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)

141 - 160 of 377 works

2016

Conference Publication

Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus-induced asthma by dampening anti-viral immunity

Lynch, J. P., Werder, R. B., Simpson, J., Upham, J. W. and Phipps, S. (2016). Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus-induced asthma by dampening anti-viral immunity. Meeting of the European-Academy-of-Allergy-and-Clinical-Immunology, Vienna Austria, Jun 11-15, 2016. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus-induced asthma by dampening anti-viral immunity

2016

Conference Publication

Regional variation in allergic sensitivity to subtropical and temperate grass pollen allergens; outcomes of the multicentre cross-sectional Grass Pollen Allergy Survey (GPAS)

Davies, J., Timbrell, V, Reibelt, L., Simmonds, C., Solley, G., Smith, W., Mclean-Tooke, A., van Nunen, S., Smith, P., Upham, J. and Langguth, D. (2016). Regional variation in allergic sensitivity to subtropical and temperate grass pollen allergens; outcomes of the multicentre cross-sectional Grass Pollen Allergy Survey (GPAS). International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Regional variation in allergic sensitivity to subtropical and temperate grass pollen allergens; outcomes of the multicentre cross-sectional Grass Pollen Allergy Survey (GPAS)

2016

Conference Publication

Plasmacytoid dendritic cell numbers predict individual interferon-alpha production more accurately than TLR7 expression

Murray, L., Ferreira, M. and Upham, J. (2016). Plasmacytoid dendritic cell numbers predict individual interferon-alpha production more accurately than TLR7 expression. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cell numbers predict individual interferon-alpha production more accurately than TLR7 expression

2016

Journal Article

Influenza epidemiology, vaccine coverage and vaccine effectiveness in children admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2014: the influenza complications alert network (FluCAN)

Blyth, C. C., Macartney, K. K., Hewagama, S., Senenayake, S., Friedman, N. D., Simpson, G., Upham, J., Kotsimbos, T., Kelly, P. and Cheng, A. C. (2016). Influenza epidemiology, vaccine coverage and vaccine effectiveness in children admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2014: the influenza complications alert network (FluCAN). Eurosurveillance, 21 (30), 25-33. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.30.30301

Influenza epidemiology, vaccine coverage and vaccine effectiveness in children admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2014: the influenza complications alert network (FluCAN)

2016

Journal Article

Identification of STOML2 as a putative novel asthma risk gene associated with IL6R

Revez, J. A., Matheson, M. C., Hui, J., Baltic, S., James, A., Upham, J. W., Dharmage, S., Thompson, P. J., Martin, N. G., Hopper, J. L. and Ferreira, M. A. R. (2016). Identification of STOML2 as a putative novel asthma risk gene associated with IL6R. Allergy, 71 (7), 1020-1030. doi: 10.1111/all.12869

Identification of STOML2 as a putative novel asthma risk gene associated with IL6R

2016

Journal Article

Sex hormones and systemic inflammation are modulators of the obese-asthma phenotype

Scott, H. A., Gibson, P. G., Garg, M. L., Upham, J. W. and Wood, L. G. (2016). Sex hormones and systemic inflammation are modulators of the obese-asthma phenotype. Allergy, 71 (7), 1037-1047. doi: 10.1111/all.12891

Sex hormones and systemic inflammation are modulators of the obese-asthma phenotype

2016

Journal Article

Effectiveness and response predictors of omalizumab in a severe allergic asthma population with a high prevalence of comorbidities: the Australian Xolair Registry

Gibson, P. G., Reddel, H., McDonald, V. M., Marks, G., Jenkins, C., Gillman, A., Upham, J., Sutherland, M., Rimmer, J., Thien, F., Katsoulotos, G. P., Cook, M., Yang, I., Katelaris, C., Bowler, S., Langton, D., Robinson, P., Wright, C., Yozghatlian, V., Burgess, S., Sivakumaran, P., Jaffe, A., Bowden, J., Wark, P. A., Yan, K. Y., Kritikos, V., Peters, M., Hew, M., Aminazad, A. ... Guo, M. (2016). Effectiveness and response predictors of omalizumab in a severe allergic asthma population with a high prevalence of comorbidities: the Australian Xolair Registry. Internal Medicine Journal, 46 (9), 1054-1062. doi: 10.1111/imj.13166

Effectiveness and response predictors of omalizumab in a severe allergic asthma population with a high prevalence of comorbidities: the Australian Xolair Registry

