Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia
Research interests
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Immune function and susceptibility to virus infections in asthma and COPD
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Plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Type I interferon production Immune regulation
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Severe asthma: towards evidence-based assessment and management
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Innate immunity and bacterial infections of the lungs
Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease in children Lung health in Indigenous children
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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.
Works
Search Professor John Upham’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Conference Publication
Late Breaking Abstract - Defining a severe asthma super-responder: findings from a Delphi process
Upham, John, Le Lievre, Chantal, Jackson, David, Masoli, Matthew, Wechsler, Michael and Price, David (2020). Late Breaking Abstract - Defining a severe asthma super-responder: findings from a Delphi process. International Congress of the European-Respiratory-Society (ERS), Electr Network, Sep 07-09, 2020. SHEFFIELD: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2020.2610
2020
Journal Article
HMGB1 amplifies ILC2-induced type-2 inflammation and airway smooth muscle remodelling
Loh, Zhixuan, Simpson, Jennifer, Ullah, Ashik, Zhang, Vivian, Gan, Wan J., Lynch, Jason P., Werder, Rhiannon B., Sikder, Al Amin, Lane, Katie, Sim, Choon Boon, Porrello, Enzo, Mazzone, Stuart B., Sly, Peter D., Steptoe, Raymond J., Spann, Kirsten M., Sukkar, Maria B., Upham, John W. and Phipps, Simon (2020). HMGB1 amplifies ILC2-induced type-2 inflammation and airway smooth muscle remodelling. PLoS Pathogens, 16 (7) e1008651, 1-21. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008651
2020
Journal Article
How do biologicals and other novel therapies effect clinically used biomarkers in severe asthma?
Upham, John W. and Jurak, Lisa M. (2020). How do biologicals and other novel therapies effect clinically used biomarkers in severe asthma?. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 50 (9) cea.13694, 994-1006. doi: 10.1111/cea.13694
2020
Journal Article
Risks for cold frequency vary by sex: role of asthma, age, TLR7 and leukocyte subsets
Murray, Liisa M., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Ferreira, Manuel A. and Upham, John W. (2020). Risks for cold frequency vary by sex: role of asthma, age, TLR7 and leukocyte subsets. European Respiratory Journal, 56 (4) 1902453, 1902453. doi: 10.1183/13993003.02453-2019
2020
Journal Article
Sphingosine signaling dysfunction in airway cells as a potential contributor to progression from protracted bacterial bronchitis to bronchiectasis in children
Hodge, Sandra, Macowan, Matthew, Liu, Hong, Hamon, Rhys, Chen, Alice C.-H., Marchant, Julie M., Pizzutto, Susan J., Upham, John W. and Chang, Anne B. (2020). Sphingosine signaling dysfunction in airway cells as a potential contributor to progression from protracted bacterial bronchitis to bronchiectasis in children. Pediatric Pulmonology, 55 (6), 1414-1423. doi: 10.1002/ppul.24728
2020
Journal Article
Respiratory syncytial virus infection promotes necroptosis and HMGB1 release by airway epithelial cells
Simpson, Jennifer, Loh, Zhixuan, Ullah, Md Ashik, Lynch, Jason P., Werder, Rhiannon B., Collinson, Natasha, Zhang, Vivian, Dondelinger, Yves, Bertrand, Mathieu J M, Everard, Mark L., Blyth, Christopher C., Hartel, Gunter, Van Oosterhout, Antoon J., Gough, Peter J., Bertin, John, Upham, John W., Spann, Kirsten M. and Phipps, Simon (2020). Respiratory syncytial virus infection promotes necroptosis and HMGB1 release by airway epithelial cells. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 201 (11), 1358-1371. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201906-1149OC
2020
Conference Publication
Oral corticosteroid use for asthma in Australia
Hew, M., McDonald, , Bardin, P., Chung, L., Farah, C., Barnard, A., Cooper, M., Gibson, P. and Upham, J. (2020). Oral corticosteroid use for asthma in Australia. The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 27–31 March 2020. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell .
2020
Conference Publication
Dietary fibre improves antibody responses after influenza vaccine in COPD patients and healthy older people
Snape, N., Lai, R., Jarnicki, A., Irving, L., Anderson, G., Wood, L. and Upham, J. (2020). Dietary fibre improves antibody responses after influenza vaccine in COPD patients and healthy older people. The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 27–31 March 2020. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.
