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)

101 - 120 of 381 works

2018

Journal Article

Influenza Epidemiology, Vaccine Coverage and Vaccine Effectiveness in Children Admitted to Sentinel Australian Hospitals in 2017: Results from the PAEDS-FluCAN Collaboration

Blyth, Christopher C., Macartney, Kristine K., McRae, Jocelynne, Clark, Julia E., Marshall, Helen S., Buttery, Jim, Francis, Joshua R., Kotsimbos, Tom, Kelly, Paul M., Cheng, Allen C., on behalf of the Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS), Influenza Complications Alert Network (FluCAN) Collaboration, Elliott, Elizabeth, McIntyre, Peter, Booy, Robert, Wood, Nicholas, Britton, Phillip, Kesson, Alison, Richmond, Peter, Snelling, Tom, Crawford, Nigel, Gold, Mike, Kynasto, Anne, Holmes, Mark, Dwyer, Dominic E., Senenayake, Sanjaya, Cooley, Louise, Irving, Louis, Simpson, Graham ... Waterer, Grant (2018). Influenza Epidemiology, Vaccine Coverage and Vaccine Effectiveness in Children Admitted to Sentinel Australian Hospitals in 2017: Results from the PAEDS-FluCAN Collaboration. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 68 (6), 940-948. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy597

Influenza Epidemiology, Vaccine Coverage and Vaccine Effectiveness in Children Admitted to Sentinel Australian Hospitals in 2017: Results from the PAEDS-FluCAN Collaboration

2018

Journal Article

Interleukin 33 selectively augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthmatic but not healthy people

Jurak, Lisa M., Xi, Yang, Landgraf, Megan, Carroll, Melanie L., Murray, Liisa and Upham, John W. (2018). Interleukin 33 selectively augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthmatic but not healthy people. Frontiers in Immunology, 9 (AUG) 1895, 1895. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01895

Interleukin 33 selectively augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthmatic but not healthy people

2018

Conference Publication

Biogeographical variation in IgE specificity and avidity for subtropical and temperate grass pollen allergens; the multicentre cross-sectional Grass Pollen Allergy Survey (GPAS)

Kailaivasan, T., Timbrell, , Solley, G., Smith, W. B., Mclean-Tooke, A., Van Nunen, S., Smith, P. K., Upham, J. W., Langguth, D. and Davies, J. M. (2018). Biogeographical variation in IgE specificity and avidity for subtropical and temperate grass pollen allergens; the multicentre cross-sectional Grass Pollen Allergy Survey (GPAS). Congress of the European-Academy-of-Allergy-and-Clinical-Immunology (EAACI), Munich Germany, May 26-30, 2018. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Biogeographical variation in IgE specificity and avidity for subtropical and temperate grass pollen allergens; the multicentre cross-sectional Grass Pollen Allergy Survey (GPAS)

2018

Journal Article

The bronchial epithelial IgE secretory IgA system in asthma

Upham, John W. (2018). The bronchial epithelial IgE secretory IgA system in asthma. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 198 (9) rccm.201806-1042LE, 1236-1236. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201806-1042LE

The bronchial epithelial IgE secretory IgA system in asthma

2018

Journal Article

Optimising treatment for severe asthma

Upham, John W. and Chung, Li Ping (2018). Optimising treatment for severe asthma. Medical Journal of Australia, 209 (2 Suppl), S22-S27. doi: 10.5694/mja18.00175

Optimising treatment for severe asthma

2018

Journal Article

Sputum cytology during late-phase responses to inhalation challenge with different allergens

Revez, J. A., Killian, K. J., O'Byrne, P. M., Boulet, L-P., Upham, J. W., Gauvreau, G. M. and Ferreira, M. A. R. (2018). Sputum cytology during late-phase responses to inhalation challenge with different allergens. Allergy, 73 (7), 1470-1478. doi: 10.1111/all.13415

Sputum cytology during late-phase responses to inhalation challenge with different allergens

2018

Journal Article

PGD2/DP2 receptor activation promotes severe viral bronchiolitis by suppressing IFN-λ production