2016

Journal Article

Periostin levels and eosinophilic inflammation in poorly-controlled asthma

Simpson, Jodie L., Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Jia, Guiquan, Holweg, Cecile T. J. and Gibson, Peter G. (2016). Periostin levels and eosinophilic inflammation in poorly-controlled asthma. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 16 (1) 67, 67.1-67.7. doi: 10.1186/s12890-016-0230-4

Periostin levels and eosinophilic inflammation in poorly-controlled asthma

2016

Conference Publication

ABSENCE OF INTERFERON-beta PROMOTOR STIMULATOR-1 (IPS1) INDUCES BRONCHIOLITIS AND AN ASTHMA-LIKE PATHOLOGY IN RESPONSE TO PNEUMOVIRAL INFECTION

Simpson, J., Loh, Z., Zhang, V, Spann, K., Upham, J. and Phipps, S. (2016). ABSENCE OF INTERFERON-beta PROMOTOR STIMULATOR-1 (IPS1) INDUCES BRONCHIOLITIS AND AN ASTHMA-LIKE PATHOLOGY IN RESPONSE TO PNEUMOVIRAL INFECTION. International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Melbourne Australia, Aug 21-26, 2016. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

ABSENCE OF INTERFERON-beta PROMOTOR STIMULATOR-1 (IPS1) INDUCES BRONCHIOLITIS AND AN ASTHMA-LIKE PATHOLOGY IN RESPONSE TO PNEUMOVIRAL INFECTION

2016

Conference Publication

SEVERE ASTHMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK PRODUCTIVITY LOSS, ACTIVITY IMPAIRMENT AND REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE

Harvey, E., Gibson, P., Bardin, P., Peters, M., Reynolds, P., Upham, J., Reddel, H., Kritikos, , Katelaris, C., Cochrane, B., Thien, F., Azad, A., Hew, M., Yang, , Brockway, B., Garrett, J., Yap, E., Jones, S., Southcott, A., Jayaram, L., Gillman A, E. G., Uddin, N., Rimmer, J., Katsoulotos, G., Smith, , Jenkins, C., Wark, P. and Mcdonald, (2016). SEVERE ASTHMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK PRODUCTIVITY LOSS, ACTIVITY IMPAIRMENT AND REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

SEVERE ASTHMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK PRODUCTIVITY LOSS, ACTIVITY IMPAIRMENT AND REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE

2016

Conference Publication

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF OMALIZUMAB IN SEVERE ALLERGIC ASTHMA ABOVE THE STANDARD DOSING RANGE: THE AUSTRALIAN XOLAIR REGISTRY

Hew, M., Gillman, A., Sutherland, M., Wark, P., Bowden, J., Macdonald, , Guo, M., Reddel, H., Jenkins, C., Marks, G., Upham, J., Thien, F., Rimmer, J., Katsoulotos, G., Cook, M., Yang, , Katelaris, C., Bowler, S., Langton, D., Gibson, P., Robinson, P., Wright, C., Bint, M., Yozghatlian, V., Burgess, S., Sivakumaran, P., Jaffe, A., Yan, K. Y., Kritikos, V. ... Aminazad, A. (2016). CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF OMALIZUMAB IN SEVERE ALLERGIC ASTHMA ABOVE THE STANDARD DOSING RANGE: THE AUSTRALIAN XOLAIR REGISTRY. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF OMALIZUMAB IN SEVERE ALLERGIC ASTHMA ABOVE THE STANDARD DOSING RANGE: THE AUSTRALIAN XOLAIR REGISTRY

2016

Conference Publication

Anti-Il-33 Partly Ameliorates a Rhinovirus-Induced Exacerbation of Asthma in Predisposed Mice

Werder, R., Zhang, V, Lynch, J., Spann, K., Upham, J. and Phipps, S. (2016). Anti-Il-33 Partly Ameliorates a Rhinovirus-Induced Exacerbation of Asthma in Predisposed Mice. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Anti-Il-33 Partly Ameliorates a Rhinovirus-Induced Exacerbation of Asthma in Predisposed Mice

2016

Conference Publication

EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSE PREDICTORS OF OMALIZUMAB IN A SEVERE ALLERGIC ASTHMA POPULATION WITH A HIGH PREVALENCE OF COMORBIDITIES: THE AUSTRALIAN XOLAIR REGISTRY

