Profile

Dr Anne CUNNINGHAM

University Role

Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences.

  • Module leader for a level 2, 200h, fundamental immunology module (BIO213), and a level 3, 200h, immunopathology module (BIO314) . I also contribute to teaching immunology to undergraduates in a number of modules including Introductory Biology of Disease (BIO107), Special Topics in Biomedical Sciences (BIO309), and final year projects.

  • Immunology Open Learning - I have developed a web based programme in collaboration with LDS to support Immunology teaching and learning at the University of Sunderland. It can also be taken independently as a 100 hour level 2 immunology course (BIO224). An evaluation was presented at the 7th Annual Learning & Teaching conference, 2001. Click here to view presentation . An evaluation of Immunology Open Learning running in WebCT was presented on 16th May 2002. Click here to view presentation .

  • Co-organise a weekly research seminar series - Molecular Biology of the Cell Forum.

  • Member of School Web Group

  • Member of University Quality Review Panel

  • School of Sciences representative on Academic Board.

  • Member of Research Committee

  • Programme committee member for the forthcoming ALT-2002 conference (Sunderland University, 9-11th September, 2002) which will be themed on 'Learning Technologies for Communication'.

    Lung immunology research group

    - 1 post-doc, 3 post-graduate researchers.

    The role of structural cells in the affector and effector pathways of immune responses in the lung.

    Understanding the molecular messages between immune cells and tissue cells is of paramount importance to understand the lung in health and therefore in disease. Lung disease is one of the commonest causes of mortality and morbidity in the western world, yet essential information concerning lymphocyte recruitment (for example) is still unclear.

    My research focuses on the interaction between parenchymal cells (particularly human alveolar epithelial cells, type II pneumocytes) and the immune system. Current funded interests include molecular targetting of tissue restricted killer lymphocytes (CTL) to epithelial cells and recruitment of lymphocytes and monocytes in response to epithelial derived signals.

    Background

    QUALIFICATIONS:

    University of Leeds

    BSc (hons) Biochemistry & Microbiology (1986)
    PhD, Department of Chemical Pathology & Immunology (1991)

    University of Sunderland

    Cert Ed (HE) (1998)

    EMPLOYMENT:


    1990-6: University of Newcastle upon Tyne - Post doctoral researcher

    1996-to date: University of Sunderland - Senior Lecturer

    FUNDING:


    Sept. 1992 - Aug. 1995 £75,000 The Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust
    Sept. 1995 - Aug. 1997 £61,000 The Cystic Fibrosis Trust
    Dec. 1995 - Nov 1996 £32,000 Northern & Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
    Jan 1999 - Dec 2001 £92,500 Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust

    Vacation scholarships and travel grants not listed

    ACADEMIC SOCIETIES



  • British Society for Immunology (Treasurer of North East Immunology (NEIC), 1997-2001; Committee member & NEIC web page administrator, 2001 - to date). Co-organisor of successful joint BSI-BALR meeting in Spring 1997 at Newcastle University.
    Careers presentation

  • British Association for Lung Research (Sponsorship Secretary 1997 - 2001; co-organisor of BALR Summer Meeting, 2000)

  • British Transplantation Society

    FULL PUBLICATION LIST


    Eghtesad M, Jackson HE, Cunningham AC Primary Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells Can Elicit the Transendothelial Migration of CD14+ Monocytes and CD3+ Lymphocytes. Immunology. 102, 157-64. 2001.

    Milne DS, Moy JV, Robertson H, De Soyza A, Corris PA, Kirby JA & Cunningham AC. Intragraft Proliferating T cells are associated with moderate acute pulmonary rejection. Transplantation. 69, 1981-4, 2000.

    Cunningham AC & Kirby JA. Immunology. In Scientific Basis for Urology Ed Mundy et al. ISIS Medical Media, Oxford. 1999. ISBN 1 899066 21 71.

    Zhang JG, Walmsley MW, Moy JV, Cunningham AC, Talbot D, Dark JH, Kirby JA Differential effects of cyclosporin A and tacrolimus on the production of TGF-beta: implications for the development of obliterative bronchiolitis after lung transplantation. Transpl Int 1998;11 Suppl 1:S325-7

    Cunningham AC, Zhang J-G, Moy J, Ali S, Kirby JA . A comparison of the antigen presenting capabilities of class II MHC-expressing human alveolar epithelial and microvascular endothelial cells. Immunology. 91, 458-463. 1997

    Kirby JA & Cunningham AC Intragraft antigen presentation. Transplantation Reviews. 11(3)127-40. 1997

    Cunningham AC & Kirby JA. Regulation and function of adhesion molecule expression by human alveolar epithelial cells. Immunology 86: 279, 1995.

    Wilson JL, Cunningham AC, Kirby JA. Antigen Presentation: analysis of the requirement for B cell activation. Immunology 86: 325, 1995.

