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)

181 - 200 of 377 works

2015

Journal Article

Increased peripheral blood pro-inflammatory/cytotoxic lymphocytes in children with bronchiectasis

Hodge, G., Upham, J. W., Chang, A. B., Baines, K. J., Yerkovich, S. T., Pizzutto, S. J. and Hodge, S. (2015). Increased peripheral blood pro-inflammatory/cytotoxic lymphocytes in children with bronchiectasis. PLoS One, 10 (8) e0133695, e0133695. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133695

Increased peripheral blood pro-inflammatory/cytotoxic lymphocytes in children with bronchiectasis

2015

Journal Article

High pulmonary levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in children with chronic suppurative lung disease are associated with low systemic IFN-γ production in response to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

Pizzutto, Susan J., Upham, John W., Yerkovich, Stephanie T. and Chang, Anne B. (2015). High pulmonary levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in children with chronic suppurative lung disease are associated with low systemic IFN-γ production in response to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. PLoS One, 10 (6) e0129517, e0129517-e0129517. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129517

High pulmonary levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in children with chronic suppurative lung disease are associated with low systemic IFN-γ production in response to non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae

2015

Journal Article

Acute exercise is associated with reduced exhaled nitric oxide in physically inactive adults with asthma

Scott, Hayley A., Latham, Jennifer R., Callister, Robin, Pretto, Jeffrey J., Baines, Katherine, Saltos, Nick, Upham, John W. and Wood, Lisa G. (2015). Acute exercise is associated with reduced exhaled nitric oxide in physically inactive adults with asthma. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 114 (6), 470-479. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2015.04.002

Acute exercise is associated with reduced exhaled nitric oxide in physically inactive adults with asthma

2015

Journal Article

Glycopyrronium once-daily significantly improves lung function and health status when combined with salmeterol/fluticasone in patients with COPD: The GLISTEN study - a randomised controlled trial

Frith, Peter A., Thompson, Philip J., Ratnavadivel, Rajeev, Chang, Catherina L., Bremner, Peter, Day, Peter, Frenzel, Christina, Kurstjens, Nicol, Waddell, Ainslie, Daniel, Alexander, Khoussousi, Alireza, Springfield, Andrew, Veale, Andrew, Graham, Anthony Neil, Gallagher, Brad, Pande, Braj Raj, O'Kane, Brendan, Jones, Christopher, Baldi, Claudio, Helm, Colin, O'Dochartaigh, Conor, Chambers, Daniel, Quinn, Dean, Yull, Derek, Karthigesu, Dhanalakshi, Then, Edward, Graham, Frank, Faigenbaum, Fred, Geddam, Geetha ... Hess, Zofia (2015). Glycopyrronium once-daily significantly improves lung function and health status when combined with salmeterol/fluticasone in patients with COPD: The GLISTEN study - a randomised controlled trial. Thorax, 70 (6), 519-527. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2014-206670

Glycopyrronium once-daily significantly improves lung function and health status when combined with salmeterol/fluticasone in patients with COPD: The GLISTEN study - a randomised controlled trial

2015

Conference Publication

HIGH PULMONARY EXPRESSION OF IL-6 AND IL-1BETA IN CHILDREN WITH SUPPURATIVE LUNG DISEASE IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRED RECALL RESPONSES TO H. INFLUENZAE

Pizzutto, S. J., Upham, J. W., Yerkovich, S. T. and Chang, A. B. (2015). HIGH PULMONARY EXPRESSION OF IL-6 AND IL-1BETA IN CHILDREN WITH SUPPURATIVE LUNG DISEASE IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRED RECALL RESPONSES TO H. INFLUENZAE. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

HIGH PULMONARY EXPRESSION OF IL-6 AND IL-1BETA IN CHILDREN WITH SUPPURATIVE LUNG DISEASE IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRED RECALL RESPONSES TO H. INFLUENZAE

2015

Journal Article

IgE+ B cells are scarce, but allergen-specific B cells with a memory phenotype circulate in patients with allergic rhinitis

Wong, K.J, Timbrell, Victoria L., Xi, Y, Upham, J.W, Collins, A.M and Davies, J.M (2015). IgE+ B cells are scarce, but allergen-specific B cells with a memory phenotype circulate in patients with allergic rhinitis. Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 70 (4), 420-428. doi: 10.1111/all.12563

IgE+ B cells are scarce, but allergen-specific B cells with a memory phenotype circulate in patients with allergic rhinitis

