999

Journal Article

Circulating dendritic cells and asthma: Rapid changes following inhaled allergen

Upham, John, Denburg, Judah and O'Byrne, Paul (1999). Circulating dendritic cells and asthma: Rapid changes following inhaled allergen. Respirology, 4 (SUPPL. 1)

Circulating dendritic cells and asthma: Rapid changes following inhaled allergen

1999

Journal Article

Reduced expression of gm-csf receptor on cord blood progenitor cells from neonates at risk for atopy

Upham, John, Hayes, Lisa, Lundahl, Joachim, Sehmi, Roma and Denburg, Judah (1999). Reduced expression of gm-csf receptor on cord blood progenitor cells from neonates at risk for atopy. Respirology, 4 (SUPPL. 1)

Reduced expression of gm-csf receptor on cord blood progenitor cells from neonates at risk for atopy

1999

Journal Article

Retinoic acid selectively inhibits il-5 receptor expression during progenitor cell differentiation

Upham, John, Hayes, Lisa, Sehmi, Roma and Denburg, Judah (1999). Retinoic acid selectively inhibits il-5 receptor expression during progenitor cell differentiation. Respirology, 4 (SUPPL. 1)

Retinoic acid selectively inhibits il-5 receptor expression during progenitor cell differentiation

1999

Journal Article

Reduced expression of hemopoietic cytokine receptors on cord blood progenitor cells in neonates at risk for atopy

Upham, John W., Hayes, Lisa M., Lundahl, Joachim, Sehmi, Roma and Denburg, Judah A. (1999). Reduced expression of hemopoietic cytokine receptors on cord blood progenitor cells in neonates at risk for atopy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 104 (2), 370-375. doi: 10.1016/S0091-6749(99)70381-7

Reduced expression of hemopoietic cytokine receptors on cord blood progenitor cells in neonates at risk for atopy

1999

Conference Publication

Regulation of IL-5 and IL-5 receptor expression in the bone marrow of allergic asthmatics

Denburg, Judah A., Sehmi, Roma, Upham, John, Wood, Lorna, Gauvreau, Gail and O'Byrne, Paul (1999). Regulation of IL-5 and IL-5 receptor expression in the bone marrow of allergic asthmatics. 22nd Symposium of the Collegium Internationale Allergologicum, Corfu, Greece, 12-16 September 1998. Basel, Switzerland: Karger. doi: 10.1159/000024040

Regulation of IL-5 and IL-5 receptor expression in the bone marrow of allergic asthmatics

1999

Conference Publication

Circulating T-cells and granulocytes from asthmatics exhibit impaired capacity for intracellular IL-10 production

Narita, S, Upham, J, Lundahl, J, Watson, R, Croitru, K and O'Byrne, PM (1999). Circulating T-cells and granulocytes from asthmatics exhibit impaired capacity for intracellular IL-10 production. ST LOUIS: MOSBY-YEAR BOOK INC.

Circulating T-cells and granulocytes from asthmatics exhibit impaired capacity for intracellular IL-10 production

1999

Conference Publication

Circulating dendritic cells and asthma: Rapid response to inhaled allergen

Upham, J. W., Denburg, J. A. and O'Byrne, P. M. (1999). Circulating dendritic cells and asthma: Rapid response to inhaled allergen. -, -, -. New York, NY, United States: American Thoracic Society.

Circulating dendritic cells and asthma: Rapid response to inhaled allergen

1999

Conference Publication

Intracellular cytokines in T-cells from patients with allergic asthma and the effects of inhaled corticosteroids

Narita, S., Upham, J., Lundahl, J., Watson, R., Croitru, K. and O'Byrne, P. M. (1999). Intracellular cytokines in T-cells from patients with allergic asthma and the effects of inhaled corticosteroids. -, -, -. New York, NY, United States: American Thoracic Society.

Intracellular cytokines in T-cells from patients with allergic asthma and the effects of inhaled corticosteroids

1998

Journal Article

Inhibition of T cell proliferation by human alveolar macrophages - Authors' reply

Holt, P. G. and Upham, J. W. (1998). Inhibition of T cell proliferation by human alveolar macrophages - Authors' reply. Thorax, 53 (5), 437-437.

Inhibition of T cell proliferation by human alveolar macrophages - Authors' reply

Past funding

  • 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
  • 2012 - 2013
    The airway epithelium in paediatric respiratory diseases
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    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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