Werder, Rhiannon B., Lynch, Jason P., Simpson, Jennifer C., Zhang, Vivian, Hodge, Nick H., Poh, Matthew, Forbes-Blom, Elizabeth, Kulis, Christina, Smythe, Mark L., Upham, John W., Spann, Kirsten, Everard, Mark L. and Phipps, Simon (2018). PGD2/DP2 receptor activation promotes severe viral bronchiolitis by suppressing IFN-λ production. Science Translational Medicine, 10 (440) eaao0052, eaao0052. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aao0052

PGD2/DP2 receptor activation promotes severe viral bronchiolitis by suppressing IFN-λ production

2018

Journal Article

Chronic IL-33 expression predisposes to virus-induced asthma exacerbations by increasing type 2 inflammation and dampening antiviral immunity

Werder, Rhiannon B, Zhang, Vivian, Lynch, Jason P, Snape, Natale, Upham, John W, Spann, Kirsten and Phipps, Simon (2018). Chronic IL-33 expression predisposes to virus-induced asthma exacerbations by increasing type 2 inflammation and dampening antiviral immunity. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 141 (5), 1607-1619.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.07.051

Chronic IL-33 expression predisposes to virus-induced asthma exacerbations by increasing type 2 inflammation and dampening antiviral immunity

2018

Journal Article

Airway cells from protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis share similar gene expression profiles

Chen, Alice C. -H., Pena, Olga M., Nel, Hendrik J., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Chang, Anne B., Baines, Katherine J., Gibson, Peter G., Petsky, Helen L., Pizzutto, Susan J., Hodge, Sandra, Masters, Ian B., Buntain, Helen L. and Upham, John W. (2018). Airway cells from protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis share similar gene expression profiles. Pediatric Pulmonology, 53 (5), 575-582. doi: 10.1002/ppul.23984

Airway cells from protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis share similar gene expression profiles

2018

Journal Article

Working while unwell: Workplace impairment in people with severe asthma

Hiles, S. A., Harvey, E. S., McDonald, V. M., Peters, M., Bardin, P., Reynolds, P. N., Upham, J. W., Baraket, M., Bhikoo, Z., Bowden, J., Brockway, B., Chung, L. P., Cochrane, B., Foxley, G., Garrett, J., Hew, M., Jayaram, L., Jenkins, C., Katelaris, C., Katsoulotos, G., Koh, M. S., Kritikos, V., Lambert, M., Langton, D., Rivero, A. L., Marks, G. B., Middleton, P. G., Nanguzgambo, A., Radhakrishna, N. ... Gibson, P. G. (2018). Working while unwell: Workplace impairment in people with severe asthma. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 48 (6), 650-662. doi: 10.1111/cea.13153

Working while unwell: Workplace impairment in people with severe asthma

2018

Conference Publication

SEVERE EOSINOPHILIC AASTHMA IN AUSTRALIA: THE AUSTRALIAN MEPOLIZUMAB REGISTRY

Harvey, E., Langton, D., Upham, J., Hew, M., Rimmer, J., Chung, L., Katelaris, C., James, A. and Gibson, P. (2018). SEVERE EOSINOPHILIC AASTHMA IN AUSTRALIA: THE AUSTRALIAN MEPOLIZUMAB REGISTRY. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

SEVERE EOSINOPHILIC AASTHMA IN AUSTRALIA: THE AUSTRALIAN MEPOLIZUMAB REGISTRY

2018

Journal Article

Multiple inflammasomes may regulate the interleukin-1-driven inflammation in protracted bacterial bronchitis

Chen, Alice C. -H., Tran, Hai B., Xi, Yang, Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Baines, Katherine J., Pizzutto, Susan J., Carroll, Melanie, Robertson, Avril A. B., Cooper, Matthew A., Schroder, Kate, Simpson, Jodie L., Gibson, Peter G., Hodge, Greg, Masters, Ian B., Buntain, Helen M., Petsky, Helen L., Prime, Samantha J., Chang, Anne B., Hodge, Sandra and Upham, John W. (2018). Multiple inflammasomes may regulate the interleukin-1-driven inflammation in protracted bacterial bronchitis. ERJ Open Research, 4 (1) 00130-2017, 00130-2017. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00130-2017

Multiple inflammasomes may regulate the interleukin-1-driven inflammation in protracted bacterial bronchitis

2018

Conference Publication

Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB)-long-term outcomes at five years: a cohort study

Ruffles, T., Marchant, J., Buntain, H., Mastera,, Upham, J., Yerkovich, S., Gibson, P., Baines, K., Simpson, J., Pizzutto, S., Hodge, G., Hodge, S. and Chang, A. (2018). Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB)-long-term outcomes at five years: a cohort study. 55th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Aust and NZ Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, Australia, 23-27 March 2018. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.

Protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB)-long-term outcomes at five years: a cohort study

2018

Conference Publication

A single bout of moderate-intensity exercise reduces eosinophilic airway inflammation in inactive adults with asthma, while vigorous-intensity exercise has no effect

Scott, H., Wood, L. and Upham, J. (2018). A single bout of moderate-intensity exercise reduces eosinophilic airway inflammation in inactive adults with asthma, while vigorous-intensity exercise has no effect. ANZSRS/TSANZ Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, Australia, 23-27 March 2018. Richmond, VIC, Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.

A single bout of moderate-intensity exercise reduces eosinophilic airway inflammation in inactive adults with asthma, while vigorous-intensity exercise has no effect

2018

Conference Publication

Differential effects of IL-33 on anti-viral immune responses in asthmatic and healthy individuals

Upham, J. W., Jurak, L. and Xi, Y. (2018). Differential effects of IL-33 on anti-viral immune responses in asthmatic and healthy individuals. International Conference of the American Thoracic Society, San Diego, CA, United States, 18-23 May, 2018. New York, NY, United States: American Thoracic Society.

Differential effects of IL-33 on anti-viral immune responses in asthmatic and healthy individuals

2018

Conference Publication

IL-33 and rhinovirus effects on IL-33 receptor expression in asthma

Upham, J., Jurak, L. and Xi, Y. (2018). IL-33 and rhinovirus effects on IL-33 receptor expression in asthma. The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, ,, Adelaide, Australia, 23–27 March 2018. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.

IL-33 and rhinovirus effects on IL-33 receptor expression in asthma

2018

Conference Publication

The impact of TLR7 and TLR8 gene variations on antiviral immunity and asthma

Murray, L. M., Ferreira, M. A. and Upham, J. W. (2018). The impact of TLR7 and TLR8 gene variations on antiviral immunity and asthma. Congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), Munich, Germany, 26-30 May 2018 . Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

The impact of TLR7 and TLR8 gene variations on antiviral immunity and asthma

2017

Journal Article

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells protect from viral bronchiolitis and asthma through semaphorin 4a-mediated T reg expansion

Lynch, Jason P., Werder, Rhiannon B., Loh, Zhixuan, Sikder, Md Al Amin, Curren, Bodie, Zhang, Vivian, Rogers, Matthew J. , Lane, Katie, Simpson, Jennifer, Mazzone, Stuart B., Spann, Kirsten, Hayball, John, Diener, Kerrilyn, Everard, Mark L., Blyth, Christopher C., Forstner, Christian, Dennis, Paul G., Murtaza, Nida, Morrison, Mark, Ó Cuív, Páraic, Zhang, Ping, Haque, Ashraful, Hill, Geoffrey R., Sly, Peter D., Upham, John W. and Phipps, Simon (2017). Plasmacytoid dendritic cells protect from viral bronchiolitis and asthma through semaphorin 4a-mediated T reg expansion. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 215 (2), 537-557. doi: 10.1084/jem.20170298

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells protect from viral bronchiolitis and asthma through semaphorin 4a-mediated T reg expansion

2017

Journal Article

Critical role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in regulating gene expression and innate immune responses to human rhinovirus-16

Xi, Yang, Troy, Niamh M., Anderson, Denise, Pena, Olga M., Lynch, Jason P., Phipps, Simon, Bosco, Anthony and Upham, John W. (2017). Critical role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in regulating gene expression and innate immune responses to human rhinovirus-16. Frontiers in Immunology, 8 (OCT) 1351, 1351. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01351

Critical role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in regulating gene expression and innate immune responses to human rhinovirus-16

2017

Journal Article

Presence of atopy increases the risk of asthma relapse

Teoh, Laurel, Mackay, Ian M, Van Asperen, Peter P, Acworth, Jason P, Hurwitz, Mark, Upham, John W, Siew, Weng Hou, Wang, Claire Y T, Sloots, Theo P, Neeman, Teresa and Chang, Anne B (2017). Presence of atopy increases the risk of asthma relapse. Archives of disease in childhood, 103 (4), 346-351. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-312982

Presence of atopy increases the risk of asthma relapse

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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