Dundee School of Medicine PhD student wins ‘most prestigious award in UK respiratory medicine’

Emma Johnson, a respiratory clinician and final-year PhD student at the University of Dundee’s School of Medicine, has been recognised for her exceptional research into novel treatments for bronchiectasis. Emma was recently awarded the Early Career Investigator Award by the British Association for Lung Research and British Thoracic Society, marking a significant milestone in her academic and clinical journey.

The British Thoracic Society’s Early Career Investigator Award recognises work by researchers in the early stages of their academic careers. Emma’s success involved sending an abstract, presenting her findings in a fifteen-minute talk, and standing out among a shortlist of six finalists.

Having taken time out from her career as a respiratory doctor to pursue a PhD in Professor James Chalmers’s lab, Emma’s work focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind a promising new drug treatment known as DPP-1 inhibitors. These anti-inflammatory treatments have shown promising results in reducing infections and improving symptoms in patients with bronchiectasis, a chronic lung condition.

Reflecting on her research, Emma explained, “we studied over 200 patients taking part in a clinical trial of DPP1 inhibitors in bronchiectasis - as well as helping to improve the patients’ clinical condition we found important changes to the immune system and reduced mucus in people who took the drugs. Understanding how they work is crucial to the development of a new drug and this information will help people with bronchiectasis and other diseases.”

For Emma, transitioning from clinical practice to lab-based research was both a challenge and a rewarding experience, “It was a steep learning curve, but the support and expertise of James’s team made it a fantastic experience. I’ve learned so much and it’s confirmed that research is something I want to pursue alongside my clinical career.”

Supervisor, Professor James Chalmers said: “The Early Career Investigator Award is the most prestigious award in UK respiratory medicine. It recognises the best clinical and laboratory research into lung disease.

“To win the award scientists must present their work in front of a “dragons’ den” style judging panel with the best science being chosen for this award out of all the submissions to the British Thoracic Society.”

Professor Chalmers continued, “We are so proud of Emma’s achievement – Emma is an amazing doctor and scientist whose work is making a real difference for people with lung disease.

“Emma’s work is about the development of a new treatment for a common chronic lung condition called bronchiectasis. She has shown that a new medicine can reduce inflammation in the lungs and change how the immune system works to make it more effective. The research has been recognised because these immune system problems are common meaning the new drugs, she has been working on could potentially be used for other common diseases like asthma, COPD or even skin and joint conditions. Trials in these conditions are now planned.”

Looking ahead, Emma plans to return to clinical training while applying for further fellowships to continue her research. Emma said, “There’s a real need for more clinical academics in the UK. If anyone is considering taking the leap into research, I’d encourage them to go for it. It’s hard work but incredibly worthwhile.”