2015

Conference Publication

Immune Responses to Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae in Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis

Upham, J., Chen, A., Carroll, M., Petsky, H., Pizzutto, S., Yerkovich, S., Baines, K., Simpson, J., Gibson, P., Hodge, G., Hodge, S. and Chang, A. (2015). Immune Responses to Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae in Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis. Thoracic Society Australia New Zealand Australian New Zealand Society Respiratory Science Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, Queensland Australia, Mar 27-Apr 01, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Immune Responses to Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae in Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis

2015

Conference Publication

Sputum and Serum Periostin Levels Are Associated With, But Do Not Predict Sputum Eosinophil Proportion in Severe Asthma

Simpson, J., Yang, I. A., Upham, J. W., Reynolds, P. N., Hodge, S., James, A. L., Jenkins, C., Peters, M. J., Jia, G., Holweg, C. T. J. and Gibson, P. G. (2015). Sputum and Serum Periostin Levels Are Associated With, But Do Not Predict Sputum Eosinophil Proportion in Severe Asthma. Thoracic Society Australia New Zealand Australian New Zealand Society Respiratory Science Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, Queensland Australia, Mar 27-Apr 01, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Sputum and Serum Periostin Levels Are Associated With, But Do Not Predict Sputum Eosinophil Proportion in Severe Asthma

2015

Conference Publication

AEROALLERGEN-INDUCED IL-33 PREDISPOSES TO RESPIRATORY VIRUS-INDUCED ASTHMA BY DAMPENING TYPE I AND III INTERFERON PRODUCTION

Werder, R., Lynch, J., Simpson, J., Loh, Z., Zhang, , Spann, K., Sly, P., Mazzone, S., Upham, J. and Phipps, S. (2015). AEROALLERGEN-INDUCED IL-33 PREDISPOSES TO RESPIRATORY VIRUS-INDUCED ASTHMA BY DAMPENING TYPE I AND III INTERFERON PRODUCTION. Thoracic Society Australia New Zealand Australian New Zealand Society Respiratory Science Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, Queensland Australia, Mar 27-Apr 01, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

AEROALLERGEN-INDUCED IL-33 PREDISPOSES TO RESPIRATORY VIRUS-INDUCED ASTHMA BY DAMPENING TYPE I AND III INTERFERON PRODUCTION

2015

Conference Publication

PDC EXPANSION OF NTREG LIMITS SEVERE PNEUMOVIRUS-INDUCED BRONCHIOLITIS AND ATTENUATES THE ONSET OF VIRUS-PROVOKED ASTHMA

Lynch, J., Rogers, M., Lane, K., Werder, R., Loh, Z., Diener, K., Hayball, J., Hill, G., Haque, A., Spann, K., Mazzone, S., Upham, J. and Phipps, S. (2015). PDC EXPANSION OF NTREG LIMITS SEVERE PNEUMOVIRUS-INDUCED BRONCHIOLITIS AND ATTENUATES THE ONSET OF VIRUS-PROVOKED ASTHMA. Thoracic Society Australia New Zealand Australian New Zealand Society Respiratory Science Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, Queensland Australia, Mar 27-Apr 01, 2015. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

PDC EXPANSION OF NTREG LIMITS SEVERE PNEUMOVIRUS-INDUCED BRONCHIOLITIS AND ATTENUATES THE ONSET OF VIRUS-PROVOKED ASTHMA

2015

Conference Publication

A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Survey of Allergic Sensitisation to Subtropical and Temperate Grass Pollens

Davies, Janet M., Solley, Graham O., Smith, William B., McLean-Tooke, Andrew, van Nunen, Sheryl A., Smith, Peter Kenneth, Timbrell, Victoria L., Upham, John W. and Langguth, Daman (2015). A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Survey of Allergic Sensitisation to Subtropical and Temperate Grass Pollens. Annual Meeting of the American-Academy-of-Allergy-Asthma-and-Immunology (AAAAI), Houston Tx, Feb 20-24, 2015. NEW YORK: MOSBY-ELSEVIER. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.12.1396

A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Survey of Allergic Sensitisation to Subtropical and Temperate Grass Pollens

2015

Journal Article

Improving immunity to Haemophilus influenzae in children with chronic suppurative lung disease

Pizzutto, Susan J., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Upham, John W., Hales, Belinda J., Thomas, Wayne R. and Chang, Anne B. (2015). Improving immunity to Haemophilus influenzae in children with chronic suppurative lung disease. Vaccine, 33 (2), 321-326. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.11.024