2020
Journal Article
Mepolizumab effectiveness and identification of super-responders in severe asthma
Harvey, Erin S., Langton, David, Katelaris, Constance, Stevens, Sean, Farah, Claude S., Gillman, Andrew, Harrington, John, Hew, Mark, Kritikos, Vicky, Radhakrishna, Naghmeh, Bardin, Philip, Peters, Matthew, Reynolds, Paul N., Upham, John W., Baraket, Melissa, Bowler, Simon, Bowden, Jeffrey, Chien, Jimmy, Chung, Li Ping, Grainge, Christopher, Jenkins, Christine, Katsoulotos, Gregory P., Lee, Joy, McDonald, Vanessa M., Reddel, Helen K., Rimmer, Janet, Wark, Peter A B and Gibson, Peter G. (2020). Mepolizumab effectiveness and identification of super-responders in severe asthma. The European Respiratory Journal, 55 (5) 1902420, 1902420. doi: 10.1183/13993003.02420-2019
2020
Journal Article
Asthma in children and adults – what are the differences and what can they tell us about asthma?
Turner, Steve and Upham, John W. (2020). Asthma in children and adults – what are the differences and what can they tell us about asthma?. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 8 141, 141. doi: 10.3389/fped.2020.00141
2020
Journal Article
Severe Asthma Toolkit: An online resource for multidisciplinary health professionals - Needs assessment, development process and user analytics with survey feedback
Maltby, Steven, Gibson, Peter G., Reddel, Helen K., Smith, Lorraine, Wark, Peter A. B., King, Gregory G., Upham, John W., Clark, Vanessa L., Hew, Mark, Owens, Louisa, Oo, Stephen, James, Alan L., Thompson, Bruce, Marks, Guy B. and McDonald, Vanessa M. (2020). Severe Asthma Toolkit: An online resource for multidisciplinary health professionals - Needs assessment, development process and user analytics with survey feedback. BMJ Open, 10 (3) e032877, 1-10. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032877
2020
Journal Article
Long-lived regulatory T cells generated during severe bronchiolitis in infancy influence later progression to asthma
Lynch, Jason P., Werder, Rhiannon B., Curren, Bodie F., Sikder, Md. Al Amin, Ullah, Ashik, Sebina, Ismail, Rashid, Ridwan B., Zhang, Vivian, Upham, John W., Hill, Geoff R., Steptoe, Raymond J. and Phipps, Simon (2020). Long-lived regulatory T cells generated during severe bronchiolitis in infancy influence later progression to asthma. Mucosal Immunology, 13 (4), 652-664. doi: 10.1038/s41385-020-0268-8
2020
Journal Article
Biogeographical variation in specific IgE recognition of temperate and subtropical grass pollen allergens in allergic rhinitis patients : Regional IgE specificity for grass pollens
Kailaivasan, Thina H, Timbrell, Victoria L, Solley, Graham, Smith, William B, McLean-Tooke, Andrew, van Nunen, Sheryl, Smith, Peter, Upham, John W, Langguth, Daman and Davies, Janet M (2020). Biogeographical variation in specific IgE recognition of temperate and subtropical grass pollen allergens in allergic rhinitis patients : Regional IgE specificity for grass pollens. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 9 (2) e01103, e01103. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1103
2020
Journal Article
The impact of new universal child influenza programs in Australia: Vaccine coverage, effectiveness and disease epidemiology in hospitalised children in 2018
Blyth, Christopher C., Cheng, Allen C., Crawford, Nigel W., Clark, Julia E., Buttery, Jim P., Marshall, Helen S., Francis, Joshua R., McRae, Jocelynne, Kotsimbos, Tom, Kelly, Paul M., Macartney, Kristine K., on behalf of the Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS), Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN) Collaboration and Upham, John (2020). The impact of new universal child influenza programs in Australia: Vaccine coverage, effectiveness and disease epidemiology in hospitalised children in 2018. Vaccine, 38 (13), 2779-2787. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.02.031
2020
Conference Publication
FC Gamma receptor (FCGR) I expression is increased in severe asthma particularly in participants with non-eosinophilic airway inflammation
Gupta, S., Fricker, M., Xi, Y., Grainge, C., Upham, J. and Simpson, J. (2020). FC Gamma receptor (FCGR) I expression is increased in severe asthma particularly in participants with non-eosinophilic airway inflammation. TSANZSRS 2020 The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Melbourne, QLD Australia, 27-31 March 2020. Hoboken, NJ USA: Wiley.