    Cunningham AC, Milne DS, Wilkes J, Dark JH, Tetley TD, Kirby JA. Constitutive expression of MHC and adhesion molecules by alveolar epithelial cells(type II pneumocytes) and comparison with immunocytochemal findings. J Cell Science 107:443, 1994.

    Cunningham AC, Butler TJ, Kirby JA. Demonstration of direct recognition of porcine cells by human cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Immunology 81:268, 1994.

    Cunningham AC, Kirby JA, Colquhoun IW, Flecknell PA, Ashcroft T, Dark JH. Development of assays to monitor pulmonary allograft rejection. Thorax 49:151, 1994.

    Cunningham AC. Future developments in Transplantation: Cellular aspects of xenotransplantation. Transplant Immunol 2:160, 1994.

    Cattell EL, Cunningham AC, Bal W, Taylor RMR, Dark JH, Kirby JA. Limiting dilution analysis: quantification of IL-2producing allospecific lymphocytes after renal and cardiac transplantation. Transplant Immunol 2:300, 1994.

    Cunningham AC, Kirby JA, Dark JH. An In vitro system to model pulmoanry epithelial barrier dysfunction mediated by immune effector cells. J.Heart and Lung Transplant 12:487, 1993.

    Cunningham AC, Kirby JA, Colquhoun IW, Dark JH. Lung transplantation: pulmonary cell lysis mediated by alveolar mononuclear cells. Transplant Int 5[suppl1]:s286, 1992.

    Ingham E, Cunningham AC. Malassezia furfur. Journal of Medical and Veterinary Mycology 31:265, 1993.

    Cunningham AC, Ingham E, Gowland G. Humoral responses to Malassezia furfurs serovars A, B and C in normal individuals of various ages. Br J Dermatol 127:476, 1992.

    Cunningham AC, Leeming JP, Ingham E, Gowland G. Differentiation of three serovars of Malassezia furfur. J Appl Bacteriol 68:439, 1990.

    PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS OF CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS (Incomplete)

    Smyth LCJ, Eghtesad M, Kirby JA, Cunningham AC (2000). Interaction and function of tissue specific intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in the lung alveolar microenvironment. Immunology 101 [supp1], 16.
    LJC Smyth, M Eghtesad, JA Kirby and AC Cunningham (2000). Function of Intra-epithelial lymphocytes and their interaction with alveolar epithelial cells. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology 52 (4), 456.
    Smyth LCJ & Cunningham AC (1999). Pro-fibrogenic and inflammatory functions of mast cells in th acute rejection response. Immunology Letters 69 (1), 95.
    Smyth LCJ, Kirby JA, Eghtesad M, Harrison J & Cunningham AC (1999). Tissue specific adhesion events of intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and alveolar epithelium in the lung. Immunology 98 [supp1], 136.
    Cunningham AC, Eghtesad M, Jackson H, Smyth L (1999). Induction of leukocyte chemotaxis across endothelium by human lung alveolar epithelial cells. Immunology 98 [supp1], 156.
    Hardy A, Harrison JC, Cunningham AC (1998). Effect of the acute rejection response on the pro-fibrogenic functions of mast cells. Immunology 95 [suppl1], 101.
    Robertson H, Burt AD, Cunningham AC, Kirby JA (1998). Renal allograft rejection: the basis for epithelium-specific cytotoxicity Immunology 95 [suppl 1], 13
    Hamoodizadeh E, Harrison JC, Cunningham AC (1997). MCP-1 stimulates lymphocyte chemotaxis across human alveolar epithelial cells (type II pneumocytes). Immunology 92 [suppl1], 64.
    Cunningham AC, Zhang J-G, Moy J, Dark JH, Kirby JA (1997). Respiratory Immunology: are class II MHC antigen-expressing alveolar epithelial cells able to activate CD4+ T lymphocytes. Immunology & Cell Biology 75 [suppl 1], A79.
    Cunningham,A.C., Zhang, J-G, Moy, J.V. & Kirby,J.A. (1996). Can alveolar epithelial cells activate CD4+ lymphocytes. Immunology 89 [suppl 1], 42.
    Cunningham,A.C. & Kirby JA (1995). Lung Immunology: investigations of lympho-alveolar interactions. Immunology 83 [suppl 1], 56.
    Cunningham,A.C. Kirby, J.A., Wilson, J.L. & Dark,J.H. (1995). Isolation, characterisation and culture of human alveolar epithelial cells (type II pneumocytes). Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology 76, S24.
    Cunningham,A.C., Kirby, J.A., Wilson,J.L. & Dark,J.H. (1995). Lymphocyte adhesion to alveolar epithelial cells: the role of ß2 and ß7 integrins. Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology 76, S52.

    Contact Details

    Dr Anne Cunningham
    Institute for Pharmacy, Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences
    School of Sciences
    Fleming Building
    Wharnecliffe St
    Sunderland
    SR2 3SD
    Tel: +44 191 515 2979
    Fax: +44 191 515 3405
    email:anne.cunningham@sunderland.ac.uk

    This page was last updated on 15th May 2002