Improving immunity to Haemophilus influenzae in children with chronic suppurative lung disease

2015

Journal Article

Anti-inflammatory deficiencies in neutrophilic asthma: reduced galectin-3 and IL-1RA/IL-1 beta

Gao, Peng, Gibson, Peter G., Baines, Katherine J., Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Zhang, Jie and Simpson, Jodie L. (2015). Anti-inflammatory deficiencies in neutrophilic asthma: reduced galectin-3 and IL-1RA/IL-1 beta. Respiratory Research, 16 (5) 5, 5. doi: 10.1189/s12931-014-0163-5

Anti-inflammatory deficiencies in neutrophilic asthma: reduced galectin-3 and IL-1RA/IL-1 beta

2015

Journal Article

PBB: definition, mechanisms, and treatment

Chang, Anne B., Grimwood, Keith, Gibson, Peter G. and Upham, John W. (2015). PBB: definition, mechanisms, and treatment. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 3 (10), 743-744. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(15)00243-X

PBB: definition, mechanisms, and treatment

2015

Conference Publication

Sputum And Serum Periostin Levels Are Associated With, But Do Not Predict Sputum Eosinophil Proportion In Severe Asthma

Simpson, J., Yang, I. A., Upham, J. W., Reynolds, P. N., Hodge, S., James, A. L., Jenkins, C. R., Peters, M. J., Jia, G., Holweg, C. T. and Gibson, P. G. (2015). Sputum And Serum Periostin Levels Are Associated With, But Do Not Predict Sputum Eosinophil Proportion In Severe Asthma. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Denver Co, May 15-20, 2015. NEW YORK: AMER THORACIC SOC.

Sputum And Serum Periostin Levels Are Associated With, But Do Not Predict Sputum Eosinophil Proportion In Severe Asthma

2015

Conference Publication

Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (PBB) in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis

Wurzel, D., Marchant, J., Yerkovich, S., Upham, J., Petsky, H. and Chang, A. (2015). Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (PBB) in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis. Thoracic Society Australia New Zealand Australian New Zealand Society Respiratory Science Annual Scientific Meeting 2015, QLD, Australia, 27 March – 1 April 2015. doi: 10.1111/resp.12494

Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (PBB) in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis

2015

Journal Article

Toward making inroads in reducing the disparity of lung health in Australian Indigenous and New Zealand Maori children

Chang, Anne B., Marsh, Robyn L., Upham, John W., Hoffman, Lucas R., Smith-Vaughan, Heidi, Holt, Deborah, Toombs, Maree, Byrnes, Catherine, Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Torzillo, Paul J., O'Grady, Kerry-Ann F. and Grimwood, Keith (2015). Toward making inroads in reducing the disparity of lung health in Australian Indigenous and New Zealand Maori children. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 3 (FEB) 9, 9. doi: 10.3389/fped.2015.00009

Toward making inroads in reducing the disparity of lung health in Australian Indigenous and New Zealand Maori children

2015

Conference Publication

Interferon Regulatory Factor 7 Protects Against Pneumovirus-Induced Airway Smooth Muscle Growth in Early Life

Loh, Z., Ullah, A., Zhang, V., Lynch, J., Werder, R., Simpson, J., Upham, J., Mazzone, S., Spann, K. and Phipps, S. (2015). Interferon Regulatory Factor 7 Protects Against Pneumovirus-Induced Airway Smooth Muscle Growth in Early Life. TSANZ 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 28 March - 1 April 2015. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. doi: 10.1111/resp.12494_7

Interferon Regulatory Factor 7 Protects Against Pneumovirus-Induced Airway Smooth Muscle Growth in Early Life

2015

Conference Publication

Interleukin-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in people with asthma, but not in healthy donors

Upham, John, Landgraf, Megan and Xi, Camilla (2015). Interleukin-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in people with asthma, but not in healthy donors. Lausanne, Switzerland: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.pa4369

Interleukin-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in people with asthma, but not in healthy donors

2015

Conference Publication

Immune Responses To Non-Typeable Haemophilus Influenzae In Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis

Upham, J. W., Chang, A., Pizzutto, S., Carroll, M., Gibson, P., Simpson, J., Baines, K. J., Petsky, H., Yerkovich, S. and Chen, A. (2015). Immune Responses To Non-Typeable Haemophilus Influenzae In Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Denver Co, May 15-20, 2015. NEW YORK: AMER THORACIC SOC.

Immune Responses To Non-Typeable Haemophilus Influenzae In Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis

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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