Fibrosis and pregnancy research receives boost as two Manchester researchers secure prestigious MRC fellowships

Congratulations to Dr Laurence Pearmain and Dr Laura Ormesher for their success in securing MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowships (CRTFs) to support PhDs in respiratory medicine and obstetrics research.

This news reinforces Greater Manchester’s strength in nurturing scientific leaders of the future to drive forward advances in medicine.

Dr Laurence Pearmain, University Hospital of South Manchester (UHSM)¹  

Laurence’s PhD, supervised by Dr Karen Piper Hanley, will investigate the disease mechanisms behind pulmonary fibrosis, scarring of lung tissue which leads to respiratory failure.  His research will focus on the most common of these disorders, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), specifically the role of transcription factor (protein), SOX9.

Once diagnosed IPF has an average life expectancy of just five year and there are currently no licensed treatments, so this research has the potential to reveal exciting new insights that could, ultimately, be used to identify drug targets/develop anti-fibrotic therapy.

Dr Laura Ormesher, Central Manchester University Hospitals (CMFT)²

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a condition occurring in 3–5 per cent of pregnancies, associated with significant risks to mother and baby.  Women with early onset pre-eclampsia (EPE; onset before 8 months) frequently develop abnormal heart function, which increases their risk of heart disease later in life and getting PE again in subsequent pregnancies.

The aim of Laura’s PhD, supervised by Dr Jenny Myers, will study the role of the sFlt protein in causing abnormal heart function in the context of EPE.  She will then determine whether this can be reversed with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors taken after birth.

It’s fantastic news that Laurence and Laura have been awarded MRC fellowships.  I would also like to acknowledge the commitment of their supervisors. By providing insights into how we can treat pulmonary fibrosis and reverse the detrimental effects of pre-eclampsia, these projects could dramatically improve outcomes for patients,

said Professor Neil Hanley, Director, Faculty Fellowship Academy at The University of Manchester.

Laurence and Laura have benefited from the experience of senior researchers across the city.  This was made possible by The University of Manchester’s, Fellowship Academy (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health), which assists talented researchers in securing external grants.

Laurence’s PhD will build on the experience he has received through clinical leadership delivered by Dr John Blaikley, and Professors Ashley Woodcock and Jacky Smith (UHSM).

Dr John Blaikley and Laura’s supervisor, Dr Jenny Myers are also currently undertaking research supported by the NIHR Clinical Scientist Award.

These two MRC awards follow MRC recognition in recent rounds for CMFT fellows, including Iestyn Shapey (Transplant Surgery) and Louise Hunter (Endocrinology).

^{MRC training grant reference numbers:}

^{1. MR/R00191X/1
2. MR/R001693/1}