Email: a.w.morgan@leeds.ac.uk

Research profile and key clinical specialties

We have identified genetic variants in the IgG receptors (Fcg Receptors) that are associated with multiple autoimmune diseases and infections.

With colleagues in Biological Sciences (Astbury Centre) and Physics, I’ve established a drug-development programme that has identified prototypic therapeutics, which may be used to gain greater biological understanding or ultimately be used to treat a wide range of diseases.

I also lead the UK GCA Consortium and the MRC TARGET Partnership that explores the pathogenesis of GCA with a view to identification of drug repurposing opportunities and clinically useful biomarkers, including genetic, protein, imaging and histological markers. A parallel programme exporing predictors of glucocorticoid toxicity across several diseases is being undertaken.

My interests thus extend across the medical specialities and I use a wide range of molecular, epidemiological and data science methodologies.

Two key publications

• Robinson JI, Baxter EW*, Owen RL*, Thomsen M*, Tomlinson DC*, Waterhouse MP, Win SJ, Nettleship JE, Tiede C, Foster RJ, Owens RJ, Fishwick CWG, Harris SA, Goldman A, McPherson MJ, Morgan AW. Affimer proteins inhibit immune complex binding to FcγRIIIa with high specificity through competitive and allosteric modes of action. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA2018 115(1):E72–E81.
• Carmona FD*, Mackie SL*, Martin J-E*, et al, Gonzalez-Gay MA*, Morgan AW*and Martin J*. A large-scale genetic analysis reveals a contribution of the HLA class II region to giant cell arteritis susceptibility. Am J Hum Genet 2015;96:565-580; doi 10.1016/j.ajhg.

Possible PhD projects

• FcgR target validation in (auto)antibody-associated diseases or infections
• Pathogenic studies in GCA with lab or data analysis focus
• Epidemiology of glucocorticoid toxicity, including polygenic risk scores

More information

• View full research profile

——————–

Keywords: IgG receptors, Fcg Receptors, Autoimmune, Pathogenesis, GCA, Glucocorticoid, FcγRIIIa, HLA class II, Polygenic, Ann, Morgan, Leeds

Related