2020
Conference Publication
Factors associated with respiratory infection frequency in healthy and asthmatic adults differ between women and men
Upham, J., Murray, L. and Xi, Y. (2020). Factors associated with respiratory infection frequency in healthy and asthmatic adults differ between women and men. TSANZSRS 2020 The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Melbourne, QLD Australia, 27-31 March 2020. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia.
2020
Conference Publication
Blocking endogenous IL-22 is associated with reduced viral load and improved lung pathology in respiratory viral infections
Wang, R., Moniruzzaman, M., Wang, K., Upham, J. W., McGuckin, M., Phipps, S. and Hasnain, S. Z. (2020). Blocking endogenous IL-22 is associated with reduced viral load and improved lung pathology in respiratory viral infections. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Online, 10 November 2020. New York, NY, United States: American Thoracic Society. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2020.201.1_meetingabstracts.a6530
2020
Conference Publication
Harnessing the therapeutic potential of interleukin-22 in neonatal respiratory viral infection
Hasnain, S., Wang, R., Taylor, S., Wong, K. Y., Moniruzzaman, M., Upham, J., Spann, K., Mcguckin, M. A., Burr, L. and Phipps, S. (2020). Harnessing the therapeutic potential of interleukin-22 in neonatal respiratory viral infection. TSANZSRS 2020 The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health & Respiratory Science, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 27–31 March 2020. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/resp.13777
2019
Journal Article
Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2018: the Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN)
Cheng, Allen C., Holmes, Mark, Dwyer, Dominic E., Senanayake, Sanjaya, Cooley, Louise, Irving, Louis B., Simpson, Graham, Korman, Tony, Macartney, Kristine, Friedman, N. Deborah, Wark, Peter, Howell, Anna, Blyth, Christopher C., Crawford, Nigel, Buttery, Jim, Bowler, Simon, Upham, John W., Waterer, Grant W., Kotsimbos, Tom and Kelly, Paul M. (2019). Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2018: the Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN). Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report, 43. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2019.43.48
2019
Journal Article
Rational oral corticosteroid use in adult severe asthma: a narrative review
Chung, Li Ping, Upham, John W., Bardin, Philip G. and Hew, Mark (2019). Rational oral corticosteroid use in adult severe asthma: a narrative review. Respirology, 25 (2) resp.13730, 161-172. doi: 10.1111/resp.13730
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Honorary Professor John Upham is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Transmission dynamics of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis amongst immune suppressed patients exposed to an infectious case
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Antje Blumenthal, Professor Rachel Thomson
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Advancing management of pulmonary thromboembolic disease: from acute pulmonary embolism to pulmonary hypertension
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Using proteomics to understand and prevent asthma exacerbations with macrolide antibiotics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Ian Yang
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Role of Regulatory T cells in modulating antiviral immune responses to rhinovirus: relevance to asthma
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of asthma, toll-like receptors 7 and 8, genetic and clinical determinants on antiviral immune response
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of maternal diet on microbiome assembly and severity of viral bronchiolitis in the offspring
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Paul Dennis
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The role of necroptosis in the development of severe bronchiolitis and subsequent asthma
Associate Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
The role of the interleukin-6 pathway in asthma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nick Martin
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
A critical contribution of the airway epithelium to the pathogenesis of viral bronchiolitis and asthma
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the cellular and molecular processes that link RAGE gene-deletion with the development of pneumovirus-induced bronchiolitis and paucigranulocytic asthma
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Sly
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The role of interferon regulatory factor 3 and 7 in virus-induced bronchiolitis and the onset of asthma.
Associate Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Chronic wet cough in children and further exploration of protracted bacterial bronchitis
Associate Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
The plasmacytoid dendritic cell: a cell at the cross-roads in asthma
Associate Advisor
Media
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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