Simon Hart

Biography

 Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine at Hull York Medical School and the University of Hull. Graduated from Edinburgh University and trained in respiratory and general (internal) medicine in south-east Scotland. PhD on neutrophil and macrophage biology and cell surface alterations associated with apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the MRC Centre for Inflammation Research. Awarded an MRC Clinician Scientist fellowship in 2001. Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at Castle Hill Hospital. Lead clinician for the Hull interstitial lung disease service. Participates in the acute general medicine rota at Hull Royal Infirmary. Research interests include the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other interstitial lung diseases, immunology of pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis, and lung inflammation and repair.

Research Interest

 The respiratory research group is based in the Daisy Clinical Research and Teaching Building (2nd floor), Castle Hill Hospital We use a translational biology "bench to bedside" approach to address research questions in pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis.    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive scarring disease of the lungs that affects 15,000 people in the UK. We believe that development of effective therapies in the future will depend on a better understanding of what initiates and perpetuates lung scarring.   We have discovered abnormalities of platelet function in patients with IPF. We are studying how the pulmonary vascular endothelium responds to injury and how these responses contribute to pulmonary fibrosis by promoting retention and activation of platelets in the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis commonly complicates rheumatic diseases, and a related research theme is exploring the relationship between autoimmunity and lung inflammation and fibrosis. We are developing novel imaging techniques in pulmonary fibrosis, both in the lab (in collaboration with Hull University Dept. of chemistry) and in the clinic. We have an ongoing interest in assessing and treating symptoms in pulmonary fibrosis, particularly breathlessness and cough.   Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause, characterised by hyper-activation of immune cells. Whilst some cases remit spontaneously, there is no curative treatment.   We are studying immune responses in the blood and lung tissue of patients with sarcoidosis to help understand how the disease is initiated and driven. We are particularly interested in how abnormal function of regulatory (inhibitory) receptors on blood monocytes leads to an overactive immune system in sarcoidosis.