Professor Peter Lane PhD, MBChB, FRCP, FRCPath

• FRCP, 2000
• FRCPath (Immunology), 1997
• PhD (Immunology), Birmingham, 1987
• MRCPath (Immunology), 1987
• MRCP, 1983
• MBChB (Edinburgh), 1980

Peter qualified in medicine at Edinburgh University (1980). After training in hospital medicine (MRCP, 1983) he completed a PhD with Ian MacLennan funded by Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellowship (1987) and completed training in clinical immunology in 1987 (MRCPath).

Peter then spent two years in the USA working with Ed Clark and Jeff Ledbetter at the University of Washington, Seattle working on CD40 (key molecule for B cell activation) and CD28 (key molecule for T cell activation). This was followed by 6 years as a member at the Basel Institute for Immunology in Switzerland where he found activated T cells expressed a ligand for CD40, and that germinal centres, the sites of generation of high affinity antibodies and B cell memory were dependent on intact signals through CD28.

Peter returned to Birmingham in 1997, and has since pursued a career as a clinical academic with Programme Grant funding from both Wellcome Trust and MRC with a major interest in understanding the regulation of CD4 T cells.  

• BMedSc - Lecture
• 2nd MBChB - Lecture and Tutor
• 3^rd MBChB (Immunology) - Organise and Lecture
• Intercalated BMedSci - Lecture

• Supervisor MRC Clinician Scientist Gwilym Webb (2015-  )
• Supervisor Wellcome Trust Phd Emily Halford (2012-2016)

If you are interesting in studying any of these subject areas please contact Professor Peter Lane directly, or for any general doctoral research enquiries, please email mds-gradschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listings.

Research themes

T-cell biology, CD4 T-cell Tolerance and Immunity.

Research Activity

Overview

With Graham Anderson, our groups focus on the molecular and cellular basis of CD4 T cell responses in particular. Although are respective focuses are on the generation of tolerance in thymus versus protective CD4 responses in the periphery, it has been highly synergistic to have an integrated approach as tolerance and immunity go hand in hand. In particular it has been extremely fruitful to study the role of lymphoid tissue inducer cells in that are important for the generation of CD4 memory in secondary lymphoid organs, I thymus where they are implicated tolerance induction.

Key findings are:

1. The critical role of the TNF receptors, OX40 and CD30 is CD4 effector and memory T cells
2. The critical role of lymphoid tissue inducer cells in maintaining CD4 T cell memory
3. The critical role of thymic lymphoid tissue inducer cells in the induction of AIRE in the embryonic thymus

Current funding:

• MRC Programme Grant October, 2013-2018
• Wellcome Trust Programme Grant 2007-2012

• Grant reviewer for MRC and EU bodies, ARUK and Wellcome Trust
• Assesses patients with complex syndromes and autoimmunity and also patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency, and allergy