Gibson, P., Reddel, H., Jenkins, C., Marks, G., Upham, J., Gillman, A., Thien, F., Sutherland, M., Rimmer, J., Katsoulotos, G., Cook, M., Yang, , Katelaris, C., Bowler, S., Langton, D., Robinson, P., Wright, C., Yozghatlian, , Burgess, S., Mcdonald, , Sivakumaran, P., Jaffe, A., Bowden, J., Guo, M., Wark, P., Yan, K. Y., Kritikos, V., Peters, M., Baraket, M. ... Bint, M. (2016). EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSE PREDICTORS OF OMALIZUMAB IN A SEVERE ALLERGIC ASTHMA POPULATION WITH A HIGH PREVALENCE OF COMORBIDITIES: THE AUSTRALIAN XOLAIR REGISTRY. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSE PREDICTORS OF OMALIZUMAB IN A SEVERE ALLERGIC ASTHMA POPULATION WITH A HIGH PREVALENCE OF COMORBIDITIES: THE AUSTRALIAN XOLAIR REGISTRY

2016

Conference Publication

THE LUNG MICROBIOTA IN STABLE ADULT ASTHMA DIFFERS ACCORDING TO INFLAMMATORY PHENOTYPE

Leong, L., Rogers, G., Gibson, P., Yang, , Reynolds, P., Hodge, S., James, A., Upham, J., Jenkins, C., Peters, M., Marks, G., Baraket, M. and Simpson, J. (2016). THE LUNG MICROBIOTA IN STABLE ADULT ASTHMA DIFFERS ACCORDING TO INFLAMMATORY PHENOTYPE. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

THE LUNG MICROBIOTA IN STABLE ADULT ASTHMA DIFFERS ACCORDING TO INFLAMMATORY PHENOTYPE

2016

Conference Publication

SEX HORMONES AND SYSTEMIC CYTOKINES ARE INDEPENDENT MODULATORS OF THE OBESE-ASTHMA PHENOTYPE

Scott, H., Gibson, P., Grag, M., Upham, J. and Wood, L. (2016). SEX HORMONES AND SYSTEMIC CYTOKINES ARE INDEPENDENT MODULATORS OF THE OBESE-ASTHMA PHENOTYPE. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

SEX HORMONES AND SYSTEMIC CYTOKINES ARE INDEPENDENT MODULATORS OF THE OBESE-ASTHMA PHENOTYPE

2016

Journal Article

Combination long acting bronchodilators for COPD

Upham, John W. and Gleeson, Sarah J. (2016). Combination long acting bronchodilators for COPD. Medicine Today, 17 (4), 73-74.

Combination long acting bronchodilators for COPD

2016

Conference Publication

Sputum Inflammatory Phenotypes in Symptomatic Asthma Around Australia

Simpson, J., Powell, H., Yang, I, Upham, J., Reynolds, P., Hodge, S., James, A., Jenkins, C., Peters, M., Marks, G., Baraket, M. and Gibson, P. (2016). Sputum Inflammatory Phenotypes in Symptomatic Asthma Around Australia. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Sputum Inflammatory Phenotypes in Symptomatic Asthma Around Australia

2016

Conference Publication

CHARACTERISATION OF SEVERE ASTHMA PHENOTYPES VIA A SEVERE ASTHMA REGISTRY: THE SEVERE ASTHMA WEB-BASED DATABASE

Harvey, E., Gibson, P., Bardin, P., Peters, M., Reynolds, P., Upham, J., Reddel, H., Kritikos, , Katelaris, C., Cochrane, B., Thien, F., Azad, A., Hew, M., Yang, , Brockway, B., Garrett, J., Yap, E., Jones, S., Southcott, A., Jayaram, L., Gillman A, E. G., Uddin, N., Rimmer, J., Katsoulotos, G., Smith, , Jenkins, C., Wark, P. and Mcdonald, (2016). CHARACTERISATION OF SEVERE ASTHMA PHENOTYPES VIA A SEVERE ASTHMA REGISTRY: THE SEVERE ASTHMA WEB-BASED DATABASE. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

CHARACTERISATION OF SEVERE ASTHMA PHENOTYPES VIA A SEVERE ASTHMA REGISTRY: THE SEVERE ASTHMA WEB-BASED DATABASE

2016

Journal Article

Vitamin D in asthma: is the golden bullet losing its luster?

Upham, John W. and Sly, Peter D. (2016). Vitamin D in asthma: is the golden bullet losing its luster?. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 193 (6), 598-600. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201511-2213ED

Vitamin D in asthma: is the golden bullet losing its luster?

2016

Journal Article

Protracted bacterial bronchitis: the last decade and the road ahead

Chang, Anne B., Upham, John W., Masters, I. Brent, Redding, Gregory R., Gibson, Peter G., Marchant, Julie M. and Grimwood, Keith (2016). Protracted bacterial bronchitis: the last decade and the road ahead. Pediatric Pulmonology, 51 (3), 225-242. doi: 10.1002/ppul.23351

Protracted bacterial bronchitis: the last decade and the road ahead

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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